Texas Governor Greg Abbott has the coronavirus even though he has been vaccinated. Even as he remains at the governor’s mansion in isolation, he continues on with his disgraceful no-mask mandate for all of the children in the Texas school systems.
Keep in mind, that although reporters and pundits said that spill-over cases were “mild,” it is all relative. Abbott will probably not go to the hospital or die, but he may be in for a host of very unpleasant symptoms.
Senator Angus King (I-ME) along with two other senators tested positive for the virus. He said:
‘Despite all my efforts, when I began feeling mildly feverish yesterday, I took a test this morning at my doctor’s suggestion, and it came back positive.  While I am not feeling great, I’m definitely feeling much better than I would have without the vaccine. I am taking this diagnosis very seriously, quarantining myself at home and telling the few people I’ve been in contact with to get tested in order to limit any further spread.’
Only 46 of all Texans have been fully vaccinated, according to The Washington Post:
‘Texas reported more than 13,700 new coronavirus cases Thursday, bringing its seven-day average for new infections to 16,482, according to data compiled by The Washington Post.’
‘Nearly 13,000 people are hospitalized in the state for covid-19, including more than 3,200 in intensive care units.’
The Texas Supreme Court said no to Abbott’s request to “block temporary restraining orders on his ban on mask mandates,” according to Texas Courts. That meant Texas schools could, indeed, require masks as they have been doing, knowingly against Abbott’s position on the matter.
A Travis County judge said she was worried:
‘[Abbott’s executive order was] prohibiting a requirement that the schools and the local authorities and the people who generally Texas relies on to make decisions for its citizens think are necessary.’
On Thursday, the Fourth Court of Appeals upheld the mask mandate. When the trial begins, that may change. Bexar County Judge Nelson W. Wolff announced on Facebook:
‘A good victory today.’
Spokesperson for Abbott’s office Renae Eze told The Post:
‘[There was] no loophole [in the ban and that] the time for mask mandates is over.’
In an email, Eze wrote:
‘We are all working to protect Texas children and those most vulnerable among us, but violating the governor’s executive orders — and violating parental rights — is not the way to do it.’
Eanes ISD Superintendent Tom Leonard told NPR that he urged the community and those with children in school to “be kind to educators.” During a back-to-school event this week, an angry parent ripped a mask off a teacher’s face. Others yelled at a teacher who was wearing a mask, saying they could not understand her while her face was covered. Eanes said:
‘I just do not want the mask wars occurring in my schools. I don’t want my principals and teachers and bus drivers dedicating any of their limited bandwidth to fighting with either parents or kids. Take it outside. [Do] not fight mask wars in our schools.’
Case Text continued noting that all of the justices on the court are Republican at this time. They cited “a provision of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.” It explained why the request was denied.
The Texas high court rejected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) block on temporary restraining orders issued by Travis County Judge Jan Soifer. Parents in the county with children under the age of 12 cannot get vaccinations for them yet. They claimed that the governor’s ban on mask mandates was a “threat to public health.” Soifer barred Abbott’s ban. That meant Harris County and eight school districts could enforce a mask mandate.
After the state Supreme Court’s order, Paxton will be heard before the Third Court of Appeals. Most of the Austin justices are Democrats and more likely to support the parents and schools.
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