Texas Has Lifted All Covid Restrictions, Elon Students From Texas Have Mixed Feelings

We’re all ready for this pandemic to be over, but do Texans here at Elon feel that their home state has acted too quickly? Image by Anastasia Gepp from Pixabay.

As of March 10, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has lifted all restrictions requiring mask-wearing and limiting business capacities in his state. Texas is now wide open and all business and facility capacities have been brought back to 100%. It is the first state to do so in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

Although Elon University has a primarily North-East student body, there are a handful of students from Texas who attend the university. The Edge spoke with a few students who are from Texas to hear their reactions about the new laws and what they think about Governor Abbott’s decision. 

We interviewed two Elon students who had very different reactions to the governor’s decisions. 

“I am for the lifting of the mask ban for a few reasons,” says Alex Cortese, a first year student from Dallas, Texas, “one of them being that it's no longer mandated, meaning that it's not required but, if businesses and companies want to require them they can. Yet, a person is not required to if they do not want to.” Cortese is hopeful that the new laws will be a step in the right direction toward a post-Covid world and believes we will be safe if precautions are taken correctly. 

Cortese does worry about if the laws are taken too far, or if Texans do not follow restrictions when companies or businesses require mask wearing. “I am worried that people are going to take advantage of the no masks mandates and stretch the laws too far,” he says. 

Cortese also voiced his concerns about the long-term effects that the no-mask-mandate could have. “I don’t think it was something that was just done overnight, I think a lot of time and effort was put into place about lifting the mandates, although I am worried about a new strand of COVID developing without masks.”

The Edge also caught up with Georgia Daniel, another Elon first year from Texas. Daniel has a different reaction than Cortese, but shares some of his concerns. 

“I honestly thought it was a joke but once I realized it wasn’t, I was shocked and angry,” Daniel says. “It’s a terrible plan as of now since not everyone has been vaccinated, if this came in two months or more, it might make more sense once over 97% have gotten the vaccine but as of now, there will be a significant increase in cases and deaths. this is premature. Also, unlocking everything at once will most likely cause a surge of large group gatherings and parties since up until now, those were restricted.”

Daniel is concerned about the health of others and those who have not yet been vaccinated, Daniel believes that these restrictions were put in place too early and could have dangerous repercussions.

“I am just worried for my immunocompromised friends,” Daniel says. “Most haven’t been able to get the vaccine yet just because of the high demand. I’m stressed about the possible rise in cases.” 

Although both Cortese and Daniel are from Texas, they vary in opinions on the termination of restrictions. Texas is a very partisan state, and Texans’ reactions have demonstrated such. While these two Elon Texans might not agree on all the points, they both share a concern for the safety and well-being of others. 

While some believe it is a step in the right direction, others believe that Abbott made a decision far too soon and that it will have negative repercussions. The only true way to see is to wait and find out...