Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday lifted the mandatory mask guideline in the state, which came despite warnings from health officials against easing the COVID-19 related safety restrictions. “It is now time to open Texas 100%,” the Republican Governor announced, adding, “Removing state mandates does not end personal responsibility and caring for your family members, friends and others in your community. People and businesses don’t need the state telling them how to operate.”

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The announcement came as a day after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of a “potential fourth surge of cases” if the country did not take precautions.

The Texas Governor said that the people of Texas have mastered the way to live with the coronavirus, saying that it’s time to reopen economies as Texans “have been sidelined from employment opportunities.”

Also Read | Know why Texas is lifting mask mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions

Reacting to this, Meena Harris, niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, said, “… the same people who caused that catastrophe are now ending the mask mandate and opening all businesses? At this point they’re openly trying to kill people.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also took to Twitter, saying, “93.2% of Texans aren’t fully vaccinated. The state just endured one disaster worsened by selfishness + denial of basic science, and now conditions are being set for another. Repealing the mask mandate now endangers so many people, especially essential workers & the vulnerable.”

Here is how Twitter reacted to the Texas’ new mask mandate:

The US, the worst-hit nation by the pandemic, has recorded over 28 million cases of COVID-19 and it ranks ninth in terms of deaths per 100,000 population, behind the UK and Italy.