Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced a ban on all COVID-19 vaccine mandates in private businesses.
The conservative governor issued the order on Monday, banning any entity in Texas from forcing their employees or customers to receive the vaccine to enter their establishment. He previously stripped the mandates from government agencies and school districts in Texas.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, & our best defense against the virus, but should always remain voluntary & never forced,” he said in a tweet announcing his latest order.
Abbott’s latest ruling reverses his previous order, which gave businesses and government entities the choice to make the vaccine mandatory. In late August, Abbott, per his spokesperson, stated that “private businesses don’t need government running their business.” It is unclear what prompted Abbott to issue the reversal, but in a follow-up tweet, he gloated over his state’s improvements with managing the pandemic.
“Covid hospitalizations continue to decline in Texas & are now at the lowest level since July 29th. The 7-day Covid positivity rate is below 8% for the first time since July 10th. Today Texas reported the fewest Covid-related deaths–two–in almost 3 months,” he tweeted.
Nearly 52% of Texas citizens are now fully vaccinated. Abbott has also received the shot but has recently fought against vaccine and mask mandates.
