Earlier this week, Governor Greg Abbott announced that he was lifting state mandates on mask wearing as well as capacity limits on gatherings. The move brought criticism from public health officials as well as the Biden administration, which called it “Neanderthal thinking.” Currently, Harris County remains under red alert due to the high number of COVID-19 cases, including all four of the known mutations.
Performance venues also reacted with horror at Abbott’s re-opening, and it looks like they will not be pretending that the danger has passed.
“We don’t give two shits what Abbott says, we’ll stop enforcing masks when it’s safe to do so,” said the official Facebook page for Neil’s Bar, which hosts gaming tournaments and the occasional electro-pop band. “PLEASE still show up to Houston businesses with your mask ready! It’s about slowing the spread and protecting others.”