
Austin (WBAP/KLIF) – Gov. Greg Abbott warns if spread of COVID-19 doesn’t slow, “The next step would have to be a lockdown.”
Abbott comments to Lubbock’s KLBK-TV came as as nearly 80 Texas counties have opted out of his statewide mask mandate, while others are simply refusing to enforce it.
Texas continues to be among several COVID-19 hotspots around the country, Abbott reiterated that things will continue to get worse.
“Things will get worse, and let me explain why,” he told the station. “The deaths that we’re seeing announced today and yesterday — which are now over 100 — those are people who likely contracted COVID-19 in late May.
The worst is yet to come as we work our way through that massive increase in people testing positive.”
Meantime, the subject of wearing masks or not has fueled debate on social media:
May I ask why wearing a mask is such a big deal? I'm genuinely trying to understand the resentment towards it. We can protect our fellow Americans, reduce the spread, and get back to having a normal functioning society. Is that not a goal we all share?
— Texan Guy (@guy_texan) July 4, 2020
Texas has been hit badly by #COVID19. But many residents are still refusing to wear a mask or follow social distancing rules.
This Texan berates reporter Alex Crawford for wearing a face mask.
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— SkyNews (@SkyNews) July 6, 2020
(Copyright 2020 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from the KLBK-TV/Lubbock.)