Magnolia State News

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has taken a page from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s book by announcing on Tuesday that wearing masks in public will no longer be required and that businesses will be reopened and start operating again at full capacity.

Reeves claimed that now is the right time to lift some COVID-19 restrictions since their case numbers have gone down and that vaccines are being distributed throughout the state.

Reeves went on Twitter and said that the worst part of the pandemic for him was interfering with peoples’ lives and telling them what to do and what not to do. But since the vaccine is available, Reeves said that the time for him to step back and let people live their lives in peace has come.

He wrote, “Now, we are putting our focus towards rapid vaccine distribution. We are getting out of the business of telling people what they can and cannot do.”

Reeves bragged that Mississippi was one of the few states that kept most of its facilities and businesses open and because of that their economic recovery amidst the pandemic was faster and better compared to others. He ended his message saying that it is Mississippi’s moment to regain its glory by reopening businesses and schools.

Reeves also said that despite reopening the state, some COVID-19 restrictions will be upheld such as the 50 percent seating capacity in any indoor area. K-12 schools will have 25 percent percent seating capacity for indoor areas while outdoor venues will have 50 percent.