This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
West Texas Grapples with Resurgent Outbreak ¶
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the United States, West Texas has emerged as a hotspot for new cases, with Lubbock County reporting over 1,700 infections since June 15.
Despite the surge, many residents in the region remain skeptical of public health measures, including mask mandates and social distancing guidelines.
On Wednesday, Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order requiring Texans to wear face coverings in public, with few exceptions, or face fines of up to $250. However, the order has been met with resistance from some local leaders, including Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope, who has opted to urge compliance rather than impose a mandatory mask policy.
"My approach all along has been one of personal responsibility," Mayor Pope said in an interview. "I'm asking our people to act this way. Why wouldn't I act that same way?"
However, not all residents are convinced. At a popular hamburger restaurant in Wolfforth, Texas, just outside Lubbock, several families gathered without wearing masks or attempting to stay distant. "This is the first time we've met each other and we don't care," said Mark Stewart, a local resident. "Texas has all kinds. But we're done with all that."
The sentiment is echoed by many conservatives in the region, who view public health measures as an overreach of government authority. "There's a lot of frustration that the governor is not giving our nation a contrasted worldview to that of California or New York," said Luke Macias, a conservative Republican political consultant.
As the outbreak continues to spread, local leaders are facing a daunting challenge in containing the virus, particularly in solidly Republican areas where mandatory public health measures can generate swift opposition.
"We're some of the nicest people in the entire world," said Jason Corley, a conservative who beat a more moderate Republican to become a Lubbock county commissioner. "But as soon as you make demands and tell them they're going to do something, you get a different response: You don't get to tell me what to do."
