California Gov Newsom calls Texas' reopening plan as 'absolutely reckless'

In light of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's announcement that Texas will be imminently "100 percent open," California Governor Gavin Newsom said that it was "Absolutely reckless."

California has the most COVID deaths in the country, at 52,526, while Texas has 44,178.

"So today," he said, "I'm issuing an executive order that rescinds most of the earlier executive orders."

"Effective next Wednesday, all businesses of any type are allowed to open 100 percent," Abbot proclaimed. "That includes any type of entity in Texas."

"Also, I am ending the state-wide mask mandate."

This news comes nearly a year after the first lockdowns began in the US. It was in November that Abbott declared that there would be no further lockdowns in the state of Texas. Prior to that, Abbott had reacted as had many other leaders in locking down citizens and closing businesses.

At the time, his strategy was to stay the course as the state headed into the holiday season. While he kept a mask mandate at the time, he declined to impose "any more lockdowns."

California has been in a state of lockdown for months upon months. The official guidance from the state is that "All individuals living in the State of California are currently ordered to stay home or at their place of residence, except for permitted work, local shopping or other permitted errands, or as otherwise authorized."

The state has a list of FAQ's as to what rights citizens are allowed to engage in and which they are not.

California's COVID cases are dropping, but Newsom said that "we are seeing a little bit of a plateau, and one needs to be mindful of that." He's not ready to open the state just yet, though he doesn't have a problem breaking his own rules.

California currently has 3,559,777 cases of coronavirus, with 52,526 deaths and 1,861,339 recoveries. Texas has 2,665,416 cases, 44,178 deaths, and 2,442,805 recoveries. Texas' population is about 29 million, while California is at 39.5 million.