'Masking works': Austin fights back as Texas loosens Covid-19 restrictions

Local jurisdictions have decided to keep their coronavirus safety protocols, drawing ire from state politicians

Months of hostility and infighting between Texas's Republican and Democratic leaders reached a breaking point this week, when the state sued Austin and Travis county officials who were still requiring residents to wear masks in public.

In a move decried as reckless" around the United States, Texas ended almost all of its coronavirus-related restrictions on Wednesday, including a statewide mask mandate and capacity limits on businesses.