T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
You hear the word through idle, blubbered small talk. You see the word on a flyer, scotch-taped, outside a window somewhere every day. You engage in posts about the word, maybe even share them. I am sure you have guessed the word I am referring to and are probably thinking the word right now—COVID-19. The virus first rocked the United States in 2020. Since then, its tectonic plates have not stopped shifting, and society bares its tremors, trying to hang on, staying six feet apart, of course. It has completely altered the landscape of modern life, yet the few proactive solutions to combat deeper rifts are inconsistently practiced and extreme when prompted. Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched the “Open Texas” initiative in April 2020 in order for businesses and public infrastructure to stay afloat. But other variants rose to the surface in 2021, like Delta and Omicron, which continued after
the introduction of wide-scale vaccinations. Even in December 2021, the CDC seemed to backpedal regularly on their COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines amidst staggering infection rates. The “Open Texas” policies are simple in that there are no official policies presently. Establishments are free to decide their actions or inactions on a case-by-case basis, with each responsible for the fitness of their own operation and potentially the fates of their consumers. For example, according to their January 7 press release, the Walmart on Richmond Road temporarily closed for sanitization and cleaning in “an ongoing company-initiated program.” It is unclear whether this was a preemptive measure or a response to the rise in cases. The store reopened January 9 and continues to follow CDC mask guidelines. The holiday season’s traveling and gatherings seemed to have caused a sudden uptick in cases, especially of Omicron. This was inevitable, and the community felt the consequences.
What Ifs? and What’s Next? BY CAROL INE PURTLE
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B U S I N E S S & P O L I T I C S
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