By JOHN KANELIS / johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com

It’s clear that I cannot possibly know whether what I am seeing on my social media network connotes a national trend.

Still, I am heartened to see the reaction to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement today that he is rescinding the mask mandate he ordered in 2020 to fight the COVID pandemic and that he is allowing businesses to open “100 percent.”

I am hearing from across the state that folks are going to continue wearing their masks, that they are going to keep their “social distance” from strangers and do not plan to frequent restaurants and bars.

Abbott sounded strangely victorious today when he made his announcement in Lubbock. Sure, he said we shouldn’t let up. Then he touted immediately the declining infection and death rates in Texas. I am not sure which part of Abbott’s announcement drew the most attention.

I am going to join my many social media contacts in declaring my own intention to keep wearing a mask; Lord knows I have enough of them. I also intend to keep my distance. I will slather sanitizer on my hands with abandon; I will wash ’em with soap and water at home with annoying frequency.

School district officials are talking, too, about resisting the governor’s call to reopen fully. They will continue to require students and teachers to mask up in classrooms; I am presuming the Allen Independent School District, where my granddaughter and her older brother attend school, will be among them.

I just am going to say a prayer that Gov. Abbott hasn’t acted too hastily in his effort to put Texas back to work.