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Coronavirus in Texas

Watch: Texas’ small-business owners balance service and safety after end of mask mandate

Three Austin business owners describe how the end of the state's mask mandate affected them and how they have navigated the crossroads of service and safety.

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More than a month after Gov. Greg Abbott lifted nearly all of the state’s coronavirus safety restrictions, small-business owners have had to balance the safety of their workforce with economic interests. Rattled by the pandemic’s effect on sales and concerned for their employees’ financial security, some small businesses struggled to continue requiring masks.

Many establishments in Austin are taking a piecemeal approach. Masks are now optional at Central Texas Gun Works. Larger event spaces, like Empire Control Room, continue to enforce strict capacity and mask-wearing rules. And owners with close ties to their customers, like those at Rise Kickbox, say they trust their members are safe when they show up for a workout.

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Information about the authors

Jackson Barton’s staff photo
Justin Dehn’s staff photo

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Economy State government Greg Abbott