Gov. Abbott takes aggressive step to close a loophole in his vaccine mandate ban

Texas' Republican Governor Greg Abbott, still recovering from contracting COVID-19 and still in a tight re-election campaign on Wednesday changed his executive order banning coronavirus vaccine mandates to include those that have received FDA approval.

Abbott, who was asymptomatic when he bragged he was getting coronavirus treatment ordinarily reserved only for those with symptoms, had initially banned coronavirus vaccine mandates in his state citing the experimental nature of the vaccine.

At 46.4% Texas' vaccination rate appears to have plateaued, and is well-below the nation's average of 52.2%.

"At least 89 Texas hospitals were out of ICU beds last week, according to the latest federal data," the Texas Tribune reported on Monday.