Texas Department of State Health Services Promotes Biden Administration Misinformation

On Monday, Texas DSHS retweeted a graphic from the Center for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (CDC MMWR), which proclaims, “A good mask helps you and others avoid COVID!”

However, the CDC MMWR is not a peer-reviewed scientific journal but rather a mouthpiece for CDC policy. Not a single article contradicting CDC policy is published in the MMWR.

Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi tweeted in response:

Meanwhile, a peer-reviewed article published by Cambridge University Press found that “there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of face masks to reduce the risk of infection.”

A more recent publication by Oxford University Press found that medical-grade masks offer some level of protection, but “disposable, cotton, or paper masks are not recommended. … Single-use medical masks are preferable to cloth masks, for which there is no evidence of protection and which might facilitate transmission of pathogens when used repeatedly without adequate sterilization.”

Granted, the CDC MMWR graphic does show an N95 mask as most effective. However, it still proclaims the “effectiveness” of cloth masks, which have been scientifically shown to be lacking. The CDC even admitted in 2020 that masks are ineffective at stopping diseases such as the flu, which is of comparable size to the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, school districts across the state of Texas are continuing the practice of forcefully masking children—a practice the Irish Health Authority last year called “child abuse”—and Texas agencies answerable to Gov. Greg Abbott are promoting misinformation.

The Texas DSHS is but one of Abbott’s many executive branch departments or appointees that have recently faced scrutiny. Others include the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, which promoted critical race theory; Abbott-appointee Major General Tracy Norris’ failure to adequately manage the Texas Military Department; and the Abbott-appointed UT Board of Regents allowing medical practitioners to perform child mutilation experiments.

The Republican primary is March 1, with early voting beginning on February 14.

Sydnie Henry

A born and bred Texan, Sydnie serves as the Managing Editor for Texas Scorecard. She graduated from Patrick Henry College with a B.A. in Government and is utilizing her research and writing skills to spread truth to Texans.