Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued an executive order to lift the state’s mask mandate and give all businesses the green light to reopen, making it the largest state to cast off restrictions meant to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent,” the Republican governor said in a statement announcing the executive order, which will take effect March 10.

Abbott’s announcement comes at a time when coronavirus cases and deaths have plateaued in the U.S., after hitting record numbers in January.

However, health officials warned against states taking too much action to loosen their restrictions or eliminate them altogether, as coronavirus variants continue to spread globally.

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