Patients at a Covid-19 vaccination site in Texas. Experts worry states are being too hasty about reopening, which could prolong the pandemic. | Go Nakamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The risks of reopening too quickly, explained.

It’s the season, it seems, for proclaiming premature victory in the war against Covid-19.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) all but declared the Covid-19 pandemic to be over on Tuesday afternoon: He announced he was lifting the mask mandate he put in place last summer and rolling back pandemic-related restrictions so businesses could return to full operations.

“Texas is OPEN 100%,” Abbott tweeted. “EVERYTHING.”

I just announced Texas is OPEN 100%.

EVERYTHING.

I also ended the statewide mask mandate.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 2, 2021

A few minutes later, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced that he’d be doing the same thing,