The statewide mask mandate is no longer in effect and all businesses are allowed to open at 100 percent, but Visit Corpus Christi is urging everyone enjoying Spring Break in the Coastal Bend, whether a visitor or a resident, to continue to follow COVID-19 safety protocols. Also, city facilities, including libraries, will continue to require masks and conduct temperature checks of all employees and visitors entering. 
“Despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott rescinding the mask mandate and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities to 100 percent, we continue to encourage everyone living in and visiting our beautiful city and beach communities to follow best health practices, including social distancing, mask wearing, and frequent hand washing,” said Brett Oetting, president and CEO of Visit Corpus Christi.
Because South Texas schools, colleges, and universities are staggering their spring breaks this year, visitors will be coming to the area over a two-week period, rather than the usual one week. This year, spring breaks are scheduled for March 8-12 and March 15-19. 
Both Corpus Christi and Port Aransas have announced extra police patrols along beaches, not much different than other years. What will be different, and perhaps even confusing, will be found at local businesses, especially restaurants and bars. 
H-E-B grocers and Walmart both announced that masks and social distancing still will be required to enter their stores. Walmart added to its announcement that employees will not be asked to enforce that rule, however, if people attempt to enter without a mask. Last September, Visit Corpus Christi, the city’s convention and tourism board, launched its Stay Safe Pledge, a commitment by local businesses and their guests to help stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 by following standard protocols. Those include mask wearing, physical distancing, and washing and sanitizing hands often. A number of attractions and hotels signed the pledge, but certainly not all. Only a few signing the pledge were restaurants or bars. 
Top attractions, like the Texas State Aquarium, will continue to stay at 75 percent capacity and require masks, Oetting said.
“We will support local businesses making these decisions and ask that patrons respect individual business owners, as well as each other, while we continue on the path to full recovery,” he added.
Following the governor’s announcement, Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales lifted the county’s mask mandate but also stressed the need to continue wearing masks. 
“The governor’s orders do not negate or deny common sense, common courtesy, smart science, or all the practices that we know work,” she said at a news briefing at the Richard M. Borger Center during a drive-through vaccination clinic Friday, March 5. “Any business can limit capacity at their own discretion. I fully expect that businesses will make those decision, and I ask that you help us by respecting those decisions.” 
County commissioners were due to discuss and decide on protocols for county facilities at a meeting Wednesday, March 10.
The city of Corpus Christi will continue to require masks for anyone entering or working in city buildings. 
“The governor’s order does not preclude us from having our own mandates,” said City Manager Peter Zanoni at a news briefing Tuesday, March 9. “Many of our employees are not eligible to receive the vaccines. Until a vast number of city employees are eligible and have received the vaccine, we will continue these protocols so our employees can feel safe coming to work.” 
Masks and temperature checks for city officials and visitors will also be continued in libraries and other city facilities. 
“The vast majority of our population is still not eligible to receive the vaccine,” he continued. “We want our patrons to feel safe, and we want our employees to feel safe as well.”
Visit Corpus Christi agrees.
“We have made much progress over the past year with the protocols that have been in place,” Oetting said. “Our hope is that with continued vigilance, adhering to CDC guidelines, and increased vaccinations, we will continue to see COVID cases decrease and avoid reverting back to stricter protocol levels.”