The statewide mask mandate was lifted on Wednesday, but some businesses in the area will still require masks.

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, one of those places will be the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center who released a statement after the governor announced the mask mandate being lifted that said they will continue to enforce mask wearing at all of their performances for the near future.

“We are all very excited about getting back to a pre-COVID normal, however, that will all come in time,” said General Manager Stephanie Rivas.

Another local business keeping mask mandates is Endless Horizons in Odessa. Co-owner Sam Logan said the "no mask, no entry" policy will still apply.

“I think it is up to everybody as an individual to do what they can to keep the people around them safe,” said Logan “and in that case, as a business owner, I feel like it’s my duty to do what I can to make sure that my employees and customers are safe.”

Some businesses are just changing their policies from requiring masks to asking that customers wear them, N-Tune Music is one of those businesses.

Operations Manager Derrick Killam changed the sign on their doors to say “We are aware that Gov. Abbott has lifted the mask mandate. However, we have at-risk employees and we are asking you to wear your mask in our store.”

Midland Mayor Patrick Payton will not be offering much help to businesses who want to enforce a mask policy in their business.

“There will be options available to them if a particular customer or patron causes a scene or does something that’s dangerous to others, outside of the perception of wearing a mask, but a local business is going to have to make that decision about how they’re going to interact with customers in that regard,” said Payton.

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