AUSTIN, Texas – The state's top health official said Wednesday he did not speak with Greg Abbott before the governor announced Tuesday he would end his mask order and "open Texas 100%," a decision criticized by public health experts, city and county leaders and President Joe Biden. "My recommendation to him was that in the same breath you declare an end to the state mandate, there needs to be a very clear message that public health measures continue to be very important as we work our way through the pandemic," said Zerwas, executive vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Texas system and a former state legislator from the Houston area.