Texas News Report Says ‘Inadequate’ COVID Precautions Are Costing The Texas Economy KWBU | By Texas Standard Published August 24, 2021 at 11:41 AM CDT Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 6:00 Jordan Vonderhaar for KUT News Economist Ray Perryman argues Texas could have prevented many COVID-19 deaths, and economic loss, with better preventive measures like widespread masking in public schools. Economist Ray Perryman says Texas stands to lose over $180,000 per year for every person who can’t go back to work because of the pandemic.