How Do We Define When The Pandemic Is Over? (March 4, 2021)

On Thursday’s Houston Matters: Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to end the statewide mask mandate despite pleas from public health officials not to do so has once again brought into focus a key — and, so far, unanswered — question: when will the pandemic really be over? We seek some clarity on the eventual finish line.

Also this hour: What should our public policy priorities be after the COVID-19 pandemic? A new survey from Rice University’s Kinder Institute has some suggestions, and we talk them over.

Then we learn about the uncertain early days of SpaceX. It’s the subject of Liftoff, a new book by Eric Berger of Ars Technica and Space City Weather.

And we learn about efforts to keep the River Oaks Theater from closing.