Texas is somewhat of a Red state: Therefore the likelihood is that the Indian Variant (2 days ago) in Houston likely will hit Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama next: Why?

 Because these are states where most people aren't getting vaccinated either because they have religious reasons or educational or a different belief system entirely than Blue states. So, these particular red states which have the most regular cases of Coronavirus (likely because of not enough vaccinations likely (laws of probability) to be hit the hardest now by the Indian Variants hitting Houston now. 

So, the sooner vulnerable unvaccinated states start wearing masks again the less people in these states will die of the Indian Variants that started hitting Houston 2 days ago.