Governor Abbott Issues Statewide Mask Order
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on July 2 issued a statewide mask order. The order requires Texans to “wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building or space that is open to the public, or when in an outdoor public space, wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household.”
The order provides that the face-covering requirement exempts certain persons and situations including children under the age of 10 and people with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks, as well as any person consuming food or drink or when seated in a restaurant, exercising outdoors when maintaining a safe distance, or obtaining or providing access to religious worship. The order also exempts voting sites.
The order states that, following a verbal or written warning for a first time violation of the order, a second violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. Each subsequent violation is also punishable by a $250 fine.
The Governor’s Executive Order on facial coverings can be viewed HERE.