Texas governor issues mask order to fight coronavirus

AUSTIN, Texas —  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday ordered that face coverings be worn in public across most of the state, a dramatic ramping up of his efforts to control spiking numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

The Republican governor, who had pushed Texas’ aggressive reopening of the state economy in May, had previously said the government could not order individuals to wear masks. His prior virus-related orders had undercut efforts by local governments to enforce mask requirements.

But confronted with dramatically rising numbers of both newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the number of patients so sick they need to be hospitalized, Abbott changed course with Thursday’s mask order. It requires “all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions.”

“We are now at a point where the virus is spreading so fast, there is little margin for error,” Abbott said.

Texas reported 7,915 newly confirmed cases, a slight dip after zooming past the 8,000 mark for the first time on Wednesday. The 7,382 hospitalizations means the state has more than quadrupled its number in that category since the end of May.

The true number of cases is probably much higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected and not feel sick.

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The mask order takes effect Friday. As of Thursday, 176 of the state’s 254 counties had reported 20 or more confirmed COVID-19 cases and include most of the state’s population. Counties with fewer than 20 cases cover mostly rural areas.

Mask order violators can be fined up to $250. There are exceptions for people who have a medical condition or disability, who are exercising outdoors or who are participating in a religious service or voting. Texas this week began its monthlong early voting period for its primary election.

Abbott also gave mayors and county authorities the ability to ban outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people.

In his order and a statement, Abbott said wearing a mask is a proven method to slowing down the virus’ spread and said that if Texans comply “more extreme measures may be avoided.”

Abbott has said he doesn’t want to roll back his previous orders to reopen the economy. But last week he moved to again close bars and limit dine-in capacity in restaurants to 50%.

“We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another — and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces,” Abbott said.

Abbott has been under extreme pressure from both Democrats and Republicans on his reopening plans.

Democrats, most notably the leadership of the state’s largest cities, have complained Abbott reopened Texas too quickly and have pointed to the record numbers of confirmed new cases and hospitalizations.

Conservative lawmakers battered Abbott’s early moves to combat the virus, including business, school and child-care closures and a stay-at-home order that expired in May.

In April, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called attempts by local governments in the Houston area to enforce mask orders with fines the “ultimate government overreach.”

“The move to mandate face masks comes far too little, far too late for Gov. Abbott,” Texas Democratic Party Communications Director Abhi Rahman said. “Texans are still getting sick. Families are still suffering. ... All of this could have been prevented if Gov. Abbott had listened to experts and medical professionals in the first place.”

The Texas Medical Assn. applauded the mask order. The doctors’ group had urged the state Republican Party to cancel its in-person convention, which starts July 16 in Houston. A statement from the group did not address the convention

“There is no question about it, face masks reduce the spread of COVID-19. They help protect the people wearing masks, and they help protect the people around them,” said the association’s president, Dr. Diana L. Fite.