Face mask a must in Texas public spaces
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican and ally of US President Donald Trump, issued an executive order requiring face coverings in public spaces as the state marks record numbers of new infections.
The order, issued ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend, applies to counties with 20 or more confirmed Covid-19 cases, Abbott’s office said in a statement.
The governor also banned gatherings of more than 10 people, and mandated social distancing of 2m.
“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, citing the effectiveness of masks in slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
“Restricting the size of group gatherings will strengthen Texas’ ability to corral this virus and keep Texans safe,” he said.
Abbott’s orders came after the situation in Houston, America’s fourth-largest city, sharply declined in the past two weeks. —