Reports of coronavirus increases are not going away. Thus far, several states have taken actions to mitigate transmission of COVID-19; some examples of these actions include slowing down phased reopenings, ordering the shutdowns of bars, and mandating face coverings.
Face mask mandates continue to remain controversial; in fact, they’ve morphed into a focal point of “pandemic politics.” Nevertheless, various elected officials are ordering citizens to wear masks, much to the chagrin of many Americans.
Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, is the latest leader to issue a statewide face mask mandate. Abbott’s order arrived on Thursday and officially went into effect on Friday at noon.
What to know about Texas’ statewide face mask mandate
The governor of Texas maintains that mask-wearing is one of the most effective ways of stopping coronavirus transmission. Towards the end of June, Gov. Abbott noted the rises of COVID-19, something that he clearly did not anticipate.
For the foreseeable future, Texas residents are under orders to cover their faces while in public. Furthermore, failure to comply comes with certain consequences; the first offense will garner a verbal or written warning. Then, if additional infractions occur, violators will face subjection to monetary fines.
