AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Governmental entities in the state of Texas will be blocked from requiring or mandating mask wearing under a new executive order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday afternoon.
Under the new order GA-36, counties, cities, school districts, public health authorities, and other government officials will face a $1,000 fine if they "attempt to impose a mask mandate or impose a limitation inconsistent or conflicting with the Executive Order."
The order allows for schools to continue to follow current mask-wearing guidelines through June 4; after that date, the order says, "no student, teacher, parent, or other staff member or visitor can be required to wear a mask while on campus."
"The Lone Star State continues to defeat COVID-19 through the use of widely-available vaccines, antibody therapeutic drugs, and safe practices utilized by Texans in our communities," Abbott said in a statement. "Texans, not government, should decide their best health practices, which is why masks will not be mandated by public school districts or government entities.
We can continue to mitigate COVID-19 while defending Texans' liberty to choose whether or not they mask up."
Exempted from Abbott's order are state-supported living centers, government-owned or operated hospitals, Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities, Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities, and county and municipal jails.