Last Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide executive order mandating the use of facial coverings. The order was made due to a surge in coronavirus cases being reported across the state.
The order says that every person in Texas shall wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building or space open to the public. The order also applies to outdoor public spaces wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person that is not from the same household.
A list of exceptions includes:
- Any person younger than 10 years of age;
- Any person with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a face covering;
- Any person while the person is consuming food or drink, or is seated at a restaurant to eat or drink;
- Any person while the person is (a) exercising outdoors or engaging in physical activity outdoors, and (b) maintaining a safe distance from other people not in the same household;
- Any person while the person is in a swimming pool, lake, or similar body of water; or
- Any person who is actively providing or obtaining access to religious worship.
Website: https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/governors/displayDocs.cfm?govdoctypeID=5&governorID=45
