The government mask mandate is no more in Texas, and state Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking steps to make sure that localities don’t forget it.
Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott officially rescinded most of his previous emergency orders related to COVID-19, including the statewide mask mandate, and allowed businesses to reopen at 100 percent capacity. His order also forbade judges from imposing penalties for wearing a face mask and limited the new restrictions that can be imposed at a local level.
The Epoch Times reports that the City of Austin and Travis County have announced they intend to continue with their mask mandates anyway, leading Paxton to write a letter warning that “the decision to require masks or otherwise impose COVID-19-related operating limits is expressly reserved to private businesses on their own premises. It does not rest with jurisdictions like the City of Austin or Travis County or their local health authorities. Nor do they have the authority to threaten fines for non-compliance.” Read more…