Texas Governor Greg Abbott bans masked mandates and threatens fines towards native officers who attempt to implement them

TSR Policy: Texas Governor Greg Abbott not only bans mask mandates in his state, he threatens a fine on any local officials who will attempt to enforce a mask mandate in their cities.

Abbott issued the executive order this week stating: “Texans have mastered the safe practices that will help prevent and avoid the spread of COVID-19. They have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they wear masks, open their shops and pursue leisure activities. “

Its arrangement encourages residents in areas with high levels of COVID-19 transmission to “follow the safe practices they have already mastered,” such as wearing masks where social distancing is not possible, according to The Hill.

Government agencies such as county, city, school district, or public health authorities, under its ordinance, cannot require people to wear face covering. Local government agencies that introduce masking requirements can be fined up to $ 1,000.

The order is also directed at government agencies that may have considered requiring their employees to be vaccinated. The order states that local authorities “cannot force a person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine given as part of an emergency permit”.

Government agencies, public entities, and private entities receiving public funding cannot require individuals to provide evidence of vaccination as a condition of receiving services under the regulation.

However, the order does not prevent nursing homes or residential facilities from having residents vaccinated.

Abbott’s order comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issue new instructions Fully vaccinated individuals in areas with “significant” or “high” levels of COVID-19 transmission indoors should wear masks as cases continue to increase thanks to the delta variant of the virus.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a similar announcement on Friday banning the mask mandate in the state’s public schools.

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