Co. Judge ‘Shocked’ Over Statewide Mask Order
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an emergency order last Thursday requiring just about everyone to wear face masks when out in public. The move was aimed at stemming the sudden rise in coronavirus cases since the state eased restrictions last month.
The order surprised many local officials. Fayette County Judge Joe Weber, who opposed the order, said he was given no advance notice.
“It was a big surprise to me,” Weber said. “I was disappointed. I think it was the wrong decision for our county, for sure.”
In an announcement last Thursday, Abbott ordered that all Texans living in counties with more than 20 active coronavirus cases must wear a face covering over the nose and mouth while in a business or other building open to the public, as well as outdoor public spaces, whenever social distancing is not possible.
The order exempted children who are younger than 10 years old, people with a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, people who are eating or drinking and people who are exercising outdoors. The governor also exempted people voting at a poling place, saying he didn’t want to order to disenfranchise anyone who wanted to vote. The mask order went into effect at 12:01 p.m. Friday, July 3.
Abbott said he issued the order as a way of allowing buisnesses to stay open while the state fights the virus.
“If we want to avoid lockdowns, we need all Texans to join this effort,” Abbott said in the announcement last Thursday.
County Judges in counties with less than 20 active coronavirus cases can opt-out of the statewide mandate. As of Sunday, July 5, Fayette County had 60 active cases. The order allows local authorities to issue fines for violations but jail sentences may not be imposed. First time violators will be given a warning, the order states. Subsequent violations can result in $250 fines.
“Our deputies’s primary responsibility is making sure people are safe and secure from crime, speeders, domestic assaults, felonies - protecting all of us from those things,” Weber said. “(Deputies will) certainly be available to go around and encourage people to wear a mask. But we don’t have the resources in this county to have 50 calls a day because someone didn’t have a mask on. That’s not the reality in Fayette County and that’s not going to happen.”
Abbott did not say how long the mask order will remain in place, nor did he say under what conditions he would rescind the order. Weber said he had no idea how long it would last.
“We’ve been surprised so many times,” Weber said. “Subject matter experts told us one thing and then changed it a week later. Politicians have told us one thing and changed it a week later. So I don’t have any idea. I’m as confused as everyone else.”
Despite his opposition, Weber, a retired Marine Corps general, encouraged everyone to follow the governor’s order.
“I’ve given a lot of orders and I’ve followed a lot of orders, and I followed a lot of orders I didn’t agree with,” he said. “We, in this county, are going to follow the orders and the laws, otherwise we’re as bad as those protesters who are destroying everything. Even though we may not like it, we’re shocked and disappointed, we’re going to do the right thing and follow the law. I encourage everyone in the county to support the governor whether you agree with him or not on this mask thing.”