DURRENBERGER, TATE “STRONGLY ENCOURAGING” WEARING OF MASKS IN PUBLIC
NO MANDATORY MASK ORDER YET, BUT BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MATTER THURSDAY
Washington County officials are reiterating the importance of wearing face coverings, but are not making their recommendation a requirement just yet.
In a statement released this (Saturday) morning by the Washington County Joint Information Center, both County Judge John Durrenberger and Brenham Mayor Milton Tate said they are “strongly encouraging all citizens in Washington County to wear their masks when out in public”.
The county and the state have experienced an uptick in COVID-19 cases in recent days, which has led several cities and counties—including Bryan, College Station, and Brazos County—to mandate the wearing of masks at businesses.
Tate said everyone must do their part to reduce the spread of the virus if the city is to keep its businesses open and its economy strong. He added the city is planning several summer events to help move the community forward, but those events “will require attendees to wear a mask” except while eating or drinking.
Update @ 11:20 a.m.: City Manager James Fisher told KWHI the Brenham City Council will meet Thursday to discuss the state of community events and the possible requirement of face masks within city limits.
Durrenberger, however, is hesitant to make mask wearing mandatory, saying “mandating masks is hard to enforce and places an unnecessary burden on businesses that are already struggling in the midst of the pandemic”.
Governor Greg Abbott has frequently recommended mask usage in past COVID-19 updates and addresses, but has refrained from issuing a mandatory mask order.