MASK MANDATE REINSTATED IN WASHINGTON CO. AFTER RECENT INCREASE OF COVID-19 CASES
Washington County is no longer eligible to opt out of Governor Greg Abbott’s mandatory facemask order, following an increase of COVID-19 cases locally and statewide.
According to a release this (Monday) morning from County Judge John Durrenberger, there has an increase in cases over the last two weeks across the state, including in Washington County.
The increase that made the county ineligible for the mask exemption came from confirmed cases that were tested on or before the date that the exemption went into effect. The county was approved for the exemption by the state October 29th.
Under Abbott’s order, a county is allowed to apply for an exemption if its new confirmed cases are 30 or less in the previous 14-day period. The county was below that threshold when it applied and received approval for the exemption.
As of Sunday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), there were 69 active cases in the county. At the time the mandate was waived, according to DSHS, there were an estimated 42 active cases.
Durrenberger’s release stated that county officials believe the wearing of masks should be “an individual choice,” but the county is required to abide by Abbott’s order mandating the wearing of masks while in public. County officials will monitor the number of new cases and could possibly apply for the exemption in the future, if the county falls below the 14-day threshold for new cases.