[ad_1]
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Governor Greg Abbott issued a new executive order Thursday targeting mask mandates and business capacity restrictions issued by the local government.
Abbott says the new executive order will ensure a unified response to the pandemic and focuses on the individual responsibility of Texans to protect themselves.
“The new executive order emphasizes that the way forward is based on personal responsibility, not government mandates,” Abbott said in a press release. “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. Vaccines, which continue to be in abundance, are the most powerful defense against the virus, and they will always remain voluntary – never enforced – in the state of Texas.
Under the new executive order, enacted by amalgamating existing COVID-19 regulations, state agencies and jurisdictions are prohibited from mandating the wear of masks, including school districts.
Governor Abbott announced that students will not have to wear masks in schools after June 4th
In addition, it prevents the same governing bodies from requesting vaccinations and prevents government agencies and political divisions from requiring individuals to provide proof of vaccination in order to enter a location or use a service.
For local businesses, the order states that they are not required to adhere to local operating limits, but customers are “encouraged to follow safe practices they already master,” such as wearing masks and social distancing.
The order supersedes any orders issued by local officials and prevents them from detaining anyone who violates local COVID-19 orders.
It came after Austin Mayor Steve Adler on Wednesday urged city manager Spencer Cronk to make a mandate that city workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Ultimately, the city said it couldn’t do this because of Abbott’s orders.
PREVIOUS: The city of Austin says it will NOT require proof of vaccination for employees despite Mayor Adler’s request
State Representative Donna Howard (D-Austin) said in a statement Thursday night that Abbott is preventing local officials from keeping communities safe.
“This goes beyond inaction – this is the governor tying the hands of health professionals trying to keep Texans healthy as cases and hospitalizations increase,” the Howard statement said in part.
She went on to say that this is of particular concern as school starts in a few weeks and children under 12 cannot yet get the vaccine.
President Joe Biden announced Thursday that federal officials will be required to provide evidence of vaccination or follow strict security measures.
[ad_2]
