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DALLAS – The Texas Republican Supreme Court presented Governor Greg Abbott with a temporary victory in his ongoing battle for masked seats on Sunday. The court issued suspension orders preventing the Bexar and Dallas counties from enforcing mandates.
What you need to know
- The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday upheld Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order on masked mandates and temporarily put a brake on mandates in Bexar Country and Dallas Counties
- Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins says the court’s decision doesn’t really invalidate his emergency order, which requires masks in some places in the country
- A final decision on masks by the country’s highest court is imminent
- There are currently more than 11,500 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Texas
However, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who last week issued an emergency order mandating the use of masks in parts of the country, doesn’t see it that way.
“The Tex Supreme Court did not overturn my order on face masks. Instead, they removed the stop on GA 38, ”tweeted Jenkins. “Unless I receive a different decision, I will amend my order to remove the possibility of fines for non-compliant companies, but otherwise leave the order in effect.”
The Tex Supreme Court did not overturn my order on face masks. Instead, they lifted the suspension of GA 38. Unless I am given a different decision, I will amend my order to remove the possibility of fines for non-compliant businesses, but otherwise keep the order in effect.
– Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) August 16, 2021
The state’s highest court order will stop the mask requirement introduced by district leaders in Dallas and San Antonio as new infections increase and students return to school. Texas reported more than 11,500 patients hospitalized with the virus on Sunday, most since January.
The verdict is preliminary pending a trial, although a final decision could take weeks. Officials in Houston and Austin, as well as in public school districts, had also issued mask mandates, despite Abbott banning local governments from reverting to pandemic restrictions.
White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients said last week that Texas and Florida are responsible for nearly 40% of nationwide hospital admissions with new viruses.
The COVID-19 death toll has skyrocketed again as the Delta variant rips through the country’s unvaccinated population and fills hospitals with patients, many of whom are younger than in earlier stages of the pandemic.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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