Harris County and Houston have issued orders requiring masks for businesses and customers. Violating businesses are subject to fines.
Mayor Turner joins “Big City” Texas mayors in urging Gov. Abbott to allow local control on face masks to protect citizens from COVID-19 spread
HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner joined mayors from eight other Texas cities today, urging Texans to remain vigilant during the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus.
“We are not asking you to stay home, but we are asking you to mask up and social distance where possible,” the mayors wrote to the people in their respective cities, but the serious public health message is intended for everyone. “This isn’t meant to scare you, but it is meant to be very honest. The virus doesn’t leave just because our collective urgency has gone away.”
Mayors from Laredo, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Austin, San Antonio, Sugar Land, Lubbock, El Paso, and Houston signed the two-page letter.
A copy of the mayors’ letter to Texans can be found here.
The Houston area, like some other regions throughout the state, is experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
On Thursday, the Houston Health Department reported 210 new positive COVID-19 cases, bringing Houston’s total to 10,717. The number of deaths from COVID-19 increased by six to 175.