Lt. Governor Dan Patrick issued the following statement today after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo indicated she would require mandatory masks for Harris County residents starting Monday.
“On the same day Harris County Commissioner’s Court plans to close the $60 million-dollar pop-up hospital at NRG Park, because it wasn’t needed, Judge Lina Hidalgo orders anyone over the age of 10 to wear a mask in public. Her abuse of the use of executive orders is the ultimate government overreach. These kind of confused government policies fuel public anger – and rightfully so.”
The executive order, expected to be announced later today, will start on Monday and last for 30 days. It is unclear how this order will be enforced and what the fine will be for noncompliance given pushback from public safety officers pressed thin by the pandemic.