Even though the Houston area is flattening the curve, and has gotten credit for it from the President's Coronavirus Task Force, Harris County Judge Line Hidalgo made a move that a lot of people are unhappy with.
Starting Monday Hidalgo is ordering everyone over the age of ten to wear a face covering in public.
"We want to make clear. This is not a recommendation. This is a requirement. That is why we had to make it enforceable by adding a fine," Hidalgo said.
That fine being a thousand dollars. The order will be in effect for 30 days.
Fort Bend County has not made a decision about a similar order. Galveston and Montgomery Counties say they won't issue mask orders. Galveston County Judge called the Harris County order unconstitutional. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick called it the 'ultimate government overreach.'
The City of Houston reported no deaths for the third straight day, and only 27 new cases of the virus. .
The Houston area had 238 new cases of the virus yesterday, and three deaths to make the area total 160
The state of Texas reported 799 new cases of Covid-19, and with 25 new deaths the state total is 569.
Elsewhere:
- Governor Greg Abbott says he may re-open movie theaters, hair salons, dine-in restaurants and church under a new executive order that could come tomorrow or Monday.
- HPD says burglaries are up 29% from March. Aggravated assaults are up 9%, and domestic violence is up as well.
- Dr. Peter Hotez with the Baylor College of Medicine, says h's concerned about a second wave in the fall.
- Joel and Victoria Osteen donated $100K to Astros star Alex Bregman's fundraising effort for the Houston Food Bank.