Governor Greg Abbott of Texas doesn't want local officials implementing policies requiring mandatory masks or vaccines, and he has even threatened to penalize those who do it.
The measure bans government agencies from making individuals get vaccinated or provide proof of vaccination.
"Texans have mastered the safe practices that help to prevent and avoid the spread of COVID-19. They have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks, open their businesses, and engage in leisure activities," Abbott said in a statement.
Gov. Abbott issued an executive order (Executive Order GA-38) on Thursday stating that citizens should follow safety rules in high-transmission areas. Still, the government, including schools, cannot "compel citizens to get a COVID-19 vaccine, even when administered under an emergency use authorization." If you break the law, you may be fined $1,000.
Moreover, Abbott also ordered a broad ban of "any other statute invoked by any local governmental entity or official in support of a face-covering requirement."
To prevent the spread of the virus, the CDC issued a new recommendation that masks should be worn indoors even if a person has been vaccinated, as infection rates have risen.
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