EL PASO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd July, 2020) Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order requiring residents to use face masks in public as a means to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the governor's office said in a statement on Thursday.
"Governor Greg Abbott today issued an executive order requiring all Texas to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions," the statement said.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Texas surged after Abbott decided to gradually reopen the economy when he let stay-at-home orders expire on May 1.
As of Wednesday, Texas reported 168,062 novel coronavirus cases and 2,481 virus-related deaths.
