Gov. Greg Abbott’s surprise announcement he was ordering an end to his mask mandate and opening occupancy back up to 100 percent statewide on March 10 was met with varying responses by local officials this week.
Burnet County Judge James Oakley said he does not see the county implementing anything more restrictive than what is already included in GA-34, the new executive order issued Tuesday by Abbott.
“I am inherently a local control individual and that boils down, somewhat, to individual control,” Oakley said. “Just because it says businesses don’t have to require it doesn’t mean people can’t wear one. A business can still require their customers to wear a mask just like ‘no shirt, no shoes, no service.’
“I know there has been a lot of COVID fatigue, even though you and I both know it is still out there, and people have got to be careful. As for myself, I do the best I can to distance myself from others, even when I may not have a mask on myself.
“Our numbers are more manageable right now,” Oakley added. “We are getting an influx of vaccine into our county and a number of people have already gotten or been exposed to COVID-19 and have recovered. I see the governor’s order as taking one more step back to normal.”
Oakley also said he believes the change will have a positive impact for businesses in Burnet County.
“I am really happy for our restaurants,” Oakley said. “They have suffered and if a person is not comfortable getting out, it shouldn’t matter if a restaurant is open 50 or 100 percent. Those people who are not comfortable getting out are not going to go there anyway.”
The Granite Shoals City Council will discuss the direction the city will take at the Tuesday, March 9 regular council meeting.
“Of course our number one goal is to keep the citizens of Granite Shoals safe,” Mayor Will Skinner said in an email statement.
Marble Falls ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen and Burnet Consolidated ISD Superintendent Keith McBurnett issued a joint statement Tuesday, indicating their school districts will still require the use of face masks at this time.
“Today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced plans to rescind Executive Order No. GA-29, commonly known as the mask mandate, on Wednesday, March 10,” the statement read. “Burnet CISD and Marble Falls ISD look forward to continued guidance from the Governor and Texas Education Agency regarding how this will impact schools. Until then, face covering will continue to be required in BCISD and MFISD schools and at associated events.”
Llano ISD Superintendent Mac Edwards also said his district will continue to require masks be worn on campus.
“To ensure the safety of our students and staff, we will continue to follow our COVID-19 safety protocols, which include wearing a mask,” Edwards said in a notification to the community. “All LISD campuses will continue to follow these protocols until we receive guidance from our Commissioner of Education to make the best decision for our district.”
The Texas Education Agency late Wednesday announced, “As a result of the lifting of the order on masks, TEA has updated its Public Health Guidance. Under this updated guidance, a public school system’s current practices on masks may continue unchanged. Local school boards have full authority to determine their local mask policy.”
Executive Order GA-34, issued symbolically on Tuesday, March 2 — the 185th anniversary of Texas Independence Day — rescinds most of Abbott’s earlier executive orders related to COVID-19. Taking effect March 10, the new order allows all businesses of any type to open to 100 percent capacity. Additionally, the order ends the statewide mask mandate in Texas. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion.
If COVID-19 hospitalizations in any of the 22 hospital regions in Texas get above 15 percent of the hospital bed capacity in that region for seven straight days, a county judge in that region may use COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
However, county judges may not impose jail time for not following COVID-19 orders nor may any penalties be imposed for failing to wear a face mask. If restrictions are imposed at a county level, those restrictions may not include reducing capacity to less than 50 percent for any type of entity.
Statewide, the average number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in terms of overall hospitalizations is only 9.52 percent as of March 7, while the average for Trauma Service Area 0, which includes Burnet and Llano counties, is at 7.42 percent and has not been above 15 percent since Feb. 8.
As of Tuesday, March 9, there were 3,840 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Burnet County, including 456 probable cases, and 216 active cases. There were 60 reported fatalities and 4,020 estimated recoveries.
As of Tuesday, March 9, there were 1,090 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Llano County, including 449 probable cases, and 87 active cases. There were 48 reported fatalities and 1,404 estimated recoveries.
