A Texas judge on Wednesday ordered that residents of Harris County above the age of 10 must wear a mask in public, and violators can be fined up to $1,000.
District Court Judge Lina Hidalgo passed the order (pdf) on Wednesday. It will remain in effect for 30 days starting on April 27.
The measure met with criticism, mainly by Republican lawmakers.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said Hidalgo’s order was “the ultimate government overreach,” according to The Texas Tribune.
Asked about the public resistance to her order, Hidalgo said, “There’s always going to be a minority voice. … People are entitled to their opinions. But we needed to make clear it’s not a recommendation. It’s something we have to do for the sake of our safety, our lives, and our economy.”
Joe Gamaldi, president of the Houston Police Union (HPOU), said in a tweet the measure was draconian and called on police to not enforce the order.
“HPOU believes everyone should be wearing a mask in public, to protect themselves from the virus and we are encouraging all of our officers to wear a mask. However, we draw the line at the draconian measures Hidalgo has decided to engage in,” the HPOU said in a statement.
Gamaldi said in a statement that he was asking the Attorney General’s Office for “an opinion on the legality of imposing a criminal penalty/fine for anyone not wearing a mask in public.”
In defending her decision at a press conference on Wednesday, Hidalgo said, “I know this takes some getting used to, but these are all small yet powerful actions.”
