"COVID-19 is not going away," said the governor in the announcement above published on his social media accounts. Hidalgo County also issued a new mask order, while leaders in Travis and Dallas counties are exploring their options. The court extended … HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced during a news conference Monday that police will start issuing citations for those who don’t follow Gov.

Click or tap play on the video for Mayor Sylvester Turner's breakdown of his latest aggressive approach to Houston's coronavirus crisis.

He said HPD’s tally of infected and quarantined officers has grown “very rapidly,” with 108 testing positive and 64 awaiting test results.“What we need is for people to stop worrying about selfish interests and think about the collective interests,” Acevedo said.

The order … He also urged Houstonians not to “get mad at the police officers.”“It’s all about public health and driving our numbers down, especially when in-person schooling is scheduled to start in September,” Turner said. All rights reserved. The order comes after Texas Gov. Bexar and Travis counties in the San Antonio and Austin areas issued similar orders.

FILE PHOTO: Houston Police Officers Union supports the wearing of masks, but objects to the county executives making them mandatory One of Europe’s most wanted ISIS terrorists busted in Spain wearing Covid-19 mask as DISGUISE‘Americans won’t stand for it’: Outrage and protests as mother arrested for letting children play in park “Encourage those to wear a mask, just as we have done from day one, and remember you have discretion on Class C (misdemeanor) offenses.”Abbott’s mask order exempts people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing face coverings and does not apply to people who are eating or exercising outside, among other exceptions.Turner said Houston police would not respond to 911 calls about people not wearing masks. The department now has a total of 31 firefighters who are positive for COVID-19 and none hospitalized, Peña said.The mayor in April instructed police not to issue fines or citations for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s mask order, winning favor among some of Hidalgo’s critics. Harris County, Texas officials may learn the hard way the wisdom of never issuing an order they know will not be obeyed, as the Houston police union signaled it would exercise discretion in enforcing their face mask … In Bexar County, which includes … The mayor said about 18 percent of tests are coming back positive in Houston, a rate that, like hospitalization levels, has dropped recently but remains high.Under Turner’s new directive, police will continue to issue warnings at first, as Abbott’s order requires, before fining people $250 for a second offense.“For months, we have been focusing on education and not citations, but now I am instructing the Houston Police Department to issue the necessary warnings and citations to anyone not wearing a mask in public if they do not meet the criteria for an exemption,” he said.Police Chief Art Acevedo, who was appointed by Turner, agreed with the mayor’s order, saying it would help limit the spread of the coronavirus. Mask Up. The mandate applies to everyone over the age of 10 and will last at least 30 days, and maybe longer.Several hours earlier, the Houston police officers’ union denounced the incoming mask mandate asTexas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick brought up the hospital in criticizing Hidalgo for On the same day they are moving to close $60M hospital because it wasn’t needed The rift between the judge and the lieutenant-governor is both generational and political. Before Monday, he had told police largely to issue warnings when enforcing the governor’s order.In April, Houston Police Officers’ Union President Joe Gamaldi Gamaldi, asked for comment on Turner’s order Monday, referred the Chronicle to the union’s statement to members that said, “While a $250 citation may be issued for anyone repeatedly refusing to comply and do not have a condition that exempts them, we also want to remind you that you should always give a verbal warning first and then use your discretion after that.”“Under no circumstances shall a person be arrested for only failing to wear a mask,” the union’s statement continued. Starting Monday, every resident of the third-largest county in the US will be subject to a fine if they are caught in public without some kind of face covering, county executive Judge Lina Hidalgo announced on Wednesday. A new mask order could be issued by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo today due to COVID-19. WATCH VIDEOS. A $250 fine will be issued. Harris County, Texas officials may learn the hard way the wisdom of never issuing an order they know will not be obeyed, as the Houston police union signaled it would exercise discretion in enforcing their face mask mandate. Houston … Mayor Sylvester Turner has officially instructed Houston police to start citing people who flout mask orders. Lives are at stake.”At the county level, Hidalgo can suggest what enforcement approach Harris County’s numerous law enforcement agencies take, but the ultimate decision rests on officials at various municipalities and law enforcement agencies, not the county judge.Hidalgo spokesman Rafael Lemaitre said the judge is continuing to urge law enforcement agencies to use the order’s enforcement provisions “to encourage compliance,” but he did not indicate any change in Hidalgo’s position.“Education, of course, is always the priority, but law enforcement has had the latitude to issue citations when they see fit,” Lemaitre said. “Fall is right around the corner with flu season.