MASKS

In-N-Out will bar employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media last week.

Boston has urged people to start wearing masks, and the Biden administration is weighing its next legal step in a court fight over the abrupt end of the national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit.

An end to the mask mandate for domestic airports and airlines?

Americans who have been clamoring for an end to mask-wearing have welcomed new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Starting this week, the masks are coming off for vaccinated visitors to Walt Disney World in Florida.

To mask or not to mask is a question that’s framed many a conversation about the return to school.  While Texas does not require school districts to mandate masks, some districts have instituted one.  Pearland ISD is among the districts to follow TEA guidelines and not require them.  A group of Pearland ISD parents who favor masks have come together with a compromise they say will help – at least at lunchtime: outdoor benches for students to eat lunch.

Travelers who refuse to wear masks could now face up to $3,000 in fines.

A nation more divided than ever? Experts weigh in on what we can do

A Fort Bend County District Judge granted a temporary injunction Thursday against Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order that prohibits county, city, and school districts officials from imposing mask mandates.

Two teachers at Austin-area schools are experiencing a not-so-pleasant start to the school year after being physically assaulted and verbally attacked by parents.

Governor Greg Abbott has the numbers on his side when it comes to the Texas Supreme Court and his executive order instituting mask mandates, according to KPRC 2 Legal Analyst Brian Wice,

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Thursday a health order requiring masks in schools and childcare centers.

Following a reversal of guidelines regarding mask-wearing made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), multiple U.S. retailers and food chains have announced they’re reinstating their mask policies.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo discussed her support for Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II Tuesday on his desire to have a mask mandate for the district, as well as her feelings about Gov. Greg Abbott.

Louisiana on Monday reinstated a mask mandate in all indoor locations, including schools and colleges, as the state struggles with a fast-growing fourth surge of COVID-19 driven by the delta variant and one of the nation’s lowest vaccination rates.

Disney World and Disneyland announced that they will require masks indoors again starting at the end of July, according to the company’s website.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is asking all vaccinated residents in Harris County to mask up again due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the community.

Masks had started to disappear from store shelves but they may be front and center again.

During a live interview on KPRC 2 News at 5, Gov. Greg Abbott said despite the rise in COVID-19 cases in the US, he will not impose another mask mandate.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of pediatric Covid-19 cases has doubled in the last few weeks.

Kids at summer camps can skip wearing masks outdoors, with some exceptions.

Not everyone is giving up wearing a face mask despite the latest government guidance that means fully vaccinated Americans can uncover their faces in many cases.

Many Houston-area school districts are adjusting their mask requirements, as COVID-19 vaccines are becoming more widespread, including the authorization to allow children as young as 12 to receive the vaccination.

More than 170,000 counterfeit N95 face masks were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Houston Seaport.

LEAGUE CITY, Texas – An arrest warrant has been issued for a 53-year-old man who police say stabbed a Jack in the Box assistant store manager multiple times after refusing to wear a face mask. On Wednesday, League City police responded to reports of an aggravated assault at the Jack in the Box restaurant located at 1503 W. League City Parkway around 8:10 p.m. The assistant manager was stabbed three times in the arm and upper torso, police said. The assistant store manager was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released. Anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to contact the League City Police Department.

An Uber sticker is seen on a car windshield on the street in downtown Miami on January 9, 2020. (Photo by Eva Marie UZCATEGUI / AFP) (Photo by EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images)An Uber driver was attacked by passengers in his car after he ended the ride because they did not want to wear a mask. A dashcam video showing the passengers coughing at the driver and assaulting him has surfaced online, going viral across social media. According to Fox 10, the incident occurred Sunday afternoon in San Francisco where a mask mandate requires rideshare passengers to wear a face covering. According to Fox 10, police say one of the women pepper-sprayed the driver as they got out of the car.

LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – Starting Wednesday, students and teachers at Tarkington ISD were not required to wear a mask at schools. Noel has three children in third, fourth and seventh grades at Tarkington ISD schools. The school board voted to make masks optional after asking the parents in a poll. Humble ISD has made changes saying students under 10 years old do not have to mask up. “Hopefully, they’ll have some common sense and understanding that people still need to wear their masks because it’s still a pandemic out here,” said Fred Fisher.

HOUSTON – Masks will no longer be mandatory at Texas businesses starting Wednesday, March 10, per Gov. “Tomorrow I am not going to be enforcing the mask mandate because I think it’s up to the individual,” Contello said. AdShe added that customers can still choose to wear a mask if it would make them more comfortable while shopping. “If you want to stay home, stay home and be safe,” she added. Let’s get our life back on track.”Joseph said he hopes people who may not agree with his stance, not take it out on his restaurant’s employees.

HOUSTON – Houston attractions wasted no time Wednesday announcing how they will handle Gov. Space HoustonSpace Center Houston is in compliance with directives of health officials and CDC guidelines. Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, is located on government property. AdGuests without masks will not be allowed entry to Space Center Houston. AdMoody GardenMoody Garden said they would require employees to wear masks.

Greg Abbott wears a face mask as he arrives for a news conference where he provided an update to Texas' response to COVID-19, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Bartender Katie McGranahan pours a beer at the Saint Arnold Brewing Company Friday, June 26, 2020, in Houston. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Are bar owners obligated to require that customers wear a mask? Answer: Yes, all individuals inside a bar establishment must wear a mask. Send it our way, and we will try to hunt down an answer.

HOUSTON – Auto maker Ford is distributing masks in several Texas cities, including Houston, throughout the month of February, as part of a partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund and the United Auto Workers Union. The goal is to donate 120 million masks to at-risk communities across the country by mid-2021, an increase from 100 million in the past year. Houstonians can visit a participating Ford dealership to pick up a 20-pack of masks on Feb. 23 at no cost while supplies last. The masks are still in their testing phase and are expected to be available later this year. AdEasy-to-build air filtration kits are also in the testing phase, which supplements a room’s existing filtration system to help reduce the risk of COVID-19.

A visitor wearing a mask to protect against the spread of COVID-19 passes a sign requiring masks, Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in San Antonio. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Am I exempt from mask requirements if I’ve already received the COVID-19 vaccine? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends mask-wearing for individuals who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, experts are still learning more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions.

“Maybe we need to produce some masks that have a little bit more layers,” Virginia Weigel said. “But not so much thickness, but a little more filtration perhaps.”But medical professionals are welcoming the new guidance. “When you’re at the grocery store, when you’re where there are more people around if you’re traveling,” she said. “If you’re at the doctor’s office it’s probably a good idea.”Dr. Sarfraz Aly with Oakbend Medical Center would concur. “People need to wear the right mask and a good mask,” Safraz said.

David Ake, File)FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida legislator wants President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club fined and closed temporarily for hosting a New Year’s Eve party where few of the 500 guests wore masks as they sang, shouted and danced indoors for hours in possible violation of local coronavirus ordinances. They show patrons packed together on the dance floor as rapper Vanilla Ice, Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love and singer Taylor Dayne performed. He said Mar-a-Lago will be treated just like any other business and a decision should be made shortly. Vanilla Ice is playing the Mar-a-Lago New Years Eve party. Last month, a Mar-a-Lago neighbor filed a complaint with the Town of Palm Beach challenging Trump’s possible move to Mar-a-Lago after he leaves office this month.

Health authorities have changed their guidance on who should wear masks and when to wear them. Here's a look at how what we know about masks has changed, and how government officials are increasingly getting behind the idea of mandating the use of masks. But when BOTH people are wearing masks, that produced the best result. For example, study participants who were supposed to wear masks sometimes didn’t. The president also held rallies that brought together thousands of supporters, most of them not wearing masks.

A new simulation study suggests that a person coughing can traject droplets beyond six feet, CNN reports. According to CNN, the new study, published on Tuesday in the journal Physics of Fluids found this puts people shorter than the person coughing – such as children – at greater risk of being exposed to cough droplets. “Young children may be at greater risk compared to adults based on the typical downward cough trajectory. Teenagers and short adults are advised to maintain a social distance greater than 2 m from taller persons,” the study says according to CNN. According to CNN, the results of the study are based on simulation models and not real-life experiments.

A lot of this election has been focused on the pandemic but the virus itself doesn’t identify with a political party. In fact, the virus can cause severe complications in any age group, although the most harm is often to the elderly and chronically ill.KPRC 2 wanted to debunk one myth that’s been thrown around: Masks will go away after the election. So, in any county with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, people must wear masks with few exceptions. Although many elements of the pandemic have been politicized, of all the doctors and hospital CEOs interviewed by KPRC 2 Health Reporter Haley Hernandez, none of them anticipate mask orders going away after the election. “It’s not going to go away and God willing we’ll get a vaccine soon.

Still, creating 700 face masks seems to transcend just “the basics,” wouldn’t you say? Moore’s personal project started in April, when Gleaners Community Food Bank asked for help from the community in making face masks for the group’s volunteers, and Moore decided she would lend a hand. Now she estimates she’s made hundreds of face masks for anyone who needs one. She uses some basic patterns and others that are a little more fun, and said she’s working on 50 Halloween-themed masks at the moment. When COVID-19 started, Moore was laid off for three months, so she had some extra time on her hands.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. HOUSTON – At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Is it okay to hang my face mask in my rear-view mirror? Answer: According to AAA, the short answer is no.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Can you wear your face covering and still have your legally LTC concealed firearm on your person? Wearing a face covering to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19 does not inhibit those with licensed-to-carry firearms on them in Texas, whether openly or concealed, according to research from librarians at the Texas State Law Library. A blog post from Texas-based BCP Criminal Defense Attorneys also states that wearing a mask while carrying a gun is not a criminal offense under Texas law. The law firm says that if the facial covering is worn to reduce COVID-19 contagion, individuals are able to wear the mask and still carry the concealed weapon with a valid permit.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump was participating in a televised “town hall” with uncommitted voters Tuesday night, a warm up of sorts two weeks before he faces Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the first presidential debate. Trump has been unusually mum on his debate preparations ahead of the first debate, scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland. Trump, in the Fox interview, lowered expectations for his Democratic opponent's performance, judging Biden “a disaster” and “grossly incompetent” in the primary debates. The second of the three scheduled debates, set to be held in Miami on Oct. 15, will feature a similar “town meeting” style. Biden is to have his own opportunity to hone his skills taking questions from voters on Thursday, when he participates in a televised town hall hosted by CNN.

HOUSTON A ban on Black Lives Matter face masks at Needville High School has some parents and students accusing the school and district of bias and silencing students trying to express their first amendment rights to free speech. She says she questioned his rationale and asked why other students are allowed to wear masks that say Trump on them, apparently in support of President Donald Trump. The Needville Independent School District did not answer KPRC 2s specific questions regarding students being allowed to wear Trump masks. When a student wore a Black Lives Matter face mask, that student was told the same thing that face mask was not permitted. The district recognizes that it is important to provide students with guidance regarding what face masks are permitted and which are not.

This time last year, we were beginning to talk about what kinds of fun costumes and masks we might wear for Halloween. Nowadays, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, masks are an every day, everywhere kind of thing. In an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus, masks have been mandated for wear in plenty of places, so perhaps your mask has become second nature. That not only makes it a little more fun for those wearing the masks, but for us who are out people-watching (and unable to actually see people’s faces). And perhaps you just might give some others some fun ideas to work with.

MADRID – Masks will be mandatory for all students in Spain, ages 6 or older, when returning to schools in September because of increased coronavirus cases, the government announced Thursday. Previously, masks were only required for students above age 12 by some Spanish regions. Students will receive a daily body temperature check, must wash hands at least five times per day and classrooms will need frequent ventilation, the government said. That allows localized quarantines if there’s a positive test, rather than closing entire schools. Parents and teachers have expressed concern, with new waves of outbreaks since the country emerged from a strict lockdown.

HOUSTON A local family is helping during the pandemic and showing support for the Houston Astros. From inside a room, with a couple sewing machines, fabric and thread, a family and volunteers sew masks. I think weve given away over 1,000 (masks), we lost track after 1,000, said Nguyen Le. The Le family is proving a mask cant cover up love for the Houston Astros. To donate to the Sunflower Mission visit: https://www.sunflowermission.org/To order a mask, visit: agswin.com.

HOUSTON As Texas is under a statewide mask order, Houstonians have gone above and beyond to get a little creative. Having a fashionable mask can bring out the personality out of people. Our followers from our KPRC 2 Facebook and Twitter pages showed us their masks, whether they made it themselves, or bought it to support mask makers. Check out gallery below and see how our Facebook and Twitter followers are being fashionable with their amazing masks. Full Screen 1 / 38 LeighAnn Reid Gaskill

As a part of a protest, anti-maskers are covering up by wearing non-protective masks to make a political statement. The protesters argument is that mask mandates are about compliance, not safety. To prove this, protesters are visiting stores that have a mask requirement while wearing a one made of a breathable material such as mesh. I wore a mask that is designed for protecting your face in a paintball battle. It was almost like not wearing a mask at all.

If you are still looking for that perfect design, we compiled a list of 11 local shops you can support. The boutique offers Chloe Daos locally made collections, as well as carefully curated merchandise that are one of a kind. Website: forthandnomad.comPhone: (713) 814-8198Location: 731 Yale St. Houston, TX 77007Memorial TailorsAbout the Company: Mario Duarte has been in business since 1993 servicing in Houston. Website: memorial-tailors.square.site/Phone: (713) 461-2230Location: 9774 Katy Fwy Suite 350 Houston, TX 770554401 Montrose Blvd Houston, TX 77006Sam & DavyAbout the Shop: Sam & Davy - The POP UP is located at River Oaks. The boutique offers handmade and customized nap mats, blankets, pillows, baby bedding and more.

As school districts continue to finalize their plans for the 2020-21 school year, the Texas Education Agency announced Tuesday that all Texas parents will get a choice on whether or not to send their children back to school. All Texas students must maintain at least 90% attendance in order to be awarded credit for a course and be promoted to the next grade. If you want to send your kids to schoolPer the new guidance, schools and districts will have to offer on-campus learning for children whose parents want to send their children to school each day. If you do send your children to school, masks will be required while in school buildings, per Gov. If parents choose to keep their children home from school at any point during the school year, TEA says they may have to commit to remote learning for an entire grading period — 6 to 9 weeks.

Question: Will my child have to wear a mask when school reopens? Greg Abbott’s latest executive order, which requires all Texans to wear masks while in public settings and buildings. Also, TEA officials said it may be impractical for students to wear masks or face shields while participating in some non-UIL athletic or other extracurricular activities. However, schools must require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks or face shields as they arrange themselves in positions that will allow them to maintain safe distancing. All students, teachers, staff and visitors coming to campus will also be screened before being allowed on campus.

Of course, on the list is face masks but they have also requested face shields and several of you have asked if they’re effective. “I think face shields are a good alternative to masks in a situation and for people for whom masks might be a bit of a challenge,” Haddock explained. “Especially for people who may have hearing difficulties and need to see faces and facial expressions, face shields can be a good option.”She mentioned people with sensory issues may also prefer shields. The TEA hasn’t said yet what districts will get face shields or how they might be used. As for the current mask order, according to guidelines, face shields are an okay substitute.

Greg Abbott signed an executive order Thursday requiring all Texans to wear masks or face coverings while in public and in businesses. Local law enforcement and officials “can and should enforce this executive order,” when appropriate, the order states. They are also expected to enforce any other statewide executive orders and local orders that are consistent with Abbott’s orders. If a business was caught in violation of the Harris County order, Hidalgo said that they could face a fine of up to $1,000. A representative for her office shared this message with us: “Our order is staying in place, but the governor’s order supersedes local ones.

HOUSTON – Fort Bend Bend County Judge KP George extended the county’s mask order until July 31, the county announced Tuesday. The order requires all commercial entities within Fort Bend County that provided goods and services directly to the public, to require that all employees and visitors to wear face coverings or masks. We must continue making decisions that unequivocally put people above politics and protect human life.”Additional details on the Mask Up Order can be found here. The Fort Bend County mask mandate extension came on the same day as an extension in Harris County as well. Earlier Tuesday, Harris County Commissioners voted 3-2 to extend the county’s disaster declaration which included a mask mandate, through August 26.

HOUSTON – Harris County Commissioners voted 3-2 to extend the county’s disaster declaration till August 26 Tuesday afternoon. BREAKING: By a 3-2 vote, Harris County Commission extends COVID-19 Disaster Declaration until August 26. According to spokeperson for Judge Hidalgo, because the mask order falls under this declaration, that is also extended to August 26. But a group of Harris County business owners took the mask order to court, asking a judge to stop it. The mask mandate went into effect Monday, June 22, and was set to expire Tuesday if the Harris County Commissioners did not vote to extend it.

“Because of these masks there is no way for me to communicate with anyone who doesn’t know sign language,” said Patricia. That is because, in American Sign Language, the facial movements and expressions are the grammar of the language. Communicating with a deaf person while wearing masksPatricia says don’t avoid communicating with a deaf person. If you encounter a deaf person it’s really great to just act it out,” said Patricia, “When in doubt, act it out if you don’t know how to communicate with a deaf person. “Deaf people don’t usually have a very good understanding of written English because English is not our first language,” said Patricia.

CONROE, Texas – Face masks are presenting an obstacle for the deaf and hard of hearing. Now she feels the deaf are not being given the exception to the rule she thinks they need. People who wear hearing aids have to remove them before an operation and everyone in the room is wearing masks. “It’s hard to find them and it’s hard to ask everyone to have that just for the deaf community but that is a really nice asset,” she said. “That is something that is up and coming that attempts to meet the needs of the deaf community.”

LA PORTE, Texas – A member of the La Porte City Council said he was escorted out of Monday night’s council meeting for refusing to wear a face mask. The council started the meeting with a vote requiring everyone at the front table to cover their faces. Reached by phone on Tuesday night, Councilman Steve Gillett said he made the motion and raised concerns about his own health. Both sides said the other could take part in the meeting remotely, even in another room in La Porte City Hall. Garza said he plans to attend the next council meeting and will not be wearing a mask.

HOUSTON – Houston and Harris County residents are split on how they feel about Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s executive order that requires business owners to mandate that all customers and employees wear masks. In a Facebook poll posted Friday night, KPRC 2 viewers were split 61% to 39% on how they felt about the order. 📣 SOUND OFF: 📣 Do you agree with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's decision to have businesses require employees and customers to wear masks or face a $1,000 fine? https://bit.ly/2YORbxq Posted by KPRC2 / Click2Houston on Friday, June 19, 2020Many made their feelings known in comments on Facebook as well. A question KPRC 2 asked people on Facebook garnered hundreds of comments with people explaining why they agreed or disagreed with the order.

Are we soon going to be required to wear masks everywhere? This would likely require people to wear masks inside of businesses (employees and customers). If you test negative for COVID should you take an antibody test? If you are trying to determine if you previously had the virus, you can take an antibody test. What can an antibody test do?

HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner accepted 500,000 reusable face masks generously donated to the city of Houston by Focus Humanitarian USA (FOCUS USA) and the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States. Upon receiving the masks, Turner expressed his gratitude towards the Ismaili community, which he says has always supported the Houston community in times of need. As the number of positive coronavirus cases rise in Houston, Turner has strongly encouraged residents to wear a mask in public spaces. “We are in a public health crisis now, and face masks can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” Turner said. As a part of the city’s overall response efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, face masks will be distributed among Houston residents and first responders.

As Texas starts to experience the second peak in COVID-19 infections, H-E-B shoppers are calling on the company to do its part in limiting the spread of the virus by mandating its mask policy again. A petition created by David Spener on Change.org explains that the Texas-based supermarket dropped the requirement for shoppers to wear a mask because Gov. Greg Abbott has not granted local governments the power to legally require people in public places to wear masks, according to H-E-B representatives. Speners argument is that H-E-B, a private company, has the right to require its customers to wear masks in their stores. The petition demanding H-E-B reinstate its mask policy for the benefit of its partners, shoppers, and the wider public in Texas, has garnered nearly 40,000 signatures as of Wednesday.

HOUSTON We did a call out asking how you would rate Houston and its use of masks on a scale of 1 - 10. Very few people rated the use of masks in Houston above five. Heres what people had to say:Where I shop almost everyone wears masks and distancing--rate 9-10 .. I see a lot of people not wearing masks and acting like the pandemic is over.0. Next went to Kroger and 6 employees had masks dangling under chin.

Houston firefighters are being supplied with PPE thanks to a Bellaire High School student. Gracie Liu, 15, set up a Go Fund Me account to raise money to purchase masks for the Houston Fire Department. The idea came to Liu after participating in a program to provide supplies for hospitals. Liu was able to raise enough funds to purchase 5,000 masks which she will donate to the Houston Fire Department.

HOUSTON – Some masks, or the way you wear them, can trap heat and cause more humidity which also damages your skin. While it’s mostly only recommended to wear masks indoors, if you do wear one outside because you plan to be around a lot of people, infectious disease doctor, Linda Yancey, MD, from Memorial Hermann in Katy said paper masks might be most comfortable. “If you are wearing a cloth mask, take two or three and swap them out as they become damp. They’re going to be more effective with a dry mask and the lovely thing about cloth masks is you can launder them. So, wash your mask every night and you have nice fresh masks in the morning,” Yancey said.

The aim is to make drinking and eating easier, as the masks’ zippers provide access to your mouth. This face cover is designed to make living with coverage easier by allowing easy access to consume food or beverages. Before putting on the face cover, clean hands with alcohol-based hand wash or soap and water. Replace the face cover with a new one if it gets damp. What do you think about the zipper masks?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with state and local officials are recommending that people wear face masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Here’s a look at some of the different types of face masks. When properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of other types of masks. Many are now fashioning their own masks or buying homemade masks. A good homemade face masks should have multiple layers of fabric and fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, according to the CDC.

Brazoria County has encouraged residents to wear a face covering when out in public, but it is not mandated. Fort Bend County Judge KP George highly recommends residents to wear protective gear when going out. Galveston County will not be issuing any orders mandating citizens to wear a mask or face covering in public, county judge Mark Henry announced on April 22. Galveston County will not be issuing any orders mandating citizens to wear masks or face coverings in public. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough issued a statement that he will not mandate residents to wear a mask in public places.

Now, a local hospital says they’re reusing their N95 masks to ensure they’ll have enough to keep them going through this pandemic. Memorial Hermann is using specialized technology to sterilize these masks. That depends on the kind you're using. You can’t clean surgical masks. You’re still supposed to avoid touching your face while wearing masks.

All rights reserved)Willacy County, which covers parts of South Padre Island, is enforcing its residents to wear a mask when out in public. Or face a$1,000 fine. The requirement also states surgical masks or N95 respirators should not be worn and should continue to be reserved for medical professionals on the frontline. The order states those found in violation of the order can be fined up to $1,000. “The penalty for violating the Mandatory Cloth Face Covering requirement of the provision shall be punishable by a fine not exceed $1,000.000 per violation,” the order reads.

We spoke to one Houston area woman who’s during her part to end the COVID-19 pandemic by making masks. You can get a mask by calling Tammy Rojas at (281) 914-1847. Masks are $5.

In case you missed it, health officials are now recommending that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings, for example, in spots where it might be difficult to maintain social distancing. Just keep in mind: “These face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Cloth face coverings are especially important to wear in public in areas of widespread COVID-19 illness.”Got it. Wearing cloth face coverings is an additional public health measure. “Cloth face coverings can be made from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost,” the CDC said.

Take a look at some of the crafty mask designs people are creating. My kind, creative 11 year old decided to hand sew #masks for us + our neighbours. ⬇️⬇️#virus #masks #dropbelow pic.twitter.com/Egn0o7D7rJ — Micah Marshall (@passamicah) April 6, 2020Our #COVID19 #masks are all set. 🥰 pic.twitter.com/Avwhe4K57F — Hali Who (@haliallen) April 5, 2020Currently making #masks for those who want a little something but dont want to take the filtered ones from healthcare professionals. #Masks4All pic.twitter.com/ZdszxvEkSi — alcaeus (@alcaeus) April 2, 2020#AllInIllinois Making masks.

HOUSTON – The debate over using cloth masks is ongoing tonight and under active discussion. Houstonian, Kat Mack makes about 30 cloth masks a day for children and adults. “They’re not the N95 masks, they don’t have the extra filtration but what my masks does is it allows the health care professionals to have the masks that they need," said Mack. Mack is a photographer by trade who decided she would use the extra time at home to begin sewing the masks. “The idea of getting a much more broad community wide use of masks outside of the health care setting is under very active discussion,” Fauci said.

Here is what you need to know about respirator masks and their effectiveness to protect against COVID-19:What is a respirator mask? How often should respirator masks be switched out? Respirator masks and facial hairThere are certain facial hair styles that may interfere with the effectiveness in protection against the coronavirus while wearing respirators. Other effective respirator masksOther respirator masks approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health include N99, N100, P95, P99, P100, R95, R99 and R100, according to the CDC. Find respirator masks in HoustonTo find a list of medical supply stores selling N95 respirators and their availability click here.