Fort Worth will require masks until at least December as COVID-19 hangs on in DFW
Anyone out and about in Fort Worth will have to wear a mask until at least December to combat the spread of coronavirus.
The Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday voted to extend the city’s mask mandate until Dec. 1. It follows a similar extension from Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley who Tuesday morning said that even though cases are trending downward, it was not a time to relax precautions.
Councilman Cary Moon was the lone no vote on the extension. He did not explain his position prior to the vote.
The order reinforces Gov. Greg Abbott’s July 2 order, which requires people in counties with 20 or more confirmed COVID-19 cases to wear a face mask in buildings and businesses open to the public and outdoors where maintaining 6 feet of distance from another person isn’t feasible.
Tarrant County has reported 39,920 COVID-19 cases, including 515 deaths.
Vinny Taneja, the county’s public health director, said 10% of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, down from a high of 20% in July. Hospital visits because of COVID-19-like illnesses are also down.
Both of these are key statistics and show that face coverings are working, Taneja said.
