Governor Greg Abbott says Harris County residents won't be required to pay a fine for not wearing a mask during the coronavirus pandemic. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo passed an order last week requiring all residents over age ten to wear face masks in public or face a thousand-dollar fine and maybe up to six-months in jail. The 30-day order took effect on Monday. During his news conference the same day, Abbott recommended wearing masks for now, but said his state-level order supersedes local orders that carry fines for not wearing them. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said yesterday afternoon that no county or city orders can be stricter than the state orders Abbott put in place as retailers, restaurants, theaters and other businesses start to open up again.
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