City of Lufkin Issues Emergency Face Mask Directive

As we reported on Friday, Mayor Bob Brown has issued a directive concerning the wearing of face masks and face coverings to help fight the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The Mayor is issuing a new emergency advisory directive that all commercial establishments post a sign requiring persons over the age of ten (10) wear some form of covering over their nose and mouth while in the establishment, such as an allergy mask, homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief.

The directive is advisory in nature because, according to Governor Greg Abbott’s newest executive order, “Individuals are encouraged to wear appropriate face coverings, but no jurisdiction can impose a civil or criminal penalty for failure to wear a face covering.”

Although Governor Abbott’s executive order makes enforcement of mandated mask-wearing effectively impossible, the order states clearly that a business may require “a customer to follow additional hygiene measures when obtaining services”.

“Ultimately, it is the individual responsibility of each person to protect themselves, their families, and others in our community. We are asking our commercial establishments and residents to work together to help us get through this difficult time,” said Mayor Bob Brown.

Best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include handwashing for at least 20 seconds, maintaining at least six feet of distance between yourself and others in public, utilizing hand sanitizer when needed, staying home when sick and wearing a face covering in public when social distancing is not possible.