Texas Supreme Court sides with governor and temporarily blocks mask mandates

(CNN) — The Texas Supreme Court sided with Gov. Greg Abbott Sunday successful a ruling that temporarily blocks local mask mandates recently issued successful San Antonio and Dallas, nevertheless officials said they volition proceed to enforce astatine slightest a information of the disguise mandates, contempt the tribunal ruling.

The Texas Supreme Court granted enactment orders Sunday, but antecedently scheduled hearings connected section disguise mandates successful little courts successful Bexar and Dallas counties volition proceed arsenic scheduled.

Abbott issued an enforcement order last month that barred governmental entities, including schoolhouse districts, from requiring disguise wearing.

But officials successful Dallas County and Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, requested restraining orders against enforcement of Abbott’s order, which were granted.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Friday he appealed the little tribunal rulings to the Texas Supreme Court.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who asked for the impermanent restraining bid against Abbott’s enforcement order, reacted to the authorities Supreme Court determination connected Twitter Sunday, noting the impermanent injunction proceeding acceptable for Aug. 24 volition spell forward.

“We won’t halt moving with parents, doctors, schools, concern + others to support you and mean to triumph that [temporary injunction] hearing,” Jenkins said.

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said Sunday that his territory volition proceed to enforce a disguise mandate erstwhile students and unit instrumentality to territory campuses Monday morning, contempt the Texas Supreme Court ruling.

“The bid that was issued by the Supreme Court applied to Dallas County, and it’s listed, ‘Clay Jenkins and Dallas County,’ it did not accidental 1 connection astir Dallas ISD successful that order. And so, I person been connected the telephone with my attorneys each day and they are 100% unanimous,” Hinojosa said.

“We are going to person the disguise mandate tomorrow. We’re going to beryllium benevolent; we’re going to beryllium nice, but we’re going to beryllium steadfast and we’re going to enforce it,” the superintendent said.

Bexar County officials besides said Sunday nighttime they volition proceed to enforce the disguise mandate successful nationalist schools and metropolis facilities, contempt the authorities Supreme Court ruling.

“The City of San Antonio and Bexar County’s effect to the Texas Supreme Court continues to stress that the Governor cannot usage his exigency powers to suspend laws that supply section entities the needed flexibility to enactment successful an emergency,” San Antonio City Attorney Andy Segovia said successful a statement. “His suspension authorization is meant to facilitate action, not prohibit it,” Segovia noted.

“Bexar County Health Authority Dr. Junda Woo’s wellness directive mandating the usage of masks successful nationalist schools from pre-kindergarten done people 12th remains successful effect. City facilities volition besides proceed to necessitate the usage of masks for some unit and visitors,” Segovia’s connection reads.

The ruling is the latest in a bid of conflicts crossed the authorities — and the country — implicit disguise mandates arsenic schools cogwheel up for reopening and portion galore students stay ineligible for a Covid-19 vaccine. Children nether 12 are not yet allowed to get a vaccine successful the US.

On Saturday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 21,896 caller COVID-19 cases crossed the state.