Effectively, the ruling allows Bexar County and San Antonio officials to issue a mask mandate in public schools and other guidance like quarantine protocol - for now.
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Judge delivers blow to Texas Gov. Abbott’s ban on mandates, allows San Antonio to require masks in schools
Temporary restraining order allows San Antonio, Bexar County to impose mask mandates
San Antonio leaders
scored a victory in court against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday in the
ongoing fight over mask mandates.
A Bexar County Civil District Court Judge granted the city and Bexar County’s request for a temporary restraining order against Abbott’s
executive order banning mask mandates in schools.
Effectively, the ruling allows Bexar County and San Antonio officials to issue a mask mandate in public schools and other guidance like quarantine protocol — for now. Officials say they plan to have an order issued by the end of Tuesday. No details have been released yet on the guidance but officials will hold a
live press conference at 6:10 p.m.
The order was granted after an hour-long hearing by 57th Civil District Court with Judge Toni Arteaga.
Arteaga said an affidavit from Metro Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Junda Woo weighed heavily in her decision, as did the vulnerability of children who are returning to school amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
“I don’t do this lightly,” Arteaga said.
The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until another court hearing slated for Monday.
With the ruling, the city and county will “immediately issue an order requiring masks in public schools and requiring quarantine if an unvaccinated student is determined to be in close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual,” according to a news release. According to documents presented in court, they will also require face masks for employees of Bexar County and San Antonio and visitors to city and county facilities.
The ruling is the first court loss for Abbott’s ban on coronavirus mandates, which have been
challenged across the state in recent days.
“We can get back to managing what is a very dangerous surge of this delta variant in schools and otherwise,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said shortly after the ruling.
“This is a big day for the children of Bexar County and the citizens of our community,” Bexar County Judge Nelson Woff said.