Education leaders in rural communities stuck in a political tug-of-war over mask mandates
Rural communities like Uvalde and Medina counties are seeing a surge in COVID-19 infections. School districts are already reporting multiple COVID-19 cases in the first few weeks of school, some almost double what they saw all of last school year.
Students with disabilities file federal lawsuit against Texas Gov. Abbott, TEA over mask mandate ban
Disability Rights Texas filed the lawsuit on behalf of 14 child plaintiffs saying the ban violates federal anti-discrimination law under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Appeals court sides against Gov. Abbott, upholds Bexar County mask mandate in schools
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton were dealt another blow in court on Friday after the Fourth Court of Appeals sided against them in their efforts to undo Bexar Countyโs mask mandate in public schools.
Gov. Abbott argues San Antonioโs mask mandate will โshatterโ Texasโ ability to respond to pandemic
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal Thursday seeking to reverse a Bexar County judgeโs temporary restraining order that allowed the county to mandate masks in school.
Texas coronavirus cases havenโt surged since Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mask order. Experts warn itโs too soon to celebrate.
More than a month has passed since Gov. Greg Abbott ended virtually all statewide restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Nationwide, new coronavirus cases are on the rise as new variants of the virus spread. And about four-fifths of Texans are not yet fully vaccinated.
New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD diverge on mask mandate as politics, science clash
AdIn New Braunfels ISD, which serves more low-income and Latino students, the school board opted to survey parents, resulting in a vote to keep the school mask mandate. One Comal ISD board member, Marty Bartlett, cited the arguments of well-known conspiracy theorists and vaccine skeptics who say masks are government overreach, not sound science. His margins were widest in the rural areas in Comal ISD and smaller in New Braunfels ISD. The two districts, both headquartered in New Braunfels, the largest city in the county, have subtle but important differences: New Braunfels ISD is majority students of color (54%) to Comal ISDโs 48%; 38% of New Braunfels ISD students qualify for free and reduced lunch, while 30% qualify in Comal ISD. His comment โ and the feedback from Hennesseeโs and Yorkโs districts โ suggests the tension between conservative and ultraconservative viewpoints exists not just between New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD, but within Comal ISD as well.
Woman refuses to wear mask in Texas, again, gets arrested
Police identified the woman in the video as Terry Wright. GALVESTON, Texas โ An Oregon woman who was recorded on police body camera video refusing to wear a mask at a Texas bank last week was arrested Wednesday after declining to wear a mask inside another Texas business. Terry Wright, 65, already had a warrant out for her arrest after she refused to wear a mask in a Bank of America branch in Galveston, Texas, last Thursday. Terry Wright was charged with resisting arrest and criminal trespass last week after refusing to wear a face mask inside a Galveston bank. In the widely seen video of Wright's confrontation with the officer at the Galveston bank, Wright stands in the bankโs lobby, surrounded by other customers, all of whom were wearing masks.
Mask use still recommended, emphasized by doctors
โThe hope is that many people will continue to wear masks because the mandate doesnโt prohibit them. AdHow you wear a mask and where you go indoors, in particular, may actually re-emphasize the need for protection. Alsip said if you werenโt wearing a double mask or two layers before, this might be a good time to begin considering that. โWeโve heard from any number of people who have decided theyโre not going to do certain activities now because they canโt be as sure that other individuals will be wearing masks, Alsip said. You can view the MMWR report below:Related Stories:
San Antonio continues mask enforcement in city-owned buildings, River Walk
SAN ANTONIO โ The City of San Antonio will continue to enforce face masks in city-owned buildings and the River Walk, as well as by city contractors, until further notice. โTo ensure that face mask guidelines are followed we will have signage in all City facilities and our mask policy will be strictly enforced.โRELATED: Texasโ statewide mask mandate expires March 10. Officials say masks will be required on the city-owned River Walk if people cannot maintain social distance. AdThe city will develop a scaled reopening of facilities over the next several weeks. The next in-person city council โA Sessionโ meeting will be on April 8, and the โB sessionโ meetings will continue to be held online until further notice.
Texas no longer has a statewide mask mandate. But face coverings are still required in some businesses and public places.
A sign in South Austin asks customers to wear a mask inside the business on March 3. The state is no longer under a mandate that people wear masks in public places. (Credit: Evan LโRoy/The Texas Tribune)Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Texasโ statewide mask mandate has ended as of March 10. Several Democratic leaders called the executive order โdangerous,โ including President Joe Biden, who said it was a โbig mistakeโ to end the mask mandate.
Should my business continue to post mask rules? Hereโs what owners need to know.
SAN ANTONIO โ With the Texas mask mandate ending on Wednesday, business owners may be questioning if theyโre required to continue posting mask rules for their patrons to see at the front of their establishment. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has updated the countyโs emergency order to address those concerns. Texas mask mandate is ending, but businesses in San Antonio can still require themThe order states that all commercial entities providing goods and services to the public must continue to post and implement a health and safety policy. The policy must be developed to fit the businessesโ needs and under state health guidelines. Click here or see below to read the updated order:
Poteet Strawberry Festival will โstrongly encourageโ guests to wear face masks
SAN ANTONIO โ Organizers of the Poteet Strawberry Festival will require volunteers and staff to wear face coverings but will only ask guests to do the same. The Poteet Strawberry Festival Association on Monday said they โstrongly encourageโ the use of masks during the event that will bring food, live music and a carnival to the town on April 9-11. Greg Abbott will lift the statewide mask mandate. KSAT has reached out to the Poteet Strawberry Festival to see if it will update the capacity limit. Organizers said the festival is a โcrucial source of fundingโ for the community.
Labor activists call for Gov. Abbott to reconsider mask reversal until 70% of essential workers are vaccinated against COVID-19
Texas is lifting a COVID-19 mask mandate that was imposed last summer but has only been lightly enforced. (AP Photo/LM Otero)AUSTIN, Texas โ A few dozen activists rallied Monday at the Texas Capitol to protest Gov. Greg Abbottโs decision to lift his order requiring Texans to don masks. They called for Abbott to reconsider last weekโs decision until 70% of the stateโs essential workers are vaccinated against COVID-19. The number of cases requiring hospitalization continued to trend lower with 4,329 reported Sunday, the most recent data available from the state.
San Antonio brothers launch app to help customers review COVID-19 safety protocols at area businesses
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio brothers Jason and Elijah Whang created a free app that will help customers rate businesses on their COVID-19 safety protocols. Jason, 21, a student at Brown University and Elijah, an 11th grader at BASIS San Antonio Shavano Campus, launched the Co-Crit app in January and say they have had about 350 downloads since then. โIf we knew the business was really safe, it would make us feel a lot more comfortable going to each business,โ Elijah said. The brothers compare the app to something like Yelp, where customers can review their experience. The brothers feel the app will become even more useful when Texas opens up completely on Wednesday.
Popular San Antonio bar will not require customers and employees to wear masks after March 10
While many businesses have decided to continue requiring masks for both customers and employees, one of San Antonioโs most popular bars is taking a bold stance to help their business survive. โYou can now go (up) to the bar, order (and) sit at the bar,โ said Justin Vitek, owner of Hills and Dales Ice House. โWe havenโt gotten cited this whole entire time (by TABC or the city) so, weโve been abiding by all the rules.โVitek admits he was surprised by the reversal of the COVID-19 mask mandate order. The downtown bar Social Spot announced it plans to carry on with their current COVID-19 safety protocols. For a list of where other businesses in San Antonio stand on requiring masks for costumers and employees after March 10, click here.
โMask use at our stores will remain.โ H-E-B pleads with Texans to continue wearing masks despite Abbott lifting mandate
AdโH-E-B has always followed state and local ordinances and we will continue to request shoppers wear masks while in our stores. We request all customers wear masks and encourage it with messaging,โ H-E-B spokesperson Dya Campos said in June of 2020. H-E-B has always followed state and local ordinances and we will continue to request shoppers wear masks while in our stores. Signs will remain posted at entrances and announcements made in store reminding customers to wear masks while shopping in our stores. At H-E-B, our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our Partners, customers and the communities we serve.
WATCH: San Antonians prepare for end of mask mandate
SAN ANTONIO โ Gov. Greg Abbott may be lifting the statewide mask mandate, but some San Antonians tell KSAT they plan to keep wearing theirs. Local leaders in Bexar County criticized lifting the mask mandate as a mistake. In interviews conducted around the city on Wednesday, KSAT spoke with residents who were also concerned about the potential consequences. RELATED: Hereโs where San Antonio businesses stand on requiring masks for customers, employees after March 10
Texas schools, stores divided on masks as Gov. Abbott ends mandate
Greg Abbott says Texas is lifting a mask mandate and lifting business capacity limits next week. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)DALLAS โ The end of Texasโ mask mandate is giving Lucy Alanis second thoughts about one of her occasional indulgences during the coronavirus pandemic: dining in at restaurants. Businesses in Texas shed rules, city leaders plotted new safeguards and the state's 5 million schoolchildren largely remained under orders to keep wearing masks, at least for now. The mask mandate, which has been in place since July, and occupancy limits on restaurants and retail stores end March 10. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said his officers will continue wearing masks.
Hereโs where San Antonio businesses stand on requiring masks for customers, employees after March 10
FILE - In this July 7, 2020, file photo, a visitor wearing a mask to protect against the spread of COVID-19 passes a sign requiring masks in San Antonio. Greg Abbottโs announcement on Tuesday to reopen Texas and reverse the mask mandate many businesses are having to decide what their next steps will be. H-E-B was one of the first to release a statement saying until numbers improve, H-E-B will require workers to continue wearing masks and urged customers to keep doing so as well but didnโt mandate it. Meanwhile, many other San Antonio businesses are keeping their mask mandates in place. *Editorโs note: This story will be updated as more businesses announce what protocols they will be taking.
Is it time to double up on face masks to help fight COVID-19 variants?
AdDr. Berggren said in an interview with KSAT 12 that two face masks may not be necessary. โI donโt think double masking is the answer โ itโs the 3Ws,โ Dr. Berggren said. What kind of face mask should I be using? With these new virus variants, you may be asking yourself just how safe the face masks youโve been using over the last year actually are. โWe know that theyโve been found in Houston, and we believe that theyโre here,โ Dr. Berggren said.
โWe think about ourselves more than the group:โ Gregg Popovich blasts anti-maskers amid COVID-19 spread
SAN ANTONIO โ Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich spoke publicly Monday about President Donald Trump for the first time since the November election. We think about ourselves more than the group, more than the community. But a large group of people canโt project and go beyond themselves and thatโs very disappointing. According to the CDC, masks should still be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart or social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Read more: 10 times Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke out on racism, social injustice and President Donald TrumpGregg Popovich blasts President Trump as โderanged idiotโ for failure to โunifyโ country amid George Floyd protests
EXPLAINER: What's with the confusion over masks?
Health authorities have changed their guidance on who should wear masks and when to wear them. Here's a look at how what we know about masks has changed, and how government officials are increasingly getting behind the idea of mandating the use of masks. But when BOTH people are wearing masks, that produced the best result. For example, study participants who were supposed to wear masks sometimes didnโt. The president also held rallies that brought together thousands of supporters, most of them not wearing masks.
Woman makes 700 masks for her community, complete with welcoming front-yard display
Still, creating 700 face masks seems to transcend just โthe basics,โ wouldnโt you say? Mooreโs personal project started in April, when Gleaners Community Food Bank asked for help from the community in making face masks for the groupโs volunteers, and Moore decided she would lend a hand. Now she estimates sheโs made hundreds of face masks for anyone who needs one. She uses some basic patterns and others that are a little more fun, and said sheโs working on 50 Halloween-themed masks at the moment. When COVID-19 started, Moore was laid off for three months, so she had some extra time on her hands.
Wearing a creative or fun face mask? We want to see
This time last year, we were beginning to talk about what kinds of fun costumes and masks we might wear for Halloween. Nowadays, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, masks are an every day, everywhere kind of thing. In an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus, masks have been mandated for wear in plenty of places, so perhaps your mask has become second nature. That not only makes it a little more fun for those wearing the masks, but for us who are out people-watching (and unable to actually see peopleโs faces). And perhaps you just might give some others some fun ideas to work with.
Face masks required: Not in all U.S. schools, but itโs happening in Spain
MADRID โ Masks will be mandatory for all students in Spain, ages 6 or older, when returning to schools in September because of increased coronavirus cases, the government announced Thursday. Previously, masks were only required for students above age 12 by some Spanish regions. Students will receive a daily body temperature check, must wash hands at least five times per day and classrooms will need frequent ventilation, the government said. That allows localized quarantines if thereโs a positive test, rather than closing entire schools. Parents and teachers have expressed concern, with new waves of outbreaks since the country emerged from a strict lockdown.
How to wash your cloth masks correctly, according to the CDC
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cloth masks should be washed after each use. San Antonio doctor gives pros, cons of commonly used masks used during COVID-19Washing masks in the machineCloth masks can be washed by machine and can be included with regular laundry with everyday laundry detergent. Washing masks by handWhen washing by hand, the CDC gives step-by-step instructions to use a bleach solution. To make a gallon of bleach solution, combine 5 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of room-temperature water. The CDC says to make sure thereโs adequate ventilation and urges people to use hand and eye protection when using bleach.
HS Volleyball Highlights: Bandera vs. Lytle
HS Volleyball Highlights: Bandera vs. LytlePublished: August 15, 2020, 10:11 amIn the first week of the high school volleyball regular season for Classes 4A through 1A, the Lytle Pirates play host to the Bandera Bulldogs as both teams are still adjusting to the new coronavirus-prevention regulations.
Wearing a neck gaiter may spread COVID-19 more than wearing no mask at all, study finds
SAN ANTONIO โ As face coverings become an essential part of everyday life during the coronavirus pandemic, researchers are saying that some options may be counterproductive. With neck fleece, or gaiter-type neck coverings, those could be as ineffective as not wearing a mask at all, or even worse. Researchers tested 14 different coverings, including bandanas and surgical, knitted, valved N95, fitted N95, cotton, and fleece masks. The droplet transmission ranged from below 0.1% with a fitted N95 mask to 110% with a fleece mask, the study says. A figure shows droplet transmission through a variety of face masks.
Voices of mask-wearers and opponents around the world
The only person who was wearing a mask while talking to the AP at Red Square was Vladimir Ingatyev. "You want to treat people like you'd want them to treat you so you've got to wear one," Ignatyev said. The wearing of face masks is causing a cacophony of human argument around the world. I try to wear a face mask so that at least I wonโt catch it and also to avoid causing trouble for others.โ โ Reyhane Rajaei, a tattoo artist in Tehran. ___โPeople often donโt wear their mask properly โ itโs the wrong way round or they wear it like this (pulls mask under his chin).
Walmart latest retailer to require customers to wear masks
Last week, Starbucks announced that customers who visit its company-owned cafรฉ locations in the U.S. will be required to wear face coverings. Costco Wholesale Club was one of the first major retailers to require face coverings for customers at all of its stores. โI think Walmart's decision will give cover to other retailers to require masks," said Michael J. Hicks, an economist at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Social media is full of videos capturing clashes between those who are asked to wear masks, and employees who are under orders to make sure people wear them. About half of U.S. states require masks in public places, according to the RILA.
Best Buy will require customers to wear masks in its stores
(CNN) -- Best Buy said Tuesday that it will require all shoppers coming into its stores to wear face masks. Starbucks said last week that it will require customers to wear facial coverings or masks in all of its 9,000 company-owned US stores beginning Wednesday. Costco began requiring its members to wear masks in stores beginning in May. On Monday, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told Bloomberg that a mandate requiring customers to wear masks in the company's stores is something "that's on our minds." Right now, Walmart customers must wear a mask before entering one of 3,700 Walmart locations "where either a governor or someone else has mandated it," according to McMillon.
No joke, this comedian has a serious message for people: Shut up and put on your mask
Yeah, I try to in one way or another use comedy to spread some sort of real message, McGovern said. It is scientifically proven that wearing a mask can help prevent or at least slow down the spread of the pandemic. According to McGovern, this is not a partisan message meant to take away from American rights, its a public health matter. You can listen to the clean version of McGoverns mask song on Spotify, or the unedited version on YouTube, but be warned that the YouTube version has profanity in it. Greg Abbott orders Texans in most counties to wear masks in publicWhat does Texas face mask mandate mean and who is exempt?
Which face mask should I be using? A new study shows homemade masks can be most effective
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott issued a mask mandate to help slow the spread of COVID-19 on July 2. The group also found that loosely folded face masks and bandana-style coverings reduced the distance traveled by droplets by a factor of 1/8 - 1/2, compared to an uncovered cough. 5.0016018 by Jakob Rodriguez on ScribdRELATED: What does Texas face mask mandate mean and who is exempt? In an interview with AIP Publishing, Siddhartha Verma said that while face coverings are not perfect, they can be proven to be effective when used in a combination of other recommendations from health care officials. It is also important to understand that face-coverings are not a 100% effective in blocking respiratory pathogens, Verma said in the interview.
Governorโs mask mandate overdue but welcomed, San Antonio, Bexar County leaders say
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said there was a big reason he said โit was about timeโ that Gov. Greg Abbott made face masks mandatory. RELATED: Texas governor issues statewide mandate for face masks in counties with more than 20 coronavirus casesBexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said he believes reopening the state without taking the needed precautions "was a mistake the governor made." "They're focused on vigorous enforcement of these orders because we have to get this pandemic under control," Nirenberg said after meeting with the governor's team Friday. RELATED: What does Texasโ face mask mandate mean and who is exempt?
People are not comprehending the magnitude of the problem, says Texas Gov. Abbott on coronavirus
It was only in the past couple of weeks that we saw this incredible spike in the number of people testing positive, Abbott said. It seems like people are not comprehending the magnitude of the problem, and a lot of people said, Well, theres simply not enough people dying', Abbott said. Abbott said he implemented the face mask order because he wants to keep the Texas economy growing. KSAT asked Abbott if he is on the same page as Texas Lt. Gov. Anyone in Texas who is not wearing a face mask in a county with 20 or more COVID-19 cases could face a fine of $250.
KSAT12 anchors will interview Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at noon
SAN ANTONIO Texas Gov. Abbott will answer questions from KSAT anchors Ursula Pari and Max Massey over satellite and the interview will be broadcast live. You can watch the interview live on KSAT12, KSAT-TV or on the livestream below of the KSAT News at Noon. What does Texas face mask mandate mean and who is exempt? As of Thursday evening, San Antonio has recorded a total of 12,878 COVID-19 cases.
Does wearing a mask pose any health risks?
Does wearing a mask pose any health risks? Babies and toddlers should not wear masks because they could suffocate. Others can wear masks without risking their health, according to experts, despite false rumors to the contrary. Disposable face masks are meant to be used once, then thrown in the garbage. Wearing a mask may be uncomfortable, but health officials say you should resist any urge to touch your face.
Itโs all about size! Why experts say itโs false to say masks donโt filter out coronavirus because odors can get in
Some posts circulating online are claiming that since you can smell things like food or smoke through a cloth mask, the covering will not filter the coronavirus. We ran it through our KSAT Trust Index, and experts say that's false.
San Antonio-area school districts tentative start dates for 2020-2021 school year
SAN ANTONIO While many Texans are wondering what public schools will look like going into the 2020-2021 school year, it seems that a mid-to-late August start date is the tentative plan for most San Antonio-area school districts as of now. Greg Abbott spoke with KPRC on Friday and said that the Texas Education Agency has prepared for any contingency. First and foremost, its protecting the safety of all students, teachers, staff as well as parents. Then last week, the TEA released new guidelines on remote learning, funding and school attendance. KSAT reached out to a number of school districts regarding academic calendars for the upcoming year and heard back from Comal, East Central, Edgewood, Floresville, New Braunfels, North East, San Antonio, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City, Somerset and Southside Independent School Districts.
San Antonio residents ready to report businesses not complying with new face mask rule
San Antonio The City of San Antonio said over 300 calls have come in, reporting businesses that are not complying with the face mask order since it took effect on Monday. We still have communication with that business owner or the business manager, just to let them know that we had a call come in, he said. I said, Its only hard the first time you remind somebody to keep their mask on to go to the bathroom, Stokes said. I think after about 10 days, people will get used to wearing their mask very religiously. To report a violation, call the San Antonio polices non-emergency line at 210-207-SAPD.
H-E-B officials explain why they stopped making masks mandatory
SAN ANTONIO H-E-B enforced a mandatory mask requirement in May but has since backed off leaving many wondering why. H-E-B officials told KSAT in response to the petition that while they wish all customers would wear a mask, enforcing that rule is complicated. We request all customers wear masks and encourage it with messaging, said H-E-B spokesperson Dya Campos. H-E-B abides by the ordinances in those areas by strongly encouraging the use of masks, but we will not deny entry.Store officials may want people to wear masks, and they can encourage people to wear masks, but they say its the enforcing part that gets tricky. Other grocery chains, including Walmart, Target and Costco, have either not immediately responded or declined requests from KSAT to disclose cases among employees at San Antonio stores.
A man wore what appeared to be a KKK white hood on a trip to the grocery store
The customer was photographed by shoppers at Vons grocery store in Santee last weekend. It's not clear whether the customer was allowed to check out with groceries or eventually removed the hood. The Santee Vons where the incident occurred did not respond to CNN's repeated calls for comment. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said deputies weren't called to the store at the time of the incident. "Many thanks to all who stepped forward to curtail this sad reminder of intolerance," Santee Mayor John Minto said in a statement on behalf of Santee City Council.
VIA bus riders over 10 years old required to wear face masks
SAN ANTONIO โ Before you try and catch your next ride on a VIA Metropolitan Transit bus, make sure to bring your face covering along with you. Starting Wednesday, you'll need to have a face covering to get in a VIA vehicle, according to the transit agency. VIA says it requires the face coverings in accordance with city and county rules. COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The first case confirmed in the U.S. was in mid-January and the first case confirmed in San Antonio was in mid-February.
Are babies supposed to wear face coverings? (No). Why do we need these now? Your mask questions, answered
In case you missed it, health officials are now recommending that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings, for example, in spots where it might be difficult to maintain social distancing. Just keep in mind: โThese face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Cloth face coverings are especially important to wear in public in areas of widespread COVID-19 illness.โGot it. Wearing cloth face coverings is an additional public health measure. โCloth face coverings can be made from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost,โ the CDC said.
Making a difference, one stitch at a time
SAN ANTONIO โ With a shortage of masks being felt across the country and right here at home, Alex Kling, owner of Trendy Little Rebelz childrenโs clothing, felt the fabric she had for her clothing line could make a difference. As of Friday, Kling said she had made around 350 masks for people in the San Antonio area. She has only provided those masks to first responders and health care workers, who have to provide work verification to get the 80 percent off, plus shipping and PayPal fees. She will continue to take orders from those on the front lines until she runs out of donated material. According to Kling, another source of masks for hospitals and health care workers is the Sewing Masks for San Antonio Facebook group.