Bexar County Judge Wolff issues new order following surge in COVID-19 cases

SAN ANTONIO – Update 10:20 a.m.:

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced a new executive order Wednesday following a surge in COVID-19 cases in San Antonio.

The new order mandates that “all commercial entities providing goods and services” must implement a health and safety policy within five days. The policy “must require, at a minimum, that all employees or visitors ... wear face coverings when in an area or performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact,” according to the new order.

Read more: New Bexar County executive order mandates face coverings at all businesses when social distancing is not possible

Original story:

A new executive order is expected to be issued in Bexar County following an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the San Antonio area.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff is expected to issue a new order during a news conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The announcement will be livestreamed in this article. Delays are possible; if there is not a livestream available, check back at a later time.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales will join Wolff at the news conference.

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The order will include “new health and safety requirements” for businesses, according to a news brief.

While details of the order have yet to be released, new requirements will be in response to the largest rise in cases and hospitalizations since the pandemic began.

Nirenberg reported 436 new COVID-19 cases in Bexar County, bringing the total to 4,873 cases. There are 89 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Wolff called the surge “by far the worst crisis we’ve had since it started.”

He said if the community doesn’t take health precautions, “we’re going to be in a lot of trouble.”

’No reason to be alarmed’: Texas governor unfazed by rising COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations

Gov. Greg Abbott also on Tuesday confirmed that Texas marked a new high in confirmed cases, 2,622. He implored Texans to wear face coverings to combat the spread of the virus, but has stopped short of enforcing a mandate.

A group of Texas mayors, including Nirenberg, have asked Abbott for authority to set regulations on face coverings in their cities.

Read also:

Nirenberg, other Texas mayors sign letter asking Abbott for authority to set rules for face masks

Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations surge to biggest numbers yet in San Antonio, Bexar County

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