INSIDER
Masks are out at In-N-Out after burger chain bans employees from wearing them in Texas, 4 other states
Read full article: Masks are out at In-N-Out after burger chain bans employees from wearing them in Texas, 4 other statesIn-N-Out will bar employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media last week.
In-N-Out burger chain bans employees in five states from wearing masks without a doctor’s note
Read full article: In-N-Out burger chain bans employees in five states from wearing masks without a doctor’s noteIn-N-Out will bar employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media last week.
Boston urges masks as battle brews over transit rule
Read full article: Boston urges masks as battle brews over transit ruleBoston has urged people to start wearing masks, and the Biden administration is weighing its next legal step in a court fight over the abrupt end of the national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit.
COVID-19 mask wear now optional, no longer mandated indoors at JBSA facilities
Read full article: COVID-19 mask wear now optional, no longer mandated indoors at JBSA facilitiesWearing a mask to protect from COVID-19 is now optional and no longer mandated indoors at Joint Base San Antonio facilities, officials announced Thursday as part of implementation of Health Protection Condition Bravo.
Your questions answered about differences, effectiveness of N95, K95, surgical and cloth masks
Read full article: Your questions answered about differences, effectiveness of N95, K95, surgical and cloth masksUniversity Health Epidemiologist Dr. Jason Bowling answered some frequently asked questions about the effectiveness of different kinds of masks.
You can wear your N95 mask more than once. Here’s how health experts say to do it safely.
Read full article: You can wear your N95 mask more than once. Here’s how health experts say to do it safely.The CDC has outlined some guidelines about reusing masks in emergency situations. It’s directed at medical professionals, but some of the advice can also be applied for home use.
San Antonio COVID-19 testing centers filling up as at-home tests become scarcer amid rise in cases
Read full article: San Antonio COVID-19 testing centers filling up as at-home tests become scarcer amid rise in casesA new shortage of at-home COVID-19 tests is leading to long lines at San Antonio testing centers.
Texas’ ban on school mask mandates draws federal investigation for possibly violating the rights of students with disabilities
Read full article: Texas’ ban on school mask mandates draws federal investigation for possibly violating the rights of students with disabilitiesThe U.S. Department of Education announced the inquiry days after the Texas Education Agency quietly updated its guidance to say school districts can’t require masks.
EXPLAINER: What are current COVID-19 guidelines for schools?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: What are current COVID-19 guidelines for schools?Schools have opened nationwide this fall only to find thousands of students and teachers sickened by COVID-19 in what many officials had hoped would be a year that saw a return to “normal” in-person instruction.
Woman upset over masks confronts Bexar County judge at local H-E-B
Read full article: Woman upset over masks confronts Bexar County judge at local H-E-BThe incident happened at the H-E-B on Northwest Military Highway on Sunday. A spokesperson for Bexar County said there was no altercation, and no one was harmed.
State Fair of Texas says masks will be required in certain areas
Read full article: State Fair of Texas says masks will be required in certain areasWith just under a month to go until the State Fair of Texas kicks off on Sept. 24, fair officials announced that masks will be required indoors and in outdoor crowded settings.
Education leaders in rural communities stuck in a political tug-of-war over mask mandates
Read full article: Education leaders in rural communities stuck in a political tug-of-war over mask mandatesRural 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.
Texas man strips down while exposing his thoughts about mask mandates at school board meeting
Read full article: Texas man strips down while exposing his thoughts about mask mandates at school board meetingAn upset parent decided to share his naked truth about mask mandates at a school board meeting in Dripping Springs on Monday.
Woman carried out of Northside ISD board meeting for refusing to wear mask, district says
Read full article: Woman carried out of Northside ISD board meeting for refusing to wear mask, district saysA woman who attended a Northside Independent School District board meeting was seen being carried out by two officers as she recorded the incident.
San Antonians split on whether everyone, including vaccinated, should wear masks, according to Google Survey
Read full article: San Antonians split on whether everyone, including vaccinated, should wear masks, according to Google SurveyParticipants in a survey about COVID-19 strongly agreed on one thing: people in San Antonio should mask up to help stomp the spread of the delta variant.
Students with disabilities file federal lawsuit against Texas Gov. Abbott, TEA over mask mandate ban
Read full article: Students with disabilities file federal lawsuit against Texas Gov. Abbott, TEA over mask mandate banDisability 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.
Texas school district adds masks to dress code to bypass Gov. Greg Abbott’s order
Read full article: Texas school district adds masks to dress code to bypass Gov. Greg Abbott’s orderA school district in Northeast Texas amended its dress code to include face coverings as a requirement, bypassing Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on local mask orders.
Texas Supreme Court temporarily nixes mask mandates issued for Bexar, Dallas counties
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court temporarily nixes mask mandates issued for Bexar, Dallas countiesThe Texas Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton, temporarily banning mask mandates in Bexar and Dallas counties.
Appeals court sides against Gov. Abbott, upholds Bexar County mask mandate in schools
Read full article: Appeals court sides against Gov. Abbott, upholds Bexar County mask mandate in schoolsTexas 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 County’s mask mandate in public schools.
Republican Party of Bexar County joins anti-mask groups for protests in San Antonio Friday
Read full article: Republican Party of Bexar County joins anti-mask groups for protests in San Antonio FridayThe Republican Party of Bexar County joined forces with anti-mask groups Friday to protest the new mask mandates issued by Bexar County and San Antonio officials.
Gov. Abbott argues San Antonio’s mask mandate will ‘shatter’ Texas’ ability to respond to pandemic
Read full article: Gov. Abbott argues San Antonio’s mask mandate will ‘shatter’ Texas’ ability to respond to pandemicTexas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal Thursday seeking to reverse a Bexar County judge’s temporary restraining order that allowed the county to mandate masks in school.
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City superintendent says district will not be enforcing mask mandate
Read full article: Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City superintendent says district will not be enforcing mask mandateThe great mask debate between state and local leaders has left many districts in limbo but Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District says masks will not be required on it's campuses.
These stores have updated mask their mask policies in response to new CDC guidelines
Read full article: These stores have updated mask their mask policies in response to new CDC guidelinesSome major retailers are reverting back to pandemic policies by requiring employees to wear masks inside their stores and strongly recommending mask-wearing for customers.
More Texas public school districts are requiring masks in schools, directly defying Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order
Read full article: More Texas public school districts are requiring masks in schools, directly defying Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive orderAnother major Texas public school district is joining the growing list of school districts that are directly defying an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott.
Major Texas public school district defies Gov. Abbot’s executive order by requiring masks in schools
Read full article: Major Texas public school district defies Gov. Abbot’s executive order by requiring masks in schoolsDallas Independent School District is defying an order from Gov. Greg Abbott and requiring that all students, staff and visitors wear masks.
Walmart returns to mandatory mask policy for associates, regardless of vaccine status
Read full article: Walmart returns to mandatory mask policy for associates, regardless of vaccine statusWalmart is reversing course for employees and requiring that associates wear masks once again due to recent surges in COVID-19 cases.
Here are the start dates for San Antonio-area school districts
Read full article: Here are the start dates for San Antonio-area school districtsWhat is going to public school going to look like for the 2021-2022 school year? It’s a question many parents and students are wondering with the start of the academic year just weeks away.
Metro Health sends alert recommending everyone wear masks in indoor settings to slow the spread of COVID-19
Read full article: Metro Health sends alert recommending everyone wear masks in indoor settings to slow the spread of COVID-19Metro Health sent a text alert to Bexar County residents Wednesday afternoon recommending that everyone wear masks indoors, including those who are fully vaccinated.
CDC wants more vaccinated people and schoolchildren to mask up — but Texas keeps it voluntary
Read full article: CDC wants more vaccinated people and schoolchildren to mask up — but Texas keeps it voluntaryTexas Republican state leaders held their ground against allowing local schools and governments to require masks. The CDC guidelines are not mandates and have no weight of law.
Gov. Greg Abbott says he won’t impose new mask mandate despite increasing COVID-19 cases
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott says he won’t impose new mask mandate despite increasing COVID-19 casesAbbott reiterated Tuesday that Texas schoolchildren will not face mask requirements as they return to school later this summer.
WHO encourages fully vaccinated people to continue to wear masks due to surge in delta variant
Read full article: WHO encourages fully vaccinated people to continue to wear masks due to surge in delta variantThe World Health Organization is encouraging people, including those fully vaccinated, to continue to wear masks due to the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant.
Masks for fully vaccinated, reservations, temperature checks no longer required at Six Flags
Read full article: Masks for fully vaccinated, reservations, temperature checks no longer required at Six FlagsSix Flags Fiesta Texas is easing its COVID-19 safety protocols following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Texas officials.
Three congressional Republicans from Texas reprimanded for violating U.S. House’s mask mandate
Read full article: Three congressional Republicans from Texas reprimanded for violating U.S. House’s mask mandateU.S. Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, and Chip Roy, R-Austin, were given first warnings. U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving, received a $500 fine for violating the House’s mask mandate a second time.
San Antonio-area school districts respond to Gov. Greg Abbott’s order on mask mandate ban
Read full article: San Antonio-area school districts respond to Gov. Greg Abbott’s order on mask mandate banAfter Gov. Greg Abbott ordered public schools and government entities to no longer require masks, a few San Antonio-area districts offered guidance for teachers, staff and students going forward.
These businesses, San Antonio places have dropped their mask mandates for fully vaccinated people
Read full article: These businesses, San Antonio places have dropped their mask mandates for fully vaccinated peopleNew mask guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week has consumers wondering if they still need to mask up if they’re heading into a store or attraction.
Masks, social distancing will be optional for those fully vaccinated at city facilities, city says
Read full article: Masks, social distancing will be optional for those fully vaccinated at city facilities, city saysThe city of San Antonio has announced that beginning Monday, masks and social distancing will be optional for fully vaccinated staff and clients at city facilities.
'Great day for America': Vaccinated can largely ditch masks
Read full article: 'Great day for America': Vaccinated can largely ditch masksThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is easing mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.
Dr. Fauci says wearing face masks could become seasonal after COVID-19 pandemic
Read full article: Dr. Fauci says wearing face masks could become seasonal after COVID-19 pandemicFace coverings could become the go-to protection from respiratory-born illnesses like the flu after the coronavirus pandemic, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert.
‘I’ve never done any of this’: A Texas parent reluctantly dives into a school district’s battle over masks
Read full article: ‘I’ve never done any of this’: A Texas parent reluctantly dives into a school district’s battle over masksOlivia Weisinger and her growing band of parents have battled the board not just about safety but even more about accountability for the seven-member board.
Texas coronavirus cases haven’t surged since Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mask order. Experts warn it’s too soon to celebrate.
Read full article: Texas coronavirus cases haven’t surged since Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mask order. Experts warn it’s 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
Read full article: New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD diverge on mask mandate as politics, science clashAdIn 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 ISD’s 48%; 38% of New Braunfels ISD students qualify for free and reduced lunch, while 30% qualify in Comal ISD. His comment — and the feedback from Hennessee’s and York’s districts — 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
Read full article: Woman refuses to wear mask in Texas, again, gets arrestedPolice identified the woman in the video as Terry Wright. GALVESTON, Texas – 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 bank’s lobby, surrounded by other customers, all of whom were wearing masks.
Mask use still recommended, emphasized by doctors
Read full article: Mask use still recommended, emphasized by doctors“The hope is that many people will continue to wear masks because the mandate doesn’t 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 weren’t wearing a double mask or two layers before, this might be a good time to begin considering that. “We’ve heard from any number of people who have decided they’re not going to do certain activities now because they can’t 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
Read full article: San Antonio continues mask enforcement in city-owned buildings, River WalkSAN ANTONIO – 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. “To ensure that face mask guidelines are followed we will have signage in all City facilities and our mask policy will be strictly enforced.”RELATED: Texas’ 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 “A Session” meeting will be on April 8, and the “B session” 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.
Read full article: 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 L’Roy/The Texas Tribune)Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Texas’ statewide mask mandate has ended as of March 10. Several Democratic leaders called the executive order “dangerous,” including President Joe Biden, who said it was a “big mistake” to end the mask mandate.
Should my business continue to post mask rules? Here’s what owners need to know.
Read full article: Should my business continue to post mask rules? Here’s what owners need to know.SAN ANTONIO – With the Texas mask mandate ending on Wednesday, business owners may be questioning if they’re 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 county’s 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 businesses’ needs and under state health guidelines. Click here or see below to read the updated order:
Poteet Strawberry Festival will ‘strongly encourage’ guests to wear face masks
Read full article: Poteet Strawberry Festival will ‘strongly encourage’ guests to wear face masksSAN ANTONIO – 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 “strongly encourage” 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 “crucial source of funding” for the community.
Labor activists call for Gov. Abbott to reconsider mask reversal until 70% of essential workers are vaccinated against COVID-19
Read full article: Labor activists call for Gov. Abbott to reconsider mask reversal until 70% of essential workers are vaccinated against COVID-19Texas is lifting a COVID-19 mask mandate that was imposed last summer but has only been lightly enforced. (AP Photo/LM Otero)AUSTIN, Texas – A few dozen activists rallied Monday at the Texas Capitol to protest Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to lift his order requiring Texans to don masks. They called for Abbott to reconsider last week’s decision until 70% of the state’s 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
Read full article: San Antonio brothers launch app to help customers review COVID-19 safety protocols at area businessesSAN ANTONIO – 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. “If we knew the business was really safe, it would make us feel a lot more comfortable going to each business,” 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
Read full article: Popular San Antonio bar will not require customers and employees to wear masks after March 10While many businesses have decided to continue requiring masks for both customers and employees, one of San Antonio’s most popular bars is taking a bold stance to help their business survive. “You can now go (up) to the bar, order (and) sit at the bar,” said Justin Vitek, owner of Hills and Dales Ice House. “We haven’t gotten cited this whole entire time (by TABC or the city) so, we’ve been abiding by all the rules.”Vitek 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.
‘Mask use at our stores will remain.’ H-E-B pleads with Texans to continue wearing masks despite Abbott lifting mandate
Read full article: ‘Mask use at our stores will remain.’ H-E-B pleads with Texans to continue wearing masks despite Abbott lifting mandateAd“H-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,” 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
Read full article: WATCH: San Antonians prepare for end of mask mandateSAN ANTONIO – 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: Here’s 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
Read full article: Texas schools, stores divided on masks as Gov. Abbott ends mandateGreg Abbott says Texas is lifting a mask mandate and lifting business capacity limits next week. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)DALLAS – The end of Texas’ 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.
Here’s where San Antonio businesses stand on requiring masks for customers, employees after March 10
Read full article: Here’s where San Antonio businesses stand on requiring masks for customers, employees after March 10FILE - 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 Abbott’s 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 didn’t mandate it. Meanwhile, many other San Antonio businesses are keeping their mask mandates in place. *Editor’s 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?
Read full article: 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. “I don’t think double masking is the answer — it’s the 3Ws,” 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 you’ve been using over the last year actually are. “We know that they’ve been found in Houston, and we believe that they’re here,” Dr. Berggren said.
‘We think about ourselves more than the group:’ Gregg Popovich blasts anti-maskers amid COVID-19 spread
Read full article: ‘We think about ourselves more than the group:’ Gregg Popovich blasts anti-maskers amid COVID-19 spreadSAN ANTONIO – 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 can’t project and go beyond themselves and that’s 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 ‘deranged idiot’ for failure to ‘unify’ country amid George Floyd protests
EXPLAINER: What's with the confusion over masks?
Read full article: 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 didn’t. 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
Read full article: Woman makes 700 masks for her community, complete with welcoming front-yard displayStill, creating 700 face masks seems to transcend just “the basics,” wouldn’t you say? Moore’s personal project started in April, when Gleaners Community Food Bank asked for help from the community in making face masks for the group’s volunteers, and Moore decided she would lend a hand. Now she estimates she’s 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 she’s 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
Read full article: Wearing a creative or fun face mask? We want to seeThis 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 people’s 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 it’s happening in Spain
Read full article: Face masks required: Not in all U.S. schools, but it’s happening in SpainMADRID – 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 there’s 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
Read full article: How to wash your cloth masks correctly, according to the CDCAccording 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 there’s adequate ventilation and urges people to use hand and eye protection when using bleach.
HS Volleyball Highlights: Bandera vs. Lytle
Read full article: HS Volleyball Highlights: Bandera vs. LytleHS 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
Read full article: Wearing a neck gaiter may spread COVID-19 more than wearing no mask at all, study findsSAN ANTONIO – 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
Read full article: Voices of mask-wearers and opponents around the worldThe 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 won’t catch it and also to avoid causing trouble for others.” — Reyhane Rajaei, a tattoo artist in Tehran. ___“People often don’t wear their mask properly — it’s the wrong way round or they wear it like this (pulls mask under his chin).
Walmart latest retailer to require customers to wear masks
Read full article: Walmart latest retailer to require customers to wear masksLast week, Starbucks announced that customers who visit its company-owned café 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. “I 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
Read full article: 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
Read full article: No joke, this comedian has a serious message for people: Shut up and put on your maskYeah, 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
Read full article: Which face mask should I be using? A new study shows homemade masks can be most effectiveIn 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.
Governor’s mask mandate overdue but welcomed, San Antonio, Bexar County leaders say
Read full article: Governor’s mask mandate overdue but welcomed, San Antonio, Bexar County leaders saySAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said there was a big reason he said “it was about time” 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 Texas’ face mask mandate mean and who is exempt?
People are not comprehending the magnitude of the problem, says Texas Gov. Abbott on coronavirus
Read full article: People are not comprehending the magnitude of the problem, says Texas Gov. Abbott on coronavirusIt 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
Read full article: KSAT12 anchors will interview Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at noonSAN 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?
Read full article: 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.
It’s all about size! Why experts say it’s false to say masks don’t filter out coronavirus because odors can get in
Read full article: It’s all about size! Why experts say it’s false to say masks don’t filter out coronavirus because odors can get inSome 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
Read full article: San Antonio-area school districts tentative start dates for 2020-2021 school yearSAN 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
Read full article: San Antonio residents ready to report businesses not complying with new face mask ruleSan 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
Read full article: H-E-B officials explain why they stopped making masks mandatorySAN 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
Read full article: A man wore what appeared to be a KKK white hood on a trip to the grocery storeThe 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
Read full article: VIA bus riders over 10 years old required to wear face masksSAN ANTONIO – 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
Read full article: Are babies supposed to wear face coverings? (No). Why do we need these now? Your mask questions, answeredIn 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: “These 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.”Got it. Wearing cloth face coverings is an additional public health measure. “Cloth face coverings can be made from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost,” the CDC said.
Making a difference, one stitch at a time
Read full article: Making a difference, one stitch at a timeSAN ANTONIO – With a shortage of masks being felt across the country and right here at home, Alex Kling, owner of Trendy Little Rebelz children’s 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.