Mask On

Texas governor orders mandatory face masks as COVID-19 cases hit all-time high

Face coverings are now mandatory in the state of Texas.

As hospitalizations across the state are soaring due to COVID-19, Gov. Greg Abbott is now requiring face coverings for the state of Texas. On Thursday, July 2, Abbott issued an executive order requiring face coverings in any county with more than 20 COVID-19 cases.

The new statewide order goes into effect at 12:01 pm on Friday, July 3. Face masks were already mandatory in the state's biggest metro areas, including Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

Abbott noted that hospitalizations due to COVID-19 cases have tripled across the state in just the past week alone. "These spikes are not just limited to just the big cities," Abbott said. "More than 91 [Texas] counties have had record-high numbers in just the past three days. All together these numbers reveal a very stark reality: COVID-19 is not going away. In fact, it's getting worse."

On July 1 alone, the state recorded more than 8,000 new cases of COVID-19.

"I know wearing a face covering is not the convenient thing to do, but I also know that wearing a face covering will help us to keep Texas open for business and it will help Texans earn the paycheck they need," Abbott said in a video address. "I also know that not taking action to slow the spread will cause COVID-19 to spread even worse, risking people's lives and ultimately closing more businesses."

Abbott never said the word "mask" during the seven-minute video, instead referring to them as "face coverings." He also noted that they are among the most effective ways to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Texans do not need to wear a face covering:

if they are younger than 10 years old
if they have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask
while eating, drinking, or sitting at a restaurant to eat or drink
while exercising outdoors
while outdoors and maintaining six feet of distance from someone not in their household
while driving alone or with people in their household
while obtaining a service that requires temporary removal of the face covering for security surveillance, screening, or a need for specific access to the face
while swimming
while voting or administering an election
if providing or engaged in religious worship (though it's highly encouraged)
while giving a speech or broadcast

Law enforcement have the authority to enforce the order, says Abbott, who compared it to police enforcing seat belt laws. Those caught without a mask will be issued a warning after their first offense. Subsequent offenses could be subject to penalties not to exceed $250, but he stressed that no one can be placed in jail for not wearing a face covering.

In addition to face coverings, the governor issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of over 10 people.

"Everyone," said Abbott, "needs to do their part to slow the spread."

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Rice's Undergraduate business school receives a 'historic' donation

Photo via Rice University

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Following a “generous philanthropic gift” by Farid and Asha Virani, the undergraduate business program at Rice University will be named after the family. The building where the business program is housed, McNair Hall, will remain unchanged.

“We are profoundly grateful to Farid and Asha Virani for their extraordinary gift, which will transform our undergraduate business education,” Rice president Reginald DesRoches said in a statement. “Their success and commitment to excellence inspire our students, and their generosity will serve as a lasting testament to what can be accomplished through vision and determination.”

Rice University declined to disclose the size of donation that has led to the creation of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business on the request of the Virani family to maintain privacy, saying only that the amount is historic. The business school currently serves roughly 300 undergrads.

Dr. Asha Virani is a proud Rice alumna who graduated in 1989. Her husband, Farid, is the founder and CEO of Prime Communications, a wildly successful AT&T retailer that started with a single store in Baybrook Mall and has grown to be the largest such retailer in the nation. Their son Faraz graduated from Rice in 2021 after studying sports management.

“We are incredibly excited to support Rice Business, as we believe in the transformative power of education. This contribution will play a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs to tackle the challenges and seize the future opportunities — not just for our city, but for our state and our country,” Farid Virani said.

“Our vision is to foster a culture of curious and compassionate lifelong learners who will lead with a strong ethical orientation and intellectual humility,” Asha Virani said.

A new associate dean position will be created to oversee the new business school, and a national talent search is underway to fill the job. The gift will help expand the current business undergraduate offerings, including new major focuses in areas like healthcare and artificial intelligence.

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