Upper East Texas News

Titus County residents must continue to wear masks whenever they go to a business, under rules set by Judge Brian Lee.

Lee told KLTV News that after meeting with about 25 people from emergency services, the business sector and education, the group was unanimous about adopting new rules and guidelines for life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rules went into effect on April 21. The existing emergency order dealing with the coronavirus is set to expire on April 30. Lee said it was written to allow for amendments or extensions.

Lee clarified his order on "East Texas Now," explaining masks are required when residents go to retail outlets. If they go outside their homes, they do not have to wear masks.

He said 55-gallon drums of hand sanitizer were placed at both fire stations in Mount Pleasant for retailers to replenish their supplies.

Lee’s amendment requires all retail business employees to wear masks if they handle curbside pickups or deliveries. Those businesses include grocery stores, big box stores, restaurants, liquor stores and convenience stores.

Hand sanitizer must be provided to all customers at the businesses’ main entrances. Those customers also must wear a mask or facial covering to enter a retail business. Lee told KLTV that only one person from each household should go shopping. But if they bring children, they also must wear masks.

“Why are we taking this bold step?” Lee told KLVT. “I know that we’re going to get a lot of push-back on this, but I do believe the time has come for this. I’m hoping that it will be short-lived.”

As of April 29, Texas reported 27,054 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 732 deaths. Titus County has 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Lee also pointed to the example of a Titus County woman who worked at a high-volume employer tested positive for the coronavirus. She stayed at work until feeling bad enough to need to go to the doctor. That employer takes employees’ temperatures and asks about their health, but she could have exposed many people to the coronavirus, Lee said.

The county attorney’s investigator was working to trace the contacts the woman had to figure out who may have come into contact with her.

Lee wants Titus County residents to take some of the responsibility for preventing the spread of the coronavirus, and not just leaving it to businesses. People can make masks at home following YouTube videos or CDC instructions from bandanas, T-shirts or clothing. Some people have started selling masks they make.