BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., will hold a press conference about the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, March 8, starting at 11 a.m.
The news conference will be held at the Cameron County Courthouse, Oscar C. Dancy Building (2nd Floor), on E. Monroe Street in Brownsville.
On Friday, Treviño broke his silence on Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent executive orders on COVID-19. In a statement, Treviño pointed out that many healthcare experts believe Abbott is acting prematurely in relaxing capacity restrictions and lifting a statewide mask mandate.
Treviño said he would only lift a mask mandate when a COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone.
Here is Treviño’s statement:
“On March 2, 2021, Gov. Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34, lifting capacity restrictions and allowing businesses and other establishments up to 100 percent capacity effective March 10.
“He is also lifting the statewide mask mandate and is preventing local measures inconsistent with his Order, except in jurisdictions with seven consecutive days in which the total number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity exceed 15 percent.
“The overwhelming consensus of local, state and national health professionals is that the lifting of the statewide mandate and limitation on local orders is premature and contrary to sound scientific principles.
“I believe that the mask mandate should only be lifted when a COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone.
“While I respect Governor Abbott’s decision, I regret he did not give us another 60 to 90 days to continue vaccinating our constituents and get past Spring Break, the Easter Holiday, and nearing the end of the school districts spring densest before taking these actions.
“Our numbers in Cameron County continue to be steady, and we felt that with the social distancing and facemark covering requirements, our vaccination efforts were leading us in the right direction as far as slowing the risk of the spread of the virus.
“I strongly urge and recommend that all Cameron County residents, businesses and other establishments continue to abide by the social distancing guidelines, continue using face coverings or masks, hand wash regularly and practice good hygiene etiquette.
“I’d hate to see another virus surge that comes along with hospitalizations and deaths due to a premature lifting of the protections that work, such as mask coverings. Remember, we live in a time where the demand for the cure of this virus continues to be extremely high, and where here in Texas, we are working past the winter weather storm aftermath at the same time.
“We need to work together to continue with the safeguards to protect us all.”
Meanwhile, via a tweet, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez has urged local residents to stay safe and wear a mask. Here is the tweet:
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