For the fifth consecutive day, previous records were broken as the number of Coronavirus cases and deaths continued to rise. Dallas County reported 601 new cases and 20 additional deaths Tuesday, June 30. Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also at a record high.
Additionally, more younger Dallas County residents dying because of the virus. Of the 20 reported June 30 deaths, three were men in their 40s, and one was a male in his 30s.
The city of Garland reported 1,938 Coronavirus cases, 26 deaths and 933 recovered patients as of June 30.
Mask ordinance decision
These numbers were not sufficient to prompt Garland’s City Council, at their June 29 special meeting, to mandate the wearing of face coverings by visitors at city facilities. Additionally, last week’s increased numbers were not enough for the council to mandate that people visiting Garland’s businesses wear masks at the June 22 special meeting.
It is required that all staff members wear masks at city facilities.
The city’s business owners, however, are on their own to require face coverings or not and to enforce their own rule. There are business owners who believe this has the potential to place them in uncomfortable or even dangerous predicaments.
Some council members cited the difficulty in enforcement as the reason for not mandating the wearing of masks. They do not want city staff to be in charge of enforcement as problems with people becoming combative have been documented in the North Texas area. These council members feel that putting signs on the doors that ask people to wear masks will be sufficient and that most will comply voluntarily.
There was also discussion about enforcement being difficult for police officers if an ordinance was enacted because of the nation’s current climate and attitude toward police officers.
Mayor Scott LeMay suggested that a public relations campaign focused on wearing masks might help.
Council Member Rich Aubin said that Garland had dealt with tornadoes, floods and a terrorist attack, so he doesn’t understand why they are afraid of enforcing a mask policy.
Aubin, Mayor Pro Tem Smith and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Vera voted in favor of an ordinance.
LeMay, along with Council Members David Gibbons, Deborah Morris, Dylan Hedrick, Jim Bookhout and Jerry Nickerson voted against.