Officials in Austin and Travis County, Texas, can continue to enforce their mask mandates for at least two more weeks after a district judge on Friday refused to grant the state an emergency temporary restraining order, NBC affiliate KXAN reports.
Why it matters: The decision keeps the mandate in place through the spring breaks of many schools in the Austin area.
Context: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the city on Thursday, claiming the city's leadership was defying an order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott last week that rescinded a statewide mask mandate.
- The suit alleges the governor's order "preempts more restrictive local emergency orders."
- The executive order, which took effect Wednesday, does allow local governments to enforce mask mandates in regions where coronavirus hospitalizations rise above 15% of bed capacity for seven consecutive days.
What she's saying: "People have been wearing masks for a year. I don't know that two more weeks is going to matter one way or the other," Judge Lora Livingston said during a Friday hearing, according to the Austin-American Statesman
Yes, but: The action is not a final ruling. Livingston could still side with the state after hearing more arguments.
- The judge scheduled another hearing for March 26, according to KXAN.