Masks to 'become optional' in Humble ISD buildings beginning May 29

Humble Independent School District (ISD) will no longer require the use of masks or face coverings in school facilities beginning Saturday, May 29.

The change comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on May 18 that he was prohibiting almost all government entities from mandating masks, including public schools.

"Face coverings and masks become optional inside Humble ISD facilities and at school-sponsored events beginning Saturday, May 29," Jamie Mount, chief communications officer for Humble ISD, told the Houston Daily.

COVID-19 self-reporting forms for both students and staff will continue to be posted on the district website, Mount said. All positive case information will be shared with city and county public health departments as well as the Texas Education Agency, and parents and staff will still be able to keep track of any cases reported within the school.

"The district will continue publishing a COVID Dashboard that shows by building any cases reported through the links," Mount said.

According to the governor's new executive order, Texas public schools may continue to follow the Texas Education Agency's current guidance—which requires the universal use of face coverings—until Friday, June 4.

"The Texas Education Agency shall revise its guidance such that, effective June 4, no student, teacher, parent or other staff member or visitor may be required to wear a face covering. This executive order shall supersede any face-covering requirement imposed by any local government official," Abbott stated in the order.

Abbott's very first mask mandate order was peculiar and round-a-bout. He began by prohibiting counties from mandating masks but then hinted that there was a loophole for counties to skirt his order and still mandate masks. That loophole wound up permitting counties to mandate businesses to mandate masks. Abbott then issued a bona fide mask mandate in July 2020, requiring virtually all Texans to wear a mask in public spaces.

In March of 2021, Abbott lifted the statewide mask mandate and nominally prevented local governments from instituting their own mandates. However, several municipalities ignored the new order and continued to keep their mandates in place.

On May 17, Texas reported zero new coronavirus deaths for the first time since March 2020.

Abbott's actions have often been contrasted with those of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The latter rescinded all meaningful coronavirus restrictions, including mask requirements, all the way back in the fall of 2020. DeSantis did technically allow localities to mandate masks, but he neutered their ability to enforce any orders.

A recent order from DeSantis conflicts with Abbott's approach. The Florida governor was the first to ban local government from mandating masks, beating his Texas counterpart by over two weeks. However, DeSantis' order did not apply to public schools, whereas the Texas governor's order explicitly did.

As of May 21, Humble ISD reported a total of 2,177 COVID-19 cases among students and 879 cases among staff since Aug. 11, 2020. There are currently 70 active cases among students and nine active cases among staff, according to the dashboard.