Austin, July 4 (RHC)-- Greg Abbott, the governor of the U.S. state of Texas, ordered that face coverings must be worn in public across most of the state.

The order requires "all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions."  He also banned gatherings of more than 10 people, and mandated social distancing of six feet. 

The Republican governor, who had pushed Texas' aggressive reopening of the state economy in May, had previously said the government could not order individuals to wear masks.  His prior virus-related orders had undercut efforts by local governments to enforce mask requirements.