Diners Are Now Required to Wear Masks in Dallas County Restaurants

On Friday, the Dallas County Commissioners Court issued an order requiring businesses to refuse entry to patrons who are not wearing masks, and restaurants are included in that order.

Now in effect, the order requires that all people over the age of 10 wear masks where social distancing is not possible, though masks may be removed in order to eat or drink. Restaurants are required to post signage in their spaces telling patrons that masks are required, and businesses that do not require patrons to wear masks indoors face fines of $500 per violation.

Scope out the order in full below:

This order follows an amendment that was made to Dallas County’s “safer at home” order back in May requiring restaurant employees and their patrons to wear masks, and those who refused to were subject to $1,000 fines. Now, the burden has been shifted to the restaurants themselves, who are on the front lines of policing unruly customers who refuse to wear masks.

The new order from the Commissioners Court comes as Dallas County continues to report record-high new cases of the novel coronavirus. At present, the county has reported more than 16,800 positive cases of COVID-19, and more than 300 people have died.

The mask requirement is in effect for Dallas County restaurants and other businesses through August 4.

• Dallas County Adds 408 Cases of COVID-19, Reports 314th Death [NBCDFW]