Round Rock Will Repeal Its Mask Ordinance In Late April

ROUND ROCK, TX — Round Rock will repeal its citywide face-covering ordinance later this month, officials said.

On Thursday night, the city council voted 7-0 to repeal its ordinance, which will begin at 11:59 p.m. on April 22.

Officials said the council chose to move forward with this decision because vaccination numbers are continuing to increase in Williamson County, and hospitalizations remain low in the area.

Mayor Craig Morgan said as of Thursday night more than 21 percent of the adults in the county have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Hospitalization rates are at about 5 percent in the region, the city said.

The Mayor noted the city’s actions related to COVID-19 were voted on by the entire city council, not through a disaster declaration by a single elected official.

“This council has done its best to be consistent and follow our charter,” Morgan said. “Was it perfect? No. But this council has done its best with the information available to us to do the best thing for Round Rock.”

Morgan and other council members said they are asking the public to be respectful of businesses and individuals as they make choices about masks.

“If a businesses chooses to make you wear a mask, please respect them and wear a mask,” Morgan said. “Our businesses need us. I also ask you to respect your neighbors who choose to wear a mask and those who don’t.”

The city council initially approved the emergency ordinance on face coverings on June 29, 2020, to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

The emergency ordinance was readopted four times, most recently on Feb. 25, when it was extended through April 29.