AUSTIN, Texas —  An order from Mayor Steve Adler is set to go into effect at midnight Wednesday requiring Austin businesses to develop a “health and safety policy” and require employees and customers to wear face masks for all businesses that provide “good or services directly to the public.”

The health and safety policy or plan must require at a minimum that all employees and visitors wear face coverings while on the commercial entity's business premises or other facilities except in the following circumstances:

  • When the person is alone in a separate single space, whether indoors or outdoors;
  • When the person is in the presence only of other members of the same household or residence, whether indoors or outdoors; 
  • When doing so poses a greater mental or physical health, safety or security risk; 
  • When the person is outdoors engaging in an allowed activity while alone, or with only members of the same household or residence, or while maintaining a consistent separation of six feet or more from others and engaging in conduct authorized and as allowed by Governor' s Order GA-26 or subsequent executive order; 
  • When the person is eating or drinking in a restaurant or bar