EPISD announced that the district would be following the local mask mandate that was imposed at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 18.

The mandate went into effect Thursday, August 19.

All district students, employees and visitors will be expected to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside district buildings or traveling in district vehicles.

The requirement will remain in effect until further notice.

According to the order imposed by city health officials, El Paso is “among the leaders in the State of Texas in terms of COVID-19 deaths as well as the high vulnerability of our population due to morbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.”

Other factors that contributed to the cities order included low health insurance coverage rates, the impact that COVID-19 has had on the local community, as well a shortage in health care professionals in the area.

The local order states that any person younger that 2 must wear a face covering indoors and failure to abide by the order is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.