The Texas Supreme Court blocked local orders by establishing an evening curfew for restaurants to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, according to reports.
The court issued the order on Friday, conditionally granting state attorney general Ken Paxton’s petition to block the execution of orders in Austin and Travis County.
The area currently has more than 4,500 active cases of COVID-19, and the disease has killed more than 500 people there.
Across the country, the US leads all nations in coronavirus infections and deaths, accounting for nearly 25% of cases worldwide and more than 348,000 deaths.
A Texas appeals court has temporarily granted a request by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and restaurant owners to lift coronavirus blockade orders issued in El Paso County. (Photo by Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc / Corbis via Getty Images)
The response to the outbreak has become a theme of party containment, with many leaders of Democratic states opting for blockades, while the Trump administration and Republican governors have emphasized individual freedoms and sought to maintain public security while keeping the economy running.
In Texas, Paxton, a Republican, applauded the court’s decision. “City and county orders clearly violate Governor Executive Order No. 32,” he said, according to the KVUE. “Local authorities have no authority to cancel it.”
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Paxton emphasized that “local declarations” cannot conflict with the governor’s “clear order”.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott tweeted a message on New Year’s Eve reiterating his position.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler was disappointed with the decision.
“The Supreme Court did not tell us what it thought, but it stopped applying until the Court of Appeals could take a closer look,” said the Democrat, according to FOX 7 Austin. “It will take time.”
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“In the meantime, I continue to believe that each of us has the power to protect our neighbors and save lives now,” added Adler. “Austin is experiencing an uncontrolled spread of the virus.”