EDINBURG – On the heels of an Executive Order issued by Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday forbidding government entities from requiring facial coverings, Hidalgo County Commissioners Court voted in a special session on Friday to end the mask mandate for all Hidalgo County employees as well as all Hidalgo County facilities. “The CDC still highly encourages and recommends all un-vaccinated people to continue to use a mask for their protection. Everyone should continue to exercise caution in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to follow2 CDC guidelines,” said Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez following the vote.