Thursday, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra issued an executive order that mandates wearing face-coverings in public places.

This includes grocery stores, pharmacies, workplaces, bars, restaurants— or in places where six-feet of distancing from others is difficult.

The order does not include: exercising outside, driving alone or with passengers in same household, in situations where face coverings pose a greater mental or physical health, safety or security risk, when pumping gas or operating outdoor equipment, in banks or while consuming food or drink.

All businesses in the county are also ordered to create Health and Safety Policies for employees and customers.

Any businesses that fail to do so could face fines up to $1000 per violation—people who do not wear face masks will not face any criminal or civil punishment.

RELATED: Hays County businesses impacted by surge in new cases

The executive order comes at the same time Hays Co. reported its largest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases to date—with 210 additional cases. In June alone the county has more than quadrupled its amount of total, confirmed cases. Right now, there are 1,105 active cases in the county.

"I feel it [face covering order] is necessary to issue an order to slow the aggressive spread of this relentless virus," says Judge Becerra.

Officials say most cases are in patients under 30 who live in San Marcos. According to Epidemiologists, most of the exposure has come from protests, river-floating excursions and recently opened bars.

The face covering order takes effect Monday, June 22nd and expires July 20th.

The county and National Guard are hosting the following opportunities for free drive-in and walk up testing:

Friday: McCormick Middle School in Buda 4-9 p.m.