CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi Fire Department firefighters are asking residents to wear masks if they call first responders to their homes.
"Please help keep us safe," states a message posted on its Facebook page. "Please wear a face covering to reduce (the) chances of exposing others or being exposed yourself to COVID-19."
The first responders said the novel coronavirus threat is real, and their jobs require then to coronavirus threats every day.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order requiring all Texans to wear a face-covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces.
"Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19,” he said.