Attorney General Curtis Hill issued an advisory opinion Wednesday evening following the governor’s executive order that goes into effect Monday, mandating anyone over the age of eight to wear a mask while inside public and business buildings, as well as in outdoor public areas where maintaining 6 feet of distance cannot be followed.

“Scientists tell us that wearing face masks is an effective means of helping prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19,” Hill said. “The wisdom of wearing masks — or of laws requiring such measures — is not the issue here. Rather, the issue is whether we are following the proper and constitutional processes for enacting laws and whether we are respecting the distinct roles of each branch of state government.”