Updated at 7:24 p.m. to include comment from Rep. Michael McCaul’s staff.

WASHINGTON — Several Texas Republicans were spotted without a mask Thursday on the floor of the U.S. House, leading to criticism from their Democratic colleagues.

As the chamber gathered to debate the fourth large coronavirus bill since the beginning of the crisis, Reps. Michael McCaul and Chip Roy of Austin and Louie Gohmert of Tyler arrived without face coverings — despite the House Attending Physician recommending a face covering for all members.

The three were among a large contingent of GOP members spotted on the floor without masks that included Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, according to the New York Post.

Democrats chided their Republican colleagues for their neglect.

“People can do whatever they want to do, but I would say while we’re all trying to show how fearless we are, we should be mindful of the people that are surrounding us. And so, until I’m advised otherwise, I’m going to keep my mask on,” Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts said, wearing a mask as he spoke on the House floor.

Nearly every Democrat wore some sort of face covering on the floor. The only exception was recovered coronavirus patient Rep. Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, though he wore a mask later in the day.

McCaul wore a mask for the second round of votes.

Lawmakers from both sides removed masks when taking turns at the lecterns on the House floor.

Speaker Nancy Pelsosi pulled the white bandanna she was using down around her neck while she gave a speech in support of the $484 billion relief package, which sailed through on a 388-5 vote.

Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Pilot Point — who has years of experience wearing a mask during his previous career as an obstetrician — thanked Pelosi for acknowledging that “it is perhaps best to address the American people without a mask,” as he did during his own floor remarks.

When he wasn’t speaking, he did have a mask on.

The video of Burgess thanking the speaker went viral, though, as social media users pointed out Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sat several rows behind him without a face covering and coughing repeatedly into his elbow during the 30-second clip.

Thursday’s session was the first since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on April 3 that all Americans wear some sort of facial covering while out in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

At a Rules Committee hearing Wednesday on a Democratic resolution to create a subcommittee to investigate the outbreak, Burgess wore a mask except when speaking.

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, and Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, were among a handful of other Texas Republicans who also wore masks on the floor Thursday but removed them to speak at a lectern.

Democratic Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston and Al Green of Houston spoke at the lectern while wearing their masks.

The day’s two votes each took more than an hour as members staggered their voting time into eight separate groups of approximately 60 members, averting the normally raucous scene when the chamber is filled. The attending physician directed members to maintain a six-foot distance between themselves and others “as much as practicable.”

Additionally, the chamber was cleared for roughly 15 minutes between the two votes to allow for a deep cleaning of the room.

Republican leadership had hoped to hold a vote Thursday to change House rules and allow proxy voting, allowing lawmakers to designate a colleague to vote on their behalf. But Republicans objected and the vote was delayed.

“I will NEVER support proxy or remote voting,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, tweeted Wednesday. “America is looking to its representatives to act like LEADERS with courage, not spineless sheep in hiding. We ask our grocers to work, our truckers to drive, and our nurses to risk their lives. Congress can show up to VOTE.”

Roy and Gohmert did not respond to requests for comment about why they declined to wear masks Thursday.