Kentucky governor orders masks in schools as virus surges

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) �� Gov. Andy Beshear has imposed a mask-wearing mandate in Kentucky schools. His announcement Tuesday comes as the delta variant causes waves of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

The Democratic governor says his executive order will require masks for anyone inside a Kentucky school, regardless of vaccination status for COVID-19. Beshear says the mask order will protect children and help make sure they stay in school.

The executive order applies to:

All individuals �� all teachers, staff, students and visitors �� must cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when indoors in all public and private preschool, Head Start, elementary, middle and high schools (preschool through grade 12) in Kentucky, including but not limited to inside of vehicles used for transportation such as school buses, regardless of vaccination status; and
All staff, visitors and children ages 2 and older who are able to wear a face covering must cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when indoors in all child care settings in Kentucky, regardless of vaccination status.

�ճ�� includes a list of exemptions.

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“We are in the midst of the fastest surge that we have ever seen during COVID right now. This move is supported by medical organizations, local health department leaders, businesses and education leaders. It is also supported by the Kentucky Chamber, representing 3,800 member businesses across the commonwealth,�� said Gov. Beshear. “This is a united front of saving lives, keeping our kids in school and keeping our economy and workforce going.��

The new schoolhouse mandate comes as Beshear announced 2,500 new COVID-19 cases statewide due to the highly contagious delta variant.

The governor says escalating virus-related hospitalization rates are “absolutely alarming.��