CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (WSIL) -- Mask wearing is taking on a new emphasis in both Cape Girardeau, Missouri and the State of Kentucky but Illinois has been mandating it since May. Monday the Cape Girardeau County public health center emergency face covering order goes into effect.
It's a county-wide mandate, however, police will not be able to enforce it.
Instead they encourage people to report violations to the health department.
Violations of the Face Covering Order can be reported to the Health Department by or by calling the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center 573.335.7846.
Cape Girardeau County had 167 active cases Sunday with 3 deaths and 187 had recovered.
As soon as Gov. Andy Beshear announced a statewide mask mandate with an Executive Order last week many Kentucky law enforcement organizations turned to social media like the Graves and McCracken County Sheriff's Office that they would not be involved in enforcement.
"We have no shorts no shoes no service. No its no mask no service," Beshear said Thursday at the announcement.
The mandate is in regard to any customers of retail facilities including grocery stores and other forward-facing businesses.
The governor also said if anyone is outdoors in a public space and cannot be six feet from another person, masks are required.
The order will initially be in effect for a period of 30 days.
Beshear said people who repeatedly refuse to wear masks in public could face a fine, and businesses like restaurants that don’t mask their employees could be temporarily shut down.
The following are exempt from wearing face coverings, according to the governor's order:
-Children who are age 5 or younger.
-Any person with a disability or physical mental impairment that prevents them from safely wearing a face covering.
-Any person who is hearing impaired or is communicating with a person who is hearing impaired.
-Any person engaged in work that a state or federal regulator has concluded would make a face covering a health risk to their health or safety.
-Any person who is obtaining a service that requires temporary removal of a face covering in order to perform the service (like teeth cleaning).
-Any person who is required to temporarily remove their face covering to confirm their identity.
-Any person who is giving a speech or broadcast to an audience and is unable to maintain a safe distance of 6 feet from all individuals.
-Any person who is engaged in a lawful activity where federal or state law prohibits wearing a face covering.
is the full executive order.
Kentucky had 451 more cases and two deaths across the state Sunday.
Protesters seeking to "free Kentucky" by opposing the mask wearing as an infringement of their liberties have been seen in protests statewide and at the capitol.
Kentucky resident Chelsea Winford said she is in favor of the mandate.
"I think it should, it should be mandated because it affects everyone around you," Winford said.
Kentucky resident Scott Ford agrees.
"It is safety. I don't want anybody to affect me and if I come down with Covid-19, this is a safety layer," Ford said.
In Illinois the mandate has been going on since .
Everyone over the age of 2 -- who can medically tolerate a face covering over their nose and mouth must wear one in a public place.'
And it's suppose to be worn when you're unable to maintain a safe social distance.
Illinois officials announced Sunday 954 new cases of COVID-19, including an additional 20 fatalities.
That brings the state's total cases to 153,916 including 7,187 lives lost.
