Highlighting his commitment to protecting all Kentuckians, Gov. Andy Beshear has announced Kentuckians must wear face coverings in many situations if the state is going to stop the increase of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) cases and continue to reopen the economy safely.
“The No. 1 thing a mask can do is protect the health and the life of yourself and those around you,” the Governor said. “It can make sure we don’t lose more people than we should, it can keep our cases down and it can help us to continue to reopen our economy.”
According to health experts, wearing face coverings not only protects others, it also lowers the infection risk for those wearing masks by 65%.
The Governor also pointed to analysis from Goldman Sachs showing that if everyone in America was required to wear face coverings in public, it could save the U.S. economy from losing 5% of the Gross Domestic Product. Gov. Beshear noted that 5% of Kentucky’s Gross State Product alone is $10.4 billion.
So far, 22 states have implemented some sort of order mandating face coverings, although details vary.
Kentucky’s new executive order requires Kentuckians to wear face coverings under several circumstances for the next 30 days. The order will be evaluated during that time to determine any additional steps or extension.
The executive order states that face coverings will be required:
“While inside, or waiting in line to enter, any: retail establishment; grocery store; pharmacy; hair salon/barbershop; nail salon/spa; tattoo parlor; child care facility; restaurant or bar (when not seated and consuming food or beverage); health care setting, or; any other indoor public space in which it is difficult to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from all individuals who are not members of that person’s household;
“While waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit, or while riding in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle, or driving any of the above while customers are present; or
“While in outdoor public spaces in which the person cannot maintain a physical distance of six feet from all individuals who are not members of the person’s household and is not otherwise covered by previously issued guidance.”
There are several exemptions to the order, including children who are 5 or younger and any person with a disability, or a physical or mental impairment, that prevents them from safely wearing a face covering.
The new executive order is in addition to current Healthy at Work and Healthy at School guidance already in place for many businesses and schools.
The Governor pointed to more than 3 million people having been infected with this deadly virus in the U.S and how hotspots like Arizona, Texas and Florida have seen sharp spikes in cases. He noted that health officials in those states are reporting an alarming uptick in use of ICU beds and a tightening of hospital capacity in general.
The Governor said Kentucky needed to take this step, requiring face coverings, so that we don’t have to take more drastic measures, like several other states that have seen spikes.
“We have worked too long and hard, and sacrificed too much, to squander the gains we have made in this fight,” the Governor said.
Many across the commonwealth and nation have voiced support for more widespread use of face coverings and masks.
“We wholeheartedly support the Governor’s call to wear face masks in public,” said Garren Colvin, president and chief executive officer of St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “We know this is simply the most effective means of preventing transmission of COVID-19, and represents our best opportunity to diminish the ravaging effects of this pandemic until a vaccine is developed.”
“We support Gov. Beshear taking this additional step today to keep our members safe,” said John Stovall, president of Teamsters 783. “Masks will not only keep our hard-working employees healthy, but it will keep our economy going and moving forward on to the road to recovery.”
The issue is so important, the Governor said, that the Retail Industry Leaders Association is urging “every governor to require consumers who are not encumbered by a medical condition to wear masks when shopping or in public places.”
“The business community is supportive of wearing masks as a way to keep the economy going and to keep our workforce and fellow Kentuckians safe,” said Ashli Watts, president and chief executive officer of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “We will be reviewing Gov. Beshear’s executive order and providing feedback and comments to the administration.”
“We want our economy to be able to open safely. We want our schools to be able to open safely. If the numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to surge, it won’t be safe,” said Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton. “Throughout this pandemic, Gov. Beshear has made the tough calls to keep Kentuckians safe. He’s doing that again today.”
“I strongly support Governor Beshear’s difficult decision to order mandatory mask-wearing in public. I believe it will slow the spread of the coronavirus, save lives and help us to keep our businesses open and our people working safely,” said Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon from Warren County. “Citizens should gladly support the mandatory mask policy. Wearing a mask is not a lot to ask and is the least we can do to protect our friends, neighbors and family members. Wearing a mask in public will help to slow the spread of the virus and allow us to get back to work, to rebuild our businesses and revive our previously strong economy.”
As of 4 p.m. July 9, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 18,245 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 333 of which were newly reported Thursday.
“When we have higher numbers, it’s hitting all parts of our population,” said Gov. Beshear. “We have a dangerous and deadly virus out there and we are now seeing a regular increase in cases in Kentucky.”
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported four new deaths Thursday, raising the total to 612 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Thursday include a 93-year-old woman from Clark County; a 79-year-old man from Edmonson County; a 94-year-old man from Knox County; and a 61-year-old man from Pike County.
“An employee in the Secretary of State’s office rings a bell in this Rotunda every day, because she knows every day there’s a family that needs us,” said Gov. Beshear. “I hope you’re continuing to light up your homes green to try to show the right type of empathy and compassion.”
As of Thursday, there have been at least 461,756 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. At least 4,939 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
“On hospital beds right now, occupancy is about 60%,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is a good number, this means right now we have a significant number of beds for those who get sick.”
On Thursday, Gov. Beshear celebrated the life of Dana Davis, a front-line health care worker at Baptist Hospital in Louisville. She passed away from COVID-19 at just 51 years old. While she was one of our heroic health care workers, a review is still being conducted on how she contracted the virus, the Governor said.
“She was a mother, grandmother, wife, sister, daughter, and so much more. She was taken from her family far too soon,” said Gov. Beshear. “She enjoyed shopping for antiques, helping others, and most of all, spending time with her grandbabies.”
Her daughter, Brittany, shared that her mom “touched so many lives, had a heart of gold, and was a hero to all who knew her. Please wear your mask, stay at home and social distance for you, for your loved ones, and for our front-line workers.”
(provided by the Office of the Governor of Kentucky)
