FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — During his Monday press conference, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that starting Tuesday, the mask mandate is no longer in effect for Kentuckians that are outside at events where 1,000 people or less are present.
In July, Gov. Beshear signed an executive order that required Kentuckians to wear a face mask in public in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. That mandate has been in effect ever since.
"It worked," Gov. Beshear said of the mask mandate. "It has significantly decreased our cases and decreased our deaths."
Gov. Beshear said under the executive order, the mask mandate is still required at places such as work, grocery stores, and drug stores. The mandate will also be in effect for events such as the Kentucky Derby where over 1,000 people will be present.
"I spoke to the CEO of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs today, we agreed that with the number of people, that their masking rules must continue," Gov. Beshear said. "They are committed to it and committed to doing it safely. But based on both where we are on vaccinations and what we have seen in recent data, it means that if you are at a backyard barbecue, if you're at your community pool, if you are at an outdoor wedding, especially if you are vaccinated, you are not required to wear a mask."
The governor also recommended that Kentuckians that aren't vaccinated should still wear a mask outside if you are at an event where people are less than six feet apart.
"Now if you are not vaccinated and you are at an event where people are less than six feet apart outside, we recommend you wear a mask," Gov. Beshear said. "Actually, we recommend you get vaccinated, but that will be a decision for your own safety in that outdoor environment."
COVID-19 update
There were 213 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Kentucky on Monday. After the removal of duplicates, the 213 new cases brings Kentucky's COVID-19 case total to 441,166.
Gov. Beshear also announced four new coronavirus-related deaths, along with an additional seven deaths from an audit, bringing Kentucky's coronavirus-related death total to 6,459.
As of Monday, 414 Kentuckians are hospitalized for coronavirus-related reasons, 108 of which are in the ICU and 47 of which are on a ventilator.
