As vaccinations continue and coronavirus rates in Kentucky plateau, Gov. Andy Beshear is relaxing the commonwealth's mask mandate.
Masks will no longer be required at outdoor events that draw fewer than 1,000 people, the governor announced at Tuesday's press briefing.
Masks, which help slow the spread of the coronavirus, will still be required at indoor public facilities, Beshear said, as well as at outdoor events that draw crowds in the thousands — such as Monday's Racing Louisville FC soccer game, which Beshear said would be the first sporting event he's attended since the start of the pandemic, and this weekend's Kentucky Derby.
But as the Bluegrass State shows progress in its fight with COVID-19, Beshear said Kentucky officials hope the eased restrictions are seen as "relief" for those who have strictly followed the mask mandate since it was put in place last year.
Still, the governor recommended that those who have not yet been vaccinated should consider continuing to wear a mask at outdoor events, and to make an effort to take the vaccine, which has widespread availability throughout Kentucky.
More headlines:Kentucky will maintain 6 U.S. House seats after 2020 census
On Monday, four coronavirus-related deaths were reported along with 213 total cases, Beshear said. Kentucky's positivity rate had dipped to 3.15%, he added, the lowest it's been in four weeks. More than 1.7 million Kentuckians have received a COVID-19 vaccine dose as of Monday, Beshear said.
Kentucky's mask mandate was first put in place by executive order last July, when the state had seen 18,245 total cases and 612 deaths. More than nine months later, a total of 441,166 total coronavirus cases and 6,459 deaths have been reported.
Additionally on Monday, Beshear and Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack announced the state would begin to use the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine again. Use of that inoculation was halted in early February over rare blood clot reports.
Source link
