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Gov. Andy Beshear says officials will more aggressively enforce Kentucky’s mask mandate in businesses and restaurants as the state continues to experience an escalation in coronavirus cases.
Beshear also renewed the mask requirement, which initially went into effect on July 10.
Beshear said inspectors from the state’s Department of Public Protection, Labor Cabinet and the Alcohol and Beverage Commission would intensify oversight of the mandate.
“You could shut down your business for a period of time, you could be fined, you can just have a conversation where you say, ‘Okay, we’ll do it,’ and you know they are going to check back,” Beshear said during his daily update. on Tuesday.
Kentucky is seeing an increase in confirmed coronavirus cases; Last week, the state recorded its highest weekly number of cases, and Beshear said that record could be broken again this week.
Beshear announced 1,054 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday. Children under 18 years of age accounted for 144 of those cases.
There were four new deaths associated with the virus, bringing the state’s total to 1,218.
Beshear encouraged local leaders to help enforce the mask’s mandate and business owners to refuse service to anyone who doesn’t wear a mask.
“I know that it is a difficulty for some businesses that are going to have angry people. But it is not the fault of the companies. I put the command of the mask. All they are doing is imposing it. And they can tell that person to do it to protect their business. Because we need that to happen, ”Beshear said.
The Beshear update came shortly after President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that he had canceled negotiations for a new coronavirus aid package ahead of the November election and instead encouraged the United States Senate to focus on approving his nominee to the US Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters that he supports Trump’s decision and that lawmakers “should focus on what can be accomplished.”
Beshear, who has repeatedly called for the aid package, said he disagreed with Trump and McConnell’s decision.
“We are in the middle of a pandemic and are we going to pause for confirmation?” Beshear asked. “If they can’t sit down and accept a package that helps Kentuckians and helps Americans through this, shame.”
The latest coronavirus relief bill has been debated in Congress since the Democrat-led US House passed its version in May. McConnell released a Republican version in late July, but it did not get enough support to pass the Senate.
