Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, issued an executive order on Thursday requiring the use of face masks or covers in public beginning Friday in an effort to curb the spread of the new coronavirus in the state.
“This is a simple and proactive step we can take to keep Kansans residents at work, take our children to school and keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy,” Kelly said in a statement. “Wearing a mask is not only safe, but you need to avoid another shutdown.”
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The governor added: “Remember, my mask protects you and your mask protects me. We are all in this together.”
According to the order, Kelly has ordered Kansans residents to wear masks in shops and businesses, restaurants and in any situation where the 6-foot social distance cannot be maintained, even outdoors.
The order does not apply to children under the age of 6, deaf people, or people with medical conditions that make it difficult to breathe through a mask or prevent them from removing a mask without help.
Kelly said the Kansas attorney general’s office will work closely with administration officials to ensure that the order complies with Kansas law.
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The order comes after the state experienced an increase in coronavirus cases after Kelly’s decision to lift state restrictions on businesses and public meetings in late May.
“We all want to return to our normal lives and routines,” Kelly said in a statement Thursday. “Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths across our state and our country. We must act.”
Kansas has reported nearly 15,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus since the pandemic began in early March and had reported 272 COVID-19-related deaths as of Wednesday. Since Kelly lifted state restrictions on business and public gatherings immediately after Memorial Day, Kansas has had 5,653 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, representing a 61 percent increase and 84 deaths, a 45 percent jump. hundred.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
