FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear has announced Kentucky's mask mandate will be extended by another 30 days.
"We have seen, when I showed you Tennessee vs. Kentucky, what happens and where we would be without a mask mandate in terms of additional cases and additional deaths," said Gov. Beshear. "But this is also a mandate that is supported, overwhelmingly, by Kentuckians."
The governor cited a recent New York Times survey, which says at least 70% of Kentuckians strongly or somewhat favor requiring people to wear masks when around other people outside of their homes.
"This isn't a political thing," Gov. Beshear said. "It's people doing the right thing and some people we need to bring along and talk about the importance of loving your neighbor as yourself."
The mandate comes as Beshear announced 1,635 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky. After the removal of duplicates, the 1,635 new cases bring Kentucky's COVID-19 case total to 113,009. Wednesday's positivity rate was 6.3%.
Gov. Beshear also announced 11 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing Kentucky's coronavirus-related death total to 1,514.
