Governor Andy Beshear has announced he will lift the mask mandate for outdoor events in the state with less than 1,000 people beginning Tuesday.
Last July, the governor enacted a statewide mask mandate for all venues unless people were restricted due to health reasons. He has renewed his executive order each month since then.
Beshear said updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and increased vaccination numbers in the state made lifting the outdoor mask mandate possible.
The guidance is good news for outdoor events such as high school sports, small weddings, family reunions, farmer’s markets, community pools, family gatherings, and events at public parks with less than 1,000 people. However, Beshear said masks must still be worn inside.
click to download audioBeshear feels like his original mask mandate that was issued last year saved lives.
click to download audioThe governor said he would lift all COVID-19 restrictions for venues and businesses with less than 1,000 people if 2.5 million Kentuckians get vaccinated. As of Monday, the state was over 733,000 short of the goal and had 458,000 unused doses of a COVID-19 vaccine on hand.
Kentucky reported 213 new COVID-19 cases Monday with a testing positivity rate of 3.15-percent, which dropped for the first time in several weeks. The state also reported four new deaths and seven others through the ongoing audit of past deaths linked to the virus.
