Governor Laura Kelly has officially issued the executive order saying state residents must wear masks in public settings and in places where six-foot social distancing measures can’t be maintained.
Executive Order 20-52 begins at 12:01 am Friday and will remain in place until formally rescinded or until the current State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever happens first.
The list of situations where people need masks or facial coverings is as follows:
*Residents go inside a public space, or are in line to enter one.
*Residents go to the doctor or health care facility like the hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank.
*Residents use public transportation, taxi or ride-share.
*Residents are outside in a public space where maintaining 6-foot distance between people is not possible.
*All businesses that have interaction with the public.
*Anyone working with food preparation for distribution.
*Any employee, while inside a room with others, where maintaining 6-foot distance between people is not possible.
There are a handful of exceptions to the rule as well:
*Children five years or younger, especially those who are two years old and under because of the risk of suffocation.
*Anyone with a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask or covering.
*Deaf or hearing impaired.
*Employees do not need to wear a mask if it would create a risk to the person related to their work.
*Customers in a restaurant who are eating or drinking and able to maintain a 6-foot distance from other customers.
*Athletes in an organized sports activity.
*The Kansas Legislature.
*Anytime wearing a face mask if prohibited by law.
Masks, meanwhile, need to cover the nose and mouth.
Kelly says the Kansas Attorney General, county attorneys and district attorneys are responsible for enforcement. Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman has already said there is no way the executive order can be enforced for criminal violations due to a compromise reached in the Legislature’s special session last month where all criminal penalties were removed. Emporia City Attorney Christina Montgomery says there is a chance of civil penalties, possibly as much as $2,500, but it would be up to Goodman or Attorney General Derek Schmidt to pursue enforcement.
Click here for a link to Executive Order 20-52.
Don’t forget to take part in the latest KVOE News poll asking whether you plan to wear a mask or facial covering in public starting Friday. The poll closes just before midnight. Click here to take part.
