Regardless, the Kentucky Department of Education’s emergency regulation remains in effect for public schools, as does the Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ emergency regulation related to child care settings.' Thankfully, while we disagree with the plaintiffs in the case, they have agreed that the order should be narrowed to only apply to their diocese and no others schools. We will pursue every avenue and option to ensure that we can protect Kentucky’s children. Nor was the court provided the Franklin Circuit Court’s injunction of the legislation at issue. The court ruled without hearing from the Governor and with absolutely no consideration of the consequences of exposure and quarantine that we will see – especially at a time when we are nearly out of staffed hospital beds statewide. 'The federal court’s ruling could place thousands of Kentucky children at risk and undoubtedly expose them to the most dangerous version of COVID-19 we have ever seen. If the citizens dislike the laws passed, the remedy lies with them, at the polls.'Ĭrystal Staley, the Director of Communications in Governor Beshear's Office released the following statement:

'The Executive Branch cannot simply ignore laws passed by the duly-elected representatives of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In judge William Bertelsman's analysis, he states the Governor violates KRS39A.090 (3), which is the product of House Bill 1, Senate Bill 1, Senate Bill 2, and House Joint Resolution 77, all passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in its 2021 session. Beshear, the plaintiffs challenged the legality of the Executive order issued by Beshear on August 10 requiring all teachers, staff, students, and visitors in Kentucky schools to wear face masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. However, the governor's office says the ruling only applies to schools within the Catholic Diocese of Covington. 16.(LEX 18) - A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against Governor Andy Beshear's executive order mask mandate for schools on Thursday. The seven-day average of COVID-19 hospitalizations grew to 31 - the highest it has been since Jan. On Monday, Jennie Stuart Medical Center reported 32 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Hopkinsville hospital. 19, the number of COVID-19 cases among students in Christian County Public Schools nearly doubled, from 50 to 97. 19, there were 609 active COVID-19 cases in the county, with 173 cases - or 28% - among residents 21 years and younger.īetween Aug. Of those, 134 - or 22% - were among residents 18 and younger.Īs of Aug.

6 and 19, there were 599 new COVID-19 infections reported by the Christian County Health Department. The CDC also advises: “If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.”Īs of Saturday, the entire state of Kentucky was in an area of “high community transmission,” according to the CDC.ĭuring the most recent wave of the pandemic, the delta variant has prompted an increase in the number of younger individuals infected with the virus who experience serious illness and require hospitalization.ĭuring the two weeks between Aug. Currently there are no approved COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says everyone age 2 or older who is not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public places. “We will continue to keep our parents and guardians up to date as we learn more information, but to be clear, the Kentucky Board of Education’s regulation requiring face coverings in public schools is still in effect,” the district’s news release states. The new state law adopted by the Republican-led General Assembly will limit the Democratic governor’s emergency orders to 30 days - unless the orders are extended by the General Assembly. The supreme court, in a unanimous decision, forced a lower court to dissolve its injunction blocking laws the General Assembly passed to limit Beshear’s powers through executive orders.

“Therefore, the KBE regulation implementing face coverings in public schools still stands,” the local district said in its news release from spokesman John Rittenhouse.īeshear’s action to cancel his mask mandate followed a decision Saturday from the Kentucky Supreme Court that cleared the way for the legislature to limit his powers in an emergency such as the pandemic. 12 mask requirement from the Kentucky Board of Education remains in force while a separate school mask mandate from Gov. The clarification addresses the fact that an Aug. Christian County Public Schools issued a press release Monday reminding parents that a mask mandate remains in effect for all public schools in Kentucky.

Andy beshear mask mandate schools