An aerial view of a coronavirus testing site in Covington, Kentucky, on Sept. 8. Photo: Jeffrey Dean/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Kentucky's Republican-dominated legislature voted on late Thursday night to revoke a statewide mask mandate in public schools meant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Louisville Courier Journal reports.
Why it matters: The vote came on the final day of an emergency special legislative session called by Gov. Andy Beshear (D) in response to surging cases in the state.
- The Kentucky Supreme Court last month allowed state Republicans to significantly limit Beshear's executive authority to impose emergency health measures during the pandemic, including the indoor mask mandate for K-12 schools, preschools and child care facilities.
Beshear vetoed portions of the bill nullifying the school mask mandate on Thursday night, though Republican lawmakers overrode his vetoes and ended the special session.
- School mask mandates will instead be determined by school districts.
- Lawmakers also imposed bans on any future vaccine mandates for hospital workers and statewide mask mandates, giving local governments and businesses the power to implement mask rules.
The big picture: Kentucky reported 5,252 new coronavirus cases — including 1,602 new cases among people 18 years and younger — and 36 new deaths from the virus on Thursday, according to state data.
- Only around 47% of the state's population has received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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