Sep 18, 2021 - Health

Most Kentucky school boards vote in favor of mask mandates

A kindergarten student gives the thumbs up to her teacher before starting the first day of kindergarten at Laguna Niguel Elementary School in Laguna Niguel, CA.

Photo: Paul Bersebach, MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

A majority of school boards in Kentucky voted in favor of mask mandates, according to the Kentucky School Board Association.

Why it matters: A week ago, Kentucky's Republican-dominated legislature voted to revoke a statewide mask mandate in public schools that was meant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The decision on masks would instead be left up to individual districts.

The big picture: On Friday, as a statewide mask mandate in schools ended, around 165 of the state's 171 public school districts said they would require masks, representing 96% of the districts in the state.

  • The state reported 9,943 new COVID-19 cases and 68 more virus-related deaths Friday.

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