Governor Laura Kelly has officially signed the executive order mandating masks be worn in public settings and places where six-foot social distancing cannot be maintained.
Executive Order 20-52 begins Friday and remains in place until formally rescinded or until the current State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever occurs first.
Situations where masks will be needed include:
*When residents are inside a public space or are in line to enter one
*When obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings like hospitals, pharmacies, medical clinics, laboratories, physician or dental offices, veterinary clinics or blood banks
*Waiting for or riding public transportation, including taxis, private car services or ride-sharing
*Residents 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.
*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.
Exemptions include:
*Children under the age of 5, especially those 2 and under because of the risk of suffocation
*Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that would prevent the wearing of a face covering.
*Deaf or hearing impaired individuals
*Employee do not need to wear a mask if it would create a risk to the person related to their work
*Customers in a restaurant eating or drinking and able to maintain a 6-foot physical distance
*Athletes in an organized sports activity
*The Kansas Legislature
*Anytime wearing a face mask is prohibited by law.
The executive order says masks need to cover the mouth and nose.
Kelly says the Kansas Attorney General, county attorneys and district attorneys are responsible for enforcement. A memo from Attorney General Derek Schmidt states that officers can not arrest or detain someone for violations of an emergency order, which is a civil violation, but may be subject to a lawsuit filed by the county attorney or district attorney.
The full executive order can be found here.
