By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
After lifting the mask mandate earlier this month, Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday increased capacities allowed at businesses and other venues.
Now, capacities at businesses and other venues have been raised from 60 percent to 75 percent, regardless of size, and curfews have ended as well. Those businesses and venues will be able to return to 100 percent of capacity, effective June 11.
Gov. Andy Beshear increased capacity limits at businesses and venues, effective Friday. (Photo by Tom Latek, Kentucky Today)
When making the announcement, he explained why he is not lifting all restrictions immediately. “One month gives our 12 to 15-year-olds the necessary time to get vaccinated,” Beshear stated. “One month also gives notice and time to everyone else who has not received their ‘shot of hope.’”
He noted, “A return to full capacity could raise the risk of exposure to those not vaccinated, but the solution is to get your vaccine. We have lost more than 6,700 Kentuckians to COVID. We shouldn’t and we don’t have to lose any more.”
There are still some exceptions to the lifting of the mask mandate, as the CDC guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, long-term care facilities like nursing homes, prisons and homeless shelters.
To remove the burden from businesses on having to rely on the honor system when it comes to customers being masked or unmasked, Beshear said, “They can post the rules, they can make announcements. They don’t need to be checking for anybody’s vaccination cards. On June 11, unless they are one of the very specific number of locations, they won’t have to worry about it at all.”
As of Thursday, 2,020,760 Kentuckians have been vaccinated, or 46% of the total population. 1,923,273 of them are 18 or older, or 56% of that age group. 81% of Kentuckians 65 or older, or 560,960 have been vaccinated.
To see Kentucky’s full daily COVID-19 report, go to kycovid19.ky.gov. There, you can also find a link to information on vaccination sites located near you, including those offering transportation options.
