Kansas governor mandates masks in K-12 schools

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) on Monday ordered that masks must be worn and temperatures must be checked at all of the state's K-12 schools when they reopen.

School faculty, staff, students, and visitors must abide by the mandate, with some exceptions, including for those who are deaf or hard of hearing and children under 5 years old. This order does not need the approval of the Kansas Board of Education.

The board, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, does have to vote on her plan to delay the reopening of K-12 schools from mid-August to Sept. 9. Kelly said that by having an additional three weeks, schools will be able to "work with their counties to get the necessary mitigation supplies" like masks and hand sanitizers, and superintendents will have time to "figure out what strategy is best for their district."

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Since June 10, the number of coronavirus cases in Kansas has more than doubled. The state has recorded over 23,000 confirmed cases, and the death toll has surpassed 300.