‘Conspiracy’ or lifesaver? People react to Beshear’s order to wear masks in Kentucky
As Gov. Andy Beshear’s mandate requiring Kentuckians to wear masks went into effect Friday evening, most people who were asked about the order said they plan to comply with it, whether they like it or not.
“If it’s gotta be done, it’s gotta be done,” said Darren Costello. “It’s better than shutting the place down again.”
Linda Cook, who was wearing a mask while relaxing with family outside Creaux downtown Friday night, said she fully supports the governor’s decision.
“I’m glad that it’s in effect, since (cases are) back on the rise again,” she said. “That’s the only way to try to stop it. We’ve got to protect others, and we’ve got to protect ourselves.”
Paul Nicholl, who was walking downtown, agreed.
“It is a really good idea to try and get a grip on the whole thing,” he said.
On Friday, Beshear announced 426 new cases of COVID-19, the second-highest number reported in one day in Kentucky since the pandemic began. He said eight more people have died, bringing the total to 620.
Under the executive order that took effect at 5 p.m., masks are to be worn when people are in public spaces — both indoors and out — wherever it’s hard to maintain six feet of distance between people of different households. The order includes stores, restaurants, bars, salons, health care settings, child care facilities and other public venues, as well as public transportation and ride-sharing services.
The order will be in effect for at least the next 30 days.
There are a number of exemptions, including exceptions for children ages 5 and under and for people with disabilities or physical or mental impairments that keep them from being able to safely wear a mask. People who are seated and eating in a restaurant are not required to have a mask on.
The Centers for Disease Control has recommended cloth face coverings in public for people over age 2 who do not have breathing problems, saying the coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of coronavirus when they are widely used in public settings.
In Fayette County, a health department spokesman said Friday, businesses will be responsible for requiring customers to wear masks, and those that repeatedly neglect to do so could face fines.
In an online poll on Kentucky.com, more than 76 percent of respondents as of late Friday night said they would comply with the order to wear a mask.
Meg and Greg Rush, who were visiting Lexington from Jeffersonville, Ind., said they support mandates like the Kentucky governor’s.
“Given the circumstances, this is the right thing to do to protect other people,” Meg Rush said. “Businesses absolutely should be enforcing it, and they should be enforcing it with their employees.”
“It all comes back to personal responsibility,” Greg Rush said.
While several people mentioned that they find masks hot or uncomfortable, they also said they’re willing to wear them if it helps keep people from getting sick.
“It’s just something to adjust to,” said Erin Leitch, of Lexington. “If it makes people healthy, you can’t complain. ...That’s First World problems.”
“If it’ll save my little girl or my kinfolks, I’m all for it,” said Stephen Doss, of Richmond, who was visiting Walmart in Hamburg with his 5-year-old daughter, Gracie.
But a few people said they’re skeptical about whether the virus is truly a serious threat.
“I think it’s part of the One World Order. It’s a conspiracy,” said Sarah Jones, of Paris, who was shopping in Lexington Friday night.
She said she thinks governments that are requiring people to wear masks are infringing on personal freedoms.
“They’re not living up to the Constitution,” Jones said. “They’re invading our privacy and our lives.”
Darrell Clark, of Frankfort, was wearing a thin cloth mask into Sportsman’s Warehouse Friday night.
“I can blow a candle out with this mask,” he said.
He said he doubts that it does any good, “but it’s compliant,” he said.
“I don’t doubt that the coronavirus is deadly, but I think the media hypes it up,” he said. And, he said, “I think after the election it’ll all be gone.”
Terry Baker, of Lexington, said that if the information being disseminated is accurate, requiring masks is a good thing.
“I wonder if the government’s really telling us the truth. I hope so, but you just never know it seems like these days,” he said. “It’s hard to trust.”
Before Beshear’s executive order, Baker said he always carried a mask in his pocket when he went out, and if he saw that there were too many people for social distancing, he would wear it.
Now, he said, “if it’s what the governor wants, then I’ll try to abide. I’ll try to be a law-abiding citizen.”
This story was originally published July 13, 2020 at 11:16 PM.
