New guidance says masks all day in KY schools even if students, staff are six feet apart.

In a tightening of state guidance released Monday afternoon, Kentucky students would wear masks inside schools all day even when they are six feet apart.

Previous guidance said masks did not have to be worn if students and staff were six feet apart.

New guidance documents say the use of cloth face coverings, or masks, should be required by all students and staff at all times while in the building or on the school bus, unless there is a medical reason not to do that. Students and staff should only lower their masks while actively eating or drinking.

Only when students are outside and additionally 6 feet from others are masks not required under the recommendation.

The guidance was updated based on a recommendation by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, said Kentucky Department of Education spokeswoman Toni Konz Tatman.

“We agree with the recommendation 100 percent,” said Kentucky Education Associate Commissioner Kelly Foster.

Foster said masks for kindergarteners and preschoolers will be a local decision. Several districts have already made this a requirement, a news release said.

“Just a reminder, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that anyone above the age of 2 can wear a mask safely,” said Foster.

Private schools are not under the purview of Kentucky Department of Education.

However, in the past, many private schools have mentioned they are using the recommendations in the flagship #HealthyAtSchool guidance document. Throughout the pandemic, several of those school leaders have asked to be included on any Kentucky Department of Education guidance document that is sent out to public schools as it relates to the COVID pandemic.

Deputy Health Commissioner Connie White said Tuesday the new mask recommendation is needed to prevent the spread of disease and it’s an extra layer of protection.

Kentucky has seen an increase of coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

Gov. Andy Beshear has asked schools in Kentucky to postpone in-person learning until Sept. 28. That is the first window that Fayette County schools, which started learning from home last week, will consider returning to face-to-face instruction.

At least 30 Kentucky school districts have disagreed with the Sept. 28 date and moved ahead with in-person learning. However, a few district and schools have already had shut downs as a result of coronavirus cases.

Interim Kentucky Education Commissioner Kevin Brown said it should be a last resort before students received disciplinary action if they didn’t wear masks as expected. Staff could be subject to personnel action if they don’t wear masks as included in the new guidelines, he said.

Jim Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, said “this is a significant change and we’re evaluating its impact.”

“School and district teams have spent months preparing to reopen schools safely. We are committed to finding ways to provide much needed services to our children during this pandemic,” he said.

This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 10:43 AM.