Statewide mask mandate will end on June 11, venues can also go back to full capacity on that date

MONTHS OF NOTKNOWING WHENWE'D SEE LIFE HEADBACK TO NORMAL...WE TOOK TWOGIANT STEPSTOWARD THAT GOALIN THE PAST TWODAYS.NOT ONLY HAS THECDC LOOSENEDMASK WEARING BUTTODAY GOVERNORANDY BESHEARANNOUNCED THATHE'LL SOON LIFTRESTRICTIONS FORBUSINESSES IN THEBLUEGRASS.BUT IT'S NOT ANINSTANT THING.LEX 18'S POLITICALREPORTERKAROLINA BUCZEKBREAKS DOWN THEREASONS THEGOVERNOR GAVEFOR WAITINGALMOST A MONTH...AND WHETHER YOUCAN DITCH THEMASKS FOR GOOD.IT'S OUR BIG STORYAT 6KAROLINAAFTER 14 LONGCOVID-FILLEDMONTHS HERE INKENTUCKY...GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEARANNOUNCED AN ENDDATE TODAY.

AN ENDDATE FORRESTRICTIONS ONBUSINESSES ANDTHESETHINGS...MASKS.10:16:00 "IN JUSTONE MONTH FROMTODAY, LIFE WILLALWAYS BE FULLYBACK TO NORMAL."10:16:04THOSE WORDS AREWHAT MANYKENTUCKIANS HAVEBEEN HOPING TOHEAR FOR A LONGTIME NOW.ON JUNE11TH...KENTUCKYTAKES TWO BIGSTEPS.

IT LIFTSCAPACITYRESTRICTIONS ONBUSINESSES ANDGETS RID OF THEMASK MANDATE, FOREVERYONEREGARDLESS OFWHETHER YOU'REVACCINATED OR NOT.KENTUCKIANS WHOARE FULLYVACCINATEDALREADY DON'TNEED TO WEARMASKS BOTHOUTDOORS ANDINDOORS...WITH THEEXCEPTION OF SOMEPLACES LIKEPLANES, HOSPITALS,HOMELESSSHELTERS, ANDOTHERS.

BUT THOSEWHO AREUNVACCINATED AREBEING ASKED TOWAIT UNTIL JUNE11TH.

WHY THEMONTH LONGDELAY?

THEGOVERNOR SAYSSINCE THE VACCINEWAS JUST OPENEDUP TO CERTAIN KIDSTHIS WEEK, THEDELAY IS TO GIVETHEM A CHANCE TOGET THE SHOT.10:16:09 ONEMONTH GIVES OUR12 TO 15 YEAROLDS THENECESSARY TIMETO GETVACCINATED.

:14AND EVEN THOUGHMANY KENTUCKIANSNO LONGER NEED TOWEAR A MASK RIGHTNOW, THEGOVERNOR SAYS IT'SBEST TO HAVE ONEON YOU AT ALLTIMES.10:39:10EVERYBODYSHOULD CONTINUETO CARRY A MASKWITH THEMBECAUSE THEREMAY BECIRCUMSTANCESWHEREBUSINESSES ORVENUES MAY STILLREQUIRE THEM.YOU WANT TO HAVEIT ON YOU.KAROLINASO ONE OF THE BIGQUESTIONS PEOPLEARE WONDERINGABOUT: HOW IS THISGOING TO BEENFORCED?

THISMASK DISTINCTIONBETWEEN THEVACCINATED ANDTHE UNVACCINATEDPEOPLE.

ANDGOVERNOR ANDYBESHEAR SAID IT'SREALLY GOING TO BETHE HONOR SYSTEM.HE'S ASKING PEOPLETO DO THE RIGHTTHING.

INFRANKFORT,KAROLINA BUCZEK.LEX 18 NEWS.LARRY