Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has issued a new order requiring state employees and visitors to wear masks inside state buildings and facilities.  The order goes into effect Monday, August 2nd.

The governor announced the order at a news conference Wednesday, and she said it was in response to new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control that call for fully vaccinated people to wear masks indoors in areas with increasing cases of COVID-19.    The governor’s order applies to all state employees and visitors regardless of their vaccination status.

The governor said the order is being issued because the delta variant of COVID-19 is significantly more contagious than other variants.   She said just one person who is infected with the delta variant can carry upwards of 1,000 times the viral load as someone with a previous version of the virus.

Governor Kelly cited a comment last week from Alabama Governor Kay Ivey saying that it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated for the situation states are finding themselves in with rising case numbers.    Kelly said this extends to any elected official who has put politics above public health over the past year, or those who have stayed silent and allowed falsehoods and conspiracy theories to replace science and medicine.   She said “Playing politics with this disease has caused confusion,  and ultimately suffering and death.”

The governor said almost every single Kansan who has COVID now and is in an intensive care unit is unvaccinated.  She is urging people who have not been vaccinated to get the shot as soon as possible.  She said the vaccine is safe, effective and free.    She said her administration will have updated guidelines for school districts later this week, and they will be ready to provide guidance, tools and support for any district that needs help in protecting children as they return to school.