LOCAL

Mask policies: From the zoo to schools to employers, here's what some places are requiring

Louisville Courier Journal

Because the delta variant of COVID-19 is wreaking havoc across the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is encouraging people to wear masks indoors when in public, regardless of vaccination status, in certain counties.

Those counties have either "substantial" (orange on the CDC map) or "high" (red) rates of transmission on the CDC's COVID Data Tracker, and Louisville and its surrounding counties (including Southern Indiana) meet that threshold as of Aug. 2, 2021.

The CDC considers substantial transmission, or orange, to be 50 to 100 new cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period, and high transmission, or red, to be 100 or more per 100,000 people over seven days.

Although Kentucky's threshold for orange and red counties is lower than the CDC's, the agency said to follow local recommendations from health officials. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has advised Kentuckians to follow the CDC recommendations.

With that in mind, The Courier Journal has compiled a list of all the government buildings, major employers, retailers, recreational spaces and schools with updated guidance.

Here's what you need to know:

Major employers

Ford Motor Co.

One of Louisville's largest employers is requiring all its employees, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks at their two plants — the Louisville Assembly Plant and the Kentucky Truck Plant. The policystarted July 31.

Humana

Humana is postponing their office reopening date to Oct. 18, Chief Medical Officer Dr. William Shrank said in an email to employees Thursday.All employees, regardless of vaccination status, are highly encouraged to wear a mask in high-traffic areas in the offices and facilities.

Shrank said unvaccinated employees who must work in a facility are allowed inside as well, but they must follow a protocol that includes routine testing, masking at all times, daily health screenings, temperature checks and social distancing.

GE Appliances

The appliance maker told The Courier Journal it is requiring masks only for unvaccinated people on its campus. The company said it will continue to offer employees vaccinations at the GE Appliance Park.

Norton Healthcare

This healthcare network is requiring all employees to be vaccinated by Sept. 15. It requires people ages 2 and older to wear masks in health care settings.

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Baptist Health

In a Monday email to staff obtained by The Courier Journal, Baptist CEO Gerard Colman announced a vaccine mandate for the company's more than 10,000-person staff.

Churchill Downs Inc.

Churchill Downs Inc., is requiring all of its employees at its corporate headquarters to receive the a COVID-19 vaccination.

All employees at 600 N. Hurstbourne Parkway, the company's headquarters, and 9931 Corporate Campus Drive, which houses employees from the company's TwinSpires and BetAmerica subsidiaries, must get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 16, according to a Churchill Downs document obtained by The Courier Journal on Monday,

Employees will have to submit proof that they have received their second dose, if applicable, by Sept. 13. Those who are fully vaccinated won't have to mask.

Retailers

Kroger

This major chain is encouraging all employees and customers, regardless of vaccination status, to return to mask-wearing while inside stores.

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Walmart

Walmart and Sam's Club, the nation's largest retailer, announced July 30 that stores and clubs will require masks for employees in COVID hot spots.

Target

This retailer announced July 26 that masks would be required for employees at some stores and customers are encouraged to mask up as well.

Recreation & schools

Jefferson County Public Schools

Masks will be required for all JCPS students, regardless of their vaccination status, when classes begin this month. The school board unanimously voted to implement the universal mask requirement.

Schools in Floyd County, Indiana

Update: New Albany-Floyd County schools are following a tiered system for determining mask policy. As of Aug. 8, the district is in the "yellow" tier, meaning masks are "strongly recommended" but not required for students and staff.

Face coverings are required for anyone on school buses.

Dr. Tom Harris, the Floyd County Health Officer, said the evening before the mask mandate was set to take effect Aug. 6 that it was now pending.

“Implementation of Mandatory Mask Executive Order Number 3-2021 will be held pending by the Floyd County Commissioners,” Harris wrote in a statement. “They are citing the new statute SEA 5.”

State Enrolled Act No. 5 says the executive order mandating masks for some students cannot be put into place until the Floyd County Commissioners approve it.

Previously: Floyd County students in kindergarten through sixth grade will have to wear masks, according to a statement from the Floyd County Health Department.

The mandate applies to students in private, public, parochial and charter schools and goes into effect Aug. 6.

Additionally, masks will be required for students in all grades “at indoor, high density events where social distancing may not be practical.”

They do not have to be worn outside.

“The duration of this order is 31 days, and may be broadened or extended based on community and school incidence as well as other factors,” the statement said.

Greater Clark County Schools

Beginning on Aug. 9, masks are required for all staff and students on school buses and indoors, unless a medical situation warrants otherwise.

The announcement came as a growing number of students have tested positive for COVID-19. According to the statement from GCCS, within the first eight days of in-person classes, there have been 70 positive student cases and over 1,100 students undergoing a 14-day quarantine.

"In August 2020, we only mitigated 30 positive cases the entire month. We have reached more than twice that amount in just eight school days," said Superintendent Mark Laughner in a statement.

Laughner also said the classroom furniture would be adjusted to allow for more social distancing and seat will continue to be assigned in classrooms, cafeterias, and other populous spaces to aid in contact tracing efforts. Hand washing protocols will also be increased and custodians will increase the "use of sanitizing sprayers."

Hardin County Schools

Every Thursday, Hardin County Schools will amend their mask update based on the incident rate of COVID-19 infection in Hardin County, HCS announced in a statement Tuesday. If the incident rate is below 50, masks will be strongly encouraged but not required for staff and students. If above 50, masks will be required indoors.

Students will also have assigned seating in cafeterias and classrooms to assist with contact tracing efforts. Students are also asked to do a " daily self-check" before coming to school in the morning. Students should not come to school if their temperature is 100.4 or higher, they have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a new loss of taste or smell, or headache or congestion.

Western Kentucky University

Starting on Aug. 9, every person on Western Kentucky University's campus in Bowling Green will be required to wear a mask indoors, according to university president Tim Caboni.

Louisville Free Public Libraries

Masks are required to visit LFPL branches regardless of vaccination status, the system announced over Twitter Aug. 2.

Archdiocese of Louisville schools

Masks will be optional in archdiocesan schools in the upcoming school year, the school system told families, saying the decision would be left up to parents.

Clarksville Community Schools

Students, staff and visitors in Clarksville Community Schools will have to mask up when "indoors during the school day" starting Aug. 5, regardless of vaccine status, "if they are unable to maintain 6 feet of social distance."

Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University is requiring universal masking on campus regardless of vaccination status as of Aug. 4.

Kentucky State University

Kentucky State University is requiring universal indoor masking on their campus, effective Aug. 6.

Louisville Zoo

The zoo will be requiring masks inside buildings including Gorilla Forest, the Islands, HerpAquarium, MetaZoo, African Outpost and the Zoo’s gift shops effective Aug. 2.

Kentucky State Fair

Masks will be required indoors, but not outdoors, officials said in a tweet. The fair runs Aug. 19-29.

Jewish Community Center

Beginning Aug. 4 at 5 p.m., masks will be required in all indoor public spaces within the JCC building, including children in kindergarten or older. Vaccinated adults are not required to wear masks while exercising in Health & Wellness areas.

Government buildings

Louisville Metro Government buildings

Masks will now be required in all Louisville Metro Government buildings, regardless of vaccination status, the mayor's office said July 30.

State executive branch offices

Face coverings are required in all state executive branch offices regardless of vaccination status for employees and visitors, according to a memo from state Personnel Cabinet Secretary Gerina Whethers. This policy went into effect July 29.

State legislative offices

Jay Hartz, director of the Legislative Research Commission, which oversees legislative staff, said in a memo to employees July 28 its policy will not change. He said vaccinated people will not be required to wear masks in the offices in the Capitol or Capitol annex (excluding areas controlled by the executive branch).

State constitutional offices

Of the five constitutional offices, the auditor, agriculture commissioner and state treasurer — all Republicans — have announced that they will not be enforcing the new mask mandate and will abide by the previous rule that only unvaccinated people must wear masks.

Jefferson County Courthouses

Effective July 30, all employees and visitors are required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status inside any buildings operated by the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk. That includes the Hall of Justice, Judicial Center, and the Driver's License Branches. Chief Judge Angela McCormick Bisig signed the mask mandate for Jefferson County Courthouse July 29. Judges may allow someone to remove their face covering only if social distancing is possible.

Kentucky courts and judicial facilities

Kentucky’s Supreme Court issued an order Aug. 9 encouraging anyone entering a judicial facility to wear a mask in response to rising COVID-19 cases caused by the highly contagious delta variant.

The order applies to judicial centers, courthouses or other judicial facilities. It’s in line with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, court officials said.

The order says the use of masks or other facial coverings is strongly encouraged for anyone entering a judicial facility.

The order also states that a chief circuit judge can mandate masks for a judicial facility.

Reach Sylvia Goodman at sgoodman@courier-journal.com. Find her on Twitter at @sylviaruthg.