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Nov. 24, 2020Great Bend, Kan. |  By: AP

Mask resistance softens in Kansas as coronavirus cases soar


GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) - Resistance to masks appears to be weakening in Kansas as the coronavirus surges, straining the capacity of the state's hospitals.

Gov. Laura Kelly's latest effort to require face coverings takes effect Wednesday, although state law still allows the state's 105 counties to opt out. Most counties did so the first time Kelly tried to require masks in July.

But with the average new case numbers more than nine times higher now than they were then, there appears to be less pushback.

Barton County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to immediately adopt a county-wide mask mandate. The commission had rejected mask mandates twice before.