1; Tia M. Rogers, PhD1; Eric Pevzner, PhD2; Catherine L. Satterwhite, PhD3; Hina B. Shah, MPH4; Wyatt J. Beckman, MPH4; Farah Ahmed, PhD5; D.
Charles Hunt, MPH4; John Rule6 (View author affiliations)Wearing face masks in public spaces reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2.The governor of Kansas issued an executive order requiring wearing masks in public spaces, effective July 3, 2020, which was subject to county authority to opt out.
After July 3, COVID-19 incidence decreased in 24 counties with mask mandates but continued to increase in 81 counties without mask mandates.Countywide mask mandates appear to have contributed to the mitigation of COVID-19 transmission in mandated counties.