COVID deaths in Kansas top 7,000; county mulls new mask rule

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is now reporting more than 7,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Gov. Laura Kelly ordered flags flown at half-staff until sundown Friday. Meanwhile, health officials in Douglas County are talking again about the possibility of imposing a local mask mandate after one for children expired only last week. County health department Director Dan Partridge told the Lawrence Journal-World that he, the county administrator and the CEO of the local health system plan to meet next week and the question of imposing a new mask mandate is sure to come up. The Douglas County Commission would decide whether to impose a new mask mandate.