UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
In Re: THIRTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER GENERAL ORDER
CONCERNING COURT OPERATIONS NO. 22-02
RELATED TO COVID-19
***
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, this Court has closely monitored the evolving
guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local
health authorities. Based on the prevailing recommendations, the Court has implemented health
and safety precautions to be followed within its Courthouses, including the use of face masks.1
On February 25, 2022, the CDC revised its guidance regarding the use of face masks to
accord with new metrics known as “COVID-19 Community Levels.” Under this approach, the
CDC will evaluate a combination of three metrics- new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000
population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients,
and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days- to determine each
county’s COVID-19 Community Level, classifying each county as having a High, Medium, or
Low COVID-19 Community Level.2
Only in areas with High COVID-19 Community Levels does the CDC recommend that
everyone wear face masks indoors.3 At present, all four Courthouses in the Western District of
Kentucky are located in counties with Medium COVID-19 Community Levels.4
Based upon the forgoing, it is hereby ORDERED that the following restrictions shall apply
to all Courthouses within the Western District of Kentucky:
1. COURTHOUSE ACCESS. All persons over two years of age, regardless of their
vaccination status, shall wear a face covering or mask at all times within all public areas of any
Courthouse located in a county with High COVID-19 Community Levels. All persons who have
been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 shall wear a face covering
1
See In Re: Court Operations Related to COVID-19, General Order No 20-03 (March 20, 2020); In Re: Second
Supplemental Order Concerning Court Operations Related to COVID-19, General Order No 20-11 (May 27, 2020);
In Re: Tenth Supplemental Order Concerning Court Operations Related to COVID-19, General Order No 21-11 (May
14, 2021); and In Re: Twelfth Supplemental Order Concerning Court Operations Related to COVID-19, General Order
No 21-16 (August 2, 2021).
2
See CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels. Updated March 3, 2022
3
Id.
4
See CDC’s COVID-19 by County. Updated March 3, 2022.
or mask regardless of the COVID-19 Community Levels and in accordance with the CDC’s
recommendations for the use of face masks following exposure.5 Those with COVID-19
symptoms or a confirmed case of COVID-19 shall not enter any Courthouse within the Western
District.
2. COURTROOM ACCESS. The use of face coverings and masks within Western
District Courtrooms shall be subject to the discretion of the presiding judge, regardless of the
current COVID-19 Community Levels.
3. WEEKLY MONITORING OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS. The CDC
will release updated county-by-county risk levels weekly on its website which sets forth
recommended prevention measures, including the use of face masks, for each community based
on the latest data.6 The Clerk is directed to check the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level data
tracker each week and to promptly notify the Chief Judge of the COVID-19 Community Levels
within each of the Court’s divisions.
4. NOTICE. Due to anticipated variations in COVID-19 Community Levels of the
counties comprising each of the Western District’s divisions, the Court shall communicate this
Order’s current applicability within each of its divisional courthouses by way of posted notices in
said courthouses as well as notice posted prominently on its website at www.kywd.uscourts.gov.
5. USE OF FACEMASKS IN COURTHOUSES LOCATED IN AREAS WITH
MEDIUM OR LOW COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVELS. Nothing in this Order shall be
deemed to prevent those entering Courthouses located in areas with Medium or Low COVID-19
Community Levels from wearing a face mask if they so choose.
This Order shall be effective upon entry. All provisions of previous General Orders
concerning Courthouse Access are hereby superseded. All provisions of previous General Orders
regarding court operations that are not inconsistent with this Order shall remain in effect.
DATED: March 7, 2022
ENTERED
J J. JR., CLERK
3/7/2022
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
5
See CDC’s Guidelines Re Quarantine and Isolation. Updated January 27, 2022.
6
See supra note 4.
