TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' top health official says most counties are not following Gov. Laura Kelly's executive order requiring people to wear masks to help contain the spread of COVID-19, even though data is showing that masks work.

Department of Heath and Environment Secretary Norman said at a news briefing Wednesday that countries with cultural norms or government policies that support public mask wearing have seen nine-fold decreases in mortality.

Norman cited the data from a study published in the journal Health Affairs, which he said also showed a decrease in U.S. infections between 1%...