Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has called the state’s Republican-led legislature for a special session to formulate the pandemic response as the state struggles with a record surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The lawmakers will return to the state Capitol on Tuesday. Since the pandemic hit Kentucky, the governor mostly acted unilaterally in setting statewide virus policies, but the state Supreme Court shifted those decisions to the legislature.

“Now, that burden will fall in large part on the General Assembly. It will have to carry much of that weight to confront unpopular choices and to make decisions that balance many things, including the lives and the possible deaths of our citizens,” the Associated Press quoted Beshear as saying.

Beshear wielded sole authority to call lawmakers into special session and to set the agenda. He outlined pandemic-related issues he wants lawmakers to consider, including policies on mask-wearing and school schedules amid growing school closures brought on by virus outbreaks, the Associated Press reported.

But what measures really pass will be decided by GOP supermajorities in both chambers.

According to Beshear, lawmakers will be asked to extend the pandemic-related state of emergency until mid-January, the time when the legislature would be back in regular session. They will be asked to review the governor’s virus-related executive orders and other actions by his administration.

On the issue of masks, the governor said his call will “ask them to determine my ability to require masking in certain situations, depending on where the pandemic goes and how bad any area is.”

He also asked them to provide more scheduling flexibility for schools, as many districts have had to pause in-person learning because of virus outbreaks. And lawmakers will be asked to appropriate leftover federal pandemic aid to “further the fight” against the coronavirus.

Key GOP lawmakers have signaled their preference for policies favoring local decision-making over statewide mandates in response to the virus surge fueled by the fast-spreading delta variant.

More than 7,840 Kentuckians have died from COVID-19, include 69 deaths announced on Thursday and Friday. The delta variant has put record numbers of virus patients in Kentucky hospitals, including in intensive care units and on ventilators. The state reported Friday that nearly 90% of ICU beds statewide were occupied by patients.

Various emergency measures issued by Beshear are set to expire as a result of the landmark court decision issued two weeks ago. Lawmakers will decide whether to extend, alter or discontinue each emergency order, and they are expected to put their own stamp on the state’s response to COVID-19.