Mayor Lucas Announces Next Steps in Kansas City’s COVID-19 Response EffortsRex Archer
In response to a growing rate of COVID-19 infections in Kansas City and across the country, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas issued an executive order requiring masks to be worn by any person in public accommodation. The order is effective Mon., June 29.
The order requires all employees or visitors to any place of public accommodation “to wear a face covering in an area or while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to co-workers or the public where six feet of separation is not feasible.”
“Our country’s leading health and scientific experts have indicated in no uncertain terms that mask-wearing is the most effective way to curb the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Lucas. “Case numbers in Kansas City continue to rise, and we are taking all steps we can to ensure public health and safety. I know wearing masks can be uncomfortable, but this is a necessary step to ensure we can save lives and keep our economy open. We wear masks to protect our loved ones, those around us, and their loved ones.”
Exceptions to the face covering requirement are as follows:
Minors, though Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance recommends that all individuals over the age of two wear masks.
People who have disabilities that:
Prevent them from comfortably wearing or taking off face coverings.
Prevent them from communicating while wearing face coverings.
People who have respiratory conditions or breathing trouble.
People who have been told by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional not to wear face coverings.
People who are seated in a restaurant, tavern, or bar and are actively engaged in consuming food or drink while adequately distanced from other tables.
Also effective Monday, June 29, percentage capacity limits as required by Mayor Lucas’s Eighth Amended Order will be eliminated, except for taverns and bars.
“We are keeping a close watch on our cases and hospitalizations, but know widespread mask-use is one essential way to slow COVID-19 and keep Kansas City businesses open,” said Kansas City Department of Public Health Director Rex Archer, M.D. “It’s up to us. Let’s learn from Texas and Florida and what’s happening there now. Their mitigations and closures weren’t as quickly adopted or embraced. Now their case counts are rising at a disturbing rate and they’ve had to slow their reopening plans.”
Mayor Lucas will review this Order, and make updates as needed, prior to its July 12 expiration.
In May, Mayor Lucas – in partnership with the City of Kansas City and Made in KC – launched KCPPE.com, an online resource for Kansas City businesses to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their employees while providing direct support to local businesses. Kansas City businesses or individuals looking to purchase locally-made PPE can find more information at the KCPPE website. Local PPE suppliers can request to be added to the website.