TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order Tuesday afternoon prohibiting religious institutions from holding gatherings with more than 10 people.
Kelly cited the combination of a predicted spike in infections in the next week, with Holy Week celebrations, as the rationale for her decision.
Kelly said she was disappointed at the timing and said said COVID-19 will impact everyone this weekend, regardless of their religious affiliation.
"Easter egg hunts, big Sunday dinners with extended family and friends, bunnies and baskets of candies for young children wearing new outfits, these are defining family customs and they are all put on pause for everyone," Kelly said.
Kelly also cited three clusters of COVID-19 positive tests under investigation by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that are connected to religious gatherings.
“This was a difficult decision and could not have come at a more difficult time,” Kelly said during her daily briefing in Topeka.
The decision comes as doctors expressed concerns over the holiday leading to gatherings that would undo all the efforts put into place by those abiding the shelter-at-home order.
On Monday, Dr. Steven Stites, chief medical officer with University of Kansas Health System said cases at the hospital have decreased. He said he's optimistic that the state of Kansas may have started to bend the curve. However, one small gathering, could bend it back in the wrong direction, Dr. Stites added.
"If you let up off the gas for even one minute, one day, we can really take what right now may be early evidence that we could be flattening the curve and change it into a real surge," Dr. Stites said.
The order goes into effect at 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8.
The order also applies to funerals.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
