KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly urged Kansans to wear face coverings at a Monday news conference, saying the state is at a turning point depending on its residents’ actions.
Kelly also reviewed COVID-19 case numbers, which reflect an upward trend in recent weeks.
She said simple measures proven to be effective could help reverse the trend if Kansans employ them.
“Masks, social distancing and good hygiene are our best defenses against the virus,” Kelly said. “Kansas is at a make it or break it moment, so let’s do the right and the smart thing today.”
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends counties remain at Phase 3 of the Ad Astra Recovery Plan, which limits gatherings to 45 or fewer people.
Kelly said the nearly 3,500 reported cases in the last two weeks mark “the steepest rate of increase we have seen since the pandemic began.”
The governor noted that while there has been an increase in the number of clusters statewide, those clusters are not at establishments such as barbershops, nail salons or other close contact services — something she attributed to mask-wearing and hygienic business practices.
Kelly warned that if Kansans “continue to ignore the experts,” the state could end up in a similar situation to states such as Texas, where some businesses have been ordered to shut down once more.
“This is not about state and local control, and it's not a question of personal freedom. This is a matter of social responsibility,” Kelly said. “While we're dealing with the worst outbreak of a communicable virus in a century, every Kansan has an opportunity to step up to keep their loved ones healthy and keep Kansas open for business.”
Kelly also addressed an anti-Semitic cartoon published on an Anderson County newspaper's Facebook page that compared the statewide mask mandate to the Holocaust.
She said the cartoon was “deeply offensive” and played into rhetoric politicizing masks.
The governor said many elected officials also have made masks a political issue.
“Many elected leaders in this state and across the country have chosen to dismiss recommendations from public health experts in favor of short-term political points," she said.
Watch the press conference below.
