KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City-area public health directors on Friday urged residents in the metro to stay home and avoid gatherings as the region hits a “critical point” in the spread of COVID-19.
In a joint statement, the leaders of each metro health department said that effective immediately, residents should work from home and conduct business virtually if possible, wear masks everywhere except their immediate households, and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
If people must travel to see others or participate in gatherings such as weddings or funerals, the health officials said it’s recommended to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“This will limit the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to others,” the joint statement said. “No gatherings are safe. This cannot be emphasized enough.”
The recommendations do not amount to requirements, but the health leaders said that each government should take actions necessary to limit further spread of the virus.
Those measures should include, according to the health leaders, continued mask mandates and broader enforcement; limits on in-person gatherings; requirements for bars and restaurants to close by 10 p.m. or implement greater occupancy restrictions; limits on entertainment and recreational venues; requirements for recreational and youth sporting events to significantly limit attendance; and requirements for businesses to ensure 6 feet of social distancing in all public places.
With Thanksgiving and other holidays in the near future, where people may choose to gather with family and friends, the health officials warned that even these actions "may not be sufficient."
A surge of COVID-19 cases in the Kansas City metro has created a strain on testing turnaround times and contact tracing efforts, according to the health officials, as well as serious challenges for health care providers, including a lack of hospital beds and staffing shortages.
"As Health Department Directors and Health Officers representing the health departments of the Kansas City region, we fully understand the impact that stay-at-home orders have on our local economy," the statement said. "However, COVID-19 transmission cannot continue to rage out of control in our community given the severe strain on our health and medical systems."
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Friday that he was meeting with KCMO Health Department leadership to discuss the city's "updated response." Lucas has hinted at issuing a new order for COVID-19 restrictions but so far has not announced next steps.
Leaders in Johnson County also planned to meet Friday afternoon to discuss the county's COVID-19 response. The agenda said only that commissioners would receive and consider COVID-19 reports, recommendations and proposed actions.
The joint statement Friday was signed by leaders of the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department; the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment; the Jackson County Health Department; the Platte County Health Department; the Unified Government Public Health Department; and the Clay County Public Health Center.
