KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Face coverings will be required inside public places in Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas announced Friday afternoon.
Lucas said he consulted KCMO Department of Public Health Director Dr. Rex Archer on this decision in the city’s fight against the spread of COVID-19.
Beginning Monday, June 29, all employees or visitors at indoor public spaces must wear a face covering where 6 feet of social distancing is not possible.
There are some exceptions to the requirement, including:
- Minors, with guidance that children older than 2 should wear a mask
- People with disability that either prevent them from comfortable wearing or taking off face coverings, or prevent them from communicating while wearing masks
- People with respiratory conditions or breathing trouble
- People who have been told by health professionals not to wear face coverings
- People seated in a restaurant or tavern and actively consuming food or drink while adequately distanced
The order will be enforced on a complaint basis as it relates to Kansas City businesses, Lucas said.
Citations can be written to businesses which fail to comply, and businesses are instructed to refuse service to customers who are not wearing a mask.
The city's health department will largely be the enforcing agency.
The order will be in effect for two weeks, Lucas said, at which point city and health officials will reevaluate if it’s necessary.
Lucas said the city will use funding from the CARES Act to get masks to people who need them by placing them in community centers and coordinating with social service agencies.
Lucas also said Friday the city is removing 50 percent occupancy limits on businesses except for bars and taverns.
