KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's decision to extend the statewide stay-at-home order through May 3 could play a factor in what happens on the other side of the state line.
Kansas City , Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said leaders from the city and Jackson County in Missouri along with leaders from Johnson County and Wyandotte County in Kansas are assessing information from health officials in both states to decide if a regional stay-at-home order also should be extended past its current April 24 expiration date.
"I said a few days ago, and I still believe it, that might involve us adding a few more weeks with the order in Kansas City," Lucas said. "We have over 1,000 cases in the KC metro and we will do what we can to keep people safe."
Together, the leaders from KCMO along with Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte counties are called the Core 4. They have been meeting regularly during the COVID-19 pandemic to decide the next step.
Lucas told 41 Action News he expects a decision will be made soon on the next steps for the Kansas City area, stressing the importance of Kansas and Missouri officials sharing as much information as possible in order to make the best decision for everyone involved.
"We know that if one side does things in a drastic way without the other knowing what's going on, we are not going to get the efficiency we need," Lucas said. "There are hundreds of thousands of people who come through Kansas City each day, and we recognize those people go back home to other places and they can either bring germs or take them with them."
Lucas said the key will be figuring out how to reopen businesses and restart the economy without risking another spike in infections.
He also understands that some people can't avoid some level of travel.
Lucas said it's hard when big events — like Boulevardia, Opening Day for the Royals or the Hospital Hill run — are canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. It's also a signal, he says, that life will not go back to "normal" immediately when stay-at-home order eventually are lifted.
"We won't just open up immediately," Lucas said. "There will probably be some steps to how we reopen and, unfortunately, getting back to those large events will be the last things for us."
