Amid dire warnings of coronavirus, some head to Kansas City bars ahead of shutdown
Westport’s typically bustling streets were mostly empty late Monday as Kansas City braced for a dramatic ban on gatherings in response to the new coronavirus.
But some people took advantage of the last night to visit their favorite watering hole. Lucas Jensen, for example, said he invited some friends to Gambal’s Social Club to play a few rounds of pinball.
“Trying to get one last social thing in,” he said.
Jensen isn’t sure when his next chance might be.
Earlier Monday, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas enacted a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people, shuttering movie theaters and restricting restaurants from offering dine-in service, effective at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
Health officials have urged people to avoid public places with crowds and to practice social distancing. It’s a public health measure officials have said is important to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed when the number of cases rises - as experts say is almost certain.
President Donald Trump urged people on Monday to avoid crowds and eating out at restaurants.
According to the New York Times, Trump’s recommendations came as a report warned that 2.2 million people in the U.S. could die from the disease.
Though many of Westport’s bars and restaurants were already closed Monday, a few pockets of crowds and music persisted.
Several people said they were out to support local businesses that would be hit hard by the shutdown.
Others had already been laid off.
Rebecca Meyer said she was told not to come into her job at a nightclub. She said she thought Lucas’ ban was “a little too extreme.”
But others said they understood why such drastic measures were necessary.
One man said he didn’t want things to turn out like they did in Italy, where more than 24,000 cases have been identified and more than 1,800 people have died. The country remains on a nationwide lockdown, according to the Associated Press.
About 3,800 people in the U.S. have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 65 have died.
Three cases were reported Monday in Missouri, bringing the state’s total to eight.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 11:41 PM.
