COVID-19 news: What you need to know about reopening; Survivor warns not to rush back
Businesses in the Kansas City metro area’s three largest counties started to reopen Monday as stay-at-home orders aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus are being eased.
Confusion, however, shrouds the metro area as COVID-19 restrictions keep changing and and vary by county and city.
In Johnson County, many business were allowed to open on Monday as long as they abided by social distancing rules. In hopes to minimize confusion, the county will follow Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan for reopening the economy. The county will wait for state direction before allowing more businesses to resume operations.
“We are currently in close contact with the state, and are looking at this from a statewide perspective. That includes the Kansas City metro, but also the entire state,” said Joseph LeMaster, public health officer. “We are in close contact with the governor’s office and communicating with them about how they will be making additional recommendations in the coming days.”
Retail and commercial businesses in Johnson County could reopen Monday. Restaurants are allowed to offer dine-in service, but tables will be limited to parties of 10 and must be kept six feet apart. Gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people, which applies to funerals and weddings.
Churches and other places of worship can hold services with more than 10 people present, as long as there is social distancing between families.
In Wyandotte County, which is taking a more cautious approach and has a more restrictive plan for lifting the stay-at-home order, retail business must let workers maintain six feet of distance and will only offer pickup and delivery services. Restaurants can continue offering delivery and carryout, but dine-in is not allowed.
Outside the Kansas City limits in Jackson County, stores, personal service providers, restaurants and bars that serve food will be allowed to operate as long as they follow social-distancing practices. Gatherings also are limited to no more than 10 people.
Jackson County requires stores under 10,000 square feet to limit occupancy to no more than 25% of what is allowed under fire and building codes. Larger stores must operate at no more than 10% capacity.
Johnson County reported that it has had 599 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 52 deaths. That’s up nine new cases from Sunday and one additional death, according to local health officials.
In Wyandotte County, there have been 1,078 people who tested positive for the virus and 64 deaths. That’s an increase of nine new cases. No new deaths were reported.
COVID-19 survivor warns not to rush back
Stacy Jackson, who survived COVID-19, has a warning for Kansas City: Don’t rush to go back to normal. It doesn’t exist.
Jackson, who started to feel sick in late March, said the pain she endured was worse than childbirth. She could barely breathe.
“My body felt like someone had beat me and drugged me and then hung me up and beat and drugged me again,” Jackson said.
Her kidneys began to fail and she was unconscious for five days. Jackson came close to being placed on a ventilator.
Two of her uncles also later tested positive and were hospitalized. One of them, Marvin Jackson, died.
While Jackson is thankful to be alive, she’s worried about businesses reopening in the area.
“We’re risking millions of lives for comfortability,” Jackson said. “We need to stop the madness. I would rather have a light bill that I can’t pay than lose my life.”
Tips to stay safe as the Kansas City area reopens
As the Kansas City begins to reopen and people start heading out, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of being infected by the coronavirus.
“It’s not the droplets in the air that I would be worried about,” said Dr. Darrin D’Agostino, executive dean of Kansas City University. “It’s the droplets that have hit the surfaces where I might be sitting, or touching.
“So when I go into Starbucks and I put my hands on the counter waiting for my coffee, that would be the place I would be worried about out in public because I’m not going to walk near someone who is sneezing and coughing.”
Here are some tips if you must venture out:
▪ At a restaurant, ask to be seated outside.
▪ Keep your friends at more than arm’s length and preserve that “bubble” of family members you’ve been hunkering down with.
▪ Consider changing out of your clothes outside or in the garage when you get home.
▪ Only leave home when necessary.
▪ Maintain at least six feet from others.
▪ Wear a mask.
