Kansas movie theaters, museums, bowling alleys can reopen Friday. Bars still closed

Kansas will take the next step in its reopening on Friday, when movie theaters, museums, non-tribal casinos and other indoor entertainment venues will be permitted to reopen.

Bars and night clubs, along with swimming pools, will stay closed.

Gov. Laura Kelly unveiled the changes Tuesday — the latest rollback of restrictions after weeks of lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Kelly called the new standard a “slightly modified” version of she had designated as phase two of her reopening plan. She announced it only a day after Kansas entered “phase 1.5”, which allowed barber shops and hair salons to open for appointments.

Local governments will continue to have the power to impose tighter restrictions, but cannot be looser.

The Democratic governor credited improving metrics related to the spread of COVID-19, along with hospitalization and death rates, for the decision. But it also came ahead of a Thursday session of the Legislature where Republicans will attempt to curb the broad emergency powers she’s held during the pandemic.

“I’m encouraged by our progress,” Kelly said.

Data posted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment shows the daily rate of new cases declining in recent weeks, from 13.3 per 100,000 people on May 4 to 5.3 per 100,000 on May 13, the latest date for which numbers are posted. New hospital admissions have also been falling, with just six reported on May 13.

As of Monday, 8,340 positive cases have been reported in Kansas and 173 deaths.

“I think we really did bend the curve effectively,” Edward Ellerbeck, population health chair at the University of Kansas Health System, told reporters earlier on Tuesday.

Kansas will be able to progress to phase three on June 8 assuming current trends continue, Kelly said. Mass gatherings of up to 45 would be allowed in that phase.

“Our approach, emphasizing social distancing, has helped drive encouraging trends on the metric we’re watching,” Kelly said.

During phase two:

• Mass gatherings of up to 15 are allowed
• Bars, night clubs and swimming pools stay closed
• State-owned casinos may open if they comply with health guidelines
• Theaters, arcades, trampoline park, museums, bowling alleys may open
• Organized sports and practices are allowed

The new activities and businesses that are allowed must comply with social distancing guidelines.

B&B Theatres, which operates movie theaters in Kansas, said it was unlikely the chain would open its Kansas locations this week but anticipate reopening next week.

“We are excited and heartened by the announcement from the Kansas governor today that Theatres will be permitted to reopen,” spokesman Paul Farnworth said in an email.

Farnsworth said B&B would be in “complete compliance” with local, state and federal guidelines.

Retail stores and restaurants can continue to operate as long as they follow existing social distancing guidelines. For restaurants, that means keeping parties at least six feet apart. Churches and other houses of worship can continue to meet if they follow social distancing practices.

The phase two mass gathering restriction represents an easing of the standard. Previously, the limit was 10 people.

The Star’s Cortlynn Stark contributed reporting

This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Kansas movie theaters, museums, bowling alleys can reopen Friday. Bars still closed."