Kansans who spent Memorial Day at Lake of the Ozarks should self-quarantine: KDHE
Kansans who visited Lake of the Ozarks over Memorial Day weekend should self-quarantine for 14 days after they return home, the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment said Tuesday in a news release.
The recommendation was issued after videos over the weekend showed large crowds at pool parties alongside the Missouri lake, which is a regional tourist destination. Many people seen in the videos were ignoring social distancing rules and guidelines issued to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
While travelers are asked to quarantine, the region is not being added to the state’s list of areas where quarantine for travelers is mandated. That list currently includes cruises and international travel as well as New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maryland.
“The reckless behavior displayed during this weekend risks setting our community back substantially for the progress we’ve already made in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” KDHE Secretary Lee Norman said in the news release.
The Unified Government Public Health Department in Wyandotte County said it would align with the state’s recommendations and urge a 14-day self-quarantine.
Likewise, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment said on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that it strongly recommended people who traveled to the Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“Following physical distancing practices is essential to curbing the spread of the coronavirus, especially when you are away from home,” the health department said. “Protect your loved ones, your friends, your co-workers.”
A similar advisory was issued in St. Louis County, though Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday he didn’t plan to “issue a quarantine order we simply cannot enforce.”
In an interview with The Star Tuesday morning, Norman said the behavior seen at the Ozarks “shows that people are not using good sense and good judgment.”
In addition to failing to wear masks and social distance, Norman said, the expressive behavior exhibited at such parties with singing and loud speaking will expel the virus further into the air than normal interactions putting the attendees at higher risk.
Norman had warned Kansans Thursday not to let their guard down over the holiday weekend. However, he said, some people feel a sense of invincibility and outdoor gatherings give a “false sense of security.”
As the summer continues, Norman said, he worries about more gatherings similar to what occurred at the Ozarks and at Lake Perry at the beginning of the month. It is important, he said, for residents to continue to be cognizant and heed the advice of public health officials.
“I suspect they probably had all the advisories in the world,” Norman said. “Preparedness is a personal responsibility . . . don’t be stupid.”
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 10:23 AM.
