Kansas City mayor eases COVID-19 restrictions, allowing more people inside businesses
Even as new cases of COVID-19 remain flat — save for a spike earlier this month — Kansas City will continue relaxing its rules for businesses, allowing them to serve up to 50% of their normal capacities starting Sunday.
The new order, meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus, will expire July 5.
Mayor Quinton Lucas announced the updated rules in a press conference Thursday, noting his order means any Kansas City business can reopen unless barred by state guidelines.
“But just because anything can open, doesn’t mean that you have to go,” Lucas said. “So I will continue to preach caution to everyone in Kansas City.”
Lucas said there is no limit on the size of outdoor gatherings, though attendees must observe social distancing. Indoor gatherings are subject to the 50% building capacity limit.
He said the city will also boost its enforcement of the rules. The order allows directors of the city’s health, fire and regulated industries departments — along with law enforcement officials — to fine individuals, businesses or organizations violating occupancy, hygiene or social distancing requirements. Officials can also close businesses or revoke their licenses.
Lucas encouraged those who might want to patronize businesses to consider the effect on other people.
“Think about your mom, your dad, your grandmother, your grandfather,” Lucas said. “Those are the sorts of things we need to be weighing over the next month, the next month and a half.”
For weeks, Kansas City businesses have been limited to serving either 10 people or 10% of their normal capacities at a time — whichever is greater. Restaurants were required to space tables 10 feet and parties six feet apart, measured from back of chair to back of chair.
Now, in addition to the 50% capacity rule, businesses still will be required to observe social distancing. Restaurants will have to observe the 50% capacity limit and space tables six feet apart. Many workers in businesses where social distancing isn’t feasible, such as restaurant servers and hair stylists, will be required to wear masks.
The 10-person or 10% rules for nonessential businesses have been in effect since May 4, but restaurant dining rooms were allowed to reopen just two weeks ago. Asked if that had given officials enough time to evaluate those rules, Lucas said the city had not traced new outbreaks back to restaurants or salons.
“Part of the reason that I’m planning this next order to last for an entire month is because that will give us more than enough time to see if there is a chance for us to move to that next stage,” Lucas said. “It will give us more than enough time to see if there are any outbreaks.”
The order also requires that businesses allow employees to not report to work if they have an underlying health condition — such as asthma, an autoimmune disorder or other illness that puts them at risk for a severe case of COVID-19 — or are the primary caregiver for someone suffering from COVID-19. The order also allows employees of businesses with fewer than 500 employees to work from home if they are eligible under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act for paid parental leave.
Though it doesn’t require it, the order also suggests that businesses where patrons may sit down for an extended period, such as a hair salon or restaurant, keep service records to aid in the city’s contact tracing efforts. Lucas introduced that requirement in an April version of the order and later relaxed it to be a recommendation days later. He noted the Springfield-Greene County Health Department was notifying 84 customers of a hair stylist who tested positive for the virus.
Lucas’ counterparts in Johnson County took a less restrictive approach. The county announced this week it would not impose restrictions on businesses or gatherings. Rather, it will encourage residents and businesses to follow voluntary guidelines issued by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly to curb the pandemic.
Wyandotte and Douglas counties in Kansas, however, will make Kelly’s guidelines an order and enforce them.
Lucas, who has noted repeatedly that the virus doesn’t recognize county or state lines, said he was not happy with the direction Johnson County took.
“I believe it is too early to abandon all rules … but I’m not elected to represent Johnson County, Kansas, and I know they have elected officials who will think long and hard about it.”
Lucas noted that while he believes Kansas City has had too many cases and too many deaths, its outbreak has not been as severe as those in Detroit, New Orleans, Baltimore, St. Louis and Omaha.
“It’s because we care,” Lucas said, “and it’s because it’s our effort to try to make sure that we’re saving lives and being responsible.”
To find out more about Kansas City’s response to the coronavirus, you can text “COVIDKC” to 888-777 or visit the city’s website at kcmo.gov/coronavirus. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information at cdc.gov/coronavirus, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has a hotline at 877-435-8411.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 1:29 PM.
