North Kansas City joins growing list of places requiring masks in public indoors
The city of North Kansas City will require residents and visitors to wear masks in public indoor spaces beginning Thursday.
Mayor Don Stielow on Tuesday announced an amended health order mandating face coverings through July 12, though the end date may change.
“All individuals should exercise social distancing requirements at all times, including wearing face coverings or masks that cover the nose and mouth when others may be present closer than six feet away,” the order states.
The order applies to both patrons and employees at the venues and includes grocery stores and public transit. An exception: patrons who are eating or drinking at a business while maintaining proper social distancing.
Children are exempt, though a memo from the city notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “strongly recommends” children older than 10 wear face coverings.
Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have a medical condition that prevents them from safely wearing a mask are also exempt.
North Kansas City continues asking people to maintain social distancing and to avoid large groups. Those at higher risk of becoming ill from the virus are urged to stay home.
North Kansas City follows several other jurisdictions requiring masks this week.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ order, which took effect Monday, states “all employees or visitors to any place of public accommodation must wear face coverings in an area or while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to co-workers or the public where six feet of separation is not feasible.”
One day later, on Tuesday, a mask ordinance went into effect for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.
A similar requirement took effect Wednesday across Jackson County.
Neither Clay nor Platte county have announced such a requirement.
The Kansas City metro area added more than 300 new cases Wednesday, the biggest jump since the pandemic began.
The area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas has a total of 8,377 cases. At least 242 people have died of the virus.
Beginning Friday, Kansans will also be required to wear face masks in public spaces under Gov. Laura Kelly’s planned order, but local jurisdictions can decide not to follow it.
Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday that he will not order Missourians to wear masks in public.
Health directors across the metro region released a letter Friday urging everyone to wear masks.
“Research shows that wearing a face mask is the most effective and least costly strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19,” the release said. “We strongly urge residents to wear a mask in all public settings. When combined with other precautions, this small step can help keep our communities safe and our businesses open.”
The Star’s Katie Moore contributed reporting.
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 3:37 PM.
