‘One of the last counties in the metro’ announces its new coronavirus mask mandate
A week ago, Platte County was merely recommending that its residents wear masks in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. On Friday, officials announced their county is joining most of the Kansas City metro by making it mandatory.
Details of the order will be announced in the coming week, and it will take effect Thursday.
“We have received numerous emails from citizens stating that they will not shop or visit Platte County businesses if a mask mandate is not put in place,” Natalie Klaus, spokeswoman for the county’s health department, said in a statement. “We most certainly do not want to harm our businesses that have just recently opened up.
“We are one of the last counties in the Metro to enact this mandate but feel that the continued dramatic rise in data demands this type of action.”
In the five-county area, that leaves only neighboring Clay County as the lone jurisdiction not requiring masks. That county does require masks at businesses where occupancy is at 100%. And the parts of Clay County that fall within the city limits of Kansas City and North Kansas City must follow those cities’ mask mandates.
The Platte County Health Department’s trustees approved the requirement at a special meeting on Wednesday in response to the county’s rising COVID-19 case count. Since June 24, the rate of positive tests nearly tripled, to over 14%, a press release said. “This increase is not due to an increased availability of tests in Platte County,” it said.
The lag time between the announcement and the start of the mandate is designed to give businesses and residents time to prepare. Businesses are asked to post a sign on their doors saying: “Masks must be continuously worn to enter and remain at these premises by order of the Platte County Health Department.”
Exceptions, to be detailed in the coming week, will include medical conditions, young children, and patrons eating and drinking at restaurants.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 6:50 PM.
