COVID-19 surge means Kansas City to mandate masks. What about your part of the metro?
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Masks in the Kansas City region
Here’s the latest on masks and the coronavirus in Kansas City and the surrounding areas.
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As Kansas City prepares its return to mandatory masks in response to the COVID-19 delta variant’s sweep through the region, other area local governments are also weighing options.
Kansas City’s new mandate will take effect Monday. The move was announced by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas following updated guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says everyone — including those who have been fully vaccinated — should wear masks indoors in areas where the risk of transmission is high or substantial.
All of Kansas City’s metropolitan area is considered high risk for transmission along with nearly all of Missouri and much of eastern Kansas, according to the CDC. Cases in the Kansas City area have also been on the rise, breaching 600 for a single day this week for the first time since January.
Similar to last year, when pandemic restrictions first rolled out before vaccines were widely available, other area governments are now considering mask and social distancing mandates that could follow with Kansas City’s.
Here’s a list of what local governments in the metro are up to:
North Kansas City: North Kansas City Mayor Bryant DeLong earlier this week issued a mask mandate for those who are indoors at public places, regardless of their vaccination status.
The city announced on Twitter and its website Sunday that the mandate was in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the Kansas City area and went into effect the next day. It is in effect until 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 28, according to city’s website.
Jackson County: Jackson County Executive Frank White said Wednesday that he and the health department are asking that everyone follow the CDC’s latest recommendation. He also said a new Missouri law limiting the authority of local governments to impose mask mandates must be taken into account.
“I will work with my colleagues on the Jackson County Legislature to determine the best path forward for Jackson County and will continue to work with our regional partners in hopes of aligning our orders to reduce confusion and increase the impact of our actions,” White said in a statement.
Johnson County: The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote next week on whether to issue a new countywide mask mandate, although Chairman Ed Eilert made clear Thursday he is reluctant to do so.
Independence: Independence will require masks to be worn in all city facilities including City Hall, Police Headquarters, Independence Utility Center, Sermon Center, Truman Memorial Building, Palmer Center, Independence Uptown Market, and the Cable Dahmer Arena, starting on July 29.
Additionally, there will be expanded access to Independence Health Department vaccine clinics across the City with options five days a week, beginning on Aug. 2.
Independence has its own health department that operates outside of the purview of Jackson County.
Wyandotte County: The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday night approved mandatory mask-wearing while indoors at public spaces for most residents over the age of 5. The rules, sought by Wyandotte County health officials, apply to everyone regardless of vaccination status.
The original order was to cover all of Wyandotte County. But after debate, commissioners amended the order to exclude school districts including Bonner Springs and Edwardsville.
Platte County: The Platte County Health Department Board of Trustees unanimously rejected a proposal to reinstate a mask mandate, deciding instead to recommend masks be worn in some public settings based on personal choice as COVID-19 continues to surge in the region.
The three-member board, during a two-hour special session Thursday night, agreed that mask wearing should be optional. The decision came after a few dozen area residents packed the meeting, several voicing their opposition to a return to a mask mandate.
The decision affects only the parts of Platte County not within Kansas City, which has its own order requiring masks be worn indoors when visiting public spaces.
Clay County: Health officials have not updated Clay County’s mask mandate since dropping it in mid-May.
“There have been no discussions on issuing a new public health emergency order to require masks,” said Kelsey Neth, communications specialist for the Clay County Public Health Center.
“We continue to monitor COVID-19 in our jurisdiction, advise everyone to continue mitigation strategies including wearing masks, and encourage everyone 12 and older to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.”
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton, Cortlynn Stark, Bill Lukitsch Aaron Torres and Angela Cordoba Perez contributed reporting.
This story was originally published July 28, 2021 at 6:02 PM.
