Clay County to end COVID-19 shutdown early. Kansas City mayor blames ‘political winds’
Clay County will cut short a stay-at-home order issued to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, officials announced Wednesday.
The county announced last week it would extend its order until May 15, aligning with Kansas City’s new date. But now its order will end at 11:59 p.m. May 3.
In a news release, Clay County officials said that while the county is still reporting new cases, “the numbers remain consistently low.”
“This can largely be attributed to our community’s efforts to stay at home and ‘flatten the curve’ and we want to thank everyone who has contributed to those efforts,” the release says.
Cass County on Wednesday also announced it would emerge from its stay-at-home order after May 3. Areas of Clay and Cass counties within Kansas City limits will still fall under the city’s longer order.
The statements were issued hours after Gov. Mike Parson announced that most Missouri businesses would be able to reopen shortly after the state’s stay-at-home order expires May 3. But he said that directive does not cover St. Louis city and county — which extended their order indefinitely — and Kansas City.
Under the orders, residents must stay home unless they’re participating in essential activities, such as seeking medical attention or supplies, getting food or going to work at an essential business.
In a statement released on Twitter, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas criticized the moves.
“Less than one week ago, every health director in our nine-county bistate region advised our region’s stay-at-home order remain in place until May 15 based on new infections, inadequate testing and insufficient contact tracing capabilities,” Lucas said. “I’m not sure what has changed as a metro.”
Lucas said the city would “continue to listen to our public health professionals — not the political winds.”
“I badly want our region to get back to work, but the tradeoff cannot be someone losing their parent, partner, child or friend to COVID-19.”
Even last week when Clay County planned to extend its order to May 15, Clay County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte said he was worried about the economic fallout from COVID-19-related shutdowns.
“Obviously we need to protect public health, but I’m a little concerned that maybe there’s not enough thought being given to when we come out of this,” he said. “How is it that we rebuild the parts of our economy that are so heavily damaged?”
In its release, the county attributed the decision to an increase in available testing and an estimated April 17 statewide peak in virus cases across Missouri. The May 3 date, according to the county, gets residents through one full incubation cycle after the expected peak in cases.
The county will issue a more detailed plan to safely reopen businesses and public spaces, the release says.
“While some restrictions may loosen and businesses may reopen to a degree, Clay County Public Health Center will still recommend precautions like not gathering in large groups, wearing a mask in public and washing your hands and surfaces frequently,” the release says.
Last week, Jackson and Platte counties extended their stay-at-home orders to May 15, in line with Kansas City.
But officials in Johnson and Wyandotte counties announced they would remain under Kansas’ statewide COVID-19 stay-at-home order, which Gov. Laura Kelly extended through May 3, rather than following the lead of Kansas City. Health officials said they would reexamine the data to see if a longer order is warranted.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 9:17 PM.
