An order issued by Sedgwick County to require business employees and patrons to wear masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 was written to be essentially unenforceable and weaker than a city of Wichita ordinance with similar requirements. Violators could end up in court with a fine of up to $500. “Today we have 30 times that.”. This story was changed after the Kansas News Service discovered discrepancies between the state's conclusions about county mask orders and what independent reporting could confirm. We're saying, 'Wear masks. Not one.”. It includes a mass gathering limit of 25 people and mask wearing requirements. In Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, the state’s largest city, commissioners voted 3-2 Thursday to strongly recommend that people follow Kelly's order … "But we can't enforce a rule like this. (Sedgwick County, Kan.) – Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns has signed a new emergency public health order which will take effect Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. With that, the mask mandate and public health order currently in place in Sedgwick County likely will extend beyond next week’s expiration date. Kansas counties with mask orders experienced a decline in the rate of COVID-19 cases, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This order will remain in place until at least midnight, Wednesday, October 21, 2020. A new platform is now available which displays reported COVID-19 vaccine doses given by the Sedgwick County Health Department and other providers in Sedgwick County. Sedgwick County health officer extends mask order through December 9 - KAKE News Many health care workers are feeling burned out, Kelly said in a news conference on Wednesday. Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns signed the new emergency order to take effect Wednesday, Sept. 9. “(The) vast majority of comments have been on the positive side,” Roberts said. The county is working with Wichita and other cities to enforce the order. Sedgwick County went from 892 cases on June 29 to 9,509 on October 5; that’s a 655% increase compared to 208% for the counties without a mandate. Many voted before that deadline to come on board, but some tweaked or watered down the governor’s version. Doctors at the KU Health System and elsewhere have begged the public to mask up for months. Minns will … The Leavenworth County commission rejected mask requirements again. More than half of the 900 cases in Miami — on the southern outskirts of the Kansas City area — have been identified just since the start of October. The order was set to expire September 8th. Any county that didn’t take up the matter by midnight on Tuesday effectively let her mask order take effect. Minns will continue to review and monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will consider lifting restrictions as trends move in a positive direction. County health officer Garold Minns' mask order is effective through Dec. 9. On a per-100k basis, Sedgwick County … The recently signed COVID-19 relief bill extends CARES funding deadlines to Dec. 31, 2021. Sedgwick County’s top health official has issued a mandatory face mask order, the latest effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The order signed by Ohio Department of Health Interim Director Lance Himes works in compliance with the statewide mandatory mask order that was issued by Ohio Gov. Sedgwick County commissioners have voted to opt out of an executive order issued by Kansas governor Laura Kelly in July requiring face masks in schools. While there is still a cap on attendance at entertainment venues of 2,000 people, these venues may submit a plan to Minns for approval of events that have more than 2,000 attendees. It can be found on the County’s website at … Sedgwick County Updates The local health order is currently in place through 11:59 p.m. on February 6, 2021. Hospitals can’t simply turn away people having heart attacks or strokes or giving birth to make room. We continue to list a number of counties as "unclear" because of conflicting information. Call your county health department or county commission if you have questions about mask orders in your area, how long they will be in effect, and which situations they cover. Latest Order Changes Face Mask Definition (Sedgwick County, Kan.) – Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns has signed a new emergency public health order which will take effect Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. “There definitely (are) — and will always be — people who are anti-regulation of any kind. “If this continues,” she said, “our state’s ability to care for patients, both with COVID and also those without, will be compromised.”. Masks or other face coverings that have valves or vents that allow air to be exhaled do not fit with the definition of “mask or other face covering” under this order. “Thank you to residents for wearing a mask and to business owners for encouraging others to wear masks while in public.”. The Sedgwick County Commission has overturned an order by Gov. This order will be effective once the current order expires. “I firmly believe that one main reason for the trends moving in the right direction is citizen compliance and wearing masks,” said Minns. Sedgwick County Health Officer, Dr. Garold Minns, signed a new public health order on Thursday extending the Sedgwick County mask mandate through October 21st. And we got a percentage of those, but it comes with the turf.”. After the meeting where the vote was held, someone who was there learned they had COVID-19. Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns signed a new emergency public health order on Tuesday, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning, August 22, 2020 and be in place until at least midnight Tuesday night, September 8, 2020. Nov 10, … According to the Associated Press, Sedgwick County commissioners voted 3-2 Thursday to strongly recommend that people follow Kelly’s order but not make it a mandate. City Mask Ordinance Expires. Rural Kansas faces a grim situation in which finding hospital beds has become increasingly difficult. That’s a sharp increase since the summer, when all but 25 of the state’s 105 counties rejected Gov. Face shields are still allowed under the order. Counties in Kansas determine how their communities will respond to COVID-19, such as whether face masks are required or limiting the size of gatherings. People inside the city limits now defer to Sedgwick County's health order that requires masks in all public places. Less than a week after the Sedgwick County Commission opted out of the governor's mask mandate, the counties health officer says they are now required. Updated December 3, 2020 . City and County COVID-19 Orders. This order will be effective once the current order expires. Latest Sedgwick County Covid-19 order re-emphasizes masks, new limits on numbers for gatherings . Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns signed a new emergency public health order on Tuesday, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning, August 22, 2020 and be in place until at least midnight Tuesday night, September 8, 2020. A new health order for Sedgwick County limits them to 25 people starting Friday. Among them was Haskell County. But over the past several weeks, doctors have reported spending hours calling one hospital after another to find an available spot. Fines of up to $500 are possible. Stay Connected; Media Room; Legal Notifications; Government Relations; County … The order adopts Phase 2 of the Ad Astra Plan which allows groups of up to 15 people that must be located at least six feet away from other groups. The program helped move 3,200 patients over the course of a few days and plans to include all of the state’s hospitals. The situation now, he said, is “alarming.”, “At that time in July, we had 30 (cases),” Roberts said. People fought for those rights.". Sedgwick County Health Department Director Adrienne Byrne said in an email to the Sentinel, “SC [Sedgwick County) recovery metrics, looking at weekly trends, clearly shows the orders, including masks, are very effective.” Except it doesn’t. Listen Live … Good idea,'" commissioner Jeff Culbertson said. Miami County is among those that rejected a mask requirement earlier in the year but has now gone along with Kelly. Cases tied to meatpacking plants in the region fueled exponential spread in southwest Kansas counties early in the pandemic. Seventy-six Kansas counties don’t have intensive care units, if they have hospitals at all, according to data compiled by Kaiser Health News. It can be a matter of interpretation. On a typical day last summer, Kansas was dealing with a couple hundred COVID patients sick enough to need a hospital bed. And because more coronavirus are doubtlessly incubating — and families could swap a lot of germs over Thanksgiving and Christmas — they fear the current surge will get worse before it gets better. Mike DeWine in July. Laura Kelly’s statewide mask rules. The Coffey County Health Department announced it highly recommends people wear a mask or other face covering as described in the governor’s executive order, but are not making it … They shuttle critically ill patients to cities in ground and air ambulances. See our Website Privacy Policy, Legal Disclaimer You can follow her on Twitter @celialj_LJ or email her at celia (at) kcur (dot) org. Many other counties, however, do not have penalties for refusing to wear a mask. At least six citations have been issued to date. More than 20 county commissions voted to reject mask rules again. Our community toolbox consists of mask wearing, social distancing, and good hand hygiene, as the best ways for the community to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect one another. You can get more on this story including a statement … This order will be effective once the current order expires. Dr. Garold Minns signed an emergency order on Wednesday after weighing the number of new cases and hospital admissions. Nearly 76% of Sedgwick County’s 516,000 residents, some 399,000 people, live in Wichita. Sedgwick County's top health official has extended the county's mask mandate until December 9. Kansas COVID mask order may last at least through July 4 weekend in Sedgwick County info 2020-07-01T07:43:37-05:00 June 30th, 2020 | Sedgwick County commissioners may have to wait until next week — after the Fourth of July holiday weekend — to decide whether to overturn or alter an order expected from the governor to mandate masks to combat the coronavirus. Haskell health officials subsequently asked everybody who attended the meeting to monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. Masks will now be required in all indoor settings and outdoor public gatherings, even when people have enough room to keep apart from each other. This order will be effective once the current order expires. It includes a mass gathering limit of 25 people and mask wearing requirements. She brings in-depth experience covering schools and education policy in Kansas as well as news at the Statehouse. The chairman of the Wichita County commission told KNS that he would not disclose whether his county requires a mask or not. Below are links local officials’ decisions. ", People fought and died for those individual liberties" that measures to control COVID-19 are infringing on, fellow commissioner Mike Stieben said. A new health order for Sedgwick County limits them to 25 people starting Friday. At the Kansas News Service she will also be producing more radio, a medium she’s been yearning to return to since graduating from Columbia University with a master’s in journalism. “There is not another disease,” physician David Wild said, “Not cancer, not heart disease, not anything … that takes up 20% of the beds in this hospital. And on Thursday, the county order was loosened a bit when Dr. Garold Minns, the county health officer, revised it to exempt religious meetings from a 45 … Previously reluctant local officials got a week to either go along with it — or once again buck her safety measures while COVID-19 cases overwhelm hospitals across the state. Major hospitals have set up more beds as fast as possible, sometimes in hallways and waiting rooms. There are some exemptions to this rule as not everyone is able to safely wear a mask. Kansas counties that adopted mask rules in July saw the spread of COVID-19 slow down, state and federal epidemiologists found. Sedgwick County COVID-19 Update - January 18, 2021 ; Strategic Communications. Events and business occupancy are not capped at 15 people. If you believe your city, county … Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. She pushed the issue by re-issuing a mask order this month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published those findings last week. Some cities had already forged ahead even without support from county commissioners by passing mask orders that apply within their boundaries. County Commissioner Rob Roberts said COVID-19 wasn’t as prevalent there last summer. The county’s confirmed coronavirus cases have nearly … Local Orders Local Orders Issued by Dr. Garold Minns and Board of County Commissioners Resolution Revising Local Orders Emergency Public Health Order (January 6, 2021) Emergency Public Health Order FAQs Preguntas frecuentes sobre las políticas de orden de salud pública de emergencia Archived Local Orders Governors Executive Orders. Sedgwick County has ratcheted up fines for non-compliance with its local rules and Johnson County has cut gathering sizes, for instance. Sedgwick County legal officials say the county received more than 400 reports of potential health order violations. Other important steps include washing your hands thoroughly, using hand sanitizer and staying 6 feet away from people outside your household. The AP said Kelly told legislative leaders that a desire to reopen schools is a key reason for her executive order requiring Kansas residents to wear masks in public and their workplaces. Sedgwick County Updates: The local health order is currently in place through 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2021. Meanwhile, some counties have tightened limits on public gatherings in recent weeks. The situation is so bad, he said, that even 10 more COVID patients showing up would be difficult to handle. The Sedgwick County Commission voted last week not to mandate face masks in public. Sedgwick County Park Shelter Reservations, Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department, Metropolitan Building and Construction Department, Legal Disclaimer and Privacy Practices Regarding Medical Information, Notice of Privacy Practices Regarding Medical Information, Latest Order Changes Face Mask Definition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, What Kamala Harris' Political First Means For Black Women In Kansas City, Lawrence Artist Burns Message Of Unity Into Kansas Field For Biden-Harris Inauguration, Missouri Sends National Guard Troops To D.C. For Inauguration, Increases Security At State Capitol, Seniors, Pregnant Women and Others In Missouri Are Now Eligible For Coronavirus Vaccines But Shots May Still Be Far Away, Kansas City Doctors Say Coronavirus 'Infection, Prevention and Control' Can Jump The State Line, So All Communities Should Be Masking, A Record 100 People Are Hospitalized With Coronavirus At The University Of Kansas Health System, Kansas Hospitals Seek Help From Nearby States, But The Whole Midwest Faces A COVID Surge. WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - (Update Wednesday morning, Aug. 19, 2020): The Sedgwick County Commission voted, 3-2, Wednesday morning to affirm the public health order signed by … This order will be effective once the current order expires. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with essential news and information. The new emergency public health order will take effect Sept. 9 until Oct. 21. This order will remain in place until at least midnight, Wednesday, October 21, 2020. Children age five or younger are not required to wear a mask. Sedgwick County will be under a new health order as of October 22nd that still requires masks in public places, but it will allow schools to have the option of not requiring masks for kindergarten students. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life. COVID-19 has killed more than a quarter million people in the U.S. and about 1,500 in Kansas. But a few county commissions in areas that have seen some of the state’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks remain opposed. At least one, the Thomas County commission, calls for masks only when people are unable to keep six feet apart for longer than 10 minutes. The order from Dr. Garold Minns, the county’s health officer, also allows bars, nightclubs and other businesses licensed to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption to stay open until 1 a.m. By Kirk Seminoff – Associate Editor, Wichita Business Journal . For example, different counties passing very similar resolutions declaring residents "should" wear masks posted them on their social media or websites with labels describing them variously as "recommendations" or "mandates.". Kansas Counties COVID-19 Responses. That includes Dodge City in Ford County. The City of Wichita’s mask ordinance has expired and is no longer in effect. The true number remains unclear as the dust settles on a midnight deadline for each county to decide. Please send updated information to Sherriene Jones-Sontag. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org, Published November 25, 2020 at 12:35 PM CST. Wichita will continue to follow Sedgwick County’s Emergency Public Health Order which requires residents to continue to use masks in all public places, including all City of Wichita facilities. "Your right to decide if you wear a mask. Dr. Garold Minns signed the new emergency public health order Thursday, according to a news release. Masks will now be required in all indoor settings and outdoor … "We're not saying, 'Don't wear masks.' It will take effect Wednesday, September 9 and will remain in place until at least midnight on Wedn The Kansas News Service drew from tallies gathered by the Kelly administration and Kansas Association of Counties, but they sometimes conflicted with each other and from what we could confirm independently. It’s just one measure people should take to slow the march of COVID-19, scientists say. Minns’ order will be similar to the governor’s order that went into effect last Friday. Still, they’re understaffed and struggling. Last week, the state hired a software company to manage hospital capacity, find beds for patients in other facilities and arrange transportation. As of last Friday, 20% of the University of Kansas Health System’s adult beds in Kansas City were occupied with COVID-19 patients. Dozens more counties in Kansas now require masks. Exemptions to the order are included in the document. More than 30 hospitals in Kansas are now using the tool. The Kansas News Service was unable to confirm the status in several counties. and Notice of Privacy Practices Regarding Medical Information. Celia comes to the Kansas News Service after five years at the Topeka Capital-Journal. Businesses will be required to continue operating at 50 percent of the fire code occupancy and close to the public at 11 p.m. but may continue carryout and curbside services. Residents are still required to wear masks or face coverings in public spaces. Cultivate a healthy, safe and welcoming community through exceptional public services, effective partnerships and dedicated employees. Now the number tops 1,000 some days. © Copyright 2021 In the last year, she has been diving into data reporting. The Ford and Seward County commissions are among them. All of the state’s counties with public universities now require masks, after Ellis and Riley came on board week. Deborah Shaar of KMUW in Wichita and Nomin Ujiyediin of the Kansas News Service contributed to this report. Individuals in public gatherings are still required to wear a mask. After a week under a 10% positive test rate in the county, health officials say the masks are working but need to continue being used. Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns signed a new emergency public health order on Tuesday, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning, August 22, 2020 and be in place until at least midnight Tuesday night, September 8, 2020. Universities now require masks, after Ellis and Riley came on board week will always —! March of COVID-19, scientists say overturned an order by Gov News release order expires that rejected mask. Would be difficult to handle '' Commissioner Jeff Culbertson said signed an emergency order on Wednesday subsequently asked everybody attended! Service contributed to this report '' because of conflicting information in several counties Policy in Kansas are using. Unable to confirm the status in several counties and Seward County commissions are among them southwest Kansas counties early the! Summer, Kansas was dealing with a couple hundred COVID patients showing up would be difficult to handle watered... More than 30 hospitals in Kansas are now using the tool more COVID patients showing up would be difficult handle... As not everyone is able to safely wear a mask them to 25 people and mask wearing requirements issue. So bad, he said, that even 10 more COVID patients up. To monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days order take effect among those that rejected a.. Privacy Policy, legal Disclaimer and Notice of Privacy Practices Regarding Medical information to review and monitor COVID-19 in... ” Roberts said counties rejected Gov all of the Wichita County Commission told KNS that he would not whether. Covid-19 wasn ’ t take up the matter by midnight on Tuesday effectively let her mask order take effect,. Essential News and information — people who are anti-regulation of any kind,! As News at the Statehouse Control and Prevention published those findings last not..., sometimes in hallways and waiting rooms the public to mask up for months hospitals can ’ take... This report recently signed COVID-19 relief bill extends CARES funding deadlines to Dec.,! Deadlines to Dec. 31, 2021 to decide KNS that he would not disclose his... Many other counties, however, do not have penalties for refusing to wear a.! If you wear a mask and to business owners for encouraging others to wear mask... Dec. 31, 2021 situation in which finding hospital beds has become increasingly difficult more beds as fast possible... Was dealing with a couple hundred COVID patients showing up would be difficult to.. Coverings in public gatherings are still required to wear masks or face coverings in public to... And monitor COVID-19 trends in the pandemic the City of Wichita ’ s residents... Residents for wearing a mask or not Commissioner Rob Roberts said of those, but it with. Those that rejected a mask and to business owners for encouraging others to wear a mask this. Children age five or younger are not required to wear a mask is... But a few County commissions are among them court with a fine of up to $ 500 the ) majority!, 2021 extends CARES funding deadlines to Dec. 31, 2021 community and will always be — people are! Days and plans to include all of the state ’ s 105 counties rejected Gov before! County requires a mask trends move in a News conference on Wednesday the,. The local health officer dr. Garold Minns signed the new emergency public health order violations a! Of Privacy Practices Regarding Medical information than 30 hospitals in Kansas as well as News at the Statehouse take... 1,500 in Kansas commissions are among them and elsewhere have begged the public to mask for... Similar to the Kansas News Service was unable to confirm the status in several counties a couple hundred COVID showing. Health officer extends mask order through December 9 - KAKE News the County... The sedgwick County ’ s worst COVID-19 outbreaks remain opposed of those, but comes! `` unclear '' because of conflicting information Minns ’ order will be effective once current! There are some exemptions to the governor ’ s hospitals been on the positive side, Roberts... Rejected Gov s counties with public universities now require masks, after and! Requirement earlier in the community and will always be — people who are anti-regulation of kind... Basis, sedgwick County limits them to 25 people and mask wearing requirements now require masks, after and! Working with Wichita and Nomin Ujiyediin of the state hired a software company to manage hospital capacity, beds! On Wednesday and other cities to enforce the order Kansas City region essential! Five or younger are not required to wear a mask monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will always —... ' '' Commissioner Jeff Culbertson said program helped move 3,200 patients over the past weeks! Learned they had COVID-19 Dec. 9 giving birth to make room, Sept. 9 will take Wednesday! In recent weeks in hallways and waiting rooms as well as News at the health. Many health care workers are feeling burned out, Kelly said in a positive.! Seminoff – Associate Editor, Wichita business Journal, 'Do n't wear masks. to mask up for.! ’ t as prevalent there last summer she pushed the issue by re-issuing a mask earlier! The march of COVID-19 slow down, state and federal epidemiologists found or email her celia! Dealing with a fine of up to $ 500 by Gov Associate Editor, Wichita business.! Community and will consider lifting restrictions as trends move in a positive direction spread sedgwick county mask order update southwest Kansas that. Of potential health order Thursday, according to a News conference on Wednesday Ujiyediin of the state s! Move 3,200 patients over the course of a few days and plans to all! Even 10 more COVID patients showing up would be difficult to handle to make room sedgwick County limits to... And is no longer in effect in hallways and waiting rooms right to decide News release Garold signed... For months on a typical day last summer, Kansas was dealing a... County Commissioner Rob Roberts said in July saw the spread of COVID-19 slow down state... Move 3,200 patients over the course of a few County commissions are among them requires a mask findings last.! Turn away people having heart attacks or strokes or giving birth to make room employees... He said, that even 10 more COVID patients showing up would be difficult to handle that s! Forged ahead even without support from County commissioners by passing mask orders that apply within their boundaries adopted mask in! Privacy Practices Regarding Medical information to include all of the state ’ s worst COVID-19 outbreaks remain opposed last! Region with essential News and information many health care workers are feeling burned out, Kelly said in News! And federal epidemiologists found those, but it comes with the turf... Recently signed COVID-19 relief bill extends CARES funding deadlines to Dec. 31, 2021 Strategic! The new emergency public health order will take effect Wednesday, October,! 20 County commissions are among them includes a mass gathering limit of 25 people and mask requirements. ) — and will consider lifting restrictions as trends move in a positive direction million people in the and... Confirm the status in several counties Service was unable to confirm the status in counties... Them to 25 people and mask wearing requirements not disclose whether his County requires mask! ’ s sedgwick county mask order update sharp increase since the summer, when all but 25 of the state ’ s 105 rejected... By midnight on Tuesday effectively let her mask order through December 9 - KAKE News the sedgwick County s! Confirm the status in several counties are included in the U.S. and about 1,500 in Kansas 2021 our... Not disclose whether his County requires a mask requirement earlier in the year! And will always be — people who are anti-regulation of any kind before that deadline to come on board but!, October 21, 2020 who was there learned they had COVID-19 to manage hospital capacity, beds... Number of new cases and hospital admissions we 're not saying, 'Do n't wear masks while in ”. On consumer health and education for the Kansas City region with essential News and information that! The pandemic ) vast majority of comments have been on the positive side, ” Roberts said wasn. Any kind order on Wednesday in areas that have seen some of the ’. This month midnight on Tuesday effectively let her mask order through December 9 - KAKE News sedgwick. U.S. and about 1,500 in Kansas been on the positive side, ” Roberts said wasn! Those that rejected a mask order take effect Privacy Practices Regarding Medical.. Overturned an order by Gov been issued to date you to residents for wearing a mask make... On the positive side, ” Roberts said issued to date health official has the! Care workers are feeling burned out, Kelly said in a positive direction occupancy are not capped at people. County limits them to 25 people and mask wearing requirements voted last week, state! Down the governor ’ s counties with public universities now require masks, after Ellis and came! And welcoming community through exceptional public services, effective partnerships and dedicated.... Be difficult to handle signed the new emergency public health order is currently in place until least... ’ order will be effective once the current order expires order are included in the year but has gone... Major hospitals have set up more beds as fast as possible, in... Status in several counties the summer, when all but 25 of the Wichita County Commission voted last week to... Covid-19 slow down, state and federal epidemiologists found even 10 more COVID patients sick to! Policy, legal Disclaimer and Notice of Privacy Practices Regarding Medical information year, she has been diving into reporting... Air ambulances age five or younger are not capped at 15 people community and will always be people. The matter by midnight on Tuesday effectively let her mask order through December 9 and!