Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System today supported mask-wearing as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A statewide order mandating masks from Gov. Laura Kelly goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 3. Gov. Kelly signed the order on Thursday morning. Wyandotte County’s mandatory mask order went into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Johnson County Commission was meeting today to discuss the issue, and reportedly have passed a directive to follow the governor’s order, with the possibility of discussing it further next week.
Wearing a mask is one of the best ways to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, who talked about masks at the Thursday morning video news conference.
Kansas reported 14,990 positive cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, and 272 deaths, according to Gov. Kelly. The case numbers have increased recently in Kansas.
“The last few months have presented many new challenges for Kansans, and all of us want to return to our normal lives and routines,” Gov. Kelly said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we have seen a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths across our state and our country. We must act.”
Under the order, Kansans are required to wear masks when inside any public space – including their workplace – or in situations where social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained, according to the governor’s statement. Guidance regarding specific places or situations in which masks are required is outlined within the order.
Kansans under 5 years of age, those with medical conditions, deaf and mentally challenged persons, those who have a disability that prevents wearing a mask, and others specifically outlined in the governor’s order are exempt from these requirements.
Also, if local, state or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines say that wearing a mask would be a risk to a person at work, they will be exempt, the governor’s order stated.
While persons are eating or drinking in a restaurant or establishment, they do not have to wear a mask, but must maintain a 6-foot distance from people who do not live in their household, the governor’s order stated.
Athletes in organized sports that allow a 6-foot distance from others do not have to wear masks in that situation, under the governor’s order.
Also under the governor’s order, meetings of the Kansas Legislature are exempt from the mask rule.
The governor’s order stated that local governments have the authority to issue and enforce equally or more restrictive orders or provisions.
AG says can’t arrest individuals for violations of mask order; says his office will not bring any actions for not wearing a mask
Attorney General Derek Schmidt today sent out a memo to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors about how to enforce the governor’s executive order.
Schmidt noted that the Legislature changed violations from a Class A misdemeanor to a civil violation, which could be enforced by a lawsuit filed by the county or district attorney.
Law enforcement officers may no longer arrest or detain individuals for violations of an emergency order, Schmidt stated.
Schmidt also stated that counties could adopt provisions “less stringent” than the governor’s order.
“If an individual county has done so, then the governor’s emergency order may not be enforced in that county, even by a civil lawsuit,” Schmidt stated in a news release.
While the law allows the attorney general to bring enforcement actions, Schmidt stated his office will defer to the local county and district attorneys and has no plans to bring its own enforcement actions for not wearing a mask.
“I think the better approach is to leave any enforcement to local authorities who know their communities best and to give Kansans information and encouragement and trust them to make wise decisions,” Schmidt said in the news release. “So here’s what I encourage: Be safe on this Independence Day weekend, use common sense and caution to keep yourself and others healthy, heed the advice of the CDC and other public health experts, and wear a mask for now whenever you’re in a public setting and cannot maintain a safe distance from other people.”
The Wyandotte County frequently-asked-questions page on the local mask order stated that it did not know yet whether the local order will supersede the governor’s order, but nevertheless, both orders mandate wearing masks in public places here.
Doctors: Wear masks to lessen spread of COVID-19
At the KU doctors’ news conference, Dr. Hawkinson supported the governor’s order to wear masks. He said there were good medical reports recommending universal masking.
In Colorado, there is a good mask culture, where people are wearing masks and using hand sanitizer, he said. The KU Health System recommends wearing masks, he added, and it will lessen the spread of the virus.
The cloth masks will be able to block some of the droplets that might otherwise enter the air. It makes a barrier to prevent virus spread, especially in asymptomatic and presymptomatic patients, he said. They are effective when people are coughing, talking loudly or sneezing. They offer a protection to the wearer of the mask as well as a barrier for someone who is ill, he said.
Masks will play a role in stopping the spread of COVID-19, health experts believe, to keep people healthy and not have to close down businesses.
Wearing masks, physical distancing and hand hygiene together will reduce the spread of COVID-19, he said.
Dr. Hawkinson said the mandatory mask orders address the majority of the population. There are those who are very young, deaf, hard of hearing and with severe medical conditions who can’t wear the mask, he added.
The exceptions for the deaf have been made so they can continue lip-reading when communicating with each other.
Exemptions are in place for young children because it is difficult for them to have a mask on.
Also, those with COPD and breathing problems also are exempt and may have trouble with wearing masks.
Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich said there are benefits to the entire community from everyone wearing masks, and risks and benefits for each person. There is a small subset of persons, including young children and those with breathing problems, for whom the risks outweigh the benefits, and it is a very small portion, she said.
Dr. Kalender-Rich said mandatory mask-wearing is something that has been needed and continues to be needed.
She said nursing facilities have had mandatory mask-wearing now for three months. Mandatory masking can protect the residents in the facilities as well as people who come into contact with them.
Dr. Kalender-Rich, a member of the Wyandotte County task force on COVID-19 and nursing facilities, also has been appointed to the national Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes.
On Thursday morning, there were 17 patients at the University of Kansas Health System, with six in the intensive care unit and two on ventilators. On Wednesday, there were 16 COVID-19 inpatients, with the same number in the ICU and one fewer on ventilators.
Wyandotte County reported 2,336 positive cumulative COVID-19 cases at 1 p.m. July 2, according to the UG COVID-19 webpage, with 83 cumulative deaths. There were 2,312 cases at 1 p.m. July 1, for an increase of 24 cases. There were no new deaths reported from Wednesday.
The governor’s new executive order on masks is at https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200702093130003.pdf.
The governor’s news release on the new mask order is at https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-laura-kelly-signs-executive-order-mandating-masks-in-public-spaces/.
Wyandotte County has a frequently-asked-questions page on the local order requiring masks at https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/07012020_MaskOrderFAQ.pdf.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s enforcement memo is at https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/addendum-3-to-march-24-law-enforcement-duties-and-authorities-memo.pdf?sfvrsn=d088af1a_3
The KU doctors’ news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/1353614588182368
To see some studies on masks, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html#recent-studies
The Wyandotte County mask order is at https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/06272020LocalHealthOfficerOrderRegardingMasks.pdf.
A news release on the Wyandotte County mask order is at https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/06272020PressReleaseLHORequiresPublicToWearMasks.pdf.
Wyandotte County now has posted an application for nonprofits, government agencies, school districts and businesses in Wyandotte County that want to apply for CARES Act funding. The web address is https://us.openforms.com/Form/6273fe80-8bba-4c18-b4e7-e551096d8a83.
For information on how to make an easy no-sew mask, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/how-to-make-a-no-sew-cloth-mask/.
For more information about COVID-19 testing, including other sites, visit https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19. Residents also may call 3-1-1 for more information about testing.
The state’s COVID-19 test page is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/280/COVID-19-Testing.
Residents may visit the UG COVID-19 website at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information or call 311 for more information.
Wyandotte County is currently under Phase 3. See covid.ks.gov.
The state plan’s frequently asked questions page is at https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Reopening-FAQ_5.19.2020_Final.pdf.
The CDC’s COVID-19 web page is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.