UG postpones tonight’s municipal ID meeting and stormwater fee item
While not declaring a state of emergency, Unified Government officials are strongly recommending that large gatherings be postponed or canceled to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus.
As part of that effort, the UG is canceling its 5 p.m. discussion today of the municipal ID issue, the Safe and Welcoming Ordinance, Mayor David Alvey said in remarks during a Facebook Live session on Thursday afternoon. Advocates of municipal ID had been expected to attend the 5 p.m. meeting. The session will be held at a later date, he said.
Also, the UG is canceling the 7 p.m. agenda item tonight on the stormwater fee rate increase, another item that might have drawn numbers of interested residents to the meeting. The item will be heard at a later date, according to officials.
Mayor Alvey said during the Facebook Live session that these actions were taken out of concern for the safety of UG employees and residents.
While Kansas City, Kansas, has not declared a state of emergency at this time, COVID-19 is an important matter that they take very seriously, Mayor Alvey said.
“As we move forward we will take any appropriate measures necessary to protect our citizens and halt the spread of the contagion,” he said. Options remain open to declare a state of emergency at a later date, he added.
At this time, there were no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County, he said.
The UG will continue providing public services while minimizing the spread of the virus across all operations, he said.
Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer for the UG, said they have put together a list of actions residents can take now as a community.
Dr. Greiner asked residents, businesses and organizations to practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings.
If they are sick with a fever and cough, residents should stay home. If they are sick, they should call their health care provider and stay home until they receive additional instructions, he said.
Residents also should practice good hygiene, cough into their elbow, and keep surfaces clean, he said.
Senior citizens and those with compromised immune systems, including smokers, are at greater risk, along with anyone with previously diagnosed respiratory issues, he said.
Terrie Garrison, interim director of the UG Health Department, said they anticipate that at some point they will have a fully confirmed case, but they do not have one in Wyandotte County at this time.
She said the UG has a website on the coronavirus at www.wycokck.org/coronavirus.
Garrison said everyone should practice basic hygiene precautions, frequent handwashing, covering a cough with a tissue or sleeve, avoid touching their nose, eyes or mouth with unclean hands, and stay home when they are sick.
Anyone with a cough or fever should stay home if they have these symptoms, she said.
While most people who get COVID-19 have mild symptoms, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions are at higher risk. Those groups should follow the latest CDC guidelines for those at higher risk, and should have medication, food and household supplies on hand in case they need to remain at home. Those groups should avoid crowds and have a plan in case their usual caregiver becomes sick.
Wearing a mask in public is not necessarily recommended for those trying to avoid infection, she said, but masks are recommended for those who actually have the symptoms.
She recommended that residents create a family action plan, with medical and dietary needs, identify a room in the home to separate those who are sick from the rest of the household.
For more information, residents also may visit kdhe.gov/coronavirus.
Wyandotte County residents with questions may call the Wyandotte County health line at 311.
The KDHE hotline number for COVID-19 questions is 1-866-534-3463.
Persons with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath should call their regular health provider with the symptoms, she said, and know their recent travel history and if they have contact with any known patients.
Mayor Alvey said he strongly recommends not attending any large gatherings if at all possible.
To see the UG’s Facebook Live presentation, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSU-Wc7riOw or https://www.facebook.com/cityofkck/videos/2503297306651788/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
More information about COVID-19 is at the KDHE website at http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm.
The Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 page is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html.
The UG website on coronavirus is at www.wycokck.org/coronavirus.