A mandatory mask order is going into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, in Wyandotte County, and it’s not always easy to find masks in stores here.
Everyone will be required to wear a mask in public places starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Also, people should continue social distancing and hand-washing, according to the Wyandotte County health order. Those who are sick should stay home, according to the health officials.
Doctors have said that a cloth mask does not provide 100 percent protection against COVID-19, but if everyone is wearing one, then protection increases.
There are some exceptions to who must wear masks. Children under 5 do not have to wear a mask, and those who have medical conditions that make it difficult to wear a mask do not have to wear them.
The rolling average of positive cases is trending up in Wyandotte County recently, and a new mandatory health order has been issued for wearing masks here starting at 5 p.m. June 30. According to the Health Department, the slow increase of COVID-19 cases coincides with the reopening and relaxation of restrictions in late May. (Graph from UG Health Department)The 1 p.m. Saturday, June 27, COVID-19 report on the UG’s webpage showed one more death from COVID-19 since Friday, and 11 more positive cases. (From UG COVID-19 webpage)
Wyandotte County has ordered people to wear masks in public, beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30.
The mandatory health order was issued to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County, according to the Unified Government Health Department. Wyandotte County is currently in Phase 3 of the Ad Astra reopening plan, at least until July 6. There is no end date on the mask-wearing order, but it will be up to local health officials to decide when to lift it.
“The seven-day rolling average of positive cases continues to be on the upswing,” said Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer of the Unified Government Public Health Department, in a news release. “This upswing coincides with the reopening of businesses and other venues as we try to get our community’s economy re-started after the shutdown earlier this year. One of the most important things the public can do to help slow the spread of COVID-19 is to wear masks in public. But for this effort to be effective, everyone must participate to protect the overall health of the entire community, not just their own health.”
The primary purpose of a mask is to protect others in case a person may be carrying the virus – even if the mask wearer doesn’t have symptoms, according to a spokesman. If everyone wears masks, everyone is helping protect one another, and especially protect those most vulnerable to serious illness, the spokesman stated.
“While our community has done a terrific job of helping slow the initial spread of the pandemic, like so many other areas around the country Wyandotte County has experienced a recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases,” Mayor David Alvey said. “In an effort to continue the reopening of our community, we must continue to follow and adhere to the advice of medical experts. As such, starting next week Wyandotte County health officials will require individuals to wear masks in public to slow and contain the further spread of this virus. This is a simple, yet effective measure to protect our families, friends, and our most vulnerable, and will help allow our community and local businesses to remain open and return to normal as quickly as possible.”
According to a UG Health Department spokesman, the masks will be required in public, indoor spaces, including workplaces, businesses and places of worship, and in some outdoor spaces.
People are required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth when in a public, outdoor space, except for socially distanced outdoor exercise, according to the spokesman.
The mask-wearing order also applies to places such as community centers and libraries.
The mask order also will be in effect for public transportation, taxis and ride-sharing, bus stops, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, farmers markets, restaurant and bar patio seating.
Late Friday afternoon, UG officials joined with Kansas City, Missouri, officials in a gathering in Missouri to announce new mask-wearing ordinances. A Health Department spokesman said some other communities in the metro area are “strongly encouraging” residents to wear masks. Health departments in the metropolitan area issued a joint statement Friday about the importance of wearing masks.
According to a news release from the Health Department, masks will not be required when people are only with others they live with, not when driving alone, exercising alone or exercising with others they live with, and not when they can absolutely guarantee they will be able to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing from others.
Masks are not required within an individual’s solitary workplace, such as an office where the individual is alone, according to the news release.
The mask ordinance also exempts deaf persons, and also children younger than 5, along with persons with certain medical conditions that prevent wearing a mask. Children who are younger than 2 should never wear a mask, according to the Health Department.
Wearing a mask does not exempt people from social distancing or hygiene, according to the spokesman. Residents should wash their hands several times a day with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time, according to a spokesman.
“It’s the combination of these actions that has proven effective at helping us slow and contain the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Greiner said. “That’s important for two reasons – it protects the health of everyone in our community, especially those most vulnerable to a serious infection from COVID-19. Secondly, it helps prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed.”
As Health Department officials pointed out, even individuals who feel fine or may not feel they are at risk from a COVID-19 infection should take this health order seriously and wear masks in public, because they could be a danger to others in the community.
“It’s vitally important that everyone in our community take the increasing spread of COVID-19 seriously and wear a mask when in public,” said Dr. Erin Corriveau, deputy medical officer with the Unified Government Public Health Department. “Even people who feel fine right now might be able to infect several people a day with COVID-19. We have solid evidence that people who develop symptoms from COVID-19 can be infectious for up to two days before their symptoms begin. We also know that some infected individuals never feel symptoms at all, but are still able to spread the virus. By the time illness hits, some individuals may have already infected several other members of the community. That’s why it’s so important for everyone to wear masks, practice social distancing, and wash hands, even if feeling well.”
The UG Health Department recently issued more guidance documents for education, nursing homes, businesses and churches. The church guidance document, for example, says that people must wear masks while inside the church, and they can take them off briefly for communion, then put them back on again. The guidance documents are online at wycokck.org/COVID-19.
More information about mask-wearing
A mandatory mask order goes into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, in Wyandotte County, to stop the spread of COVID-19. Homemade cloth masks will be OK, according to the order. Directions for making homemade masks are at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html. There are directions for cloth masks that can be sewn and also for no-sew cloth masks.
According to the Health Department, the new local health order requires: • Individuals are required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth when in a public, indoor space (including a workplace, business, or place of worship). • Masks should be carefully positioned over the mouth and nose when it is put on, in a manner to avoid touching or readjusting the mask until it is removed. • Masks are not required inside a solitary, enclosed workspace such as within an individual’s solitary office. • Individuals are required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth when in a public, outdoor space (with the exception of socially-distanced outdoor exercise). • This includes all outdoor public gatherings such as bus stops, farmers markets, places of worship and restaurant bar or patio seating areas. • Masks are not required when eating or drinking, but individuals should remain socially distanced and are required to wear a face mask before and following eating. • Washing your hands is encouraged before taking masks off and prior to putting them back on. • Individuals with medical conditions must wear a full face shield covering the mouth, nose and eyes as an alternative to a face mask (face shields have a piece of hard, clear plastic that sits in front of the face; these are often worn by healthcare workers in addition to other protective equipment)
In addition to the requirements listed in the order, the Health Department staff offered tips about masks and cloth face coverings:
• Wear a mask or cloth face covering appropriately (it must cover both your mouth and nose) • Don’t touch your mask or your face. If you need to adjust your mask, clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before and after touching your mask. • Cloth face coverings that you can make with items around your home are effective at helping reduce the spread of COVID-19. You do not need a surgical mask or other medical-grade mask, and it is best to reserve those supplies for healthcare workers. • Learn about cloth face covering recommendations, including how to make your own mask at home, at cdc.gov/COVID19.
Janell Friesen, a Health Department spokesman, said that any type of mask or cloth face covering that covers the mouth and nose is going to be acceptable, especially for the general public. Those who work in the health care field may need specific types of medical masks. The N95 masks in general are for those who work in the health care field or other fields where that mask is required.
If a company has already issued masks to its workers to wear while working, those would be acceptable under this health order, she said. Businesses also should encourage anyone coming into the business to wear masks, as well, she added.
In sports, people should follow the guidelines of the phase they are currently in, as to how venues may operate, she said.
Anyone in a gathering with a large number of people should be wearing a mask as well as keeping at least 6 feet apart, she said. There are restrictions on the size of the gathering that are listed in the Ad Astra plan under the phase they are currently in, she added.
People on sidewalks should be wearing masks, according to the new health order, and that is especially important if there is foot traffic on the sidewalk, according to the spokesman.
The health order says people in parks should be wearing masks, also. That is important where they are around others, according to the spokesman. The health order has an exception for outdoor exercise for people who are by themselves or with others from their own households. They should be able to absolutely guarantee that they are going to be by themselves, she added.
“It’s a good idea to have a mask with you going out,” the spokesman said. Have the mask ready in case someone unexpectedly comes by. While having a mask with you is not specifically written into the order, it’s a tip for people to be prepared, according to the spokesman.
When going out to restaurants, people should wear masks as they enter the building. They can take the mask off when they are actively eating or drinking, according to the spokesman. Then they can put the mask back on as soon as they are finished. People should clean their hands before and after they touch their masks, she added.
The spokesman said there are some organizations that are sewing masks and donating them to health departments and other organizations. She said the Health Department will be looking at ways to make masks more accessible.
She added there are ways to make masks from old household items, such as an old T-shirt, turning it into a mask.
The Health Department spokesman said response from the public has been mixed. There are people who are grateful that measures are being taken to protect people in the community. Then, others are not happy about the idea of having to wear the masks, as they may find them uncomfortable, she said.
The Health Department is seeing positive cases on the rise throughout the community, and it really doesn’t want to have to go backwards and return to a previous phase, she said. Wearing masks is a way for people to go about their day-to-day activities, allowing businesses to continue to operate, and keep the economy going while curbing the spread of COVID-19, she said.
Enforcement
The news release about mask-wearing does not mention enforcement; however the health order says that “any sheriff, deputy sheriff or other law enforcement officer of any political subdivision within Wyandotte County, Kansas is hereby ordered to assist in the execution or enforcement of this Order, as amended or modified, as well as all other orders of the Local Health Officer not otherwise rescinded or superseded.”
A Health Department spokesman said that the main focus right now is letting people know about the order and educating them on the importance of wearing a mask.
Additional enforcement measures could be added later if needed, the spokesman said, but they really want people to voluntarily do this in order to protect the people around them.
Testing available
Another key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County is testing, according to Drs. Greiner and Corriveau.
“We have worked with the members of the Health Equity Task Force to make testing more accessible for all members of the community throughout Wyandotte County,” Dr. Corriveau said. “This testing is free for anyone who lives or works in Wyandotte County and is provided regardless of the individual’s immigration status, health coverage, or ability to pay.”
Persons should get tested for COVID-19 if they develop any symptoms, such as: • Fever • Dry cough • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing • Headache • Chills • Muscle or body aches • Runny nose
• Sore throat • Diarrhea • New loss of taste or smell
Persons should also get tested if they have been exposed to COVID-19 through close contact (within six feet for at least 10 minutes) with someone who has tested positive or through association with a known outbreak.
Testing is available for free to people who live or work in Wyandotte County at multiple community locations, including the Health Department and a rotating weekly schedule of “pop-up” sites coordinated by the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force. Find the latest testing schedule and locations at wycokck.org/COVID-19 or by calling 3-1-1.
At 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, the total cumulative cases in Wyandotte County were 2,082, with 79 deaths. It was an increase of 66 cases since 4 p.m. Thursday, and an increase of one death, according to the UG’s COVID-19 website. (UG COVID-19 website)A seven-day rolling average of positive test percentage in Wyandotte County showed a slight increase. (UG Health Department graphic)This graph showed case numbers by date in Wyandotte County. (UG Health Department graphic)
Positive COVID-19 cases have gone over the 2,000 total mark in Wyandotte County, Health Department officials reported at Thursday night’s Unified Government Commission meeting.
At 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, the total cumulative cases were 2,082, with 79 deaths. It was an increase of 66 cases since 4 p.m. Thursday, and an increase of one death, according to the UG’s COVID-19 website.
Juliann van Lieu, director of the UG Health Department, said Wyandotte County currently has the most COVID-19 cases of counties in the state.
She said, on Thursday evening, that a 7-day rolling average showed a steady incline of cases in Wyandotte County. They are typically seeing about 25 to 30 new cases a day, averaged among seven days.
“It’s very concerning to us,” she said at the UG Commission meeting. As they consider next steps they will need to think about what is the threshold for them to consider drastic measures as they see the numbers climb, she added.
In general, the number of deaths from COVID-19 has declined in the past two weeks in Wyandotte County.
Earlier, large case numbers in Wyandotte County had a lot to do with the long-term care facilities, and they are keeping an eye on that, she said.
Dr. Erin Corriveau, deputy medical officer for Wyandotte County, said the percent positivity rate is increasing a bit. Around mid-May, the numbers started to come down. At that time, the University of Kansas Hospital started testing all the patients coming in, including those with symptoms and those without, which pulled the positivity rate down.
They had a concerning positivity rate of 30 percent at the Health Department testing on Monday. Overall, the community is just under 20 percent, she added.
On race and ethnicity case rates, there have been increases in Asian cases, and Hispanic cases have increased greatly recently, she said.
The Health Department’s epidemiologist, Elizabeth Groenweghe, said there are quite a few outbreaks that the Health Department is working on, and many are at workplaces. These are generally where employees are working close together in enclosed places.
New cases were reported on June 24 at Liberty Fruit Company, which has 14 total cases; and Kellogg’s Bakery, which has 23 total cases, according to UG Health Department information.
Nordic Foods, 4747 Speaker Road, had five COVID-19 cases, with the last one reported June 17, according to the UG’s COVID-19 website.
SunOpta, 1103 Blake St., Edwardsville, reported eight COVID-19 cases on June 25, according to the UG’s COVID-19 website. Additional outbreaks are listed on the UG’s COVID-19 webpage.
Also, they are following an outbreak now at Bonner Springs Nurse and Rehab, she said. They have a strategy in place now to test residents and staff every week, if an outbreak is reported there.
One person came to a church service at La Fe En Jesu Cristo with COVID-19, she said, and later other cases were identified. There were six cases reported there, she said.
Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer for Wyandotte County, said they have published some guidance this week on reopening for long-term care facilities. All are concerned about reopening, he said. They worked with the homes and with the long-term care task force group, to set reopening measures.
It is a stepped approach, to reopen when they are able to test, screen and take other health precautions. If facilities want to reopen, they will be asked to test all employees every 14 day to see if they may be asymptomatic but might be infected, he said.
For educational institutions, the Health Department has worked with educators from all sectors to put plans together. The plans have been distributed, he added. There are also statewide groups working on guidelines, also. He said they will try to align with all the plans. The guidelines are at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
Churches are allowed to be open in the current phase, he said. They are strongly recommending the use of face masks and encouraging people not to sing. There are also guidelines about social distancing, with a 45-person limit, he added.
A Business Toolkit was developed by the Health Department staff to provide guidance on businesses reopening and is on the UG Health Department’s COVID-19 website, he said.
“We’ve extended this Phase 3 we’re in, and we’ll be in this phase, watching the data, until at least July 6,” Dr. Greiner said. “The reason we extended is related to this uptick in cases we are seeing. Since we made that decision last week, we are continuing to see this uptick.”
Both regionally and nationally, there are a lot of concerns right now with increased cases, and they will be closely watching the numbers. They’re hearing certain places in Texas may be starting to restrict elective surgeries.
Although Wyandotte County is now leading in case numbers in the state, it is not leading in hospitalization rates, and the death rates have been down, Dr. Greiner said. They want to work hard to maintain that, he added.
Wyandotte County has more restrictions than other counties because it is more concerned about the vulnerable population, he said. This county historically had worse health rankings than other nearby counties, and having more in place to protect the vulnerable gives them the best chance to weather the pandemic, he said.
“We feel that the science is on our side,” Dr. Greiner said. They are following the science and expert opinions, he added.
Dr. Greiner said they have not made any final decisions about mandatory mask-wearing in public. They are encouraging people to wear masks, wash their hands and socially distance.
Kansas City, Missouri, announced mandatory mask-wearing on Friday.
At a Friday news conference in Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Greiner said Wyandotte County is currently working on its own mask ordinance and may have more information later.
“We are seeing increased data, just published in the last 10 days, that suggests this may make a big difference. We are not seeing the best compliance with mask-wearing as a recommendation,” Dr. Greiner said.
More and more places are implementing mask-wearing requirements, he said. There would questions about how to enforce it and how to educate people about it, he added. They will probably discuss it in the future.
Dr. Greiner said over time, they’ve seen more data come in that there is significant aerosolization of the virus when people are speaking loudly, singing and talking. That is where the 6-foot distance comes in. Currently, they don’t think it spreads as much on surfaces as they originally thought, or on food, he added.
When looking back to the first clusters at churches here, he said they wish they would have known as much about the aerosolization that was happening. Also at meat processing plants, aerosolization might have happened with the sawing equipment, meat and humid air, he thinks.
Any mask creates a barrier for the virus and small particles to be jettisoned out, he said. If two people have a mask, it’s creating a significant lessening of risk in that environment.
That is why bars and restaurants are risky, because people have to have masks off to eat and drink, he added. He would encourage at least intermittent mask use there, he added. Barriers are the key to the use of the mask.
Dr. Greiner said it’s possible for people without symptoms to spread the virus, which is why everyone should wear masks. Those who have symptoms probably have a higher viral load in their bloodstream and saliva. If it gets to someone else, their chances of getting sick are higher, he said.
“If you’re sick, stay home,” Dr. Greiner said.
Van Liew said Wyandotte County is eligible for $37 million in CARES Act funding. Those who are eligible to apply for the funding would include UG departments, city governments, nonprofits, health care, social services, education and businesses in Wyandotte County.
The funds may be used for testing, tracing, personal protective equipment, modifying workspace, providing social needs such as food and housing.
Applications will be available on June 29 on the UG’s website, she said. Applications will close July 13. An internal review team will review applications, then submit the proposal to the state by Aug. 1. They are hoping to disburse funds by Sept. 1, depending on the state’s timeline, and the funds would have to be used by the end of this year.
On Friday at the University of Kansas Health System news conference, Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, answered questions about masks.
He said wearing a mask is not dangerous and it does not cause poisoning. There are a few people with severe conditions such as emphysema who may not be able to wear them, however. He said surgeons sometimes wear masks for four to six hours at a time and they do fine.
To those who say wearing a cloth mask doesn’t protect them, Dr. Stites said it protects others. People should want to see others wearing masks, and if they do, it means they’re protected, he said.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, said the main reason for surgeons to wear surgical masks is to protect others if a person has the virus. A cloth mask can offer 40 to 80 percent of the protection of a surgical mask, he said. The main reason to wear a mask is to avoid spreading the virus to others, and there will be some protection to the person wearing it, he added.
To people who say if they’re not sick they don’t need to wear a mask, Dr. Hawkinson said people don’t always know when they’re sick, especially with COVID-19.
Dr. Stites said wearing a mask is protecting everyone around you.
“We have politicized the mask issue, and that’s wrong,” Dr. Stites said.
“Don’t make it a political issue, make it a health issue, because that’s really what it is, and it keeps you safe when you do it,” he said.
KU Health System also reported they had collected 163 units of blood, exceeding the blood drive’s goal of 130 units. The Community Blood Center still is under their goal of a seven-day supply and they encouraged people to visit savealifenow.org to find information about how to give blood. Their donor sites are open on the weekends.
Dr. Hawkinson reported 19 patients in KU Health System on Friday morning, down from 22 on Thursday. They also reported nine patients in the intensive are unit, the same as Thursday, and six on ventilators.
There were four patients discharged and three admitted.
There has been an increase in patients who are 20 to 40 years old, possibly the result of people going to restaurants, bars and gatherings.
Some of the the people in that age group also have returned to work. Doctors at the KU Health System on Thursday said they did not think they would need to restrict surgeries. They said they currently had ample personal protective equipment and space for patients.
On Friday morning, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 13,538 cases and 264 deaths from 95 counties.
It was an increase of 568 cases since Wednesday. There were three more deaths since Wednesday statewide.
Long-term care deaths went up statewide from 149 to 153, according to KDHE statistics.
