Category: Health

Hollywood Casino operations to be closed until March 30

The Kansas Lottery today announced the suspension of all state-owned casino gaming, starting at the end of business on March 17, until at least March 30.

This includes the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.

The decision was made after consultation with the Kansas governor’s office and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, according to a lottery spokesman.

According to the Kansas Lottery, the closures were decided after Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order to ban gatherings of more than 50 people, following the CDC recommendations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other casinos affected in Kansas include the Kansas Crossing in Pittsburg, Kansas, the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas, and Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kansas.

Casinos also were mentioned in the Wyandotte County-KCK emergency order from the Unified Government Health Department last night. Casinos in Wyandotte County were ordered closed effective “12:01 a.m. March 17,” which was about 11 hours ago, by the UG’s chief medical officer.

The Hollywood Casino was still open as of this morning, and a state Lottery spokesman said the state’s order would go into effect at the close of business on March 17.

Tribal casinos are not under the state’s jurisdiction, the Lottery spokesman said, but they would be urged to follow the state’s example and think of the safety of employees and the public.

“The health and safety of casino guests and employees is of the utmost importance,” the Lottery stated in a news release. “The Lottery understands the impact this decision will have on both players and employees, but the State must be dedicated to doing its part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Kansas communities. “

The Kansas Lottery and casino managers will actively monitor the COVID-19 situation and will continue complying with government recommendations for operational procedures, according to the Lottery’s spokesman.

For more information about COVID-19, visit http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm.

The March 16 emergency order of the local health officer, from the Unified Government’s chief medical officer, listed casinos among the establishments to be closed in Wyandotte County effective about 11 hours ago until April 1. The Kansas Lottery announced the state-owned casinos would be closed effective at the end of business March 17 until March 30.

Restaurants here ordered closed to sit-down dining, but some still open for takeout food

An emergency order closed in-restaurant dining in Wyandotte County until April 1 because of the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Restaurants in Wyandotte County and two other nearby counties will be closed to in-restaurant dining through April 1, while they will remain open for takeout food, because of the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to a Unified Government spokesman.

An emergency order was issued today by Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer of Wyandotte County, according to David Reno, spokesman for the Unified Government.

Reno said the administrators of four local governments got together and decided to simultaneously issue emergency orders that will close restaurants, bars, taverns, clubs, casinos and movie theaters as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. After midnight tonight, the establishments will be closed until April 1, when the need for the order will be looked at again, according to the order.

Besides Wyandotte County, the local governments include Johnson County, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Jackson County, Missouri. Reno said Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey has been highly involved in the decision-making process here.

“These measures are being taken with the intent of slowing the transmission of COVID-19 in an effort to increase public safety,” Reno said. “What we don’t want happening is COVID-19 to start exploding all over Wyandotte County, Johnson County, Jackson County or Kansas City, Missouri. Then our providers would become overwhelmed and people would not be able to receive the treatment they need. This is about slowing that transmission.”

According to the emergency order, restaurants and establishments may continue to offer “carryout, drive-through and delivery food and beverage services.”

The establishments must follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, and other public health officials’ guidance for social distancing and infection control measures, according to the order.

The emergency order also stated that all large public gatherings of people in the county are prohibited, and that is defined as more than 10 people in attendance or anticipated to attend, both indoor and outdoor meetings.

There are exceptions to the gathering rule, and the exceptions include “governmental and judicial functions, healthcare facilities, private business operations, religious and faith-based activities, weddings and funerals.”

“A ‘gathering’ does not include normal operations at spaces where persons may be in transit or coming and going individually or in groups of less than 10 persons,” the order stated.

While the emergency order restricts gatherings at restaurants, it does not close a retail store such as Walmart or Nebraska Furniture Mart, Reno said. Also, grocery stores are not affected, he said. Industrial plants are not affected.

Residents can continue to use local restaurants through carryout, delivery and drive-through services, he said.

Providence Medical Center announces new ‘no visitation’ policy to begin Tuesday

Providence Medical Center has announced a new “no visitation” policy beginning Tuesday to support reducing the community effect of the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to a hospital statement today.

The policy will go into effect at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, according to the statement.

Visitors may be allowed if they receive administrative approval under certain circumstances, including:

• Visitation of a patient in critical care.

• Visitation of spouse or partner in maternity.

• Patients arriving at the Emergency Department will be allowed to have one visitor accompany them while being evaluated. A second visitor may remain in the waiting room if they pass the screening process.

• Patients arriving for an outpatient procedure or same-day surgery will be allowed to have one visitor accompany them if they pass the screening process.

“At this time, our top priority remains protecting public health and ensuring the safety of our patients, visitors, staff, physicians, volunteers and community,” according to a hospital statement.

Visiting hours end at 6:30 p.m. Monday, and there will be no visiting hours on Tuesday. Friends and relatives may call patients on the telephone.

A Providence spokesman, Sam Allred, said that Providence Medical Center followed the KDHE recommendations on testing following a patient from a nursing home who died at the hospital last Wednesday. Staff were screened according to the state requirements, he said.

While the hospital doesn’t release any information on patients, the state KDHE website showed only one person in Wyandotte County has tested positive for COVID-19, and that was the patient who died last Wednesday, he said. There are no other cases reported in Wyandotte County.

Providence Medical Center now has restricted entry to three entrances, and visitors are being screened upon entry, answering questions, and their temperature is being taken, he said.

The goal is to work to reduce the spread of COVID-19, he said.

Allred said they understand that if a patient is in critical care, his daughter would want to visit, and they will not deny that visit.

Those who would like additional information related to COVID-19, may contact KDHE by calling 1-866-534-3463; visiting www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus; or emailing [email protected].

“We know this policy may be inconvenient. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time,” a hospital representative stated in the visitation announcement.