Kansas Gov. Kelly announces statewide stay at home order to halt spread of COVID-19
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly imposed a statewide stay at home order Saturday in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Kelly said the measure, which follows similar orders in the state’s most populous counties, is necessary to give health care workers the time to prepare for the peak of the virus and soften its impact on the state.
“We’re simply not ready for what we anticipate will be the peak of this pandemic,” Kelly said at a news conference Saturday.
The order will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. It will end on April 19.
Under the stay-at-home order, people can still leave their homes to get food, medicine or other household necessities; receive medical care; take care of other household members in another location; and to exercise.
Businesses performing essential functions can still operate through the stay-at-home order.
People who leave their homes are expected to comply with a previous executive action by Kelly that bans gatherings larger than 10 people and follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“As I’ve said before, we learn more about this novel virus every single day,” Kelly said. “My job as governor is to keep Kansans safe, and ensure the state deploys every tool at its disposal to adapt and align response efforts with emerging best practices. That’s why we’re taking this step today.”
The executive order supersedes previous orders made in different counties across the state. County-level stay at home orders can continue to be in place after the statewide order expires.
No fines will be in place for those who violate the order. For now, Kelly said the state would be encouraging Kansans to abide by it.
Kansas has reported more than 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 31 counties. At least four people in the state have died from the virus. And Kelly said Saturday, state officials believe far more people have been infected than are known, even in counties that haven’t reported any positive cases.
Kansas is projected to have about 900 positive coronavirus cases by the end of the week, Kelly said.
Lee Norman, secretary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said Friday that the pandemic could peak in the state in April. If it does, he said, the state will only be short about 35 intensive care unit beds.
As of Friday, more than 3,000 Kansas residents had been tested for the virus. Of them, about 6% tested positive. At least 27 of the 203 confirmed positive cases required hospitalization, according to KDHE data.
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle questioned Kelly’s approach.
“While I appreciate the Governor’s very difficult task, I am concerned about a ‘one size fits all’ solution to reducing the spread of COVID-19,” Wagle said in a statement Saturday. “Our state has varying economic concerns and differing population bases.”
House Republican leadership said in a joint statement Saturday they will confer with the state attorney general, health care professionals, the business community and the state’s emergency team “to make sure we are on the right path” in upholding the order.
Kansas Chamber United for Business President and CEO Alan Cobb applauded Kelly’s actions on Saturday in a statement.
“It is important to the health of all Kansans we adhere to this statewide order so we can flatten the curve,” Cobb said in a statement. “It is important the Kansas economy remain open for business, so our businesses can provide the goods and services needed during this time of crisis — and to ensure our state can quickly expand and reach full speed once this crisis ends.”
Similar measures were announced in the Kansas City metro, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, last week.
The state of Missouri, where at least 670 cases have been reported, has not yet instituted such statewide measures.
The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce commended Kelly for her executive order, and asked Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to do the same.
The Star’s Kevin Hardy contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Kansas Gov. Kelly announces statewide stay at home order to halt spread of COVID-19."
