Kansas Gov. Kelly, citing COVID surge, may try to close bars statewide next week
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly cited disturbing COVID-19 infection trends in counties around Wichita on Monday and said she’ll decide within a week whether to push to close bars and nightclubs statewide to again to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Kelly said the progress made by Kansas during the business shutdowns and mass-gathering limits in effect in April may have been wasted effort, as the COVID numbers have risen to higher peaks since those virus control measures ended in May.
“Particularly troubling is the rise in the number of cases in the counties surrounding Wichita,” the governor said at a Monday news briefing.
For example, Butler County, east of Wichita, is up 15 cases over the weekend, to a total of 187, Kelly said.
Sumner County, south of Wichita, currently has 88 cases, 10 more since Friday, she said.
The governor said the perception that COVID-19 would not spread to rural Kansas is a busted myth at this point.
She said “103 out of 105 counties have at least one positive case.”
She pleaded with Kansans to keep wearing protective face masks to prevent virus spread.
If things don’t change, it may be necessary for the state to retreat to restrictions that were placed on businesses earlier this year in Phase Two of the so-called Ad Astra plan, Kelly said.
In addition to shuttering bars and nightclubs, Phase Two restrictions also cancels summer camps, fairs, festivals and parades and close swimming pools and large entertainment venues. Mass gatherings would be limited to 15 people.
In Sedgwick County, it wouldn’t make too much difference.
On the advice of county Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns, county commissioners voted on Wednesday and Friday to reinstate most of the Phase Two restrictions, although they removed swimming pools from their closure orders.
Also, while the county order sets a mass gathering limit of 15, officials clarified last week that means an event organizer can host multiple groups of 15 as long as there is at least six feet of space between the groups.
The Kansas Star Casino south of Wichita at the Mulvane exit on the Kansas Turnpike would be allowed to remain open under Phase Two rules.
Kelly can’t unilaterally close any businesses at present, but counties have that authority following the passage of House Bill 2016 in a special session of the Legislature in early June.
The governor said she would have been happy to continue making controversial decisions and taking the political heat off local county commissions and school boards, but the Republican-dominated Legislature wanted those decisions made locally and she had to compromise.
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 5:47 PM.
