TOPEKA, Kan. – Business owners told that they are elated over the relaxed COVID-19 guidelines in Kansas City metro.
Kansas City, Clay County and Johnson County are all taking steps toward returning to a more normal life with updated health orders addressing the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am proud of Kansas City’s businesses. They in particular weathered a very challenging year, and hopefully this is a moment of relief for them,” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said during a Monday news conference.
Now the question becomes: What are the rules? And where?
Here’s a look at some of the answers:
Clay County
Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday:
Masks no longer required outdoors
Social distancing indoors no longer required
No more occupancy limits
Kansas City
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, people are still required to wear a mask indoors around other people. However, there are exceptions:
People no longer have to wear a mask indoors if everyone is fully vaccinated and has knowledge that others present are as well.
Anyone under five years old is not required to wear a mask.
All other indoor restrictions will be rescinded.
Johnson County
The county’s current public health order is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Friday.
Although the issue is on a Thursday agenda for review, it seems unlikely the commission will issue a new health order, which would mean the end of the county’s mask order.
The county health department said it’s not against allowing the mandate to expire.
