The COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
On March 17, Ford County and Miami County both confirmed cases in non-residents, the cases being confirmed coming from Oregon and Missouri, respectively. Johnson County reported an additional 2 cases, bringing the county total to 10, and the state total to 14.Wyandotte County reported 2 new cases, women in their 40s and 50s respectively.Douglas County officials reported their first case, a man in his 20s who recently traveled to Florida, bringing the state total to 16.On March 18, Johnson County confirmed 2 new cases, bringing the county total to 12.The VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri confirmed a case in a veteran from Wyandotte county, Kansas.
On March 12, Governor Laura Kelly declared a state of emergency. On March 15, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment(KDHE) advised that people returning from travel internationally, on cruise ships, or from California, New York, Washington State, or certain counties in Colorado, should self-isolate for 14 days on return. Governor Kelly stated that schools would temporarily close to in-person learning, and that the Kansas State Department of Education was coordinating a task force to deal with transitions to online classes, as well as other associated issues.
The next day, gatherings of more than 50 people were prohibited as per CDC guidelines. A stricter limit of 10 people was imposed byJohnson County and the Unified Government of Wyandotte (including the Kansas City metropolitan area), in partnership with local governments in Jackson County and Kansas City, Missouri, as well as the closing of all bars, restaurants, and theaters for at least 15 days effective March 17. On March 17, Kelly announced that all K-12 schools in the state would remain closed for the remainder of the school year.
On April 30, Governor Kelly announced a phased lifting of restrictions titled Ad Astra, with non-essential businesses, churches, and dine-in restaurants allowed to re-open (subject to social distancing) beginning May 4. Bars would be allowed to offer dine-in service only if food constituted a larger portion of their business than alcohol. Other forms of personal service, recreation, and entertainment venues would remain closed, while counties would be allowed to retain stricter measures (with Wyandotte County remaining under a stay-at-home order through May 15). The second phase was scheduled to begin May 18, allowing for bars at 50% capacity, community centers, gyms, and casinos to re-open.
On May 26, Governor Kelly vetoed House Bill 2054, which would have imposed legislative oversight over decisions pursuant to the emergency declaration. She then announced that all state-wide executive orders would be rescinded and shift to guidance only, and that lifting or maintaining restrictions would now become the responsibility of individual counties. Kelly announced a new disaster declaration with a focus on economic recovery, stating that “it is necessary to protect Kansans from the current economic disaster, the economic threat to reopening if we are unable to mitigate and respond and respond to the additional spread of the virus.
On March 12, the Kansas State High School Activities Association cancelled the remaining two days of its state basketball tournaments, which were being held in Dodge City, Manhattan,Hutchinson, Salina, Emporia, and Wichita. On March 18, the KSHSAA cancelled all spring sports.Also on March 12, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men‘s and women‘s basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.On March 12, concerns over the virus caused a month long suspension of Major League Soccer‘s 2020 season affecting Sporting Kansas City.
On the same day the USL Championship also delayed the 2020 season affecting Sporting Kansas City II.Also on March 12, Champions Indoor Football announced a 30-day delay of season affecting the Salina Liberty and Wichita Force.On March 14, the ECHL canceled the remainder of the 2019–20 season affecting the Wichita Thunder.
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