Across the KVOE listening area, counties are heading in two different directions with their COVID-19 response plans after Governor Kelly stopped mandating restrictions Tuesday.
Osage County is going to a 90-person maximum on gatherings effective Thursday and continuing until June 15. All businesses can open if they can maintain at least six feet of distance between customers, follow fundamental cleaning and public health practices and avoid gatherings that go over the 90-person limit.
Health Officer Jackie Patterson says this puts Osage County on the same timetable for Governor Kelly’s original Phase 3 plan. Patterson also says the county has avoided community spread and the overall number of cases has stayed low.
Other counties are staying the current course. Greenwood County decided to keep the state’s modified Phase 2 restrictions until June 8. The tentative plan is to fully reopen the county at that time unless there is a COVID-19 outbreak.
Chase and Morris County, meanwhile, will stay in Phase 2 until those counties’ Health Departments announce further changes.
Coffey County will stay with Phase 2 until June 7.
Wabaunsee County has not announced its plans but could do so by Thursday.
