The McPherson County Health Department has outlined the county's reopening steps. They are as follows.
Effective 12:01 a.m. today, the McPherson County Local Health Officer will be recommending residents of McPherson County follow the guidelines listed below, some of which are set forth in Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas and other relevant national and state-level guidance.
Disease spread, hospitalization rates, death rates and the ability to contact trace will be evaluated before recommending McPherson County moves to the next phase. Please be aware if local hospitals begin to be overwhelmed with COVID-19 related patients, the Local Health Officer will implement restrictive orders to support our healthcare infrastructure.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) travel-related quarantine mandate is still in effect and is mandated by McPherson County Health Department as well. An updated travel-related quarantine list can be found within the latest Case Update for McPherson County on mcphersoncountyks.us or by checking the KDHE webpage at coronavirus.kdheks.gov.
Questions can be submitted to McPherson County Health Department at 620-241-1753 or [email protected].
Phase 2: Began May 22, 2020
•Gatherings: no more than 15 individuals in a mass gathering where 6-foot social distance cannot be maintained between the individuals
If an event larger than the mass gathering restriction recommendation occurs, we ask that a plan to keep the event safe be submitted to McPherson County Health Department via email at [email protected] or via phone at 620-241-1753
•Individuals:
Masks are strongly encouraged in public settings
Maintain 6-foot social distance in both indoor and outdoor settings
High-risk individuals like those with underlying medical conditions should continue to stay home except for essential needs
•Employers:
Telework is encouraged when possible
Employees exhibiting illness should be required to stay home and encouraged to seek medical care as necessary
Avoid gatherings greater than 15 where social distancing protocols cannot be maintained and continue to maintain 6 feet of distance between workstations as employees are phased in
•Travel:
Minimize or avoid travel if it isn’t for medical, family, or business-related needs
KDHE travel-related quarantine mandates are still in effect for high-risk areas
•Educational Facilities:
K-12 facilities should continue to follow the guidelines of the Continuous Learning Plan developed by the Kansas State Department of Education
Higher education facilities should remain closed for in-person learning or events involving groups of more than 15 individuals Childcare facilities can continue operations pursuant to state and local regulations
•Activities and Venues:
The following activities and venues listed should not open during this phase:
Outdoor and indoor large entertainment venues with capacity of 500 or more
Fairs, festivals, carnivals and parades where people gather outside of their vehicles
Summer camps that are not part of a licensed childcare facility
Swimming pools that are not backyard pools or pools used for physical therapy and first responder training
Senior Centers
Long-term care and healthcare facilities should follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Activities and venues not mentioned above can safely reopen if they:
Maintain 6 feet of distance between all individuals and groups that do not live together in the same residence
Follow cleaning and public health practices and comply with any additional sector specific guidance
Avoid groups larger than 15 where distance cannot be maintained (greater than 15 individuals can occupy a facility if capacity allows for individuals to maintain social distance of 6 feet)
Guidelines for activities and venues such as contact and non-contact sports, outdoor sports courts, playgrounds, outdoor pools, splash pads, museums, farmers markets, community gardens, outdoor restrooms, senior centers, gyms, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, locker rooms/showers, meeting rooms, and golf, can be found on the Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) website (https://krpa.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/2020/KRPA%20Support%20Guidelines%205.21.20.pdf). Recommendations given by McPherson County Health Department will align with the KRPA guidelines.
Businesses, activities and venues shall follow the mandates from their licensor
Phase 3: Begins no earlier than June 8, 2020
•Gatherings: no more than 45 individuals in a mass gathering where 6-foot social distance cannot be maintained between the individuals
If an event larger than the mass gathering restriction recommendation occurs, we ask that a plan to keep the event safe be submitted to McPherson County Health Department via email at [email protected] or via phone at 620-241-1753
•Individuals:
Masks are strongly encouraged in settings where 6-foot distance cannot be maintained
Adhere to personal hygiene guidelines and remain home if ill
High-risk individuals with underlying medical conditions may resume public interactions but should practice social distancing and minimize exposure to situations where precautionary measures may be difficult
•Employers:
May begin reducing telework and start bringing employees back to work in office settings
Employees exhibiting illness should be required to stay home and encouraged to seek medical care as necessary
Avoid gatherings greater than 45 where social distancing protocols cannot be maintained and continue to maintain 6 feet of distance between workstations as employees are phased in
•Travel:
Non-essential travel may resume
KDHE travel-related quarantine mandates are still in effect for high-risk areas
•Educational Facilities:
K-12 facilities should continue to follow the guidelines of the Continuous Learning Plan developed by the Kansas Department of Education
Higher education facilities should remain closed for in person learning or events involving groups of more than 45 individuals
Childcare facilities can continue operations pursuant to state and local regulations
•Activities and Venues:
All activities and venues can safely reopen if they:
Maintain 6 feet of distance between all individuals and groups that do not live together in thensame residence
Follow cleaning and public health practices and comply with any additional sector specificnguidance
Avoid groups larger than 45 where distance cannot be maintained (greater than 45 individualsbcan occupy a facility if capacity allows for individuals to maintain social distance of 6 feet)
Long-term care and healthcare facilities should follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) but may begin to gradually introduce in-person visits. Screening measures and strict hygiene protocols for visitors should continue.
Guidelines for activities and venues such as contact and non-contact sports, outdoor sports courts, playgrounds, outdoor pools, splash pads, museums, farmers markets, community gardens, outdoor restrooms, senior centers, gyms, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, locker rooms/showers, meeting rooms, and golf, can be found on the Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) website (https://krpa.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/2020/KRPA%20Support%20Guidelines%205.21.20.pdf). Recommendations given by McPherson County Health Department will align with the KRPA guidelines.
Businesses, activities and venues shall follow the mandates from their licensor/sector
Phase Out: Begins no earlier than June 22, 2020
•Gatherings: maintain social distance where applicable
•Individuals: adhere to personal hygiene guidelines and remain home if ill
•Employers: follow any sector specific guidelines that may be released
•Travel: unrestricted
•Educational Facilities: unrestricted unless sector specific guidelines are released
•Activities and Venues: unrestricted
Long-term care and healthcare facilities should follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Guidelines for activities and venues such as contact and non-contact sports, outdoor sports courts, playgrounds, outdoor pools, splash pads, museums, farmers markets, community gardens, outdoor restrooms, senior centers, gyms, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, locker rooms/showers, meeting rooms, and golf, can be found on the Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) website (https://krpa.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/2020/KRPA%20Support%20Guidelines%205.21.20.pdf). Recommendations given by McPherson County Health Department will align with the KRPA guidelines.
Businesses, activities and venues shall follow the mandates from their licensor