(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – The City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and other local officials finalized enforcement protocols in unincorporated areas of the county and in Wichita regarding the Sedgwick County local health order (signed November 24). Details about the order can be found here.

While the focus of enforcement is to educate businesses about COVID-19 safety and to encourage best health practices, failure to comply with the local health order is a violation of County code and may result in the offending business receiving a citation and notice to appear in County Court. The penalty for any violation would be a fine.

Please do not dial 9-1-1 to report businesses in violation of the local health order.

Instead, residents are asked to utilize an online portal to report businesses that violate the order at www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/violations. A link to this portal can also be found on the County’s homepage, www.sedgwickcounty.org.

Under the standard approach, once a complaint is received and reviewed, the business may receive a notification letter from the Sedgwick County Health Department. Officials will then begin an investigation and if a violation is confirmed, the business may receive a citation and notice to appear in court. If the investigation determines that the business is in compliance, no further action will be taken. 

As there is no COVID-19 vaccine yet available, it is up to everyone to follow best safety practices to keep themselves, their family, co-workers and the community safe by frequent hand washing, social distancing and wearing a mask to reduce the spread of the disease in Wichita and Sedgwick County.

 

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