(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – Local data shows a trend of decreasing COVID-19 positivity rates in Sedgwick County. As such, Dr. Garold Minns, Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer, signed a new local health order reducing restrictions including mass gathering sizes, bar and restaurant hours, and more. He stated, “due to the data, it was appropriate to relax the order to help our local businesses but if trends reverse, we may need to put some restrictions back in place.” Minns also expressed his thanks to community members who are following the healthy behaviors.
Commissioners decided to bring the order back for a discussion during tomorrow’s regular meeting at 9 a.m.
The order requires people must still be masked and maintain 6 feet of social distancing. Businesses and organizations are responsible for ensuring that individuals comply with the order’s mask-wearing, mass gathering, percentage of fire code capacity limitations, and social distancing requirements. Businesses are expected to make efforts to comply with fire code capacity limitations included in this order.
This order will be in effect from 12:01 a.m., February 7 through 11:59 p.m., March 20.
Guidance |
Ending February 6 |
Beginning February 7 |
Bar/ Restaurant Curfew |
11 p.m. |
Midnight |
Mass Gathering Limit |
25 people |
100 people |
Retail Stores |
50 percent of fire code capacity |
75 percent of fire code capacity |
Bars, Restaurants, Event Centers, Fitness Centers |
50 percent of fire code capacity or 100 people, whichever is less |
75 percent of fire code capacity or 150 people, whichever is less |
Youth, Recreational Sporting Events |
Two attendees per participant |
Four attendees per participant |
Local Health Officer’s Event Plan Review, Approval |
For facilities with capacity over 2,000 |
For facilities with capacity over 1,000 |
Restaurants, bars, and night clubs still, are not considered mass gatherings. Tables may not have more than eight people seated together. All tables must be spaced at least six feet apart.
Restaurants are allowed to have in-person dining between 5 a.m. and midnight only. Between midnight and 5 a.m., restaurants may continue curbside, drive-through, and delivery services (but not carry-out).
Bars’ and night clubs’ in-person dining and drinking areas must be closed by midnight and remain closed until at least 5 a.m. or later pursuant to state or local law. Additionally, these businesses may remain open between midnight and 5 a.m. for curbside, drive-through, and delivery services (but not carry-out), to the extent this is allowed by state or local laws.
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Resources referenced by Dr. Minns during the Commission Staff meeting:
- “This Level of Death, It’s New” – Health Care Workers in Their Own Words
https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2774474
- Sedgwick County COVID-19 StoryMap, Figure 2
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1b8b3236a1d64a20814110b639514cf8