Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced the mandatory closure of all K-12 school buildings to in-person instruction through the rest of the 2019-20 school year, a move she said was necessary to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus here and “flatten the curve” in an effort to avoid overwhelming the health care system.
“The reality of this pandemic is that it cannot be controlled statewide if school buildings return to normal operations, or if they respond inconsistently in local communities,” Kelly said. “Unprecedented circumstances threaten the safety of our students and the professionals who work with them every day, and we must respond accordingly.”
Kelly said that state has assembled a task force that will release recommendations on a continuous learning plan for schools in Kansas tomorrow afternoon.
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With limited access to test kits in Kansas and Missouri, physicians in Johnson County say they’ve been operating under strict guidelines about who can get screened for coronavirus infection. But state health officials suggest the expansion of testing could be in the offing in the coming days.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said at a press conference Monday afternoon that Kansas is now conducting 150 to 200 COVID-19 tests per day, describing the number of kits available in the state as “enough for now.”
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A proposal to build toll lanes down the middle of a part of U.S. Highway 69 will move forward for a deeper study, the Overland Park City Council has decided.
The council, meeting as a committee of the whole, learned Monday that an initial study shows that the pay lanes would reap enough for the toll equipment. In one scenario, toll lanes would also pay for some of the construction cost.
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A resident suspected of having contracted the coronavirus who visited Leawood City Hall last week has tested positive for the disease, the city confirmed this afternoon.
Leawood announced on Friday it was closing city hall until further notice “after the city learned of a possible COVID-19/coronavirus exposure.” The administration said today that the facility would remain closed tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, as work continues to disinfect the site.
“The residents and city employees who were in direct contact with the subject are being notified by county and state health officials. City employees are following every recommendation of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,” reads a statement from the city. “The Mayor and City Council want to express their deep appreciation to our residents for their display of patience and calmness during this extraordinary period.”
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