RQS Update: Changes to Mandates and Recommendations
Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) Emergency Order
KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas recently announced changes to the KCMO Emergency Order. The updated Order took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, April 30, 2021 and will remain in effect until May 28, 2021, unless modified or rescinded before that date.
Changes to the Order include...
- Masks are no longer required outdoors, or in private indoor spaces where social distancing of at least six feet can be maintained. However, masks are still required in all indoor spaces of public accommodation.
- All business facilities are allowed to operate at full capacity, provided mask guidelines are followed.
Jackson County, Missouri Emergency Order
Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. – in consultation with Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer, MPH and Emergency Management Coordinator Troy Schulte – amended the health order to reflect recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new order took effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, April 30, 2021 and will remain in effect until indefinitely, unless modified or rescinded.
The protocols that will be revised beginning April 30 include:
- Masking and social distancing are no longer required outdoors, although masking is recommended with medium to large gatherings.
- Small gatherings, indoor and outdoor, of fully vaccinated individuals are permitted without restriction. Large gatherings are still discouraged at this time.
- All persons, including those who are vaccinated, must still wear masks in public indoor settings.
- Social distancing is no longer required indoors, although distancing is still recommended wherever possible.
CDC Guidance
Additionally, on April 27 the CDC released Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People. In this release, the CDC summarized that:
Fully vaccinated people can...
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
- Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
- Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in certain crowded settings and venues
- Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
- Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States.
- Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
- Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
- Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible
For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to…
- Take precautions in indoor public settings like wearing a well-fitted mask
- Wear masks that fit snuggly when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease
- Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people from multiple households
- Avoid indoor large-sized in-person gatherings
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
- Follow guidance issued by individual employers
- Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations
What does this all mean for Raytown Schools?
Beginning Wednesday, May 5, 2021:
- Masking and social distancing are no longer required outdoors for students and staff.
- Masking is still required indoors and on school buses.
- Social distancing is no longer required indoors with the exception of lunch, on school buses and other large group gatherings.
- Practicing social distancing at lunch, on school buses and other large gatherings allows us to maintain current and consistent practices for the remainder of the school year to avoid disruption to the school environment.
- Even with these changes, if anyone is identified as positive for COVID-19, then depending on the activity, duration, and location, those who are unvaccinated and identified as close contacts will be required to quarantine for 14 days from the day of last exposure. Fully vaccinated individuals are only required to quarantine after exposure if they develop symptoms. If asymptomatic, proof of being fully vaccinated is required to ensure you do not need to quarantine after exposure.
Additional links and resources
- For more information about the Kansas City Emergency Order, please visit https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/health/coronavirus-covid-19-kcmo-information-and-response/reopen
- For more information about the Jackson County health order, please visit https://www.jacksongov.org/1199/Jackson-County-COVID
- For CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated individuals, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html