The governors of both Kansas and Missouri so far have said their emergency stay-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic will end May 3. Many metro area communities are on board.
Kansas City, Missouri's order remains in place until May 15, along with Jackson County and Platte County.
It’s a tense balancing act, public officials say, to guard public health while easing the toll of stay-at-home orders on the regional economy. The pressure is on, they know, to protect both lives and livelihoods.
Our latest information will be updated as the situation evolves.
When do my stay-at-home orders end?
IN MISSOURI:
Gov. Mike Parson's order ends at 11:59 p.m. on May 3, so business can begin to open on May 4.
However, local jurisdictions supersede the statewide order. Orders expire at 12:01 a.m. on May 15 in Kansas City, Platte County and Jackson County.
- Cass County: Through May 3
- Clay County: Through May 3
- Ray County: Through May 3
- Kansas City: Until May 15
- Jackson County: Until May 15
- Platte County: Until May 15
So even if businesses reopen in much of the state, the shutdown still applies in cities such as Lee’s Summit and Parkville. And Clay County businesses within the Kansas City city limits are still subject to the Kansas City Health Department’s May 15 rule.
IN KANSAS:
Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-home order order ends at 11:59 p.m. on May 3, so business can begin to open on May 4
- Johnson County: Through May 3
- Leavenworth County: Through May 3
- Miami County: Through May 3
- Wyandotte County: Through May 3
Kelly has said she will re-evaluate the May 3 end date prior to April 30.
If Kelly’s statewide order expires, local communities in Kansas could choose to extend their stay-home orders. But most are leaning toward reopening gradually.
Why are there differences?
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said his decision to keep a stay-home order in place until May 15 is based on Kansas City Health Department data and guidance.
“Extending our stay-at-home order (beyond state) will give us more time to do the things necessary for our community to re-open safely & in stages,” Lucas tweeted on April 24.
Clay County had originally aligned its order with Kansas City’s May 15 order, but Public Health Director Gary Zaborac said in an April 22 news release that the latest data shows the rate of new cases is consistently low, that access to COVID-19 testing in the county has improved and the latest modeling shows “it will be safer for Clay County to begin the gradual process of reopening earlier than originally anticipated.”
What does reopening even mean?
It's certainly not a return to the old normal on May 4.
Clay County Health Department Communications Specialist Kelsey Neth emphasized that in an April 24 Facebook post.
“In order to protect our community from an increase in COVID-19 cases, the recovery phase will be a SLOW and STEADY one,” Neth wrote. “Each step of recovery will be weeks to months long and include different levels of guidance.”
Parson said he would provide more details this week, promising guidelines for restaurants and "businesses such as barber shops, hair salons, and gyms, as well as other jobs requiring people to be within 6 feet of each other."
Johnson County has established a Recovery Planning Task Force to recommend a three-phased approach to reopening the local economy over time. That plan is expected soon.
Wyandotte County and other communities have also established committees, headed by their public health officials but including small business representatives, to figure out the safest way people can start to emerge from their homes and return to work and some semblance of a life.
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