Kansas Governor Recommends Public Schools Close; Some Districts Already Have
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) -- Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is recommending that all public schools in the state close for at least one week, starting Monday. Many districts have already closed or are on spring break the week of March 16. The governor clarified this is not an executive order to close all public schools, but rather, it is a strong recommendation made it consultation with the Kansas Department of Education, due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Kelly emphasized that the decision to close remains up to each school district or to state and local health officials. For instance, health officials have already ordered schools, libraries and other entities to close in Douglas, Shawnee, Riley, Sedgwick and other counties for the next two weeks. Here's a partial list of school closures.
In a news release, the Kansas House of Representatives also supported the decision to close schools. “The Kansas Department of Education after consultation with superintendents across the state has taken the step of recommending a pausing of the school year for one week in order to develop a plan to keep our children, teachers and communities safe,” it said in the news release. Many school districts have set up grab and go lunches for students during the extended closure. ( Read more about this story from the Kansas News Service.)
View the latest CDC guidance on mass gatherings and large community events.
(AP version)
Kansas Officials Urge School Closings, Traveler Quarantines
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and the state's top education official have urged public schools to remain closed this week to check the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The state health department also called Sunday for people who are traveling outside the U.S. or to several other states to quarantine themselves for two weeks upon their return. Kelly held a news conference Sunday evening at the Kansas Statehouse to reinforce Education Commissioner Randy Watson's recommendation that schools close if they were not to be on spring break. The state health agency recommended home quarantines for anyone who was traveling Sunday or later outside the U.S. or to California, New York or Washington state. ( Partial list of Kansas school closures for week of March 16, 2020.)
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Meanwhile, in Missouri...
Missouri Governor Urges Cancellation of All Events with 50 or More People
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KPR) – Missouri Governor Mike Parson says all community events and public gatherings with 50 people or more should be canceled. Following new recommendations and guidance released Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Parson said, "I strongly urge the cancellation or suspension of public gatherings of 50 individuals or more with the exception of educational institutions, daycare facilities, and business operations. We encourage local governments and health agencies to provide the same guidance. The new recommendations are designed to stop or at least slow the spread of coronavirus, especially among high risk groups like the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Parson said, "We ask that facilities that attract large concentrations of senior citizens to strongly consider restrictions and closures, in consultation with health authorities, to protect those most vulnerable to this virus. We encourage schools to follow CDC guidelines and consult with local health care providers and public health authorities as decisions are made on whether to keep school in session.”
View the latest CDC guidance on mass gatherings and large community events.
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