Public Health Officer | March 22, 2020

 

 

The following actions are officially implemented by the Linn County Public Health Officer and shall be in official force and effect at 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 21, 2020. This order shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded by the Public Health Officer. This ORDER is made pursuant to the powers granted the Local Public Health Officer in KSA 65-119 et seq. and the Emergency Declarations of the governments of the United States, the State of Kansas, and Linn County, as well as the Home Rule powers of Linn County under state statute.

This ORDER modifies and supersedes the ORDER issued on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Linn County is now restricting or prohibiting business activities for all non-essential businesses and is making recommendations for essential business functions as follows:

Essential Businesses:

The following have been determined to be Essential Business functions for Linn County:

United States Postal Service – Shall be allowed to remain open to the public. Please work to maintain social distancing (6 ft or more) when inside postal facilities whenever possible. The public should strive to maintain social distancing while using postal facilities or while interacting with postal and non-postal employees.

Local Government Essential Services - Shall be allowed to remain open to the public. Please work to maintain social distancing (6 ft or more) whenever possible.

Grocery Stores – Grocery stores shall be allowed to remain open to the public for business to supply needed food and supplies to the citizens of Linn County. It is recommended that these stores take precautions to reduce in-person contacts as much as possible, maintain social distancing when practical, and consider using curb-side service whenever possible.

Convenient Stores/Gas Stations – Shall be allowed to remain open to the public. It is recommended that these stores take precautions to reduce in-person contacts as much as possible, maintain social distancing (6 ft or more) when practical, and shall eliminate gathering places within the store to prevent social grouping activities.

Funeral Homes - Shall be allowed to remain open but efforts should be made to reduce numbers (family only gatherings recommended) and shall work to limit crowds and shall strive to maintain the recommended social distancing as described above.

ORDER of Linn County Public Health Officer March 19, 2020 Page 2 of 4

Health Care Facilities and Providers/Veterinary Clinics - Shall be allowed to remain open and use social distancing and other techniques as applicable to help prevent the virus spread. Providers may want to have patients/customers stay in cars until their turn to avoid waiting area congestion and issues with maintaining social distancing.

Utility Providers - Shall be allowed to remain open. It is recommended that providers take steps to limit worker-to-worker interactions to help reduce the chance for losing multiple workers and/or causing utility disruptions. Calls for service to individual residences should be pre-screened prior to entering those locations.

Banks & Pharmacies - Shall be allowed to remain open for business. Whenever possible, it is recommended to close lobby’s and inside operations and use the drive-throughs to conduct necessary business. People who are allowed to come inside the business should be pre-screened prior to allowing entry.

Agricultural Business – Agricultural business shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the inside of the store shall be prohibited. These businesses should use delivery or curb-side service and maintain social distancing as much as possible during those activities.

Day Care Facilities – Day Care Facilities may remain in operation with the following restriction. Day Cares are prohibited from taking new, Out-of-County clients. Day Care Facilities should use KDHE Day Care guidelines for screening new clients & children.

Laundromats – Laundromats shall be allowed to remain open for business. It shall be the responsibility of both the owner/operator of the facility and the users of the laundromat to keep equipment routinely cleaned and sanitized by using disinfectant wipes in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. Users of the equipment should bring sanitizing wipes for use before and after using machines to wipe down the machines. Owner/operator should also wipe down all machines routinely throughout the hours of operation. All efforts should be made to maintain social distancing between customers and not have more than 10 persons in the business at any one time.

Information Technology Essential Services (Internet/Cell Phone) - Shall be allowed to remain open. It is recommended that providers take steps to limit worker-to-worker interactions to help reduce the chance for losing multiple workers and/or causing IT disruptions. Calls for service to individual residences should be pre-screened prior to entering those locations.

Non-Essential Businesses (Open with Restrictions):

The following business have been determined to be Non-Essential businesses as related to this pandemic, however, they will be allowed to remain open with the following restrictions as described below. These restrictions shall be implemented by no later than 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 21, 2020 and shall remain in a restricted status until this order is rescinded by the Public Health Officer.

Parts Stores/Lumber Yards/Hardware Stores – These businesses shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the inside of the store shall be prohibited. These businesses should use delivery or curb-side service and maintain social distancing as much as possible during those activities.

ORDER of Linn County Public Health Officer March 19, 2020 Page 3 of 4

Bars/Restaurants – These businesses shall be allowed to remain open for business, however, public access to the inside of the bar/restaurant shall be prohibited. These businesses should use delivery or curb-side service and maintain social distancing as much as possible during those activities.

Manufacturing – Manufacturing businesses shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the facilities shall be prohibited. All efforts should be made to maintain social distancing between workers whenever possible.

Automotive Repair Shops – Shops shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the buildings and facilities shall be extremely limited. All efforts should be made to maintain social distancing between individual workers and between workers and customers whenever possible.

Other Retail Sales – Other Retail sales not identified above may remain in operation, but the business shall keep doors closed and restrict business to one customer at a time inside the store. Examples include liquor stores, gun stores, pawn shops and other similar business types.

Misc. Service Providers - Providers shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the buildings and facilities shall be extremely limited. All efforts should be made to maintain social distancing between individual workers and between workers and customers as much as possible. Examples of this business type are accountants, insurance offices, attorneys, realtors and similar business types.

Non-Essential Businesses (Closed/Shut-Down):

The following business types have been determined to be Non-Essential as related to the pandemic and shall be closed/shut down by no later than 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 21, 2020 and shall remain shut until this order is rescinded by the Public Health Officer:

Barber/Beauty Shops – Shall be shut down as there is no practical way to maintain social distancing.

Fitness Centers/Gyms – Shall be shut down.

Libraries – We appreciate the fact that most libraries in Linn County have already voluntarily shut down to help assist lessening the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. Libraries shall close or remain closed to the public until this order is rescinded.

Other Businesses – Businesses not otherwise described that cannot maintain or attempt to maintain the 6-feet social distancing shall be closed until this order is rescinded. This would include any business, that by its very nature requires direct person to person contact of less than 6 feet.

Order of Linn County Public Health Officer

March 19, 2020

If your business type is not specifically included or defined by the above information and you have questions on what, if any restriction apply, please call (913) 795-7302 for guidance.

Persons should avoid traveling into areas where community transmission is occurring/confirmed.

It is so ordered this 20^th day of March, 2020.

Dr. Jay Allen, M.D.

Linn County Public Health Officer