ORDER of the Linn County Public Health Officer May 1, 2020: 6:00 PM

 

Emergency Public Health Order issued on this 1st day of May 2020 to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Linn County, Kansas, pursuant to the authority provided in K.S.A. 65-119, K.S.A. 65- 129b and K.. A. 65-202 and other applicable laws or regulations. This Order will be a supplement to the Governor ' s Executive Order 20-29 which Linn County will follow as required.

Section One: Definitions

A.     For purposes of this Order, Social Distancing Requirements means maintaining at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands.

B.     For the purposes of this Order the phrase " public gathering' is defined as any planned or spontaneous, public or private event or convening that will bring together or is likely to bring together more than ten people not from the same household or family.

 

C.     COVID-19 Coronavirus symptoms include (but are not limited to) fever cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, chills, aches fatigue, loss of smell or taste, nausea/vomiting diarrhea.

 

Section Two: Restricted Activities

For purposes of this Order, individuals are ordered to restrict activities. People at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are urged to stay in their residence except as necessary to seek medical care. If you think you are at high risk or currently ill call (913) 795-7302 M-F from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to determine if you are eligible for essential needs assistance.

 

A.     REDUCE ACTIVITIES

All individuals are urged to refrain from activities that place them in close contact with others outside of their own household.

 

To the extent possible, caregivers should ensure that their children are not gathering or playing in close contact with other children outside their household. People at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are urged to stay in their residence, except as necessary to seek medical care. Individuals who are sick may leave their residence only as necessary to seek or receive medical care in accordance with guidance from public health officials. All individuals are encouraged to exercise Social Distancing requirements to the extent possible.


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B.     BUSINESSES AND LOCATIONS

For purposes of this Order, if open to the public the following Businesses and Locations are required to take proactive measures to ensure compliance with Required Business Practices listed in Appendix A of this order.

All businesses must maintain social distancing and continue to strive to reduce in-person contacts as much as possible. We further recommend that Businesses attempt to use curb-side services, or delivery if applicable and avoid having customers in-store whenever possible.

The following businesses may continue to operate following the Governor’s requirements and guidelines in Executive Order 20-29 and with the additional requirements of Appendix A of this Order:

 

          Food Supply such as Grocery Stores, General Stores, Etc.

          Food Cultivation, including Farming, Livestock, and Commercial Fishing

          United States Postal Services and Other Shipping Services

          Schools/Educational Facilities

          Convenient Stores, Gas Stations, Auto-Supply, Auto-Repair, Emergency Road Services and Related Services and Facilities -                    customer self-service operations shall be allowed.

          Utility, Water and Sewer Providers

          Funeral Homes - Should maintain mass gathering and social distancing requirements as appropriate.

          Churches - Should maintain social distancing and mass gathering requirements as appropriate. Churches are encouraged to continue online, drive-in, radio and other telecommunications tools whenever possible.

          Laundromats

          Information Technology Essential Services (Internet/Cell Phone)

          Manufacturing

 

The following businesses are encouraged to continue curb-side pick-up only. However, in-store customers are allowed but shall be by appo intment/reservation only and the business must maintain the following information on each in-store customer which includes Customer Name Phone Number, Date of Visit , Arrival Time and Departure Time. This information must be kept and made available to the Linn County Public Health Department upon request for the purposes of Contact Tracing for a minimum of 30 days from time of visit. If more than 1 person is in the group, names of each person in the party shall be recorded. Businesses must also follow the Governor's requirements and guidelines in Executive Order 20-29 and with the additional requirements of Appendix A of this Order:

         All licensed and lawfully operated medical service provider offices providing human and/or animal health care, including but not limited to, clinics, veterinary clinics, chiropractic clinics, physical therapy clinics, optometrists' offices, dental offices and pharmacies.  -  Proper medical practices should be followed.

          Local Government Essential Services - Local governmental operations in public buildings should remain closed to Public Access. Business should be conducted by appointment only and all workers and visitors should be pre-screened prior to entry.

          Banks

          Agricultural Businesses

          Parts Stores/Lumber Yards/Hardware Stores


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          Restaurants - In restaurant dining may be permitted provided Governor's requirements and guidelines in Executive Order 20-29 are followed and the mass gathering limits are not exceeded. Additionally, reservations must be used following the requirements described above. Walk-in customers shall not be permitted without a reservation. Carry-out, curb-side pickup and delivery options are still encouraged.

- customer self-service operations shall be allowed.

          Other Retail Sales - Examples include liquor stores, gun stores, pawn shops and other similar business types.

          Day Care Facilities

1.       Childcare facilities providing services shall operate only under the following conditions:

a            Childcare shall be canied out in stable groups of 10 or fewer ("stable" means the same 10 or fewer children are in the same group each day).

b.              Children shall not move from one stable group to another.

c.              If more than one stable group of children is cared for at one facility, each stable group shall be in a separate room. Different stable groups shall not mix with one another; and

d.              Childcare providers shall remain solely with one stable group of children.

e.              Every child shall be screened for their temperature upon arrival and again just before leaving the facility. The temperature check cannot be taken within four (4) hours after a fever reducing medication was given.

f.               The childcare facility shall present, upon request of the Local Health Officer the completed

screening form for each child in the facility. Failure to comply shall result in immediate closure of the facility by the Local Health Officer.

          Misc. Service Providers - Examples of this business type are accountants, insurance offices, attorneys, realtors and similar business types. Businesses must maintain social distancing and meeting areas, vehicles, etc. must be cleaned/sanitized as appropriate after each client.

          Libraries - Shall maintain social distancing and mass gathering requirements and shall not allow more than ½ the legal occupant load into the Library at any time.

          Public park spaces, trails, and golf courses, provided social distancing and mass gathering criteria are met. All playground equipment use is prohibited. - Golfers shall not remove green flags use ball cleaners or other high-touch items while playing golf.

          Linn County Park - Shall be allowed to open for daytime use but is not allowed to open grounds for overnight camping activities (except those persons already camping before park was closed to camping).

 

Section Three. Pursuant to K.S.A. 65-129b, any sheriff, deputy sheriff or other law enforcement officer of the state or any political subdivision within Linn County, Kansas is hereby ordered to assist in the execution or enforcement of this order.

 

Section Four. This Order is effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020 and shall remain in effect until amended, superseded, or rescinded.

 

Any person violating any provision of this order or failing to comply with any of the above requirements shall be fined, upon conviction, up to $500 for each offense pursuant to K.S.A. 65- 127.


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Section Five. If there is a conflict between something in this order and Governor Kelly's Executive Order 20-

29 that causes this order to be less restrictive than EO 20-29, the Governor's EO 20-29 shall take precedence over this local order.

 

This Order shall remain in effect from this date until revoked, in writing, by the Linn County Local Health Officer or the Board of Linn County Commissioners, sitting as the Board of Health.

 

SO ORDERED, this pt day of May. 2020.

 
 


Local Health Order - May 1, 2020: 6:00 PM Page S of S

 

Appendix A, Required Business Practices

 

Outside the store:

      Any business with a legal occupant load of over 50 people must put in place controls to ensure that the number of customers inside the store stays at a level that provides for the requirements of social distancing and current mass gathering requirements.

     If there is crowding, limit the number of customers allowed to enter the store. Staff an employee at the front door and, as one (1) customer leaves, allow another customer in.

         Post signs at the front door informing customers of occupancy limits.

      If carts or hand basket are provided, place carts and hand baskets at the front of the store and clean handles

before bringing them into the store or providing them to a customer or provide means for customers to sanitize their own carts.

 

Inside the store:

          At point-of-sale registers, limit the lines and post signs at each register urging customers to maintain a social distancing of six (6) feet.

          Provide shielding between customers and employees at registers

         Post social distancing signs and floor markings in key areas throughout the store.

         Place hand sanitizer available at every open register.

         Routinely clean the store and have soap and water available in restrooms.

         Customers and employees should wear masks at all times unless prohibited by use of other safety equipment requirements.

 

Action Items:

         Make alcohol-based hand sanitizer available for customers and other visitors.

         Require employees to stay home if they are sick.

         Observe and require social distancing measures.

         Routinely clean stores and increase spot cleaning of high traffic areas and restrooms, using CDC approved disinfectants.

         Screen workers for fevers and any symptoms of COVID-19 with a questionnaire at workplace entrance.

         Pre-Screen clients for COVID-19 symptoms prior to allowing entry.

 

Questions

Linn County Health Department Information line 913-795-7302

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