Government & Politics
Kansas City cites 200 businesses violating Mayor Lucas’ coronavirus orders
Kansas City is issuing citations to about 200 businesses not following the stay at home orders issued to combat the novel coronavirus, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday.
Tuesday marks a week since Lucas and leaders across the metro ordered residents to stay at home except for “essential activities,” such as seeking medical supplies or care, getting food or going to work at essential businesses, which are defined in the order.
So far, Lucas estimated that 90% of residents and businesses are complying, but he said the city’s Health Department has acted to ensure businesses that shouldn’t be open cease their operations.
“If you have to ask whether your business is essential or not, it likely is not,” Lucas said at a news conference on the south steps of City Hall, adding that essential businesses are those that help communities and people survive.
Residents over the weekend started calling in complaints to City Hall about businesses not following the order. City Hall sent the businesses letters informing them of the order and ramifications for violating it, as well as materials about how to stop the spread of germs.
Violations are considered misdemeanor offenses punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.
Over the last few days, Kansas City has cordoned off playgrounds and basketball courts at its parks to ensure residents follow responsible social distancing meant to limit the spread of COVID-19. Lucas said the Kansas City Police Department will increase its park patrols, and the city is asking residents to call 3-1-1 and ask for a “community interaction officer” to report potential violations, including house parties.
Lucas said he didn’t believe those measures to be “Orwellian” and there is a “reason that we’re going through these steps.” Until the region has more testing available for coronavirus and understands the full extent of the outbreak sweeping through Kansas City, Lucas said social distancing efforts must continue.
He said he was disappointed this weekend to see young people playing basketball at Swope Park. Recently, there was still a bar serving drinks on its patio.
“I know that we’re social animals,” Lucas said, “but at the same time, we need to make sure that we’re actually adhering to these orders because the only way that we actually get through this is by making sure that we’re maintaining social distancing, we’re following the orders.”
The city’s health director, Rex Archer, said it’s “too early to say” whether Kansas City’s social distancing efforts are working to limit the rapid spread of the virus. He applauded residents’ efforts, noting he hadn’t seen anyone shake hands in more than a week, but he asked all residents to act as though they have already contracted the virus and are at risk of spreading it.
Archer said there are “absolutely” undetected COVID-19 cases in Kansas City.
Though there are exceptions, Lucas said he’s been “impressed” by social distancing efforts in Kansas City and gave residents a “solid B” grade.
“Rare is it that we actually get to have a press conference here and you see almost no cars go down 12th Street during our entire conversation,” Lucas said.
Counties and cities across the metro worked together a week ago to put in place stay at home orders, and since then Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a statewide order. Lucas said he would like to see a statewide order in Missouri. But Gov. Mike Parson has been resistant, arguing it would damage the state’s economy.
“Even though our Kansas City area counties are subject to that order, we recognize that there is significant community spread, and it doesn’t stop at the Jackson County line,” Lucas said. “It doesn’t stop at the Cass County line. What we need is a concerted effort throughout the state of Missouri.”
Archer said several organizations representing medical professionals had asked Parson to do the same.
“If we in Kansas City are doing the right thing but others then aren’t, they can come to our hospitals and take up our surge capacity, so we need to do this statewide,” Archer said.
At a news conference Monday afternoon, Parson said his administration “(talks) to people daily about that,” but that he had to evaluate how the virus is affecting different parts of the state.
“The one thing I focus on every day is real data — how many people do we have in the hospitals, how many people have tested positive, and where do those things lead us to in the future,” Parson said. “Those decisions are not easy to make every day.”
Parson stressed, as he has many times in the past few weeks, that limiting the spread of the virus was about personal responsibility.
“And again no matter whatever your order is or no matter what the exceptions are, it’s going to come down to people abiding by the orders and staying in the groups of less than 10 and the social distancing,” Parson said. “That’s what it’s really going to come down to and it’s going to come down to individual responsibilities.”
To find out more about Kansas City’s response to the coronavirus, you can text “COVIDKC” to 888-777 or visit the city’s website at kcmo.gov/coronavirus. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information at cdc.gov/coronavirus, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has a hotline at 877-435-8411.
The Star’s Caitlyn Rosen contributed to this report.