Show All Answers

1. When will the new emergency order take effect and how long will it be in place?

The latest emergency order went into effect February 21, 2021. It will be in effect until further notice. 

The order will be evaluated on an ongoing basis and may be modified as circumstances change, based on guidance from public health officials and other medical experts. 

2. When must I wear a mask? Who is exempt from wearing a mask?

Masks must be worn at all indoor spaces with more than one person per room or barrier-divided space and outdoor spaces where Physical Distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained, except where further exceptions, if any, are approved by the Director of Public Health.

Exceptions to this requirement are:

• Minors below the age of 5; and
• Persons who have disabilities for which masks constitute a substantial impairment to their health and well-being based upon medical, behavioral, or legal direction; and
• Persons who are in a restaurant or tavern and are seated and engaged in consuming food or drink while adequately distanced from other patrons; and
• Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering or mask is necessary to perform the service.

3. Must I wear a mask while working out indoors at a gym?

Yes. Gyms and fitness facilities are also limited to no more than 50% capacity. 

Must I wear a mask while exercising outside? You do not need to wear a mask or face covering while exercising outside, so long as you can maintain at least six feet of distance from others.

4. Must I wear a mask while exercising outside?

You do not need to wear a mask or face covering while exercising outside, so long as you can maintain at least six feet of distance from others.

5. How can I report non-compliance with mask requirements, gathering limits, or other elements of this Emergency Order?

Violations of the emergency order can be reported online here. PLEASE NOTE: if the business’ address is Kansas City, you must contact the Kansas City Health Department. 

6. Why is the county requiring masks or facial coverings to be worn?

In order to help reduce the rapid rate at which COVID-19 is spreading, CDC recommends that all individuals over the age of 2 wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. Numerous studies have found that masks help reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Find more info on our Face Masks & Coverings page.

7. I have a disability that prevents me from wearing a mask, what are my options?

Individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a disability can request a reasonable accommodation from a business. Examples of reasonable accommodations that business may provide include:

• Allow a person to wear a scarf, loose face covering, or full-face shield instead of a face mask;
• Allow customers to order online with curbside pick-up or no contact delivery in a timely manner;
• Allow customers to order by phone with curb-side pick-up or no contact delivery in a timely manner;
• Allow a person to wait in a car for an appointment and enter the building when called or texted; or
• Offer appointments by telephone or video calls.

Businesses can deny service to customers who refuse to wear a mask or utilize these reasonable accommodations.

8. What are the guidelines restaurants, taverns, and bars must follow to ensure safety?

• All patrons must be seated while eating and/or drinking. Six-foot distancing shall be maintained between different parties, as measured from back of chair to back of chair. This includes booths, which may necessitate closing off every other booth space in certain layouts.
• Customers and employees of food establishments must wear masks while not actively engaged in consuming food or beverages. This includes waiting to be seated, entering/exiting the establishment, and using restrooms or other facilities in the restaurant.
• Patrons who are exhibiting symptoms shall not be allowed to dine.
• Employees who are exhibiting symptoms shall not be allowed to work.
• Establishments must notify Clay County Public Health Center if any employee or customer is known to have tested positive for COVID-19.
• All employees are required to wear protective face coverings at all times.
• All dining surfaces, including tables, chairs and highchairs must be cleaned and sanitized between customers.
• Cleaning and sanitizing of frequently touched surfaces like doors, door handles, service counters, restrooms and waiting areas must be completed at a minimum of every 90 minutes.
• Patio and outside dining service is allowed with social distancing of six feet between parties; however, no food preparation may take place outside the City-permitted kitchen.
• Restaurants must adhere to all requirements set forth in the Clay County Food Code, including handwashing frequency, employee health guidelines and proper sanitization of surfaces.
• Restaurants are encouraged to emphasize carry-out and delivery services, to minimize contact among people.
• Restaurants are strongly encouraged to maintain a log of all customers who spend more than 10 minutes seated at the establishment. Logs are to be kept for 30 days at the establishment before discarding/deleting. Log records will be kept confidential and will only be used to aid efforts to notify customers and staff about potential COVID-19 exposure.
• Single-service menus that can be thrown away after one use are encouraged, but if cost-prohibitive, all menus are to be cleaned and sanitized between every customer.

9. Must patrons be seated while ordering food from takeout establishments?

Patrons may be standing to order takeout or pick-up, provided the food is not consumed on-site and that masks are worn at all times while in the establishment.  

10. What are general guidelines businesses can follow to keep employees and customers safe?

• Allow employees to work from home to the maximum extent feasible.
• Require all employees and customers to wear masks or other face coverings.
• Allow employees to maintain at least six feet of distance from each other and customers as much as feasible.
• Implement sick leave policies which allow any employee who shows any signs of COVID-19 infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to remain home until at least 3 days after symptoms have gone.
• Send home any employee who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms while at work.
• Provide easily-accessible hand sanitizer for employees and customers. 
• Encourage employees to regularly wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.
• Regularly disinfect commonly used surfaces such as door handles, counters, and payment terminals.
• Limit cash exchanges.

The Mid-America Regional Council has produced a guide to help businesses return to work safely. Additional information on protecting businesses and employees is available on the CDC website.

11. What are guidelines for youth and educational operations?

Education, youth activities, and child-care operations can operate, subject to the following guidelines:

1. Education, youth activities, and childcare should be carried out in stable groups, preferably with 10 or fewer (“stable” means that the same 10 or fewer children are in the same group each day);
2. Children should not change from one group to another;
3. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group should be in a separate room. Groups should not mix with each other;
4. Childcare providers should remain solely with one group of children;
5. Youth activities shall endeavor to maintain social distancing between and among staff and youth to the extent feasible.
6. No spectators are allowed at sports or other events, unless a mitigation plan is submitted and an exemption is granted by Clay County Public Health Center.

12. Are masks required for children while playing sports or during recess or PE?

Sports:

Our guidance is that masks are not required for basketball players when they are in the game on the floor or for wrestlers on the floor in a match. If they are on the bench or sidelines they are required. However masks are also not required for basketball players or wrestlers during scrimmaging or other parts of strenuous practice activities. If they are watching film/video or other less strenuous practice activities then they would be required to wear a mask.

Swimmers are not required to wear masks when they are in the pool either practicing or in competition but should wear a mask otherwise.

Gymnastics

• All gymnasts must wear a mask as they enter the gym. The mask must be properly marked to identify whose mask it belongs to.
• Masks are required by gymnasts except when on gymnastics training equipment or apparatus.
• When not masked, gymnasts must maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet except when a masked spotter is required for the safety of the activity.
• Any time wearing a mask is unsafe for an activity the mask does not need to be worn.

Indoor Soccer

• Our guidance is that masks are not required for soccer players when they are in the game and on the field. If they are on the bench or sidelines, they are required.
• However, masks are also not required for soccer players while scrimmaging or other parts of strenuous practice activities. If they are watching film/video or participating in other less strenuous practice activities, then they would be required to wear a mask.

Masks are required for all cheer and dance activities.

PE & Recess:

Masks are required at PE activities except for periods of strenuous activity.

Elementary school - Masks required while using the playground equipment. Students may go unmasked for the rest of outdoor recess while maintaining six feet physical distancing.

13. Must all employees report to work?

No, employers should reasonably accommodate employees that have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of COVID-19 and/or need to care for a minor or sick family member.

Clay County Public Health Center strongly encourages all employers to continue to allow individuals to work from home to the extent feasible, and to make accommodations for individuals at high risk for serious complications from COVID-19.

If you are being forced to work in conditions without appropriate PPE, please contact Clay County Public Health Center.

14. I live in Clay County but work in a neighboring city or county. Which guidelines should I follow?

Guidelines are determined by the geographic location of your place of employment. If you work outside of Clay County, the rules governing the place of your employment will be determined by that jurisdiction. The city of Kansas City, Jackson County and Wyandotte County have similar orders to that of Clay County.

Similarly, individuals who live outside of Clay County but work or operate businesses inside Clay County must follow county regulations for their businesses and places of employment.