COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas

On March 24, three counties (Johnson County, Kansas; Wyandotte County, Kansas; and Jackson County, Missouri) all announced that they would impose a stay-at-home order beginning at 12:01 a.m.[16] On March 28, Governor Kelly enacted a state-wide stay-at-home order taking effect March 30, requiring residents to remain and their residences unless conducting essential shopping, exercise, or medical needs; the state's Republican leadership issued a joint statement, stating that "we must diligently work together to strike a balance that is in the best interests of all Kansans". Self-isolation mandates were also extended to travel from other states.[17][18]

On April 15, amid pressure from the state's House Republican majority to lift economic restrictions, the order was extended through May 3, with Kelly citing that "none of our internal predictions indicate that Kansas will peak by April 19."[19] Court documents related to lawsuits over the order by two churches revealed that on April 24, Kelly stated there were no plans to extend the stay-at-home order further, with plans to introduce "less restrictive mass gathering provisions" taking effect May 4.[20]

On April 30, Governor Kelly announced a phased lifting of restrictions titled Ad Astra, with non-essential businesses, churches, and dine-in restaurants allowed to re-open (subject to social distancing) beginning May 4. Bars would be allowed to offer dine-in service only if food constituted a larger portion of their business than alcohol. Other forms of personal service, recreation, and entertainment venues would remain closed, while counties would be allowed to retain stricter measures (with Wyandotte County remaining under a stay-at-home order through May 15). The second phase was scheduled to begin May 18, allowing for bars at 50% capacity, community centers, gyms, and casinos to re-open.[21][22]

On May 26, Governor Kelly vetoed House Bill 2054, which would have imposed legislative oversight over decisions pursuant to the emergency declaration. She then announced that all state-wide executive orders would be rescinded and shift to guidance only, and that lifting or maintaining restrictions would now become the responsibility of individual counties. Kelly announced a new disaster declaration with a focus on economic recovery, stating that "it is necessary to protect Kansans from the current economic disaster, the economic threat to reopening if we are unable to mitigate and respond and respond to the additional spread of the virus and the imminent threat of surges in escalating cases if we don't conduct serious emergency response activities."[1][2][3]

However, Governor Kelly advised residents that "just because I am lifting most of the executive order does not mean the current threats from COVID-19 are any less than the threats we have faced over the last few months. Quite the opposite." Some counties with a lower rate of cases (such as Ellis County) chose to lift most restrictions, although some areas chose to maintain an equivalent to the existing Phase 2 requirements.[1][2][3]

On June 7, The Wichita Eagle obtained a classified KDHE document via the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, which identified the Lansing Correctional Facility as the state's largest outbreak as of May 19, followed by a Tyson Foods plant.[23] By July 29, the state had recorded 349 deaths.[24]

On June 29, Governor Kelly announced that a statewide order would be implemented to require the wearing of face masks in public spaces when social distancing is not possible, beginning July 3. Kelly explained that "when the pandemic first hit, there was mixed messaging about masks. Now the evidence could not be clearer: wearing a mask is not only safe, but it is necessary to avoid another shutdown."[25] Several areas, including KCK, Douglas County, Wyandotte County, and Wichita, had already implemented their own local orders with similar requirements.[26][27]

The order contains an opt-out provision that allows individual counties to exclude themselves from the state order if they (per consultation with health officials) assert that it is not medically necessary. The provision was described as being a "bipartisan compromise".[5] By July 9, 90 of Kansas's 105 counties had opted out, which included nearly all of the counties with the lowest number of cases in the state, but 6 of the 10 counties with the highest (including Shawnee County, which opted out of the state order because they deemed it too strict and a "one size fits all" approach, but reinstated a county-level order soon afterward).[28][29] Several cities in counties that did opt out, such as Manhattan, Wichita, Winfield, would enact municipal mandates.[5]

The order proved divisive: the Anderson County Review attracted controversy for publishing a Holocaust-themed political cartoon criticizing the order online, showing a drawing of Governor Kelly in a Star of David mask in front of a photo of Jews on a train, captioned "Lockdown Laura says: put on your mask, and step onto the cattle car."[30] In October 2020, a 59-year-old was arrested for threatening to kidnap and murder Mayor of Wichita Brandon Whipple over a local mask mandate.[31]

In August 2020, The Hill reported that case rates had lessened in a sample of 15 counties that did not opt out of the mask mandate.[32] In October 2020, researchers at the University of Kansas again found that case rates per-capita were relatively stable in the (by then) 21 counties that had implemented the mask mandate, but have continued to climb in counties without the mandate.[4] A CDC study published in late-November presented similar findings.[33]

As of December 12, 2020, Gove County had the highest COVID-19 death rate in the U.S., losing 1 out of 132 people to the virus. Mask wearing remained controversial among local residents.[34] On December 15, Mayor of Dodge City Joyce Warshaw resigned effective immediately, after having received threats over her support of a mask mandate.[35][36]

On March 12, the Kansas State High School Activities Association cancelled the remaining two days of its state basketball tournaments, which were being held in Dodge City, Manhattan, Hutchinson, Salina, Emporia, and Wichita.[37] On March 18, the KSHSAA cancelled all spring sports.[38]

Also on March 12, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[39] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.[40]

On March 12, concerns over the virus caused a month long suspension of Major League Soccer's 2020 season affecting Sporting Kansas City.[41] On the same day the USL Championship also delayed the 2020 season affecting Sporting Kansas City II.[42] Also on March 12, Champions Indoor Football announced a 30-day delay of season affecting the Salina Liberty and Wichita Force.[43] On March 14, the ECHL canceled the remainder of the 2019–20 season affecting the Wichita Thunder.[44]