County passes guidelines on public gatherings

As a response to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the Cloud County board of commissioners approved closing the Courthouse to the public, and a resolution to follow federal guidelines in relation to public gatherings, during a special meeting on Thursday morning.
The board met with Cloud County Health Department director Brandi Bray, and Cloud County Medical Director Dr. Dorothy Breault.
Acting to protect the general public and county employees, the board approved closing the Courthouse to the public beginning at noon today until further notice.
The Cloud County Recycling Center is also closed.
The commission, on a 3-0 vote, approved a resolution to support the federal guidelines of no more than 10 people in a public gathering. It is a recommendation, and not a mandate.
“We would like to put a resolution out there that supports the president's recommendation of gatherings of no more than 10 people,” Bray said.
Commissioner Gary Caspers said that, as a formal local business owner, we are dealing with something we have never dealt with before, and it is the duty of the commission to protect the citizens.
“It definitely makes business owners think outside the box and be creative. More online sales, more Facebook posts, more curbside delivery. Utilizing some of those people they do have working for them to maybe be delivery people,” Bray said.
The state of Kansas has called for no more than 50 people in social gathering.
“Part of the reason that we would like to go from 50 to 10 is because when you are talking Topeka, when you are talking Wichita, 50 people is not that many when you look at those areas. But when you look at our rural communities, 50 people completely fills a restaurant in close quarters. That is why we are looking at lowering that number,” Bray said.
Social distancing guidelines call for not being six feet or closer to other people for more than 10 minutes.
Bray is recommending that all gatherings, including birthday parties, weddings, funerals etc., be postponed until a later date.
Grocery stores are exempt from the recommended guidelines approved by the commission.
“We are asking people to be smart with their decisions. When you go to a store, just make sure that you are going in and getting what you have to have and make sure you are asymptomatic,” Bray said, “If you have symptoms such as a fever or cough, we are definitely asking you to stay home. The cough we are talking about is a deep cough. It is not your typical cold cough. We are talking a cough that is causing you to be short of breath.”
If and when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cloud County, the County Health Department will be putting in public orders for quarantine and isolation.
“We are currently going by the recommendations sent out by KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment),” Bray said, “Obviously Dr. Breault has the power as the Public Health Officer to put in place more stringent regulations if she feels need be.”
Those who have traveled to a state with widespread transmission, including California, Florida, New York and Washington on or after March 15, are mandated to self quarantine.
Also, anyone who has traveled to Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado on or after March 8 are asked to be quarantined, along with people who traveled on a cruise or river cruise or internationallyon or after March 15.
“I do think most of the people are taking this seriously. It is the ones that are not that I am concerned about,” Bray said.