Stay-at-home order to be presented to county board

The Cloud County board of commissioners will be presented a stay-at-home order for consideration during its regular meeting on Monday.
Those participating in the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting on Thursday discussed enacting a countywide stay-at-home order during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
If approved by the county commission, the stay-at-home order would go into effect when there is a notification of a positive COVID-19 case in the county.
There have been 10 individuals in the county tested for COVID-19 with eight testing negative. There are two tests pending.
There was discussion during the LEPC meeting about enacting the stay-at-home order when positive tests are reported in those counties bordering Cloud.
There are currently COVID-19 cases in Clay, Mitchell and Ottawa counties.
“I really feel like we need to be ready to do it,” Cloud County Health Department administrator Brandi Bray said, “We want to make sure we have all of our paperwork in order.”
Governor Laura Kelly issued an executive order on Tuesday that details the Kansas Essential Functions Framework (KEEF) that counties will be required to use if local officials determine it necessary to issue a stay-at-home order.
Stay-at-home orders require that residents do not leave their homes unless they are engaged in activities that are essential to the health and safety of themselves, family members or friends. Essential activities include, but are not limited to, seeking medical attention, purchasing food or filling up with gas.
KEEF provides information on how to limit sustained personal interaction while providing for the continuation of essential infrastructure and businesses. If a local authority has issued a stay-at-home order or similar order, businesses or organizations that fit the KEEF exemption for essential functions should contact that local authority.
If the order is enacted, Cloud County must grant, but does not have the discretion to deny, exemptions from any companies or organizations identified by KEEF.
A company or organization that may qualify under one of the state's essential functions would be asked to contact the Cloud County Health Department and request an exemption from the restrictions of the county stay-at-home order for its personnel.
The businesses should identify by numbers the categories of essential functions it performs and provide explanation to establish that it performs those functions.
The Cloud County Health Department should quickly determine which, if any, functions of the requesting company or other organization are exempt from the local order.