Kansas City, MO – The COVID-19 mask mandate in Kansas City is being lifted at noon on Friday, two weeks early, following new guidance from the CDC, according to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's released new guidance which eases mask-wearing for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to pull off the masks when outdoors in crowds and inside in most situations.
"I cannot in good faith impose an order, replete with penalties for non-compliance, that is impossible for our businesses to follow," Lucas said.
"Accordingly, effective tomorrow at noon, Kansas City will rescind its Fourteenth Emergency Order. We will shift, as is necessary, to ensuring those needing access to the vaccine take it, and that we look out for the continued health and safety of our neighbors. We thank the many individuals and businesses in Kansas City who have worked hard to keep us all safe over the past fourteen months. We saved lives looking out for each other and all in Kansas City should be proud of the steps we have taken to protect our community's health."
"Kansas City's most recent order allowed all to go maskless outdoors and permitted unvaccinated persons to go maskless indoors with others who are vaccinated," Lucas said. "As a matter of compliance, that allowed the Kansas City Health Department to check with retailers, employers, and more to ensure they were encouraging their staff to initiate the COVID-19 vaccine process.
"While welcome, today's CDC guidance creates confusion with Kansas City's order. Throughout the pandemic we have endeavored to ensure clarity and effective public health guidance for Kansas Citians and, importantly, our businesses. Staff at many establishments have been subject to harassment based on upholding our orders and we will not force them to do so further where our regulators cannot reasonably tell between those vaccinated or not at an establishment, and where our guidance may conflict with the CDC. We have followed CDC guidance throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so today."
The city's order was originally set to expire on May 28. The mayor said he consulted with Kansas City Health Director Dr. Rex Archer before reaching the decision.
