Kansas governor Laura Kelly has announced a three-phase plan for economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, and she said it will be a transition from response to recovery.
The governor outlined the plan in an address Thursday evening, and she said each phase will last at least 14 days. The first phase begins Monday, May 4th when she intends to lift the stay-at home order that has been in effect since late March. She said there will still be a ban on public gatherings of more than ten people, and businesses like barber shops, nail salons, bars and nightclubs, state-owned casinos, theaters, museums and tattoo parlors will not be able to open.
The governor said phase two would begin no sooner than May 18th, and the businesses that could not reopen in phase one could go back into operation if they follow basic safety guidelines. Public gatherings would be expanded to 30 people.
Phase three will phase out most state restrictions, and it would begin in early June after an evaluation of progress. It would allow for mass gatherings up to 90 people, and if all positive trends continue, most restrictions would be phased out by June 15th.
The governor said the plan is not a return to life before the coronavirus, and people will need to continue to follow social distancing, hygiene practices and other steps to protect against the COVID-19 virus. She said the plan is not etched in stone, and it will be a living document subject to ongoing analysis and evaluation, and the state may need to change its approach as lessons are learned, new trends are identified and as unforeseen circumstances occur.
Kelly said the state is making an effort to return local control to the process, and communities should not rollback safety measures. She said local governments are allowed and encouraged to take additional steps as needed.
The governor said the plan does not address all questions that Kansans have about the future, and it’s not known what schools will look like in August with a new school year or if college dormitories will be allowed to reopen. It’s also unclear what steps will need to be taken to protect elections in August and November.
Governor Kelly said “even if we do everything perfectly for the next few months, everything remains subject to the whims of this unwieldy virus. There’s still so much we don’t know about COVID-19.” She said new outbreaks are almost inevitable until a vaccine is developed, manufactured and made widely available. She said the plan for recovery is a starting point. She said “we’re going to make it through the daunting days ahead, no matter what lies in store” because hard times have a way of bringing out the best in Kansas.
The governor’s plan, “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas,” is available on the website covid.ks.gov
