Kansas Governor Laura Kelly ramped up the state response to the coronavirus Monday, by banning all gatherings of more than 50 people.
The mandate is in effect for at least eight weeks.
Kelly said her executive order follows guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This is an essential step to encourage social distancing and stem the spread of the virus,” Kelly said.
Kelly’s order doesn’t shut down restaurants or movie theaters, but requires those businesses to limit crowds to 50 or fewer people.
State Health Director Lee Norman says imposing these limits are a proven way to lower infection rates.
“This is not just a theory. This is very real. So, heed those warnings,” Norman said.
Norman says some people in Johnson County were recently infected with the virus by a woman who had symptoms but failed to heed those warnings.
Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
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