Meeting as the Board of Health, Barton County commissioners met Wednesday morning and let lapse COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on gatherings, businesses and residents. Instead, they left the onus on individuals to take precautions to stem the spread of the virus. The hastily called meeting was in response to actions by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Tuesday, dropping the management of the COVID-19 pandemic response in the laps of county officials.

The Health Board did, however, leave in place all the current preventative measures being taken at county facilities, such as the courthouse and the jail. These will expire on June 8, which is the date they would have expired under the governor’s guidelines.

“Since March 27 of this year, as a community, we have gained significant knowledge of this disease and pandemic,” County Administrator Phil Hathcock said. “The public and local businesses have responded by enacting safety precautions practicing social distancing, and limiting large gatherings and travel. The response has been proactive and has flattened the curve locally.”

He said the board could end restrictions or continue to follow Kelly’s four-phase Ad Astra plan, only using it as local guide and not a mandate.

“It seems to me like we’ve done everything as a community that we can to curtail the spread of this,” Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said. “I think now it’s going to be up to personal responsibility for people to manage their own health.” 

Commissioners stressed, should there be a surge in positive COVID-19 cases, County Health Officer Karen Winkelman and the board can reimpose whatever restrictions are needed.

In addition, Kelly signed a new state disaster declaration “to ensure that Kansas can effectively respond to the current emergency situation, which includes an unprecedented economic emergency and the imminent threat of new outbreaks of COVID-19, specifically regarding food supply. This will also ensure the state can continue its coordinated response with federal and state partners.”  

Lastly, Kelly called a special session starting June 3. She has asked the Legislature to “put politics aside, work with her, and deliver an emergency management bill that has been vetted, debated, is transparent and addresses the need to keep Kansans safe and healthy.” 

“These are truly unpredictable and unprecedented times,” Hathcock said Wednesday. When asked what might happen during the special session next week, he said he didn’t know, but the county couldn’t rely on legislative action to dictate what it does.

Personal accountability

In a raft of actions targeting the pandemic recovery, Kelly Tuesday said the state will no longer impose her statewide reopening plan, allowing it to expire as of Wednesday morning. In vetoing the bill crammed through the Republican-led Legislature last week to curb her emergency powers, she said rules are now a county-level concern. 

However, Schartz urged businesses to continue their social distancing practices, and encouraged people to wash their hands, use sanitizer and wear masks where appropriate. And “people who are concerned about their health should continue to avoid crowds, wear masks, wash hands, and just take your own health into account.

“You know, just because we’re opening everything doesn’t mean, everybody has to run out and be in that crowd,” Schartz said. “If you don’t feel safe being there, stay home or stay away, or socially distance appropriately.”

Although concerned how an uptick would impact her pandemic-beleaguered Health Department, Winkelman agreed the time is right to ease precautions.

Information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Health Secretary Lee Norman has been “spot on,” she said. “So, it just reinforces that the things that were in place with executive orders work. And so why would we stop practicing those things? Just common sense things as we move forward can keep this at bay and keep the curve flattened.”

On Wednesday, Barton County had 45 positive COVID-19 cases. “That doesn’t sound like a huge number in our community, but those are friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family, and their lives have been impacted greatly. So I think those are measures that we just need to continue to do as we move forward,” Winkelman said.

Schartz said it was about setting standards for others to follow. “It’s not saying that they have to (keep restrictions) but I think if we show with our care and concern about our taxpayers, that we are social distancing, that we are encouraging face masks, maybe we are setting ourselves up to be a leader.”

“The big thing is we have to protect the vulnerable people, the people in nursing homes, and mentally, physically handicapped facilities we have in our community,” said Dr. Stanley Hatesohl, county medical consultant. “And I think we have to stress that to people that may not take it as seriously, that there are people who have to take seriously.”

Still, Commissioner Don Davis questioned the removal of restrictions, calling Ad Astra “a good plan.” “We all have the freedom to chose. But, sometimes people don’t make the right choices.”

Meanwhile in Topeka 

“This sweeping, hastily crafted legislation pushed through the Kansas Legislature last week includes provisions that will damage Kansas’s ability to respond to COVID-19 and all future disasters,” Kelly said. “The bill also weakens local county health officer authorities and adds unnecessary layers of bureaucracy to their emergency response efforts. 

“As I’ve said from day one, the safety and well-being of Kansans is my number one priority. What the Legislature sent to my desk does not protect Kansans. It does not help Kansans. It puts their lives at risk,” Kelly said. “I’m calling on the Legislature to come back and put a carefully crafted, bipartisan bill on my desk that will provide the resources Kansans need, in a timely manner. We must stop putting Kansans at risk.”

However, Senate President Susan Wagle had a different take on Kelly’s veto. She, along with fellow Republicans who dominate the Legislature, have openly sparred with the governor over what they call her overreach in shutting down businesses and not acting to reopen quickly enough.

So, Republican lawmakers last week pulled an all-nighter to restrict Kelly’s authority.

“Despite her derogatory politically motivated statements about the Legislature, along with few down right inaccuracies, I’m very thankful she’s conceded to our position,” she said. “She sent authority back to the counties. We’ve been saying it all along; one size doesn’t fit all and today locals won that right. 

“It is, however, a shame the governor spent more than half her time at the podium today insulting her legislative partners who represent the people, rather than explaining specifically what this new order will mean for people’s daily lives and businesses,” Wagle said. “Kansans crave stability and clear guidance. I hope this Governor has learned Kansans will keep pushing until their voices are heard.”