'Act like you have the virus': KC's key to virus protection for all

Kansas City Star photo by Jill Toyoshiba

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas speaking outside of City Hall Monday.

As Kansas City enforces its stay home orders, KC health director Rex Archer says it plain: There are “absolutely” undetected COVID-19 cases throughout the city and everyone should act as if they are carrying the virus.

The threat is real but still largely unseen to most people. To step up attention, the city cited some 200 businesses for not shutting down, and police patrols are stepping up to too-close gatherings in parks because hospital capacity and, ultimately, lives are at stake, officials said.

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“I know that we’re social animals,” Lucas said, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a speech out front of City Hall Monday. “But at the same time, we need to make sure that we’re actually adhering to these orders because the only way that we actually get through this is by making sure that we’re maintaining social distancing, we’re following the orders.”

The city’s hotline for business owners with questions: 816-513-1120.

And anyone seeing gatherings indoors or outdoors that appear to violate the 10-person limit is encouraged to call the city’s 3-1-1 action line.