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From YouTube: News Conference: Wearing of Face Masks Extended
Description
Mayor Quinton Lucas held a new conference to announce that the wearing of face masks in Kansas City has been extended "indefinitely" at this time.
A
Hi
everybody
I'm
Quinn
Lucas,
mayor
of
Kansas
City
I'm,
joined
today
by
dr.
Rex
Archer,
our
Director
of
Public
Health
and
dr.
Erica
Kearney,
our
emergency
medical
director.
We
have
a
few
things
to
announce
for
you
in
connection
with
Kansas
City's
response
to
Kovac
19.
As
we've
seen
in
a
number
of
other
jurisdictions.
There
continues
to
be
a
significant
concern
with
the
spread
of
Kovac
19,
continuing
taxation
on
certain
public
health
and
medical
resources,
and
that's
why
we
are
taking
the
ongoing
steps
we
will
today.
A
First
of
all,
we
are
extending
our
mask
order
in
Kansas,
City
Missouri
indefinitely
to
run
along
with
our
state
of
emergency
order.
At
present,
our
state
of
emergency
relating
to
kovat
19
runs
until
August
15th.
If
that
order
expires
on
August
15th
and,
of
course
that
will
be
the
end
of
our
mask
order.
If
it
does
not,
then
the
mask
order
will
stay
for
some
amount
of
time.
A
We
also
know
that
there
have
been
a
number
of
outbreaks
relating
to
bars
and
other
kind
of
facilities
of
that
sort,
so
we're
maintaining
our
50%
capacity
limit
on
all
bars
and
taverns
in
Kansas
City.
We
encourage
bar
patrons
and
others
to
maintain
social
distancing,
to
maintain
that
important,
spacing
and
more
than
anything
to
the
fullest
extent
possible
to
wear
masks
that
will
be
essential
for
us
as
a
reminder,
masks
and
face
coverings
are
required
when
you're
indoors
and
cannot
maintain
six
feet
of
social
distancing
space.
That's
the
rule
and
that's
your
limit.
A
However,
we
certainly
encourage
you
to
wear
masks
in
more
situations,
as
we
know
that
the
virus
is
spreading
fairly,
broadly
wearing
a
mask
outdoors
when
in
close
proximity
doing
any
number
of
those
protective
items
can
help
keep
you,
your
friends
and
your
families
safe
from
Coby
19.
There
are
others
who
ask
about
exceptions
to
the
rule,
and
generally
we
do
want
to
establish
that
most
everyone
should
be
wearing
masks.
A
However,
we
know
that
there
are
some
that
have
asthma,
other
respiratory
conditions
or
suffer
from
illnesses
and
conditions
that
do
not
allow
them
to
wear
a
mask
and
to
breathe
properly.
We
do
say
that
if
there's
some
medical
threat
to
you
in
wearing
a
mask
that
you
need
to
do
so,
a
few
other
technical
details
about
what
working
on
an
arc
Ovid
19
responds
in
Kansas,
City
and
then
I'll
turn
it
over
to
our
medical
professionals
and
then
I'll
come
back
for
questions.
A
As
you
know,
we
passed
a
small
business
relief
fund
in
Kansas
City
Missouri
some
weeks
ago,
$500,000
worth
of
funds
to
support
small
businesses.
All
of
that
money
has
now
been
distributed
to
businesses
in
Kansas
City,
a
total
of
128
applications
were
received
and
28
loans
were
awarded.
We've
been
asked
by
many
for
transparency
purposes
as
to
whom
we'll
receive
these
loans
or
who
has.
A
We
will
be
sure
to
share
that
business
information
with
you
and
that
will
come
from
the
Kansas
City
mayor's
office,
in
addition
to
our
citywide
small
business
relief,
because
at
this
point
we
have
received
funds
only
from
Clay
County
Missouri.
We
have
been
able
to
establish
a
1.5
million
dollar
business
relief
fund
for
businesses
in
the
Clay
County
portion
of
Kansas
City
Missouri.
Our
applications
are
now
live
at
EDC
KC.
A
That's
the
Economic
Development
Corporation
of
Kansas
City
EDC
KC
comm
businesses
in
the
Clay
County
portion
of
Kansas
City,
so
in
northwest
Kansas
City
can
apply
for
grants
of
up
to
$50,000
online.
We
will
look
to
use
those
grants
in
their
entirety
until
such
point
as
all
that
money
is
expended
and
then
we'll
look
to
do
even
more
small
business
grants
for
those
in
Clay
County.
We
understand
that
in
the
Jackson
County
Legislature
they
have
passed
at
least
an
initial
step
of
a
bill.
A
We
would
also
note
that
we
have
a
1
million
dollar
fund
to
help
support
certain
emergency
rental
utility
and
nutrition
services
in
the
Clay
County
portion
of
Kansas
City,
as
well,
if
you're
interested
in
receiving
that
sort
of
support,
call
Northland
neighborhoods
at
eight
one,
six,
four,
five,
four:
two
thousand:
that's
four:
five.
Four
two
thousand
and
another
important
part
of
our
response
to
cope
in
nineteen
is
certainly
relating
to
testing.
A
For
those
of
you
who
work
in
the
barn,
restaurant
industry,
the
Health,
Department
I,
think
has
done
an
outstanding
service,
which
is
that
if
you're
a
Missouri
resident,
not
a
Kansas
City
resident
alone,
but
a
resident
of
Missouri,
you
can
sign
up
for
kovat
19
testing,
if
you're
in
those
certain
industries.
For
that
you
can
call
3-1-1
for
those
services.
The
city
will
also
be
offering
for
all
Kansas
Citians,
a
large
kovat
testing
event
at
the
home
field
sports
facility-
that's
a
5,000,
Bannister,
Road
and
testing
will
be
available
from
7
a.m.
to
7
p.m.
A
Monday.
Tuesday
and
Wednesday.
Pre-Registration,
however,
is
required.
You
can
register
online
KCMO
gov
or
by
calling
eight
seven
seven
four
three
five,
eight
four
one
one
or
as
I
always
do
called
our
trusty
three
one
one
service,
and
they
can
get
you
that
information.
We
will
continue
to
have
more
large-scale
testing
events,
as
we
deal
with
kovat,
19
I.
Think
what
you're
seeing
today
and
I
know
the
medical
professionals
will
join
me
in
this.
We
will
learn
to
coexist
with
kovat.
For
the
time
being,
it
will
be
important
for
us
to
continue
to
wear
masks.
A
A
It's
important
for
you
to
make
sure
people
are
wearing
masks
is
important
for
you
to
make
sure
that,
if
you're
having
a
family
event
that
you're,
mindful
of
the
fact
that
so
many
of
our
kovat
19
outbreaks,
including
deadly
ones,
have
started
in
family
events,
and
we
want
to
remind
you
of
that
situation
in
Springfield
Missouri,
where
the
hairdresser
had
worn
a
mask
and
even
though
she
had
seen
I
think
in
excess
of
100
patrons
right.
There
was
not
an
infection
because
she
had
followed
the
rules
set
by
her
public
health
department.
B
Thank
You
mayor
we're
the
sciences
where
our
experiences
with
other
countries
and
other
parts
of
this
country
is
the
number
one
thing
we
can
do
to
be
slowing
down
and
bringing
this
outbreak
under
control
is
wearing
the
mask.
If
we
can
get
95
percent
or
better
of
our
residents
doing
that
on
a
regular
basis,
then
we
can
bring
it
under
enough
control
of
the
thin
disease
outbreak.
Investigation.
Contact
tracing
can
put
out
the
small
fires
self
fillet
sing
to
the
degree
that
it's
done.
B
Politely
is
fine,
but
you
don't
know
for
sure
whether
somebody
else
has
some
type
of
a
medical
condition
that
prohibits
them
from
wearing
a
mask
or
a
communication
issue
or
challenge.
So
if
you
have
a
group
where
some
people
are
hearing
impaired
and
need
to
be
able
to
read
lips,
you
can't
be
wearing
a
mask
in
that
setting,
but
that's
less
than
5%
of
our
population
for
those
types
of
things.
B
B
If
we
do
this,
the
chances
that
we
can
safely
reopen,
schools
goes
way
up
if
we
can
keep
the
prevalence
of
the
disease
down
in
our
community.
Our
grade
school
kids
in
particular,
need
that
classroom
experience.
So,
let's
help
our
kids
by
doing
this,
and
for
those
that
love
sports,
the
chances
that
we'll
be
able
to
get
fans
back
into
the
stadiums
probably
have
much
smaller
numbers
in
the
beginning
are
much
higher.
If
we
do
this,
so
please
help
us
help
our
city
by
wearing
mass.
Thank
you.
Okay,.
C
Thank
You
mayor
Thank,
You,
dr.
Archer
I'm,
here
to
talk
to
you
guys
about
our
hospitals
at
our
pre
Hospital.
So
we
have
found
that
over
the
past
few
weeks
on
the
pre
hospital
and
the
hospital
side,
our
patient
volumes
have
pretty
much
increased
back
to
pre
corona
numbers.
This
does
mean
that
most
of
our
hospitals,
especially,
are
level
one
trauma.
Centers
have
been
full
in
that
capacity
for
our
people
who
are
working
in
the
hospitals,
we
continue
to
have
a
few
employees
who
are
furloughed.
C
We
do
have
a
few
employees
who
have
been
positive
as
well.
That
adds
to
the
stress
of
being
at
full
capacity
whenever
we
have
traced
where
these
positives
have
come
from.
What
we
found
is
that
has
been
usually
community
outbreaks
and
not
job-related.
So
what
that
tells
me
is
that
the
masks
do
work
when
we
are
seeing
corona
patients
in
the
hospitals
and
we
are
fully
masked.
We
are
staying
negative
and
so
for
all
of
the
hospitals
that
are
listening.
C
D
A
Think
we'll
continue
to
consult
with
our
medical,
and/or,
professional
advice
and
connection
with
needing
to
close
down
bars
and
restaurants.
I
think
dr.
archer
was
very
clear
for
us,
which
is
that
if
we
wear
masks,
if
we
continue
to
follow
safeguards
as
we're
fairly
confident
that
we
may
not
need
to
get
to
that
point,
however,
I
think
if
we
see
spikes,
particularly
if
we
can
trace
them
back
to
bars
other
establishments
of
that
sort,
and
we
continue
to
see
that
level
of
spread
community
spread
happening
at
those
types
of
establishments.
A
And
that
is
absolutely
something
we'll
evaluate.
I
will
say
this
and
I
said
it
before
it
is
my
preference
for
us
to
not
have
to
shut
down
parts
of
the
economy
again.
At
any
point,
however,
should
it
become
necessary,
we'll
do
all
that
is
necessary
as
you've
seen
in
Texas
as
you've
seen
in
Arizona,
not
big
progressive
states,
but
in
places
where
they
see
that
the
spread
was
so
significant
that
they
needed
to
take
that
step
to
keep
people
safe.
D
D
A
It's
fair
to
say:
we
are
in
a
spike.
Now
we've
had
conversations
about
ways
that
we
are
trying
to
address
it.
The
mask
order
is
still
relatively
new.
We
think
that
this
will
be
an
important
step
in
making
sure
that
we
have
a
strong
public
health
response,
but
we
will
continue
to
measure
spikes
and
increases.
Dr.
archer
is
a
consistent
communication
with
other
medical
directors
in
this
region.
A
A
Think
that's
accurate
I'm,
actually
I've
appreciated
the
people
of
Kansas
City
who
and
of
course
a
very
few
months,
have
changed
everyday
activity.
I
think
that
we
do
see
and
when
you
go
to
most
establishments
and
Kansas
City
people
wearing
masks.
A
lot
of
our
large
retailers
have
signs
out
at
the
front
talking
about
masks,
they're
asking
people
to
wear
masks
when
they
come
in
I
think
you
were
seeing
large-scale
compliance.
A
There
is
not
perfect
components
and
I
understand
that
I've
probably
seen
a
story
on
each
of
your
stations,
where
you
found
people
who
weren't
wearing
it
but
I.
Think
when
you
look
at
the
fact
that
before
zero
percent
of
Kansas
Citians
were
wearing
masks
every
day
and
now
I
would
like
to
say
that,
in
most
of
my
travels
in
excess
of
probably
85%
or
90%
are
wearing
masks
when
they're
going
to
establishments
we've
seen
outstanding
progress
and
I.
Think
frankly,
will
only
get
stronger
as
time
goes
on.
A
Reminds
me
of
another
point
that
I
do
want
to
make,
which
is
how
important
it
is
for
young
adults,
or
even
not
so
young
adults
to
wear
masks
as
well.
For
folks,
in
their
20s
and
30s,
we
are
saying
infections,
particularly
folks,
in
their
30s
and
40s,
and
so
it
is
important
for
folks,
even
if
you
think,
you'll
be
fine
to
wear
a
mask
as
well.
John.
A
A
We
continue
to
try
to
find
approaches
to
how
we
can
engage
with
our
young
people,
how
we
can
keep
them
in
a
safe
environment,
there's,
frankly,
nothing
more
important
than
being
able
to
do
that,
and
that
is
something
both
at
local
government
and
a
number
of
community
organizations
are
working
on.
We've
tried
to
I
think
alter
what
that
looks
like
for
us
up
to
and
including
video
game
tournaments,
not
something
I
know
a
lot
about,
but
I
think
young
people,
like
those
sorts
of
things,
and
so
trying
to
do
more
of
that
interactive
work.
E
A
F
A
Yeah,
my
predecessors
chief
of
staff,
is
a
gentleman
by
the
name
of
John
McGuirk,
who
I
think
put
it
very
well
once
and
he
said
yeah,
it's
really
simple
right,
let's
say
you're
going
to
a
convenience
store
most
of
us
drive
in
this
city.
But
let's
say
you
you
go
in
you
put
on
you
put
on
your
mask.
When
you
get
off
the
car
you
go
in,
you
buy
your
thing
right.
Then
you
leave
to
go
back
to
the
car.
You
take
your
mask
off.
A
So
that's
what
I
would
say
to
folks
the
other
thing
that
I
would
say
is
you
know
it's
such
a
fascinating
time
in
America,
where
everything
seems
to
be
political,
but
masks
really
don't
need
to
be
the
reason
I
keep
mentioning
Arizona,
Texas
Florida.
So
much
is
that
those
are
states
Texas
with
a
Republican
governor,
very
conservative,
one
who
has
talked
a
lot
about
how
important
wearing
a
mask
is.
This
isn't
really
a
breath
right
left
issues,
it's
not
at
all
a
right-left
issue.
It's
really
just
and
it's
not
a
freedom
issue
right.
A
A
You
know
we
set
the
order
based
upon
evidence
and
information
that
we've
received
from
medical
expertise
all
around
the
country
I
think
in
talking
to
both
of
our
medical
professionals
and
others.
We
continue
to
hear
that
this
is
really
one
of
our
most
important
ways
to
stop
the
spread
of
kovat
19.
It's
not
a
coincidence.
I
know
some
folks
may
say
that
it's
either
either
evil
mayor
Lucas
or
evil,
Governor,
Kelly
or
anyone
else
under
the
Sun.
You
know
it's
not
a
mistake
that
37
states
have
these
types
of
requirements.
A
D
B
From
State
Health
Department
officials
and
locals,
we've
all
been
working
with
our
various
school
districts
really,
since
back
before
the
school's
officially
closed.
The
first
time,
lots
of
variables,
I,
believe
Kansas,
just
came
out
with
an
1100
page
plan,
we're
trying
to
boil
that
down
to
one
of
the
top
most
critical
pieces
that
need
to
be
addressed
and
then
the
other
pieces.
B
If
there
is
time-
and
it
will
depend
on,
what's
our
background
noise
of
the
virus
in
the
community
on
what
we
can
do
safely
or
not
in
schools,
most
schools
are
realizing
that
there
is
a
fair
chance
if
they
as
an
example,
don't
immunize
all
of
their
students
for
influenza.
Then,
when
influenza
hits
we
have
coded,
we
may
end
up
with
schools
closed
because
of
influenza,
not
because
of
kovat
or
a
combination
of
both
so
yeah
we're
having
a
lot
of
discussions
on
this
the
virus.
B
Traditionally,
we
were
not
seeing
the
receptors
in
the
nose
of
young
kids,
but
we're
now
starting
to
see
outbreaks
in
youth
sports
events
and
other
youth
camps
across
the
state,
we're
starting
to
see
more
cases
in
under
10.
So
we're
gonna
have
to
watch
this
very
carefully
and
any
plan
usually
has
to
modify
be
modified
when
it
meets
the
enemy
and
will
probably
have
to
be
adjusting.
Our
goal,
though,
is
to
try
to
cohort
to
reduce
the
outbreak
spread
so
that
a
whole
school
system
doesn't
have
to
shut
down.
B
Maybe
that
classroom
so
we're
going
to
be
doing
a
lot
of
cohorting
where
those
kids
stay
together
when
they
go
to
recess
when
they
do
various
activities,
so
that
it's
contained,
if
there's
an
outbreak
within
that
group,
and
it
doesn't
spill
over
into
other
folks.
So
those
are
some
of
the
strategies
working
a
lot
with
a
couple
of
doctors
at
Children's,
Mercy
Hospital,
as
were
looking
at
and
following
the
advice
here
at
the
American
Academy
of
Pediatrics,
has
recently
put
out
information
on
this.
B
So
almost
every
system
has
to
plan
for
the
worse,
which
means
that
we
actually
have
to
shut
down.
Everything
has
to
go
virtually
that's
particularly
challenging
for
grade
school
kids
because
they
need
that
in
classroom
time
with
the
teacher,
so
I
do
think
that
that
alternate
concept
of
you
reduce
the
class
size.
B
Some
if
everybody
has
to
wear
a
mass
that
are
in
the
schools,
it
reduces
some
of
the
contamination
issues
but,
as
all
of
us
know
that,
have
you
know
four
or
five
six-year-olds,
they're
verbal
capacity
to
communicate
part
of
the
teachers
ability
to
read
the
student
is:
can
they
see
the
facial
expressions
so
we're
looking
at
in
California,
and
some
other
places
have
been
looking
at
face
shields,
possibly
for
smaller
kids,
so
that
we
can
still
read
their
reactions
and
teach
effectively?
Lots
of
experiments
are
going
to
go
on.
B
We
haven't
had
this
before
we're
gonna,
have
to
experiment
and
learn
as
we
move
forward,
but
I
guarantee.
None
of
these
things
will
be
successful
if
we
don't
continue
to
make
the
progress,
we're
making
on
getting
adults
to
wear
masks,
and
that
is
improving.
We've
got
most
businesses
now,
realizing
that
they
are
the
ones
that
control
their
business
environment
OSHA
holds
them
accountable
for
protecting
their
own
employees.
So
these
requirements
are
effective
at
helping
protect
the
businesses
employees.
D
B
Is
good
theoretical
evidence
that
that
may
be
the
case,
that's
part
of
why
anybody
that's
high
risk
and
if
you're,
50,
you're
high-risk
than
40
for
dying
with
this
disease,
if
you're,
60,
you're,
high-risk
and
50,
you
get
up
above
85
and
you're
extremely
high-risk,
if
you
have
other
pre-existing
conditions,
you're
at
high
risk.
Those
folks
you've,
probably
all
heard
the
story
about
the
epidemiologist
and
the
ICU
doctor
and
the
public
health
director
went
out
to
bar
just
kidding.
B
We
know
better
I
mean
it's
not
the
right
thing
to
do
if
we
have
high-risk
folks
that
are
being
exposed.
Now,
if
we
get
to
the
point
where
we
can't
respond
in
the
medical
system
anymore
and
people's
freedom
of
having
a
good
doctor
with
a
hospital
bed,
that's
taken
away
from
them
because
people
aren't
wearing
masks
or
bars
or
causing
outbreaks.
Then
we'll
have
to
cross
that
when
we
get
to
that
point-
and
that's
what's
been
happening,
some
other
places.