Original plan content -  Stored - this is not longer fully accurate

Phased Reopening Plan Provided on 05-01-20
COVID-19 Notices for Mitchell County, KS

Please Scroll Down ... This page contains a considerable amount of information, including:
  • Phase 1 thru 4 Reopening Chart
PHASE 1 Information
  • Mass Gathering Limitations
  • Guidance for Individuals
  • Guidance for Employers
  • Business Restrictions
  • Restaurant and Bar Guidance

  • Educational Facilities and Licensed Childcare Facilities
  • Activities and Venue Restrictions
  • Activities NOT allowed to open:
  • Establishments NOT allowed to open:
  • Education, Activities, & Venues allowed to operate:
Cortney Murrow, Administrator, Mitchell County KS Health Department, May 1, 2020
Mitchell County Kansas, Phase Reopening Plan
Phase 1
Beginning May 4th, Lasting no less than 14 days
Mass Gathering Limitations
10 or less, not including individuals who reside together.

Guidance for Individuals
  • Masks: Cloth face masks are strongly encouraged in public settings as appropriate. Employees should follow industry-specific guidance on mask use in workplaces.
  • Outdoor activities: When in public (e.g. parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), individuals (not including individuals who reside together) should maintain 6-foot distance from others with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.
  • Social Gatherings: Do not socialize in person with groups of more than 10 individuals in both indoor and outdoor settings, especially in circumstances that do not allow for a physical distance of 6-feet or more between individuals or groups with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.
  • High Risk Individuals: High risk individuals are advised to continue to stay home except when conducting essential functions.
  • Travel: Minimize or eliminate non-essential travel and follow the KDHE and Mitchell County travel and quarantine guidelines for travel to high-risk areas. Essential travel includes travel for urgent family, medical, and business-related needs.

Guidance for Employers
  • Telework: Strongly encouraged for all employees when possible.
  • On-site operations: Avoid large gatherings of employees in groups of more than 10 where social distancing protocol cannot be maintained except for infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity AND phase in employees on-site as possible while maintaining 6-feet of distance between employee workstations.
  • Screening: Highly encouraged to screen workers for fevers and any symptoms of COVID-19 with a questionnaire at workplace entrance.
  • Potentially Sick Employees: Any employees exhibiting symptoms should be required to stay at home and asked to call their health care provider.
  • Common Areas: Common areas, such as breakrooms and lobbies, should remain closed.
  • Masks: Employers should highly consider the use of masks at all times unless prohibited by other safety equipment.
  • Business Travel: Minimize or eliminate non-essential travel and follow KDHE and Mitchell County’s travel and quarantine guidelines for travel to high-risk areas. Essential travel includes travel for urgent and necessary family, medical, and business-related needs.
  • Visits to Long-Term Care Facilities or Correctional Facilities: In-person visits to these facilities should be prohibited. Those who must interact with residents must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene and screening.

Business Restrictions
  *Applicable to all businesses identified as being allowed to open

All businesses not prohibited may open IF...

  • They can maintain at least 6 feet of distance between consumers (individuals or groups)
  • Fundamental cleaning and public health practices must be followed. Businesses should follow industry-specific guidelines as provided on covid.ks.gov. Any additional best practices guidance from each business sector is strongly encouraged.
  • Businesses must avoid any instances in which groups of more than 10 individuals are in one location and are unable to maintain a 6-foot distance with only infrequent or incidental moments of closure proximity.*

    *This does not limit total occupancy of a business, but requires that businesses limit mass gatherings in areas and instances in which physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as tables, entrances, lobbies, break rooms, check-out areas, etc.

Restaurant and Bar Guidance

Restaurants
  • Must follow all guidance addressed in the Mitchell County Plan for Reopening guidance document, more specifically under sections: Guidance for Employers and Business Restrictions.

  • Dining rooms are allowed to reopen as long as there are no groups with more than 10 individuals in one location and a 6-foot distance is maintained, such as 6-feet between tables. *This does not limit the total occupancy of the business, but requires that businesses limit mass gatherings in areas and instances in which physical distancing cannot be maintained.

  • No buffets or self-service fountains are allowed to reopen during this phase. These will be readdressed in Phase 2.

Bars
  • Are not allowed to reopen during this phase, excluding those already operating curbside and carryout services.

  • No congregating in the bar or use of seating areas will be allowed during Phase 1.

  • Bars participating in curbside and carryout must follow all guidance addressed in the Mitchell County Plan for Reopening guidance document, more specifically under sections: Guidance for Employers and Business Restrictions, regarding social distancing, hygiene, and so on.

  • Bars will be readdressed in Phase 2.

Educational Facilities and Licensed Childcare Facilities
  • K-12 facilities remain subject to the provisions of EO 20-07 regarding school closures, including the requirement that fewer than 10 students, instructors, or staff be present for normal operations. K-12 facilities should continue to follow the guidelines of the Continuous Learning Plan developed by the Kansas State Department of Education. Districts with facilities in more than one county or city should follow any applicable directives issued by the county and city in which the district office is located.
  • Higher education facilities that are closed before May 4th should remain closed for in-person learning or events involving groups of more than 10 individuals present at a time.
  • Licensed childcare facilities may continue operations pursuant to state and local regulation

Activities and Venue Restrictions

All activities and venues not prohibited may open IF...

  • They can maintain at least 6 feet of distance between individuals or groups.
  • Fundamental cleaning and public health practices are followed. Compliance with any additional sector-specific practices guidance is strongly encouraged.
  • Avoid any instances in which a group of more than 10 individuals are in one location and are unable to maintain a 6-foot distance with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.*

    * This does not limit the total occupancy of a business, but requires that businesses limit mass gatherings in areas and instances in which physical distancing cannot be maintained such as in entrances, lobbies, locker rooms, etc.
Activities NOT allowed to open:
  • Community centers
  • Large entertainment venues with capacity of 2,000+
  • Fairs, festivals, parades, and graduations
  • Public swimming pools
  • Organized sports facilities
    Summer camps
Establishments NOT allowed to open:
  • Bars and nightclubs, excluding already operating curbside and carryout services
  • Casinos (non-tribal)
  • Indoor leisure spaces
  • Fitness centers and gyms
  • Personal service businesses where close contact cannot be avoided
Education, Activities, & Venues allowed to operate:
  • Childcare facilities
  • Libraries
  • All businesses not specifically identified in each phase of the reopening plan will be allowed to reopen unless Mitchell County or the Mitchell County Health Department issues an order prohibiting such businesses from opening.

  • As we continue to work through the phases, each business and entity that will not be allowed to be open will be identified in each phase

  • Industry-specific guidance available at covid.ks.gov.
Mitchell County Kansas  Emergency Management
David Dohe - Director
Public Health & NC Kansas Home Health Agency
Cortney Murrow, Administrator
Mitchell County Kansas Government
Chris Treaster, Mitchell County Clerk
111 S Hersey
PO Box 190
Beloit, KS  67420
Solomon Valley Econ Development
Heather Hartman, Director SVED
Solomon Valley Economic Development​
209 East Main, #104
​Beloit, KS 67420
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