A bipartisan letter of support has been signed by a number of Kansas legislators including several from the Manhattan area to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Sen. Tom Hawk (D-Manhattan), along with Representatives Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan), Tom Phillips (R-Manhattan), Suzi Carlson (R-Clay Center) and Lonnie Clark (R-Junction City) joined 58 others from the House and State Senate calling for action late last week.
The letter says the state has reached a “tipping point” in the battle with COVID-19 and calls on the public to change behaviors and act fast to curb the spread to keep pressure off of the hospitals and medical care facilities. They’re asking people to do their part to wear masks, keep a good phyiscal distance from others and continue to wash hands frequently.
The letter states “while the news about vaccines gives us all hope, we must take steps NOW to bend the curve, curtail widespread community transmission and ultimately decrease hospitalizations so that care is available for all.”
The full letter can be found below.
Kansas Legislators Message of Support and “Call to Action”
We come together united as state legislators, republicans and democrats, state senators, and state representatives with this important message. We have reached a tipping point in the battle with COVID-19. If widespread community transmission continues to increase, our hospitals will be unable to meet the health care needs of Kansans across the state. We need people to change their behaviors and act fast to curb the spread because our status quo is not working and the implications are dire.
This is not a COVID-19 crisis. This is a health care crisis. This holiday season, the greatest kindness you can give to your loved ones is doing your part to preserve their health. Wear your mask; wash your hands; stay home as much as possible; and keep your distance. Lives depend on it.
As we enter the winter months, cases continue to rise and without action, this will continue. It is critical we reignite a sense of duty and ownership to do all we can to slow the spread of this virus to protect the health and safety of individuals and their loved ones. While we cannot change the hearts and minds of everyone, we each can take personal responsibility to make changes that will ultimately be lifesaving.
We are united in our message:
• While the news about vaccines gives us all hope, we must take steps NOW to bend the curve, curtail widespread community transmission and ultimately decrease hospitalizations so that care is available for all
• We support the efforts across our region and Kansas to take additional steps to practice the pillars of infection prevention. We support wearing masks; washing of hands; avoiding large social gatherings; and keeping appropriate social distance. Lives depend on all of us practicing these behaviors
• Masking guidelines are a critical step forward in this crisis moment
• As your elected officials, we join to double down on our efforts – we know this is hard and you are tired – but it is more important than ever
• We need positive responses to these “calls to action” to ensure we have a safe holiday season for “ALL”
It has been a long and hard 2020 and COVID-19 has affected all of us. As we approach the New Year there is great hope. But we are still months away from turning the corner on this pandemic. We all need to find the will and discipline to finish this fight.
We the undersigned commit to promoting and practicing the pillars of infection control and doing our part to slow and eventually stop the spread of the virus. We respectfully request you to join us in this fight.
Let us make this a happy and safe holiday season for all of our families, friends, and neighbors.
LEGISLATORS SUPPORTING “CALL to ACTION”
Susan Concannon Beloit
Louis Ruiz Kansas City
Brad Ralph Dodge City
Broderick Henderson Kansas City
Jan Kessinger Overland Park
Barbara Ballard Lawrence
Leo Delperdang Wichita
Brenda Dietrich Topeka
John Skubal Overland Park
Suzi Carlson Clay Center
Brett Parker Overland Park
Steven Johnson Assaria
Rui Xu Westwood
Kathy Wolfe Moore Kansas City
Fred Patton Topeka
Jim Gartner Topeka
Shannon Francis Liberal
Tom Burroughs Kansas City
Mark Schreiber Emporia
Cindy Holscher Overland Park
Sydney Carlin Manhattan
Elizabeth Bishop Wichita
John Carmichael Wichita
Stephanie Yeager Wichita
Eileen Horn Lawrence
Pam Curtis Kansas City
Richard Proehl Parsons
Nancy Lusk Overland Park
Russ Jennings Lakin
Annie Kuether Topeka
Don Hineman Dighton
Susan Ruiz Shawnee
John Eplee Atchison
Tom Phillips Manhattan
Tom Cox Shawnee
Jerry Stogsdill Prairie Village
Valdenia Winn Kansas City
Boyd Orr Fowler
Fowler Manhattan
Tom Sawyer Wichita
Monica Murnan Pittsburg
Jim Kelly Independence
Pat Pettey Kansas City
David Baker Council Grove
Dinah Sykes Lenexa
Diana Dierks Salina
Gail Finney Wichita
Jarrod Ousley Merriam
Mike Amyx Lawrence
Jennifer Day Overland Park
Mary Ware Wichita
Lonnie Clark Junction City
Marci Francisco Lawrence
Bill Pannbacker Washington
Dennis Highberger Lawrence
Troy Waymaster Bunker Hill
Ponka-We Victors Wichita
Oletha Faust-Goudeau Wichita
Anthony Hensley Topeka
Stephanie Clayton Overland Park
KC Ohaebosim Wichita
Brandon Woodard Lenexa
Jason Probst Hutchinson
Tom Hawk Manhattan
