The Riley County Health Department will lift most COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, starting Monday, March 1.
Riley County Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs has issued Health Order No. 20 which rescinds all parts of Order 19 except for mandatory masks and face coverings to be worn in all public spaces throughout the county. Residents are still strongly encouraged to maintain social distancing and follow health and safety guidelines from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Gibbs says the Emergency Operations Center’s Command Staff created criteria to relax limitations and felt many have been achieved. The percent positive rate for new infections remained under 7 percent for four weeks, falling to 3 percent as of last week. In addition the hospital and healthcare system locally is not overwhelmed and the county has maintained less than five outbreaks for six weeks.
The EOC Command Staff plans to review the mask ordinance in a month. Coincidentally, the Manhattan citywide mask ordinance is set to expire April 1.
Complete text of Local Health Order No. 20 can be found on the Riley County website.
