The Riley County Health Department has released its latest local health order, which takes effect Wednesday..
Local Health Order 14 will be in affect for the next 12 days, or until amended, superseded, or rescinded. The new order keeps the mass gathering limit to 50 people and large venues of more than two thousand people capacity remain closed.
Restrictions for businesses and restaurants include more employee screening practices. All bars and restaurants must screen each employee before the start of their shift. This includes asking about symptoms, travel, contact, and taking temperatures. These screenings must be recorded. All other businesses are being strongly encouraged to do the same.
All bars must close at midnight, with customers cleared out by 12:30 am. The same goes for dine in service restaurants. However, drive-thru, delivery, and carry-out can continue past midnight.
The full order can be found on the health department’s website at rileycountyks.gov.
The Manhattan City Commission also passed by a 3-2 margin a new city ordinance requiring masks be worn in public spaces, indoors and outdoors, when six-foot social distancing can not be maintained. Commissioners voting in favor included Mayor Usha Reddi and commissioners Aaron Estabrook and Linda Morse. Commissioners voting against were Wynn Butler and Mark Hatesohl.
The ordinance will take effect Thursday upon publication in the Manhattan Mercury. Riley County Police will enforce the ordinance through fines for first, second and subsequent offenders. Those will be imposed as $5, 10 and $20 fines, Each infraction also carries $98 in court fees. A copy of the ordinance is available here.
A full recap of the Manhattan City Commission meeting Tuesday will be published Wednesday afternoon on NewsRadioKMAN.com.
