IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
AN ORDINANCE issuing a mask mandate for schools where children grades K-12 attend class and on school buses, for the health and safety of the County's citizens, with an effective date and penalty provision.
Intro
ORDINANCE NO. 5591, January 18, 2022
INTRODUCED BY Scott Burnett, Crystal Williams, and Jalen Anderson, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, in response to the increased health risk posed to Jackson County citizens evidenced by the Report Supporting Order for Mask Wearing in Public Places provided by the Jackson County Health Department pursuant to section 67.625, RSMo, the Legislature is, by this this Ordinance, issuing a mask mandate order pursuant to the authority granted in article II, section 16.30 of the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County; and,
WHEREAS, COVID-19 spreads among people who are in contact with one another or present in shared spaces and a gathering of individuals without necessary mitigation for the spread of infection will pose a risk of the spread of infectious disease; and
WHEREAS, the state of Missouri is experiencing another wave of new COVID-19 cases, fueled by low rates of full vaccination (currently 54.4% of residents), the spread of more pervasive and virulent strain variant (the Omicron Variant), and COVID-19 hot spots in Kansas City and St. Louis; and,
WHEREAS, area hospitals, including Children's Mercy Hospital, serving the citizens of Jackson County are experiencing high levels of COVID-related admissions, placing them at or near capacity limits; and,
WHEREAS, as of January 13, 2022, the Jackson County Health Department reported 53,074 total cases of COVID-19 and 614 COVID-19-related deaths in Eastern Jackson County (the area outside of Kansas City, Missouri, and Independence, Missouri); and,
WHEREAS, on January 13, 2022, the Jackson County Health Department reported approximately 53.6% of Eastern Jackson County residents were...
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