Jackson County to require masks in county buildings because of high COVID-19 levels

Masks are required in some Jackson County buildings this week after the county joined the list of areas with high COVID-19 levels.

Jackson County follows CDC guidelines created to help communities with mitigation strategies based on the latest data, according to Marshanna Smith, a spokesperson for Jackson County.

This week, Jackson County joined the highest community level on the CDC’s map, so masks will be required for county employees and anyone visiting a county building. Temperature checks will also be given to everyone entering county buildings, and unvaccinated employees will have to take a weekly on-site COVID-19 test.

Johnson and Wyandotte counties are also in the highest level, and cases are now back to levels seen in February and March, according to the University of Kansas Health System’s Monday morning medical update.

The data is updated weekly, and if the county goes back to the medium level then masks will no longer be required, but testing for unvaccinated employees and temperature checks will remain. Only if the county enters the low level will all measures be suspended.

According to the CDC’s website, the COVID-19 community levels are determined by looking at COVID-19 hospital admissions, total cases and current hospitalizations each week.

Kansas City’s COVID-19 cases increased by 25% last week compared to the week before, not including at-home tests.

Dr. Ryan Smith also said at the update that children are becoming more infected with the latest variant, suggesting they may be more affected by it compared to adults.

The Star’s Lisa Gutierrez contributed to this report.