Updated 4:30 p.m. March 14
BY SYDNEY HOOVER
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department announced Friday evening all Douglas County schools would close through March 27 in light of COVID-19.
All sports practices will also be canceled. Eudora classes are planned to resume March 30.
Over spring break, all Eudora Schools facilities will be deep cleaned, Superintendent Steve Splichal said in a message to families.
“We recognize this impact the suspension of classes has on our families. District and school administrators will communicate with families as this situation progresses to keep you informed,” Splichal said in a statement. “Decisions will be made in the coming days regarding how this missed time will be addressed. Thank you for your continued patience as support.”
Splichal’s full statement can be found here: https://www.eudoraschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=1675&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=6623&PageID=1
The Kansas State Board of Education voted Thursday not to penalize schools that shorten class days or cancel classes due to the changing circumstances of the pandemic.
Public libraries, indoor park and recreational facilities and gatherings of more than 250 were also shut down in Douglas County until March 29.
“The time to institute this social distancing is before we see the instance of community spread, and we are taking these measures to limit large crowds and seek to help stem the outbreak of COVID-19,” said Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Director Dan Partridge in a news release.
Douglas County does not have any known cases. However, Douglas County Health Officer Dr. Thomas Marcellino said the factor of students, school staff and other community members traveling during Lawrence’s recent spring break weighed on the decision.
See the full news release from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health here: https://ldchealth.org/civicalerts.aspx?AID=234
Mayor Tim Reazin said the Community Center will be closed to the public effective immediately and through March 29. This includes key fob access of members to the building, including the fitness room and gym.
Parks and Recreation staff are working with any individuals or groups that will be affected by the facility closure. Programs, events, and classes hosted by Parks & Recreation that are not held at the Community Center are also suspended until at least March 29, he said.
Separate information regarding those events and programs (including sports) happening later than March 29 will be sent at a later date when additional information is available about the impact of COVID-19 in Douglas County and northeast Kansas.
This is in direct response to this press release issued by the health department today, Reazin said.
As of Friday evening, the municipal court will remain open and the March 18 court docket will be held as scheduled. This is subject to change. Notice of any change will be communicated directly to those employees impacted, Reazin said.
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday evening a state of emergency in Kansas following a death related to COVID-19.
The death was reported in Wyandotte County at a senior living facility. The individual was a male in his 70s. Kansas has six presumptive-positive cases.
Due to this, the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill allowing the governor’s emergency declaration, which normally runs for 15 days after it is called, to continue until Jan. 25.
The Eudora Area Historical Society also canceled its upcoming presentation on the Sunflower Ammunition Plant, originally scheduled for March 19. The society said in an email it is hoping to reschedule the event to a later date.
The Eudora Area Historical Society has decided to close the Eudora Community Museum from now through March 30. The museum may reopen if it is safe and permitted on March 31, Executive Director Ben Terwilliger said.
The Eudora library posted on its Facebook page that it intends to re-open March 30 unless the closure is extended.
"We will keep you all informed as we know more about how this will effect items on hold and items currently checked out that are due during that time. We can guarantee that all fines for items due during that time will be waived," the post said.
The Parks and Recreation Department recently announced the postponement of the 8th Annual March Madness Leprechaun Dash slated for Saturday due to expected poor weather.
As local employees and workers continue to feel the effects of the pandemic, the Kansas Department of Labor encourages businesses to avoid layoffs by reducing employees’ hours. If layoffs cannot be avoided, employers should file by spreadsheet with the department to expedite unemployment applications.
“The Kansas Department of Labor is here to help our business community and the workers who make it vibrant,” Secretary Delia García said in a statement. “We will continue to add available resources and contact information as we work to address this challenge.”
Displaced workers can apply for benefits at www.GetKansasBenefits.gov. Additional resources for affected workers may be found at the Kansas Department of Labor’s website www.dol.ks.gov.
Reach reporter Sydney Hoover at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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