March 13, 2020 - Joint Information Center from Todd Farley, Fire Chief - Fire District #1 of Leavenworth County
This morning a meeting of School District and City Administrators was held hosted by Jamie Miller at Leavenworth County Public Health. The meeting provided an update to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) current events. Couple of issues that were addressed and continue to need to addressed.
Addressed:
- The Leavenworth County Health Officer (Jamie Miller) has issued “Mitigation Strategies for Large Groups and Events.” The recommendation is that “large group events” defined as 250 people or more for any business, professional, social, cultural, entertainment, or other special event where people are not separated by physical space of at least four feet need to be cancelled. Events that have a vulnerable population in attendance should look to postpone or cancel to limit the potential of exposure. Considerations for vulnerable populations:
- People that are 60 years and older should consider not attending large community events.
- People with underlying chronic conditions or pregnant should strongly consider not attending large community events.
- People over 70 with underlying chronic conditions are strongly advised to not attend large community events.
- Mr. Miller has issued a recommendation to the School Districts to suspend all school activities until March 22, 2020. This was predicated by the events that have unfolded in Wyandotte County over the past couple of days. There was discussion of concerns from the school district officials and the potential cascading events a decision like this will create. Between now and March 22nd the emerging issues will begin to surface and hopefully create a more clear situational picture of the potential health threat. The decision to continue this recommendation will be evaluated with stakeholders input.
- We learned from school district officials that school district personnel are fielding numerous phone calls from parents and questions from staff. The potential is that City officials/staff and other governmental entities are also being asked the same questions or inquiries of what needs to be done. These questions are being passed onto Leavenworth County Health and taxing their ability to stay on top of the information. The COVID-19 situation is an ever-evolving and escalating incident and to assist the County Health staff we are forming a Joint Information Center (JIC) and repository of information, questions and rumor control.
Todd A. Farley
Fire Chief
Fire District #1 of Leavenworth County
111 E. Kansas
Lansing, Kansas 66043
Office: 913-727-5844
Cell: 913-683-3223