State of Local Disaster Emergency, Prohibition of Public Gatherings of 50 or More

In a response to growing public health concerns related to COVID-19, Sedgwick County officials on Monday declared a state of local disaster emergency and announced that public gatherings larger than 50 attendees are prohibited in Sedgwick County until further notice. 

The state of local disaster emergency was activated because of an imminent threat from contagious disease. The declaration gives County government the flexibility to manage operations in a rapidly changing environment, and will make Federal and State assistance available. The County’s Local Emergency Operations Plan has also been activated, allowing for collaboration between public safety organizations, local health officials, and other community stakeholders.  

The prohibition on 50 people is in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines and general best practices.  

“This declaration will allow us to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and request additional resources,” said Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner. “We will continue to assess the prohibition on an ongoing basis. 

Because of prevention efforts, Sedgwick County residents are at low risk for infection from the new coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, which was first identified in Wuhan, China. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in Sedgwick County. Similar to other coronaviruses, COVID-19 is likely to spread by droplets from an infected person’s nose or mouth through coughing and sneezing. Below is a list of ways you can help prevent illness:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water - use hand sanitizer if soap isn’t available
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs
• Stay home when you are sick

Please see the attached Factsheet regarding the COVID-19. The SCHD continually updates the Sedgwick County website and encourages residents to stay informed and look for new information at www.sedgwickcounty.org or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.