January 13, 2021
Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. – in consultation with Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer, MPH and Emergency Management Coordinator Troy Schulte – has issued a new health order today that amends dining restrictions for bars and restaurants.
Under the new health order, Jackson County bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve food and alcohol until midnight with a hard exit for all patrons at 12:30 a.m. All other provisions related to indoor dining remain in effect. The new order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, January 14, 2021 and does not apply to businesses in the cities of Kansas City, Missouri or Independence.
The new health order relaxes guidance from a previous order issued in November 2020 that required bars and restaurants to close at 10:00 p.m. due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Jackson County.
“Let me be clear – our situation has not improved over the past two months. COVID-19 cases are up, our 14-day percent positive remains high as well as hospital capacity,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “However, to remain consistent with neighboring jurisdictions, lessen confusion among residents and create fairness for Eastern Jackson County businesses, we have decided to move forward in this manner. It is still dangerous to gather in large groups, so I urge residents to remain vigilant in their efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.”
“With cases of COVID-19 on the rise, we need community members to practice personal responsibility,” said Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer. “Due to the risks of dining in, please consider other options such as curbside pickup or delivery. Avoid situations where it may be challenging to maintain prevention measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing.”
Residents and businesses with questions about the new health order should contact the Jackson County Health Department by phone at (816) 404-9883 or via email at [email protected]. Additional resources can be found on the health department’s website at www.jacohd.org/coronavirus.
