Owners of Ellsworth County barber shops and hair and nail salons can welcome customers again, according to a new executive order signed by Gov. Laura Kelly; however, the way is less clear for summer activities.

At the May 14 meeting of the county’s local emergency planning committee, Kerianne Ehrlich, supervisor of the Ellsworth County Health Department, said the governor’s new reopening Phase 1.5 took effect Monday, May 18. Phase 2 of Kelly’s reopening plan would begin no earlier than Monday, June 1.

Ehrlich said she met with her planning committee earlier that afternoon to discuss local issues affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Obviously, we were planning for Phase 2,” she said. “Not a lot of decisions were made.”

Ehrlich said the Ellsworth County travel quarantine order is still in place though Phase 1.5. Anyone who travels outside the state or to the Kansas counties of Shawnee, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Seward, Lynn, Finney, Ford and Sedgwick are required to self quarantine for 14 days.

Ehrlich said the order prohibiting self serve drinks and food remain, along with restrictions for public parks and playground equipment.

“The city of Ellsworth has already purchased some sanitizing stations,” she said. “We are looking at getting them for the other communities.”

Ehrlich said not a lot of decisions have been made on summer recreation because organized sports facilities, tournaments and practices are still not allowed under the governor’s preopening plan. Swimming pools also remain closed in Phase 1.5.

Ehrlich said the committee is leaning toward baseball teams playing within the county.

“We said we’d probably be okay with letting Lincoln, Russell and Ellsworth counties play,” Ehrlich said. “But we may get to the point where we just say Ellsworth County to keep it easy.”

Ehrlich said if ball games are conducted, the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association has a lengthy list of regulations that must be followed.

“You’d still have to hold within the mass gathering limit, so we’re still at 10,” she said. “The next phase is 30 people at a ball game.”

Ehrlich said the committee talked about summer gatherings.

“We know a lot of people are wanting to look at planning for the summer — what they can do and what they can’t do,” she said.

Ehrlich said once Ellsworth County gets to the Phase Out portion of Kelly’s reopening plan, gatherings will remain at a 90-person maximum through the summer.

“That will probably be the order to guide on any of those kinds of events,” she said.

Ehrlich said she has met with the Ellsworth County Fair Board and members are trying to make accommodations so they will be able to do something.

Thoughts on the second case

Ehrlich said the second confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in Ellsworth County involves a person who works outside of the county. As per protocol from that person’s place of employment, Ehrlich was told the individual would be quarantined outside of Ellsworth County.

“I didn’t feel like it was a threat to our community, but I still wanted to put out the press release to clear up the questions,” she added.

Ehrlich noted Ellsworth County is still sitting at two confirmed positive cases of the virus.

What about auctions?

Keith Haberer, emergency management director for Ellsworth and Russell Counties, said any agricultural-related auction is allowed.

“Most of them (those planning auctions) have contacted me and I’ve gone over the stipulations with them,” he said.

Haberer said most auctions have ways for participants to either call in bids or bid on line, so they don’t have to attend in person.

Ehrlich said if food is served from a food stand during an auction, it would have to be prepackaged food.

What about recycling?

In response to a question from Teresa Shute, supervisor of the county recycling program, Ehrlich said the decision to accept recycling materials again will be made by county commissioners.

Personal Protective Equipment

The Ellsworth County Medical Center recently received a shipment of face shields from the Ford Motor Corporation. It was also noted Cashco is making face shields.

Once Ellsworth County gets to the Phase Out portion of Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s reopening plan gatherings will remain at a 90-person maximum through the summer.