KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Leaders in Johnson County announced Tuesday they have established a new COVID-19 hotline.
The public can now call 913-715-2819 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to get answers to general questions about the novel coronavirus.
The announcement comes after health officials closed schools in Johnson County through early April to help limit the spread of the virus.
School nurses will man the hotline to answer questions.
Johnson County officials said the idea is to relieve some pressure on public health staff and better allocate resources.
Leaders also discussed school closures in Tuesday's press conference.
They said most of the district's systems are not set up to continue remote learning at home.
A task force is looking into options for child care and for those students who received free and reduced meals.
Johnson County Public Health Officer Dr. Joseph LeMaster signed the order to close the schools through April 5. He said county officials will reassess the situation at that time and make a further decision on when, or if, to reopen then.
