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KCMO mayor, top doc explore mandatory masks

Virginians prepare for potential mandate on wearing masks in public
Posted at 4:29 PM, Jun 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-25 17:29:23-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The mayor and top health official of the Kansas City area’s largest city are exploring the mandatory use of masks.

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Thursday he is working with the city’s health director, Dr. Rex Archer, on what a requirement would look like.

“[We are] absolutely considering a requirement of masks in buildings,” Lucas told 41 Action News.

Lucas added that a final decision hasn’t been reached, but suggested that the region’s health directors have been meeting with the possibility of issuing a unified statement on mask usage.

Archer said mandatory mask usage would make the city safer and quicken the process of reopening businesses in the city.

“Whether it’s mandated or not, anyone that really cares about our community and wants businesses to be able to open back up and beside should be wearing a mask wherever they can’t be at least six feet away from others,” Archer said.

No timetable was announced for a final decision for mask usage in Kansas City, Missouri, or an announcement from regional health directors.

During his Thursday briefing, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson reiterated his support for local jurisdictions to come up with their own mask policies.