The Platte County Health Department last week loosened restrictions for restaurants and bars to fall in line with other Kansas City metro area jurisdictions, despite the continued prevalence of COVID in the community.
Also, the health department has launched a survey for those interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which is available at the website, plattecountyhealthdept.com. Kansas City residents are urged to contact the Kansas City Health Department.
At a special meeting Friday, Jan. 15 the board of trustees adopted a new order allowing restaurants, taverns and other food and drink venues to remain open until midnight. This is a change from the previous Platte County order, which required such venues to close at 10 p.m. The new order allows drive-thru service, curbside pickup and delivery of food to continue after midnight.
The order is consistent with orders in the City of Kansas City and Clay and Jackson counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte in Kansas.
According to a statement released by the board, while the rate of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the last 14 days in Platte County remains high — with the county’s positivity rate at more than 21 percent as of Tuesday, Jan. 19 — the board made the decision to make the change so that restaurants and taverns in the county are on a level playing field with similar establishments throughout the Kansas City area. The board also discussed the importance of eliminating the temptation for Platte County residents to drive to and from other jurisdictions after consuming alcohol.
The health order came into effect on Saturday, Jan. 16.