Safer Independence Guidelines
Orders
City of Independence Mayor Eileen Weir, in consultation with Acting Health Director Christina Heinen, today issued updated health orders which will go into effect at 12 a.m. on April 23, 2021.
The City of Independence Health Department was recognized by the State of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services as a Local Public Health Authority in early December. From now on, the City will issue separate orders and guidelines for residents and businesses of Independence.
Please find below an overview of the updated guidelines from the City of Independence:
- Indoor and outdoor dining capacity limits have been removed with no social distancing requirements. However, patrons must be seated when eating and drinking and masks must be worn when not actively eating or drinking.
- Large capacity entertainment and recreational venues must limit the number of individuals (staff and customers) in the facility to ensure at least six feet of social distancing between patrons or groups.
- Masks are required in all indoor spaces.
- Citizens are urged to continue to wash your hands regularly and stay home if you are sick.
Beginning on April 16, the Independence Utilities Center will be open on Fridays. On May 1, the City of Independence moves to Phase 2 of its Facilities and Services Reopening Plan. This includes opening the Historic Bingham-Waggoner Estate and Vaile Mansion.
The City’s main gaiting criteria for these decisions is the number of new daily cases per 100,000 in Independence zip codes and the surrounding area, as well as hospitalization rates and percent positivity. At this time, the two-week average for positive cases in eastern Jackson County is 3.51 percent. CDC recommendations outline communities with rates under 5 percent have the virus substantially under control.
On April 6 the State of Missouri announced the South African COVID-19 variant had been found in Jackson County and the UK Variant had previously been identified in the area. The main risk with the new variants is the potential for them to spread quickly amongst unvaccinated individuals, so the City will continue monitoring to ensure that no uptick in cases is seen.
Additionally, Independence residents can find updated information on local vaccine clinics and the State’s vaccine distribution plan at indep.us/vaccines. As of Friday, April 9, the State has moved to Phase 3 of the Vaccine Distribution Plan allowing all adults to register for vaccines and anyone over the age of 16 to register for Pfizer vaccines.
Find the full Health Orders here.
Find the full Phases for City Facilities and Services overview here. (update coming soon)
View the Safer Independence Guidelines FAQs (linked below) for more information.