This is the full guidance we received from UCM earlier today about the required use of face coverings during graduation.
"With Johnson County, Missouri, experiencing a 32.8 percent increase in confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 over a 10-day period, a face covering mandate has been ordered. Jackson County, home to UCM’s Lee’s Summit Campus, has implemented a similar order. UCM asks that all persons on our campuses act in accordance with these mandates. This 21-day order is initiated by Johnson County Community Health Services (JCCHS), and is effective at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, July 6, through Tuesday, July 28. Jackson County’s mandate has no set end date at this time.
The orders require individuals to wear a face covering, such as a cloth face mask, over their nose and mouth, in any indoor building open to the public, including but not limited to retail stores, grocery stores, office buildings, places of worship and restaurants/bars. Additionally, face coverings are required in outdoor public gathering places when social distancing (maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others outside your household) is not an option. Individuals should provide their own face coverings.
There are exceptions to the county mandates, including buildings not open to the public, offices assigned to only one individual, and for individuals speaking to a group where they can maintain a distance of at least six feet from the individuals to whom they are speaking. The orders also provide numerous individual exemptions, including, for example, children younger than five years old, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and other health and medical exemptions. Anyone for whom an exemption listed in the order(s) applies is automatically exempted from the requirement to wear a face covering, and need not seek documentation of an exemption from the county or UCM.
To view the JCCHS order, please click on the following link:
http://johnsoncountyhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FaceCoveringOrderJuly2020.pdf
To view the Jackson County order, please click on the following link:
https://jacohd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Phase-2.5-Health-Order.pdf
Questions about the orders should be directed to the County Health Services Offices; contact information is listed in the orders.
Here are additional tips from JCCHS about wearing a face covering:
● Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
● Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
● Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
● Make sure you can breathe easily
● When removing, untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops
● Handle only by the ear loops or ties
● Fold outside corners together
● Place covering in the washing machine (learn more about how to wash cloth face coverings)
● Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing.
We also encourage employees, students and visitors to observe the following, as recommended by the CDC:
● Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
● Stay at home if you are sick.
● Exercise social distancing, staying at least within six feet from other individuals.
● Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
● Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
● Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
● Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
● Get a flu vaccine.
● Watch for cough, trouble breathing, or other signs of respiratory infection, or loss of smell or taste.
● Monitor temperature for a fever above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.) Those who develop a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing should call their health service/hospital for further instructions.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in helping slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community."