Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said Wednesday she is directing state agencies under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch to return to remote work operations where possible.
The governor said the action is being taken because of the continued spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19. She said it’s a necessary step to prevent infections.
The remote work model will remain in place through October 4th. At that time, the governor and health officials will take a look at infection rates to determine when agencies can return to full on-site work.
State employees moved to remote work when the pandemic began, and in June they began returning to state office buildings. Infection numbers have been rising throughout the summer.
On-site staffing will be limited to only those necessary to safely conduct agency operations. Mask requirements, social distancing and other measures will remain in place for workers who will be on-site. Agencies that serve customers will be encouraged to take steps that include scheduling by appointment only, or making arrangements for virtual rather than in-person interactions.
The state of Kansas reported 3,478 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There were 37 new deaths, bringing the state’s total to 5,535. The state also reported 101 new hospitalizations. Sedgwick County reported 199 new cases on Wednesday, with no new deaths.
