It’s safe to say that the last two years were nothing short of weird. By the beginning of 2019, most of us were in shock when news of a new, deadly virus broke out. Before we knew it, nothing was the same. From our private lives to working remotely, almost every aspect of our everyday functioning changed.
Nevertheless, two years into this health crisis, we’ve come a long way. We have several COVID-19 vaccines that significantly lower the chances of ending up with a fatal case of pneumonia. However, this doesn’t mean that we should lower our guard, especially with new variants of the virus popping up every month or two.
Being aware of the dangers the virus poses for all of us is crucial if you’re traveling these days. Getting sick while on vacation or a business trip is the worst nightmare we can think of right now. So, let’s find out how you can stay safe and healthy while visiting the currently most dangerous city in the U.S. — Kansas.
Why Kansas City?
Although the City of Fountains is a rather beautiful place to live, work, and enjoy life to the fullest, it’s also not the safest these days. Reports suggest that its northeast corner has some of the highest coronavirus cases. Unfortunately, that’s not all. For some reason, the state also doesn’t require people to wear face masks while inside, as well as to abide by some other safety protocols.
There’s no need to discuss how dangerous the situation is. As we all know, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is the fastest spreading to this date. And when you combine it with no masks and other safety protocols, well, the results are not great. In fact, they’re terrible. More and more people will get sick, with quite a few ending up in hospitals. And of those in hospital beds, a large portion will, unfortunately, pass away.
Pandemic Response of Kansas City
Now, two years into this health crisis, we can safely say that not all parts of the country were hit by the virus equally. Of course, this isn’t to say that there weren’t casualties all across the globe. Yet, Kansas was pretty bad at certain points in the past 24 months. But what was their response like? Did they allow the virus to spread without any control, or were the circumstances just so bad that it caused such casualties?
In short, Kansas’ response wasn’t bad at all. They suggested they optimized their reaction towards COVID-19 by splitting it into three stages: identifying and tracking, implementing, and projecting. First, they would come up with what needs to be done (e.g., testing and vaccination sites). Then, they would implement these responses. And lastly, they would sum up the costs and compare them to their long-term budget.
Places You Should Be Visiting
In case you find yourself in Kansas City, MN, there are lots of places you should visit. This goes for both pandemic and normal scenarios.
- Museums: In Kansas City, MN, most museums are working just like they did pre-2020. Nevertheless, they require that you make reservations beforehand and wear masks while inside. We recommend seeing the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, the American Jazz Museum, and the Museum of Toys and Miniatures.
- Entertainment: For those who love art and live music, there aren’t many better places than Kansas to enjoy it. Namely, we propose the Kansas City Symphony, the City Ballet, and the Crown Center. Yet, you shouldn’t visit any without wearing a mask and avoiding close contact.
- Open spaces: During days like these, it’s best not to hang out in enclosed spaces and crowds. In other words, we should be in the open as much as possible. Hence, do visit the likes of Powell Gardens, botanical gardens in Overland Park, or numerous hiking trails where you’ll be safe and sound from the virus.
Constant Updates on Pandemic Situations and Cases
No matter what place you choose to head to, you should remember certain guidelines before visiting Kansas City. These guidelines mostly come down to one thing — being aware of the current situation over there.
By that, we mean following the number of local coronavirus cases and the likelihood of catching the virus yourself. It is really simple: you just need to Google the latest Kansas City COVID-19 cases and see if CDC recommends heading over there.
Become a COVID-Free Traveler
Safety travel tips amidst the pandemic aren’t that complex. Aside from testing yourself before travel, you should be fully vaccinated if you’re looking to travel. Not only will it help you enter certain places like museums and concert halls, but it will also make sure you don’t end up with a severe case of coronavirus.
But that’s not all. While in Kansas, even if not required by local authorities, do wear a face mask while in contact with others. This way, you’ll lower the chances of catching and spreading the virus to others. Lastly, it’s crucial as always to wash your hands with hand sanitizers or soap when using bathrooms both in restaurants and hotels.
What to Do If Things Get Worse
Lastly, we should mention the worst scenario. If the pandemic starts to rage again in KC, you should act just like if you were anywhere else in the world. Firstly, we recommend that you stay at home or hotel and assess the surrounding situation. If things do get so bad, don’t go shopping or dining at the Country Club Plaza. Instead, walk around parks and open spaces like we’ve mentioned. Not only is it safer, but it’s also a better way to spend your days while visiting the City of Fountains.