Masks no longer required in some Westport businesses

Masks no longer required in some Westport businesses

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In Kansas City, Missouri, businesses are setting the rules when it comes to mask-wearing in their establishments after the city lifted its emergency health order Friday.At Kelly’s Westport Inn masks are optional. “We had a couple customers come in today and they said the only reason we are here is because we want to see what you guys look like,” said owner Colleen Kelly.She wore bright pink lipstick to celebrate showing her full face in her bar for the first time in over a year. “Normally, I don’t wear this to Kelly’s on a day shift but it’s been so long since I’ve worn lipstick since I’ve worn it with a mask and I thought today would be the day.”Saturday afternoon, most staff and customers were without masks.“We don’t deal with people that can’t be vaccinated because we are 21 and up so we really just told our staff that it’s up to them whether they wanted to wear their mask while at work. A couple guys have, most of the staff have chosen not to.”With the city’s restrictions rescinded, Kelly’s moved seats back to the bar and is reverting to its way of operating before the pandemic.“Our door staff became hosts. Our bartenders became waiters. We totally had to adapt into being a different business and now we are back to being an Irish pub which is why people come here.”Kelly said the change was met with excitement Friday night after the mayor’s announcement. “We had customers last night that seriously were walking in the door just high-fiving each other. I really feel like people think like this was the finish line that we thought was going to be maybe 30 days, maybe 60 days and it ended up being 14 months. And it’s like in a lot of ways, and listen there is a lot still to deal with, but in a lot of ways I think from a social aspect I think people are like okay we made it,” said Kelly. “We’re one of the lucky places that our doors are still open and we don’t take that for granted.”Throughout Westport, businesses were bustling Saturday. Many visitors kept masks at hand. Alissa Rogova and Brandon Pattison were visiting Kansas City. Even though they are vaccinated, they said they said they are still cautious, looking for outdoor seating for dinner. “You can still stay socially distanced because the pandemic is not over and a lot of people are vaccinated but some are not so It’s nice that are still some safety measures and we are definitely going to keep our masks close to us and put them on when we need them for sure,” said Rogova.A little less than a third of people in Kansas City are fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate was 30.5% as of Thursday. Kansas City’s Director of Health warned people who are unvaccinated are now at even higher risk of becoming infected because those not wearing masks can spread disease to them.

In Kansas City, Missouri, businesses are setting the rules when it comes to mask-wearing in their establishments after the city lifted its emergency health order Friday.

At Kelly’s Westport Inn masks are optional.

“We had a couple customers come in today and they said the only reason we are here is because we want to see what you guys look like,” said owner Colleen Kelly.

She wore bright pink lipstick to celebrate showing her full face in her bar for the first time in over a year.

“Normally, I don’t wear this to Kelly’s on a day shift but it’s been so long since I’ve worn lipstick since I’ve worn it with a mask and I thought today would be the day.”

Saturday afternoon, most staff and customers were without masks.

“We don’t deal with people that can’t be vaccinated because we are 21 and up so we really just told our staff that it’s up to them whether they wanted to wear their mask while at work. A couple guys have, most of the staff have chosen not to.”

With the city’s restrictions rescinded, Kelly’s moved seats back to the bar and is reverting to its way of operating before the pandemic.

Our door staff became hosts. Our bartenders became waiters. We totally had to adapt into being a different business and now we are back to being an Irish pub which is why people come here.”

Kelly said the change was met with excitement Friday night after the mayor’s announcement.

“We had customers last night that seriously were walking in the door just high-fiving each other. I really feel like people think like this was the finish line that we thought was going to be maybe 30 days, maybe 60 days and it ended up being 14 months. And it’s like in a lot of ways, and listen there is a lot still to deal with, but in a lot of ways I think from a social aspect I think people are like okay we made it,” said Kelly. “We’re one of the lucky places that our doors are still open and we don’t take that for granted.”

Throughout Westport, businesses were bustling Saturday. Many visitors kept masks at hand.

Alissa Rogova and Brandon Pattison were visiting Kansas City. Even though they are vaccinated, they said they said they are still cautious, looking for outdoor seating for dinner.

“You can still stay socially distanced because the pandemic is not over and a lot of people are vaccinated but some are not so It’s nice that are still some safety measures and we are definitely going to keep our masks close to us and put them on when we need them for sure,” said Rogova.

A little less than a third of people in Kansas City are fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate was 30.5% as of Thursday. Kansas City’s Director of Health warned people who are unvaccinated are now at even higher risk of becoming infected because those not wearing masks can spread disease to them.

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