photo by: Associated Press

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions about the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic during a news conference, Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

The state of Kansas will continue enforcing gathering limits and social distancing measures as part of its initial plan to begin reopening the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a summary of Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan leaked by a Kansas lawmaker hours ahead of Kelly’s televised address.

Rep. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, posted a three-page bulleted list of points Kelly will supposedly address Thursday evening to his Facebook page just before noon. Owens said in the Facebook post that he received the summary from an “anonymous source” and had no reason to doubt its legitimacy. The document, though, is not marked with any identifying information to signify it came from Kelly’s office or that it adequately captures the plan she will announce this evening.

The bottom of each page reads “CONFIDENTIAL. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION.” The pages are undated, though some of the bullet points mention details “to be revealed tomorrow (Thursday),” so it is likely they were produced Wednesday.

In the summary, it’s clear that a focus of Kelly’s supposed plan will place much of the onus for dictating guidelines over the coming weeks and months on local and county governments throughout the state. How phase I of the plan — the only phase mentioned in the summary Owens posted — will operate is the state will establish guidelines on gathering limits and social distancing, with the caveat that local health departments can be more stringent than state requirements if they choose.

For example, all businesses not specified in Kelly’s reopening plan will be allowed to reopen unless the local or county health department decides otherwise. Local entities don’t have the ability to be less restrictive than the guidelines Kelly will establish, according to the posted summary.

Much of what’s outlined in the leaked summary is not entirely different from how the state is currently operating. Though the statewide stay-at-home order will be allowed to lapse on May 3, groups still cannot gather with more than 10 people, closed businesses shouldn’t open unless they can guarantee proper social distancing guidelines and can ensure gatherings remain under 10 people; employees should remain encouraged to work remotely if possible, and visits to long-term care facilities will remain prohibited.

On Thursday, the state Department of Health and Environment reported nearly 500 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s cumulative total to 4,238. KDHE also confirmed four more deaths from the virus, bringing Kansas’ death toll to 129.

Kelly’s office has not issued a comment on the leaked summary.

The governor will begin her locally televised address at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The address will also be available on local radio stations and streamed on Kelly’s official Facebook page.