Kansas City metro health officials focus on COVID-19 vaccines, not mask mandates Local health experts agree that it would be difficult for public officials to reinstate a mask mandate amid a COVID-19 outbreak. Rather, the focus should be on getting shots in arms. and last updated 2021-06-30 19:49:58-04 KANSAS CITY, Mo. â With an increase in cases of the COVID-19 delta variant in Kansas and Missouri, some might be wondering about possible mask mandates. But Kansas City metro doctors don't anticipate their return. Dr. Larry Botts, chief medical officer for AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, said on Wednesday's University of Kansas Health System media call, he believes it would be difficult to reinstate a mask mandate.