Coronavirus updates: Sedgwick County hits 79 cases, with 552 in Kansas
Here is The Wichita Eagle’s daily update on the news to know from Thursday about the novel coronavirus pandemic. For updates from Wednesday, click here.
New numbers
The latest coronavirus pandemic numbers released by Kansas public health officials show 15 more cases have been confirmed in Sedgwick County.
An updated coronavirus report released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Thursday shows 79 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Sedgwick County, up from 64 the day before. Statewide, the number of positive cases is 552, and 138 of the patients have been hospitalized. There have been 6,059 negative tests.
Thirteen deaths have been reported across the state, including one in a resident of a Wichita suburb. Local health officials report that 10 patients in Sedgwick County have recovered.
The state health department reports 652 people have been tested in Sedgwick County. That’s a testing rate of 1.26 per 1,000 people. Compared to other counties in Kansas, especially those in the Kansas City area, it is a relatively low level of testing for the county with the state’s largest city.
The Sedgwick County Health Department reports that eight people had appointments on Thursday to be sampled for COVID-19 testing. People who have general questions about the coronavirus disease or who think they need to be tested for it are asked to call United Way of the Plains at 211 to be screened.
In Wichita-area counties, the state reports eight cases in Reno County, seven in Butler County, two in Harvey County, one in Cowley County and one in Sumner County.
Patients range in age from infant to 95 years old with an average age of 53.
Jail deputy tests positive
Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said a detention deputy at the jail has tested positive for the coronavirus. A second employee has been sent home to be tested after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. One inmate is in quarantine awaiting test results.
To read more on the first coronavirus case at the jail, click here.
Mayor proposes council budget cut
Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple has upset some members of the City Council by proposing in a letter to the editor that the council should give up about $270,000 in funds. The proposal to use the council’s lunch, travel and discretionary funds comes as the city faces an estimated $8 million budget shortfall due to the pandemic.
To read more about why some city council members are irritated with the mayor, and Whipple’s response of “I’m not here to make friends,” click here.
Record unemployment claims
The U.S. Department of Labor reported a record 6.6 million seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims for the week ending March 28. Kansas reported 55,428 new unemployment claims for last week, up from the 23,925 new claims filed the week before. Workers can file claims online at www.getkansasbenefits.gov.
To read more on unemployment claims, click here.
Wichita dining
Some Wichita restaurants that closed temporarily due to coronavirus have reopened, and some that chose to stay open have now closed. To read more from Dining with Denise Neil on how restaurants are responding to the coronavirus outbreak, and which ones have opened or closed, click here.
High school sports
The Eagle’s high school sports reporter ranked the top 10 spring sports teams “that were set to make a splash this spring” before the coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of their seasons. Multiple team state champions were expected from the Wichita area.
To read the Varsity Kansas rankings, click here.
National news
The Associated Press has compiled a listing of national news related to the novel coronavirus. To read the AP’s listing of top pandemic stories, click here.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 12:46 PM.