Coronavirus updates: Kansas cases jump by 500 in one day as state plans for reopening
The Eagle has compiled news to know on coronavirus and COVID-19 from Thursday for the Wichita area. For updates from Wednesday, click here.
New Kansas coronavirus numbers
Public health officials report 500 new cases of coronavirus in Kansas — the record for the most in one day — as Gov. Laura Kelly is set to announce plans for reopening the state.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s daily coronavirus pandemic update for Thursday listed 4,238 COVID-19 cases in the state, 372 in Sedgwick County and 129 deaths statewide.
On Wednesday, the KDHE reported 3,738 cases in Kansas, 364 cases in Sedgwick County and 125 deaths statewide.
The Sedgwick County Health Department, which reported 366 cases on Wednesday, listed 402 cases and nine deaths on Thursday. Discrepancies between county and state numbers can be due to confirmed cases from one health department not being finalized with the other before daily numbers are reported, officials have said.
The jump of 36 cases is the largest jump in local cases in a single day.
The county health department reports that 197 local patients have recovered. Of all the local patients who have tested positive, epidemiologists determined about 59% had close contact with another confirmed case. About 24% of patients are believed to have been infected by community spread. About 9% of cases are travel-related, and about 8% of cases are under investigation.
As of Thursday, there have been 27,388 negative tests in the state, the KDHE reported. Sedgwick County has had 3,877 tests administered, for a local testing rate of 7.51 people per 1,000 population. Sedgwick County has the lowest testing rate of the nine counties with at least 100 confirmed cases.
In the Wichita area, Reno County has 34 cases, Butler County has 16, Harvey County has seven, Sumner County has three, Cowley County has two and Kingman County has zero.
At least 523 COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized in Kansas, but data is not available in all cases. Of the hospitalizations, 201 were admitted into intensive care and 93 needed mechanical ventilation. There have been 272 patients discharged from hospitals.
Patients in Kansas, both hospitalized and non-hospitalized, range in age from infant to 99 years old. The average age is 46 and the median is 45. Patients who have died range in age from 42 to 99 with a median of 82.
In cases where race and ethnicity information is available, the data shows black or African American communities and Hispanic or Latino communities continue to be disproportionately hit by the disease.
Kansas plans for reopening
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will address Kansans Thursday night, revealing the details of the state’s plan to reopen. According to a purported summary of Kelly’s plan released by a lawmaker, counties can impose their own rules as long as they are stricter than the statewide orders. If you have questions for The Eagle on reopening, click here.
Sedgwick County commissioners are scheduled to meet Friday morning to discuss local plans to reopen businesses and organizations.
Third inmate tests positive at Wichita facility
A third inmate has tested positive at the Wichita Work Release Facility. Two tested positive this week. The two men and the 100-plus inmates on the same floor as them have been moved to the Lansing Correctional Facility, where they will be monitored under quarantine.
All Lansing inmates to be tested after most come back positive in housing unit
The Kansas Department of Corrections said Thursday that all of the 1,600-plus inmates at the Lansing Correctional Facility will be tested for the new coronavirus. Earlier this week, 240 inmates living in an open dormitory at Lansing were tested. Roughly 75 percent tested positive and were asymptomatic, the KDOC said. Besides the 180 additional cases announced Thursday, the Lansing prison showed two coronavirus-related deaths, 79 infected staff and 88 infected inmates. A few cases have been reported at the Topeka Correctional Facility and the Wichita Work Release Facility. One case has been reported at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex.
Free coffee and doughnut for healthcare workers
Dunkin’ is offering a free medium hot or iced coffee and a doughnut to healthcare workers who visit participating Dunkin’ locations on May 6, which is National Nurses Day. No purchase is necessary and the offer is while supplies last.
Walmart pays $2 million in bonuses to Kansas workers
Walmart gave bonuses to associates across the country on Thursday, including $2 million added to the paychecks of Kansas employees. Walmart reports having about 20,000 associates in Kansas, so the average bonus is about $100, not accounting for full-time versus part-time employees.
A previous bonus payout earlier this month was was $300 for full-time hourly and $150 for part-time hourly workers. Nationwide, the retailer has committed close to $550 million in bonuses.
The company also announced that it has reached its goal of hiring an additional 200,000 associates nationwide in less than six weeks.
Catholic Care Center employee tests positive
The Catholic Care Center senior community said in a message on Monday that one employee has tested positive for COVID-19. No other staff members or residents have exhibited symptoms.
“We are working quickly to mitigate the spread of the virus within the community and have increased our already aggressive protocols to best protect the community,” officials said in a statement. “The health and safety of our residents and associates is our top priority and we will do everything possible to protect them.”
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 1:50 PM.