Coronavirus updates: With 137 dead in Kansas, COVID-19 passes flu deaths
The Eagle has compiled news to know on coronavirus and COVID-19 from Tuesday for the Wichita area. For updates from Monday, click here.
Coronavirus deaths pass flu deaths
Reports from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment show the novel coronavirus has killed more people in less than two months than the seasonal flu has in eight months.
The KDHE on Tuesday reported 137 deaths attributed to COVID-19. Influenza has claimed 136 lives, according to Monday’s weekly influenza surveillance report.
The report listed the flu as the direct cause of death for 110 patients and a contributing cause in another 26 cases. The 136 influenza deaths for the 2019-20 flu season has also surpassed the 97 people who died in the last flu season, which runs from Sept. 1 to May 31.
The World Health Organization director general has said that coronavirus causes a more severe disease than seasonal influenza and the death rate of infected patients is much higher. Additionally, there are vaccines and treatments for the flu, but not for COVID-19.
The first case of COVID-19 in Kansas was reported on March 7. The first death was reported on March 12.
New Kansas coronavirus numbers
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s daily coronavirus pandemic update for Tuesday listed 5,458 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, with 411 of those in Sedgwick County. There have been 137 deaths in Kansas, and local public health officials report 15 people have died in Sedgwick County.
The statewide case count increased by 213 from Monday, and there was one new death.
In the Wichita area, Reno County has 40 cases, Butler County has 16, Harvey County has eight, Sumner County has four, Cowley County has two and Kingman County has zero.
There have been 34,634 negative tests in Kansas. Sedgwick County has had 4,896 tests administered, and the local testing rate is 9.49 people per 1,000 population. The testing rate is the lowest of the nine counties with at least 100 confirmed cases.
The other eight counties are Wyandotte County with 896 cases, Ford County with 869, Seward County with 606, Leavenworth County with 602, Johnson County with 513, Finney County with 518, Lyon County with 265 and Shawnee County with 133.
The Sedgwick County Health Department reports 439 cases, an increase of three from Monday, while the KDHE reports 411 cases in the county. The 15 deaths in the county is an increase of two. Discrepancies between county and state numbers can be due to confirmed cases from one health department not yet being finalized with the other, officials have said.
Epidemiologists have determined that of the 439 local cases, about 62% of patients had close contact with another confirmed case. About 26% of cases are likely community spread, about 9% are travel-related and about 3% are under investigation.
Nine clusters have been identified in the county, including outbreaks at three businesses, three nursing homes and three religious centers. There have been 252 recoveries.
Statewide, 566 people have been hospitalized. There have been 212 patients admitted into intensive care units, and 95 have required mechanical ventilation.
The COVID-19 patients in Kansas, both hospitalized and not hospitalized, range in age from infant to 100 years old. The median is 43 and the average is 45. In cases with deaths, patients 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, Asian and Hispanic or Latino communities continue to be disproportionately affected by the disease.
First federal facility in Kansas reports coronavirus cases
The federal prison in Leavenworth reports 10 inmates with the novel coronavirus Nationwide, the Federal Bureau of Prisons reports 1,984 inmates and 356 employees being infected with the virus. Forty inmates have died from COVID-19.
Utility disconnections suspended until May 31
State utility regulators have extended the emergency order suspending disconnections for nonpayment through the rest of the month. The Kansas Corporation Commission on Tuesday approved extending the order. The directive covers all electrical, natural gas, water and telecommunications utilities under the KCC’s jurisdiction.
A separate order from Gov. Laura Kelly prohibits utilities that are not under the jurisdiction of the KCC from disconnecting customers until May 31.
“Even as the state begins the phased reopening process, Kansans continue to deal with the financial challenges brought about by COVID-19,” Commission Chair Susan Duffy said in a statement. “Maintaining utility services is critical to ensure public health and safety as the state works toward recovery.”
Prison has large number of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases
Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a memo that about 50% of the population at the Lansing prison are asymptomatic, but have tested positive for COVID-19. Most of the positive cases have been asymptomatic.
As of Tuesday, 551 Lansing Correctional Facility residents have tested positive, and 469 of those have been asymptomatic. Three have died. There have been 88 staff at the prison test positive.
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 12:37 PM.