Coronavirus updates: Kansas COVID-19 case count jumps 276 with seven more deaths
The Eagle has compiled news to know on coronavirus and COVID-19 from Wednesday for the Wichita area. For updates from Tuesday, click here.
New KDHE coronavirus numbers
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s daily coronavirus pandemic update for Wednesday listed 5,734 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 276 cases. Sedgwick County’s number increased by five to 416.
The statewide death count rose by seven to 144. Local public health officials report 17 people have died in Sedgwick County.
In the Wichita area, Reno County has 40 cases, Butler County has 15, Harvey County has nine, Sumner County has four, Cowley County has two and Kingman County has zero.
There have been 36,380 negative tests in Kansas. Sedgwick County has had 5,101 tests administered, and the local testing rate is 9.88 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 910 cases, Ford County with 880, Leavenworth County with 783, Seward County with 626, Finney County with 532, Johnson County with 519, Lyon County with 271 and Shawnee County with 136.
Statewide, 571 people have been hospitalized. There have been 213 patients admitted into intensive care units, and 96 have required mechanical ventilation. Hospitals have discharged 318 patients.
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 44. 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.
New Sedgwick County coronavirus numbers
The Sedgwick County Health Department reports 441 cases, an increase of two from Tuesday, while the KDHE reports 416 cases in the county. The 17 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 441 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 2% 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 259 recoveries.
Wichita gets $1.2 million grant
The city of Wichita will get more than $1.2 million in grant money through the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister announced on Wednesday. The money will be used to help respond to the public safety challenges posed by the pandemic.
McAllister said the funds can support prevention, preparation and response efforts, including overtime; supplies such as gloves, masks and sanitizer; and addressing the medical needs of inmates in prisons, jails and detention centers.
Taiwan donates 100,000 masks to Kansas
Sen. Jerry Moran announced on Wednesday that Taiwan is donating 100,000 surgical masks to Kansas. The international aid comes follows a request from the senator’s staff. The shipment is expected to arrive next week.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been listening to the needs of Kansans and gone to work focused on addressing their most critical needs,” Moran said in a statement. “We have a shortage of PPE in hot spots across our state, and I’m very appreciative of President Tsai and Taiwan for generously donating 100,000 surgical masks to Kansas to protect our frontline medical professionals and those working in our vital food supply chains. This is another great reminder that we are all in this together and that Taiwan’s contributions to promoting global health deserve the highest praise.”
Wichita Work Release Facility staffer tests positive
The Kansas Department of Corrections announced that one staff member at the Wichita Work Release Facility has tested positive for COVID-19. Three residents have tested positive and were moved to Lansing Correctional Facility. One of the three has recovered.
The Wichita Work Release Facility is a minimum-custody state prison and satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility. It had a population of 248 prior to the pandemic and now has a temporary population of 175.
Contributing: Michael Stavola of The Eagle
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 12:32 PM.