Coronavirus updates: Kansas case count jumps 410, the second-biggest daily increase
New KDHE coronavirus numbers
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s daily coronavirus pandemic update for Thursday listed 6,144 cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 410 cases. That’s the second-largest daily increase in new cases. Sedgwick County’s number increased by 14 to 430.
The KDHE on Thursday started including in its count probable cases, defined primarily as someone who has symptoms and has been linked to a patient with Covid-19. There are 6,082 confirmed and 62 probable. Three of the cases in Sedgwick County are probable.
The statewide death count rose by three to 147. Local public health officials report 18 people have died in Sedgwick County.
In the Wichita area, Reno County has 44 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 38,678 negative tests in Kansas. Sedgwick County has had 5,356 tests administered, and the local testing rate is 10.38 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 951 cases, Ford County with 933, Leavenworth County with 887, Seward County with 647, Finney County with 589, Johnson County with 560, Lyon County with 311 and Shawnee County with 140.
Statewide, at least 587 people have been hospitalized. There have been 218 patients admitted into intensive care units, and 97 have required mechanical ventilation. Hospitals have discharged 323 patients. Hospitalization data is available in about 64% of cases.
The COVID-19 patients in Kansas, both hospitalized and not hospitalized, range in age from infant to 100 years old. The median is 42 and the average is 44. In cases with deaths, patients range in age from 42 to 99 with a median of 81.
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. Race and ethnicity data are available in about 77% of cases.
New Sedgwick County coronavirus numbers
The Sedgwick County Health Department reports 454 cases, an increase of 13 from Wednesday, while the KDHE reports 430 cases in the county. The 18 deaths in the county is an increase of one. 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 454 local cases, about 61% 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 263 recoveries.
The trio of outbreaks at long-term care facilities has been connected to about 27% of the cases in the county and about 83% of the deaths. There have been 121 cases at nursing homes, of which 92 are residents and 29 are staff members. The nursing home death count is 15. Of the infected residents, 17 have recovered.
The three nursing homes with clusters identified by county epidemiologists are Clearwater Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 620 Wood; Chisholm Place, 1859 N. Webb; and The Manor Nursing Home at Park West, 505 N. Maize. Legend Senior Living at Park West Plaza lists its address as 505 N. Maize.
Indicators for personal protective equipment show agencies in the county are running low on surgical gowns and medical nitrile gloves, and the supply of Tyvek coveralls is starting to run low. There is a good supply of N95 masks and surgical masks.
Wichita library opens for curbside pickup and rent assistance available
The Wichita Public Library will start opening on Monday for curbside pickup, Mayor Brandon Whipple said at his weekly briefing. Whipple said rent and utility assistance is also available for people impacted by the pandemic. To see if you qualify for assistance, call 316-462-3775 or email wsccap@wichita.gov.
$4.6 million coming to help Kansas with Election Day
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said the state received $4.6 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to help with COVID-19-related expenses for the 2020 election. Of that, $2.6 million will be used to reimburse counties for pandemic expenditures associated with preparing for the federal election in November. Schwab’s office is finalizing the purchase of $1 million worth of personal protection equipment for Kansas polling places and the remaining funds will be used for additional state and county COVID-19 expenses, according to a news release.
This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 12:27 PM.