Coronavirus updates: Kansas sees third-largest jump in COVID-19 cases
The Eagle has compiled news to know on coronavirus and COVID-19 from Friday for the Wichita area. For updates from Thursday, click here.
New numbers
Kansas coronavirus cases jumped overnight by 357, marking the third-largest jump since the virus was reported in Kansas on March 7.
The jump brings cases to 6,501. Deaths also rose by five to 152, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment data.
The biggest drivers of new cases were increases in Ford County (1,027 cases) with 94 new cases and Finney County (677 cases) with 88 new cases. Together, they accounted for about 51% of the increase. Federal efforts to keep meat-packing facilities operating has led to additional testing in both of those counties.
Wyandotte County (1,001 cases) also saw a jump of 50 cases or about 14% of the new cases.
The KDHE reported 608 hospitalizations. Additionally, 41,207 of the 47,638 people tested came back negative, giving a positive testing rate of 13.6%.
Sedgwick County cases increased by eight to 438. Eighteen deaths were reported in the county as of Friday.
Sedgwick County’s testing rate is 11.12 per 1,000 people. The statewide testing rate is 16.35 per 1,000 people.
Sedgwick County remains the lowest in testing per 1,000 people among nine counties with at least 100 cases.
In order from highest cases: Ford County, 1,027 cases and testing rate of 79.90; Wyandotte County, 1,001 cases and testing rate of 26.25; Leavenworth County, 907 cases and testing rate of 42.93; Finney County, 677 cases and testing rate of 37.24; Seward County, 668 cases and testing rate of 72.66; Johnson County 583 cases and testing rate of 14.21; Sedgwick County 438 cases and testing rate of 11.12; Lyon County 323 cases and testing rate of 26.81; and Shawnee County 146 cases and testing rate of 20.85.
Sedgwick County, which releases its figures after the KDHE, reported an increase of three cases to 457. 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.
Of the 457 cases, there have been 18 deaths; 173 active cases and 266 people recovered. A person is considered recovered from COVID-19 when 72 hours pass after symptoms stop or seven days after symptoms start, whichever is longer.
Sedgwick County has had a total of at least 79 hospitalizations and 50 people discharged from the hospital, according to data through April 25. The hospitalization and discharges data lag behind to ensure accuracy, according to the county.
Wichita public schools to hold commencement after all
Graduation ceremonies set for May had been canceled because of the pandemic. On Friday, USD 259 Superintendent Alicia Thompson announced in-person graduation ceremonies will be held on July 25 and 26. The commencements will be at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. both days at either Intrust Bank Arena or Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center. More information is available at usd259.org/seniors2020.
Eight deaths and 61 cases at Sedgwick County nursing home
The Clearwater Nursing and Rehabilitation Center announced it has had eight deaths and 61 cases (47 residents and 14 staff). The deaths represent 44% of the 18 deaths in the county. The cases at the center are one of nine clusters reported by Sedgwick County. There are two other nursing homes, three religious centers and three businesses.
Clusters account for 44% of cases and 66% of deaths
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said the state is tracking 76 clusters, which account for 2,861 of the 6,501 cases (44%) and 101 of the 152 deaths (66%). The cluster breakdown is 31 at private businesses, 22 at long-term care facility, eight at religious centers, six from meat-packing facilities, three group living, three correctional facilities and three healthcare facilities. Norman also said the KDHE would move from daily updates posted online to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so epidemiologists could focus more time on helping “push down the disease and to assist in the tracing” of the disease.
Worst monthly job loss in history
In April, the U.S. unemployment rate climbed 10.3 percentage points from the month before to 14.7 percent, making it the highest level on record that the United States Department of Labor has dating back to 1948. The Associated Press reported the level was the highest since the Great Depression. March saw a job loss of 870,000 jobs and April added 20.5 million, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The latter is the worst monthly job loss on record, the AP reported.
“The changes in these measures reflect the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it,” the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report says. “Employment fell sharply in all major industry sectors, with particularly heavy job losses in leisure and hospitality.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 1:23 PM.