Coronavirus updates: Sedgwick County reports one new death, two new COVID-19 cases
The Wichita Eagle has compiled a collection of news to know on the coronavirus pandemic for the Wichita area for Tuesday. For updates from Monday, click here.
Sedgwick County releases updated numbers
The Sedgwick County Health Department reports two new cases of COVID-19 and one new death from the disease. The case count as of Tuesday is 471 with 20 deaths. No additional information on the deceased patient was released.
There have been 316 local patients who have recovered. A person is considered to have recovered from COVID-19 if symptoms have been gone for three days or if a week has passed since symptoms started, whichever is longer.
Of the 471 cases, epidemiologists have determined about 62% had close contact with another confirmed case, about 26% are likely community spread, about 9% are travel-related and about 4% are under investigation.
Epidemiologists have not identified any new clusters in the county. There are nine known clusters, including outbreaks at three long-term care facilities, three businesses and three religious centers.
In Sedgwick County, at least 99 patients have been hospitalized and at least 71 have been discharged. The hospitalization data includes information through Saturday. County officials say there is a delay in hospitalization data reporting to ensure accuracy.
Indicators for personal protective equipment supplies in Sedgwick County show first responders and medical facilities are running low on surgical gowns and medical nitrile gloves, of which there is less than a three-week supply. There is less than a five-week supply of Tyvek coveralls. There is more than a five-week supply of N95 masks and surgical masks.
The county health department reports there are 7,163 cases in the state, which is an increase of 47.
First day with no KDHE numbers
Tuesday is the first day with no statewide update as the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is no longer releasing daily reports on COVID-19. The KDHE has switched to releasing statewide information only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
KDHE Secretary Lee Norman previously said the move was made so epidemiologists could focus more time on helping “push down the disease and to assist in the tracing” of the disease.
Wichita State schedules virtual graduation
Wichita State University has scheduled a virtual graduation celebration for 9 a.m. May 16. Prerecorded congratulatory remarks from the university president, provost, deans and alumni association will be included, as will custom slides for participating graduates.
The virtual ceremony will be available at www.wichita.edu/about/commencement/.
Special Olympics to hold virtual summer games
Special Olympics Kansas will hold its 2020 summer games virtually June 5-7, the same dates in-person games had originally been scheduled for in Maize.
Athletes may train at home through May 29 and will record their best times or results. They may choose one of six categories of competition, ranging from running events to wheelchair competition. An opening ceremony will be held online on June 5, including videos of the ceremonial torch run from law enforcement agencies across the state and athletes singing the National Anthem and reciting an oath.
More information is available at ksso.org/virtual-summer-games/.
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 3:45 PM.