Coronavirus updates: 2 more COVID-19 positives in Sedgwick County, new prison cases
The Eagle has compiled a list of coronavirus pandemic updates for Tuesday, May 19. For updates from Monday, click here.
New Sedgwick County COVID-19 numbers
The Sedgwick County Health Department reports two new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths, putting the numbers at 538 cases and 20 deaths.
There have been 367 local patients who have recovered, which is an increase of five from Monday. A patient is considered recovered from COVID-19 72 hours after symptoms stop or 10 days after symptoms start, whichever is longer.
Of the 538 cases, epidemiologists have determined about 66% had close contact with another confirmed case, about 24% are likely community spread, about 8% are travel-related and about 2% are under investigation.
Epidemiologists have not identified any new clusters in the county. There are 10 known clusters, including outbreaks at three long-term care facilities, three businesses, three religious centers and one correctional facility.
More positive tests in Wichita prison cluster
The Kansas Department of Corrections reported Monday evening that 47 residents and seven staff members of the Wichita Work Release Facility have tested positive. Four of the residents have recovered. Of the inmates who tested positive, 43 showed no symptoms.
Facility-wide testing began last week. The Sedgwick County Health Department then identified the minimum-custody prison as a cluster.
KDHE provides more detail on clusters
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s coronavirus report on Monday provided more information on clusters in the state. The 95 clusters in the state is an increase of one from Friday. Clusters account for 4,013 cases (about 48% of the total) and 129 deaths (about 75% of the total).
The clusters with the most deaths are long-term care facilities. There are outbreaks at 25 nursing homes, with 573 cases and 99 deaths.
The clusters with the most cases are meatpacking plants. There are 10 outbreaks at meatpacking plants, with 1,964 cases and six deaths.
The category with the most outbreaks is private industry, which has 38 clusters, 356 cases and six deaths.
There are three clusters at correctional facilities, accounting for 920 cases and five deaths. There are six clusters in group living arrangements, account for 55 cases and two deaths. Ten clusters at churches or other gatherings are responsible for 123 cases and 11 deaths. Health care facilities account for three clusters and 22 cases, but no deaths.
Evergy pledges $2.2 million to fight pandemic
The energy company pledged $2.2 million to help fight the novel coronavirus which will be in addition to its annual giving of $6 million. Of the total giving, $2.2 million will be given in three designated ways to help the pandemic: $400,000 as grants to non-profit agencies, $800,000 to help “small business needs, business attraction and retention, and workforce training and development” and $1 million to help customers with payments. More information on the programs can be found at evergy.com/covid19.
Memorial Day event cancellations
Many Memorial Day ceremonies in the Wichita area have been canceled ahead of the holiday on Monday. While certain activities are allowed amid the pandemic, the governor has issued safety guidelines for social gatherings. For more information on how the pandemic has affected Memorial Day 2020, click here.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 3:03 PM.