Coronavirus updates: Kansas passes 10,000 cases of COVID-19; deaths number 217

Kansas has passed 10,000 cases of COVID-19 as the coronavirus pandemic enters June.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s report for Monday listed 10,011 total cases and 217 deaths in the state. There have been 93,301 negative tests.

Since the last KDHE report on Friday, there have been 292 new cases and nine more deaths. The number of negative tests increased by 8,071. In Sedgwick County, the case count increased by 26 to 582. Cases have been identified in 88 of the state’s 105 counties.

In the Wichita area, Reno County has 51 cases, Butler County has 37, Harvey County has 13, Cowley County has 10, Sumner County has eight and Kingman County has zero.

Statewide, patients range in age from infant to 103 years old with a median of 41. In cases where hospitalization data is available, there have been 862 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Six more coronavirus clusters were identified over the weekend, bringing the total to 128. Clusters are responsible for about half of all cases and about two-thirds of all deaths in Kansas.

One of the new clusters was at a “school/daycare.” Three of the new clusters were at private businesses and another three were at long-term care facilities. The number of clusters at gatherings was reduced by one.

It is unclear if the number of clusters at gatherings was reduced because the outbreak was reclassified.

In total, there have been 59 clusters identified at private businesses — the most of any category. Those outbreaks are responsible for 441 cases and five deaths.

The cluster category with the most deaths is long-term care facilities. The 33 outbreaks at nursing homes are responsible for 722 cases and 111 deaths.

Outbreaks at meatpacking plants are responsible for the most cases of any cluster category. There are 10 clusters with 2,729 cases and nine deaths.

In other categories, there are clusters at three correctional facilities with 999 cases and six deaths; six group living arrangement clusters have 53 cases and two deaths; five health care facilities clusters have 44 cases and no deaths; 11 clusters at religious and other gatherings account for 148 cases and 12 deaths; and one cluster at a school/daycare has two cases with no deaths.

Additional information typically released by the KDHE was not available due to technical issues with the health department’s online map.

In other coronavirus news:

Sedgwick County COVID-19 update

Sedgwick County has passed 600 total cases of coronavirus as the number of active cases is increasing again, local public health officials report.

The Sedgwick County Health Department on Monday reported 601 total cases. The county case count jumped by 16 from Sunday — the largest increase in a single day in nearly three weeks, according to the health department’s online dashboard.

There have been 432 recoveries, which is an increase of four. There are 148 active cases, which is the most in more than two weeks. There have been no new deaths, keeping the death count at 21.

There have been 15,392 people tested, which is an increase of 278.

Three people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the past week, and two patients were discharged. As of Saturday, there had been 108 hospitalizations and 96 discharges.

Dole VA Medical Center update

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center began a phased expansion of clinical activities on Monday. Officials at the facility report that:

• The Wichita campus entry gate for Veterans is limited to the Kellogg entrance.
• The Wichita campus building entrances will be limited to Bldg. 29 (Primary Care) Bldg. 5b (Behavioral Health) Bldg. 60 (PM&R) and Bldg. 62 (ED) entry at all times for emergent care.
• There will be several types of appointments, such as face-to-face, telephone, and VA video connect.
• When entering our facilities, patients and permitted visitors will be screened for potential COVID-19 symptoms.
• At entry everyone will be required to sanitize their hands and wear their own mask, or one will be provided by the Medical Center.
• Social distancing will remain a high priority in all areas.
• All high-touch point areas will continue to be frequently cleaned.
• Reducing the number of walk-ins by asking patients to call before coming in for urgent symptoms or administrative issues.

This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 1:10 PM.