Sedgwick County sees biggest single-day jump in new cases of COVID-19, one more death

The number of new coronavirus cases reported on Tuesday broke the record for most in one day as local public health officials reported one more death.

The Sedgwick County Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard showed a jump of 41 new cases on Tuesday, increasing the total to 937. The previous record for most new cases in a single day was 38 on April 27, according to the dashboard.

The death count increased by one to 26. It broke a streak of more than week without a death, as the last time the tally increased was June 13.

Six more recoveries were reported, bringing the total to 601.

For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit the Wichita area, there are more than 300 active cases of COVID-19 in the county. The number increased by 34 to 310.

The increase in active cases on Tuesday is tied with May 12 for the most in one day, the dashboard shows. Active cases are equal to total cases minus recoveries minus deaths. Active cases had previously peaked at 176 on April 29 before declining for most of May. The count has been rising since all mandatory restrictions were lifted in late May.

Of the 41 new cases, 28 are still under investigation by epidemiologists. Eight patients had close contact with another confirmed case, four are likely community spread and one is travel-related.

There were 770 new tests reported on Tuesday, increasing the total to 25,177. It is the most tests in a single day, according to the county’s dashboard. The percentage of tests that come back positive is also up. The rolling 14-day average was 3.68% on Monday, up from 3.48% on Sunday. No number was listed for Tuesday.