Coronavirus updates: Kansas reports 1,005 new cases and 18 additional deaths

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 18 new COVID-19 deaths since Wednesday; the largest increase since the KDHE changed reporting to three times a week on May 13.

New cases increased by 1,005, making it the fourth time under the new system that more than 1,000 cases have been reported. The first of those four times was July 13.

There have been a total of 25,109 cases and 326 deaths.

Earlier this week, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman dispelled the idea that the higher numbers were the result of increased testing. If it were only being detected more and not spreading, Norman said, the percent of positive cases would be going down, not up as it is.

The KDHE has percent-positive data available from June 25, when it was around 7.6%, to Friday, when it was nearly 9.7%; however, Friday’s data is not complete and the two days prior were over 10%.

Percent positive, deaths and hospitalizations are better indicators of community spread than new cases, health officials say.

Earlier this week, Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns said Wichita hospitals had the “more patients in the hospital ... than we’ve ever had.”

“We have more employees at our hospitals who are sick and at home with COVID now than we’ve ever had,” Minns said. “And that is a major component of a hospital’s ability to take care of its patients.”

On Friday, the University of Kansas Health System said it had slightly fewer patients after “peaking at 36 patients earlier this week.”

Hospitalizations since Wednesday increased by 51, bringing the total to 1,596.

Based on available KDHE data, the only way to assign where deaths come from is if they can be attributed to a cluster. Of the 18 new deaths, six can be attributed to clusters — one from a private business and five at long-term care facilities.

Clusters at long-term care facilities are responsible for 185 deaths, or about 57% of the total.

In Sedgwick County, at least 27 of the 35 deaths have been attributed to long-term care facilities. Sedgwick County saw its cases increase by 211, accounting for about 21% of the new cases in the state.

Sedgwick County reports two new deaths

The Sedgwick County Health Department reported two new deaths on Friday, bringing the total to 35.

Sedgwick County also saw 189 new cases, for a total of 3,303.

The County’s percent of positive cases hit a high of about 12.8% on Thursday — the latest day available. The previous high was about 12.1% on April 19. Sedgwick County had another peak of 11.84% on April 28 before it dropped below 1% on May 27. It’s been climbing ever since.

Active cases also hit a record of 2,128 on Thursday, the latest day for which data is available. Actives cases are cases minus recoveries and deaths.

Inmates test positive in Kansas prisons after staff found with virus

One inmate at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility and five at the El Dorado Correctional facility have tested positive for COVID-19, the Kansas Department of Corrections said Friday. All of the men are asymptomatic.

The KDOC tested 158 men at Hutchinson and 400 at El Dorado after one employee at each facility tested positive. The inmate at Hutchinson is over the age of 20. In El Dorado, the men are over the ages of 30, 40, two over the age of 50 and one over 70. Staff and inmates have had to wear masks since July 3.

KDOC has had more than 1,000 cases in its facilities, including six deaths. The deaths — two employees and four prisoners — have all been at the Lansing Correctional Facility, where there has been 946 cases.

This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 2:08 PM.