14 more COVID patients die in Kansas as deaths and hospitalizations outpace new cases

Kansas public health officials reported 14 new deaths from the coronavirus disease in two days as the percentage increase in deaths and hospitalizations outpaced that of new cases of COVID-19.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 26,870 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. That is an increase of 698 cases from Monday, which is a percent change of about 2.7%.

The 56 new hospitalizations is an increase of about 3.4% and brings the cumulative total to 1,700. The 14 new deaths attributed to COVID-19 is an increase of about 4.2% and puts the statewide death count at 349.

The KDHE reported 3,951 cases in Sedgwick County, which is an increase of 135 cases or 3.5% from Monday.

The Sedgwick County Health Department reported 3,870 cases, which was an increase of 80 from Tuesday.

Discrepancies in the Sedgwick County case totals between the state and local health departments can be due to a delay in reporting between the agencies. Additionally, local officials only report COVID-19 cases that are confirmed through a nasopharyngeal test. The KDHE includes both confirmed and probable cases.

The county’s health department also reported 20 more active cases and 60 new recoveries, but no new deaths. There are 2,462 known active cases with 1,370 recoveries and 38 deaths.

Of the 80 new cases, three were infected by a close contact with someone who had COVID-19. The other 77 cases are still under investigation by epidemiologists for the source of exposure to the virus.

More than half of the new cases were patients younger than 40 years old. The infant to 19-year-old age group added 13 cases and the 20-39 age group added 32 cases. Another 26 new cases were from the 40-59 age group. The 60-79 age group had seven new cases, and there were two more cases in the 80 and older age group.

Of the 698 new cases reported by the KDHE, about 74% were patients between the ages of 18 and 64.

The zero to 9-year-old age group added 24 cases, the 10-17 age group added 58 cases, the 18-24 age group added 101 cases, the 25-34 age group added 107 cases, the 35-44 age group added 115 cases, the 45-54 age group added 100 cases, the 55-64 age group added 94 cases, the 65-74 age group added 58 cases, the 75-84 age group added 29 cases and the 85 and older age group added 12 cases.

The median age of Kansas COVID-19 patients is 37 and the average is 39.

The state reported an additional 5,315 negative diagnostic tests, bringing the total to 258,079. The statistic was changed on Monday to only include people who had diagnostic testing. The positive test percentage was 10.1% on Tuesday, up from 6.6% on Monday. The statewide population testing rate is 97.81 people per 1,000. Sedgwick County’s is 87.7 per 1,000.

Sedgwick County reported an additional 746 people have been tested, bringing the total to 52,467. An updated positive test percentage was not immediately available Wednesday afternoon.

The county only reports updated hospitalization numbers on Mondays.

The state’s 1,700 total hospitalizations include 483 intensive care unit admissions and 174 patients on mechanical ventilation. At least 1,149 patients have been discharged. The hospital capacity data showed about 38% of ICU beds in the state were available as of Tuesday.

There were 83 ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients out of the 587 total ICU beds in use. There were 951 total ICU beds. A total of 393 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized on Tuesday.

The south-central Kansas region had 137 total COVID-19 patients hospitalized on Tuesday, the KDHE reported. That included 38 in the ICU. There were 237 out of 380 ICU beds in use, so 38% of the beds were available.

Coronavirus clusters

A dozen more coronavirus clusters were identified in Kansas since Monday, the KDHE reported. The new outbreaks were at four nursing homes, four businesses, one gathering, one health care facility, one sporting event and one group home.

The 337 total clusters — 138 of which are active — account for 7,521 cases of COVID-19 and 238 deaths, or about 28% of all cases and about 68.2% of all deaths in the state. The cluster death count rose by three with one attributed to a gathering and two connected to nursing homes.

Wednesday was the first time the KDHE included a breakdown of the gatherings category, which has 51 clusters with 601 cases and 16 deaths. Gatherings at bars and restaurant account for 11 of those outbreaks, one was at a camp, 27 were private events and 12 were religious gatherings. The religious gatherings were responsible for 12 of the deaths and the other four came from private events.

Nursing homes account for more than half of all deaths in Kansas. The 86 clusters at long-term care facilities are responsible for 1,242 cases and 188 deaths.

The 15 clusters at group homes account for 165 cases and three deaths. Health care facilities have had 17 outbreaks with 131 cases and one death. There have been seven outbreaks at correctional facilities, accounting for 1,040 cases and six deaths. Meatpacking plants have had 13 clusters with 3,233 cases and 17 deaths. Private businesses have had 126 clusters, which account for 985 cases and seven deaths.

Two cluster categories have not been connected to any COVID-19 deaths. The 14 clusters at daycares or schools account for 62 cases. The eight sporting event clusters have had 59 cases.

Sedgwick County did not report any new clusters on Wednesday. The 24 clusters include outbreaks at 11 nursing homes, eight businesses, three religious institutions and two correctional facilities. The clusters account for 30 of the 38 local deaths.

County COVID-19 comparisons

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports that cases have been identified in 103 of the state’s 105 counties. There are 26 counties with at least 100 cases.

With 26,870 cases of COVID-19 in the state, the increase of 698 cases from Monday is a percent change of about 2.7%. Half of the 26 counties with at least 100 cases had a percentage increase greater than the state as a whole. That includes the Wichita-area counties of Butler, Cowley, Harvey and Sedgwick.

The Kansas counties with at least 100 cases of COVID-19 are:

• Johnson County has 4,813 cases, an increase of 170 cases or 3.7%.
• Wyandotte County has 4,439 cases, an increase of 152 cases or 3.5%.
• Sedgwick County has 3,951 cases, an increase of 135 cases or 3.5%.
• Ford County has 2,087 cases, an increase of 12 cases or 0.6%.
• Finney County has 1,632 cases, an increase of six cases or 0.4%.
• Leavenworth County has 1,406 cases, an increase of 14 cases or 1%.
• Shawnee County has 1,374 cases, an increase of 50 cases or 3.8%.
• Seward County has 1,087 cases, an increase of six cases or 0.6%.
• Douglas County has 632 cases, an increase of 16 cases or 2.6%.
• Lyon County has 619 cases, an increase of 11 cases or 1.8%.
• Riley County has 412 cases, an increase of three cases or 0.7%.
• Crawford County has 375 cases, an increase of two cases or 0.5%.
• Saline County has 316 cases, an increase of six cases or 1.9%.
• Reno County has 217 cases, an increase of three cases or 1.4%.
• Geary County has 177 cases, an increase of one case or 0.6%.
• Butler County has 195 cases, an increase of eight cases or 4.2%.
• Harvey County has 150 cases, an increase of seven cases or 4.9%.
• Franklin County has 147 cases, an increase of five cases or 3.5%.
• Cowley County has 146 cases, an increase of six cases or 4.3%.
• Jackson County has 138 cases, an increase of four cases or 3%.
• McPherson County has 131 cases, an increase of five cases or 4%.
• Montgomery County has 128 cases, an increase of six cases or 4.9%.
• Ellis County has 127 cases, an increase of 12 cases or 10.4%.
• Miami County has 113 cases, an increase of five cases or 4.6%.
• Labette County has 107 cases, an decrease of three cases or negative 2.7%.
• Pottawatomie County has 107 cases, which is no change.

Wesley Medical Center launches mask-wearing campaign

Wesley Medical Center, in collaboration with more than two dozen partners, has launched the “Save a Life. Wear a Mask.” campaign on Wednesday to raise awareness about wearing a mask. As part of the effort, yard signs will be placed around town, including at Wichita Public Schools buildings. More information, including a video about the campaign, can be found at wearamaskwichita.com.

Ellsworth prisoners test positive

The Kansas Department of Corrections announced that two residents of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19. A staff member tested positive earlier this month. Subsequent mass testing at the prison included 163 residents.

The two men who tested positive were asymptomatic and have been moved to Lansing Correctional Facility.

New deadlines for driver’s licenses and vehicle registration

The Kansas Department of Revenue announced new deadlines for renewing driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.

Driver’s licenses and state identification cards with an expiration date between March 12 and Sept. 15 have a renewal deadline of Dec. 31.

Vehicle registrations with an expiration between March and June must be renewed by Nov. 14. Registration renewals for July and subsequent months must be renewed according to the regular schedule.

New vehicle purchases between January and May have extensions based on the month of the purchase. January purchases have until the end of August, February purchases have through September, March purchases have through October, April purchases have through November and May purchases have through December.

This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 12:40 PM.