Seven more deaths from COVID-19 and 1,064 new cases in Kansas over the weekend

Kansas had another seven deaths from the coronavirus disease and more than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 reported over the weekend.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 1,064 new cases on Monday, bringing the total to 28,876. That was a percent increase of 3.8%. The seven new deaths brings the total to 365 — a 2% increase.

The KDHE reported 310 more cases in Sedgwick County, which was a 7.4% increase. There have now been 4,506 cases in the county. Sedgwick County’s case increase was larger than both Johnson and Wyandotte counties, which have more total cases.

The 310 new cases in Sedgwick County account for about 29% of the statewide increase. The county has about 18% of the state’s population.

The state also reported 31 new COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide, putting the cumulative total at 1,782.

The KDHE reported two more hospitalizations in Sedgwick County, putting its total at 229. The number of coronavirus disease patients in intensive care climbed by four to 48, and the number on ventilators went up by three to 14. Discharges increased by three to 121. The numbers are cumulative from when the pandemic hit the Wichita area.

The Sedgwick County Health Department reported increases in hospitalizations and fewer ICU beds available.

There were 72 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Healthcare as of Monday morning, the county health agency reported. Of that number, 34 were in the ICU. There were about 20 ICU beds available of the estimated 208 total.

Last Monday, there were 63 COVID-19 hospitalizations with 32 in the ICU. There were 22 ICU beds available.

The county reported one new death on Monday, bringing the pandemic total to 43. There were 61 new cases, and now the total is 4,348. There were 30 new recoveries and 30 more active cases. There have been 1,466 recoveries with 2,839 active cases. The increases are from Sunday’s report.

Another 681 people were tested, putting the county total at 56,770. The positive test percentage had a slight decline from 11.92% on Friday to 11.78% on Saturday, which is the most recent day with data available.

The KDHE reported 8,268 more negative tests, which is a statewide increase of 3.1%.

Of the 61 new cases reported by the county, 60 are still under investigation for the source of exposure. The other one was a close contact of another confirmed case.

There were four new cases in the infant to 19-year-old age group, 23 new cases in both the 20-39 and the 40-59 age groups, nine new cases in the 60-79 age group and two new cases in the 80 and older age group.

County COVID-19 comparisons

There are now 27 counties with at least 100 cases of COVID-19. The one new county on the list is Barton County. Eleven of those counties had percent increases greater than Kansas as a whole, which had a statewide increase of 1,064 cases, or 3.8%.

That includes Butler County, which had the greatest percent change at 10.2%. Four other counties in the Wichita area have at least 100 cases, and all of them had new cases at a higher rate than the state. They are Sedgwick, Reno, Harvey and Cowley counties.

Sedgwick County had the biggest increase in actual cases of any county.

The counties with at least 100 cases are:

• Johnson County has 5,252 cases, which is an increase of 257 cases or 5.1%.
• Wyandotte County has 4,711 cases, which is an increase of 124 cases or 2.7%.
• Sedgwick County has 4,506 cases, which is an increase of 310 cases or 7.4%.
• Ford County has 2,121 cases, which is an increase of 15 cases or 0.7%.
• Finney County has 1,655 cases, which is an increase of nine cases or 0.5%.
• Leavenworth County has 1,457 cases, which is an increase of 35 cases or 2.5%.
• Shawnee County has 1,443 cases, which is an increase of 45 cases or 3.2%.
• Seward County has 1,127 cases, which is an increase of eight cases or 0.7%.
• Douglas County has 685 cases, which is an increase of 22 cases or 3.3%.
• Lyon County has 650 cases, which is an increase of 14 cases or 2.2%.
• Riley County has 425 cases, which is an increase of seven cases or 1.7%.
• Crawford County has 391 cases, which is an increase of 11 cases or 2.9%.
• Saline County has 332 cases, which is an increase of five cases or 1.5%.
• Reno County has 239 cases, which is an increase of 10 cases or 4.4%.
• Butler County has 237 cases, which is an increase of 22 cases or 10.2%.
• Geary County has 181 cases, which is an increase of two cases or 1.1%.
• Harvey County has 180 cases, which is an increase of 15 cases or 9.1%.
• Franklin County has 159 cases, which is an increase of nine cases or 6%.
• Cowley County has 158 cases, which is an increase of seven cases or 4.6%.
• Montgomery County has 149 cases, which is an increase of nine cases or 6.4%.
• Jackson County has 144 cases, which is an increase of one case or 0.7%.
• McPherson County has 140 cases, which is an increase of one case or 0.7%.
• Ellis County has 135 cases, which is an increase of five cases or 3.8%.
• Miami County has 130 cases, which is an increase of eight cases or 6.6%.
• Pottawatomie County has 112 cases, which is an increase of four cases or 3.7%.
• Labette County has 110 cases, which is an increase of one case or 0.9%.
• Barton County has 101 cases, which is an increase of nine cases or 9.9%.

Coronavirus clusters

The Sedgwick County Health Department reported two more coronavirus clusters at area businesses. There have now been outbreaks at 10 local businesses, 14 nursing homes, four religious institutions and two correctional facilities.

The local outbreaks account for 33 of the county’s 43 deaths.

The KDHE reported 360 clusters across the state, 138 of which are active. The mass outbreaks account for 7,710 cases and 243 deaths.

Clusters by category are:

• Correctional facilities, eight clusters, 1,048 cases, six deaths;
• Daycares or schools, 15 clusters, 64 cases;
• Group homes, 17 clusters, 182 cases, three deaths;
• Health care facilities, 17 clusters, 135 cases, one death;
• Nursing homes, 86 clusters, 1,242 cases, 188 deaths;
• Meatpacking plants, 14 clusters, 3,243 cases, 17 deaths;
• Businesses, 132 clusters, 1,024 cases, seven deaths;
• Sporting events, eight clusters, 59 cases;
• Gatherings, 54 clusters, 628 cases, 16 deaths.

Within the gatherings category are clusters at 10 bars or restaurants, one camp, 31 private events and 12 religious gatherings.

This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 12:46 PM.