Coronavirus update: 100-year-old becomes oldest Kansan to die of COVID-19
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported on Friday that a 100-year-old had died from COVID-19, the oldest person in the state to die from the disease.
The previous oldest death was 99 and the youngest remains 18. The median age of Kansas’ 402 deaths — the total of which increased by seven since Wednesday’s report — is 79.
Five of the seven new deaths were 85 or older. One was reported between the age of 65-74 and one between 75-84.
The 85 and older category accounts for 142, or about 35%, of all deaths.
The 65-74 age group saw the biggest increase in hospitalizations. Of the 45 new hospitalizations, which brought the total to 2,020, 14 were in that age group. The second-biggest increase was 45-54, which saw 10 new hospitalizations.
At the same time, the median age of people infected has been dropping. It was 52 on March 24, the earliest date available, and is now 37. The average age of Kansas’ 33,885 cases is 39.
Kansas saw an increase of 1,338 cases from Wednesday. That is the third-largest increase since the KDHE started to report on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays in mid-May.
Health officials say better indicators of community spread are hospitalizations, deaths and percent of positive cases since more testing could result in more cases being reported.
The KDHE has available data on hospitalizations and deaths from July 26 to August 9. The data lags five days behind since the most recent data is expected to be incomplete. During that time, new hospital admissions trended from about 17 a day to roughly 9. Deaths trended from about 2.8 per day to roughly 1.9.
The percent of positive cases has been generally trended upward since May 17, the earliest date available. It was 2.2% on that day. It’s been over 10% since Wednesday.
Sedgwick County numbers
The Sedgwick County Health Department on Friday reported an increase of one COVID-19 death and 72 new cases, bringing the totals to 47 and 5,213.
Of the new cases, the 20-39 age group saw the biggest increase, going from up 31 to 2,140, or about 41% of the total cases.
Sedgwick County reported an additional cluster and death at a long-term care facility this week. Sedgwick County now has 16 long-term care clusters that account for 294 cases. The facilities also account for at least 59% of the deaths. The number could be much higher but specifics on each death are not reported.
Sedgwick County also continues to have its active cases climb. It was 2,811 on Thursday, the latest day available. Active cases are cases minus recoveries and deaths.
Percent of positive cases in Sedgwick County has been mostly trending down since hitting a high of more than 14% on July 23. It’s been between 10 and 11% since Aug. 5 but the number could change as the health department goes back and finalizes calculations.
Mobile sites locations available in Sedgwick County
The Sedgwick County Health Department Mobile Outreach Team will have walk-in COVID-19 testing sites available from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at a few locations in the coming weeks. No appointment is needed and the test is free to residents who have symptoms or have had contact with someone with the virus. Law enforcement, “Direct Support Professional,” healthcare workers and people who work in long-term care facilities can also be tested, according to a Sedgwick County news release. Results take 5-7 days. Test sites will be:
August 18 - Madison Avenue Central Park Pavilion, 512 E. Madison in Derby
August 20 - Haysville Community Center, 130 E. 2nd South in Haysville
August 24 - Clearwater Community Center, 921 E. Janet Ave in Clearwater
Several people at Kansas wedding test positive for COVID-19
Several people who tested positive for COVID-19 attended a wedding at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and a reception afterward at the Great Bend Convention Center on August 8, Barton County announced Friday. Others who attended the event may have been exposed. In a news release, the Barton County Health Department said people who attended should monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days.
This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 3:20 PM.