Month: March 2020

Officials announce plans to handle COVID-19 (coronavirus 2019)

The Unified Government Health Department has a flier on COVID-19, the coronavirus disease 2019. (UG flier)
The Unified Government Health Department has a flier on COVID-19, the coronavirus disease 2019. (UG flier)

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019, in Wyandotte County or in Kansas, according to local and state officials.

The UG Health Department, state and regional partners are continuing to monitor COVID-19, according to Dave Reno, a spokesman for the Unified Government.

The role of public health agencies includes monitoring travel from areas affected by COVID-19, he stated.

Public health agencies, including the UG Health Department, already have plans in place to address outbreaks of communicable diseases, according to Reno. They are working with partners to review the plans and ensure the community is prepared in light of the COVID-19 situation, he stated.

The best way for the community to stay up to date on COVID-19 is to look at information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at kdheks.gov/coronavirus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov/COVID19, Reno stated.

A spokesman for the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, Edwin Birch, said that the school district is following the guidelines of the UG Health Department in dealing with this, and the UG Health Department is following guidelines from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“Our plan is to work closely in contact with them, follow the rules and guidelines,” Birch said.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., supported funding for a response to the coronovirus. She issued a statement Wednesday:

“It’s essential that we have a coordinated, well-resourced government response to the coronavirus to keep Kansas communities safe,” Rep. Davids said in the statement. “That’s why I worked with my House colleagues to quickly pass a strong, bipartisan funding package that addresses the scale and severity of the public health crisis.

“This package will fully fund a robust response to coronavirus, including vaccine and treatment development, support for state, local and tribal governments – which are our first line of defense – and assistance for affected small businesses,” Rep. Davids stated. “Importantly, it helps to prevent price-gouging and ensures that vaccines and treatments for coronavirus are affordable and accessible.”

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday outlined a comprehensive preparedness plan for COVID-19, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

“There are no confirmed cases in Kansas, but we are prepared,” Kelly said in a news release. “Currently, in Kansas, the overall risk of the virus is low, but that does not mean we can rest easy. We take this situation seriously. We can and will remain ready to respond swiftly and effectively, should the virus spread to Kansas.”

The Kelly administration is working closely with federal, state and local partners to maintain awareness of national and international trends related to the virus, according to a statement from Gov. Kelly. KDHE currently is working on Kansas-specific guidance, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to help local communities continue their preparedness efforts.

Under Gov. Kelly’s direction, KDHE and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management are:
• in constant communication with local hospitals and health departments, coordinating with local, state and federal public health partners;
• preparing for emergency management situations on a regular basis, with staff who have decades of experience in developing responses and preventative measures for any situation;
• continuing to work with federal, state and local partners to maintain awareness of national and international COVID-19 trends and strategies.

“The health and safety of every Kansan is our top priority and we are utilizing every tool at our disposal to continue monitoring the situation and ensure that we are ready to respond should that be necessary,” Kelly said. “The best way to protect yourself, your family and your friends against contracting the virus is to use good hygiene practices like washing your hands, coughing into your sleeve, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and stay home if you’re not feeling well. It’s simple, but effective.”

Kansas has tested a few suspected cases of coronavirus, with no positive results as of today, according to the governor’s news release.

“Our KDHE lab now has the capability to test for cases of COVID-19, which will expedite the test results,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE secretary, said. “That means our state can respond quickly and effectively. Make no mistake — our team is experienced. They are highly trained and prepared to keep Kansans safe.”

The Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories facility, in Topeka, was one of the first in the country to be certified by the CDC to test for COVID-19. When there is a “Person Under Investigation,” KDHE coordinates with the local health department and other stakeholders such as hospitals and clinicians to help coordinate sample collection and shipping to the KDHE Lab, which cuts the testing time for suspected cases down from days to hours.

The adjutant general outlined KDEM’s preparedness efforts as part of a coordinated state response.

“We stand ready to support county emergency managers for resources and technical assistance when needed,” Kansas Adjutant Gen. Lee Tafanelli, director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, said in the news release. “We have been coordinating, planning and participating in briefings with local, state and federal partners on a daily basis. We stand ready to respond.”

Symptoms of coronavirus

Symptoms may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, according to state information. These symptoms can develop 2-14 days after exposure. The symptoms can range from mild to severe – and in rare cases, have resulted in death.

If you have recently traveled to areas including China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea and have developed fever with lower respiratory symptoms including cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel or have had contact with someone with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider. You may also call the KDHE phone hotline number.

KDHE hotline number: 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF)

Prevention

There is no current vaccine for COVID-19. However, there are ways to prevent the spread of this disease.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cough into your sleeve and sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning products.
• Stay home when you are sick.

Additional resources

This situation is constantly evolving and changing, according to officials. For the most up-to-date information, use the following links from KDHE and the CDC:

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment, http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm

• COVID-19 FAQs, http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/Novel_coronavirus_FAQ.pdf

• COVID-19 Toolkit, http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Toolkit.pdf

• COVID-19 Hospital Preparedness Assessment Tool, http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Hospital_Prep_Assessment_Tool.pdf

• COVID-19 Healthcare Professional Preparedness Checklist for Transport and Arrival of Patients Potentially Infected with COVID-19, http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/Healthcare_Checklist_for_trans_and_arrival_of_patients.pdf

• Interim Guidance for Child Care Facilities Licensed by the KDHE, http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/Interim_Guidance_for_Child_Care_Facilities_Licensed_by_KDHE.pdf

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html

• What you should know, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

• Symptoms, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html

• Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

• Specific guidelines for travelers, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Police notes

Pursuit reported near 61st and Leavenworth Road

A pursuit was reported at 12:55 a.m. March 3 in the 6100 block of Leavenworth Road, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, when the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated, according to the report. The pursuit was then terminated.

Domestic assault reported

A victim stated that a suspect held a knife to the victim’s throat and threatened to kill them, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The incident was at 3:20 p.m. March 3.

Pursuit reported near 62nd and State

A pursuit was initiated at 10:09 p.m. March 3 near the 6200 block of State Avenue, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, but it failed to stop. A pursuit was initiated, went a short distance and then was terminated, police reported.

Blue Devils cruise 100-79; one win away from national tourney

Blue Devil sophomore Jalen Davis missed only one of 10 shots Tuesday and this was not one of them as he took off for one of his two dunks in a 100-79 win over Labette. Davis led all scorers with 26 points along with six rebounds and five assists. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
KCKCC freshman forward Jermaine Yarbough took dead aim on a thunderous two-hand slam dunk, one of his three dunks in leading the Blue Devils past Labette 100-79 Tuesday night. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
Despite an arm around his waist, KCKCC freshman Jaemaal Newson went up for two of his six points in the Blue Devils’ 100-79 win over Labette in semifinal playoff action Tuesday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College is one win away from another trip to an NJCAA Division II national basketball tournament.

A surprisingly decisive 100-79 winner over Labette Tuesday, the No. 1 seeded Blue Devils will collide in a third time showdown with arch-rival Johnson County Friday night at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson at 7:30 p.m. The No. 2 seeded Cavaliers reached the Region VI finals with a 73-68 win over Highland Tuesday.

The two teams split their first two games this season, the Blue Devils winning 82-65 at home; the Cavaliers rebounding for a 98-91 behind a career high 33 points and 10 rebounds from 6-10 Lukas Milner in the final game of the season for both teams.

A win will send a Blue Devil team to a national tournament for the fourth time in four years. KCKCC’s women won national championships in 2016 and 2019; the men advanced to the national in Danville, Illinois, in 2016.

“We’ve got to be ready; I don’t think we were ready in our last game against Johnson and I put that on me,” said first year KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette. “I don’t think I had us ready. To win, we must contain Milner and the guards.”

Milner did not play in the first meeting for the Cavaliers, who also lost the Jayhawk’s leading scorer, JaQualon Mays, to a first half injury. Mays had 21 points in the second meeting.

While the Blue Devils put 100 points on the board against Labette Tuesday, the defense was equally effective, holding the Cardinals without a field goal for nearly 6½ minutes during a 21-1 stretch in which they built a 17-16 lead into a 38-17 bulge.

“We were locked in both offensively and defensively,” Burgette said. “We guarded them well, did a good job of contesting shots and getting rebounds and out-letting the ball for fast breaks. You never expect any game to be easy but now it’s win or go home and tonight we didn’t want to go home.”

Labette fifth year coach Jerrod Stanford credited KCKCC’s intensity for the win.

“We were a foot slow,” Stanford said. “You can’t win games without intensity and KCKCC had more of it tonight.”

Sophomore Jalen Davis put a spectacular end to his home career, knocking down 9-of-10 shots including a pair of 3-pointers, to lead all scorers with 24 points. He also had five rebounds, five steals and a couple of dunks.

“Jalen played great; really shot the ball well,” Burgette said.

Four other Blue Devils were in double figures. Jermaine Yarbough had 17 points including at least three thunderous slam dunks; Calvin Slaughter scored 14 points and led all rebounders with 11; Ezekiel Lopes also had 14 points including four 3-pointers and Deron McDaniel added 11 points.

Robert Rhodes led defensively with a career high seven blocks and seven rebounds while taking just three shots, making two.

“He’s been phenomenal on the glass and a great rim protector,” Burgette said.

While delighted with 53.8 percent shooting from the field (35-of-65), Burgette was more impressed with a season-high 28 assists on the 35 field goals.

“That’s amazing,” Burgette said. “It just shows what you can do when no one cares who gets the credit. You play the right way, good things happen.”

Slaughter, Lopes and Davis each had five assists, Rhodes four, Bell and Yarbough three each and Jaemaal Newson two and six points in just eight minutes of playing time.

KCKCC’s pivotal 21-1 scoring rampage came after four ties and two lead changes the first nine minutes. Yarbough started the run with a layup and two-handed dunk and Lopes drained a 3-pointer before Davis added two dunks, a layup and two free throws, Ball scored on a layup and McDaniel knocked down a trey.

The Blue Devils doubled the score by halftime 51-25, making half of their 36 shots while limiting Labette to 28.6 percent, forcing seven turnovers and controlling the rebounding 27-17.