Wyandotte County could see thunderstorms and showers today. (National Weather Service graphic)
Wyandotte County is under a severe thunderstorm watch this morning, through 3 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Thunderstorms are possible this morning and this afternoon, the weather service said. Storms will have the potential for large hail to half-dollar size, wind gusts to 60 mph, and heavy rainfall that may lead to local flooding.
Today, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning and afternoon, the weather service said. The high will be near 66 with an east wind of 6 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 34 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.
Tonight, showers are likely, mainly before 7 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 49 with an east northeast wind of 6 to 11 mph, becoming northwest after midnight. Winds may gust as high as 20 mph. Between a tenth and quarter inch is possible.
Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 67, the weather service said. A northwest wind of 8 to 15 mph will gust as high as 29 mph.
Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 49 and a northwest wind of 6 mph becoming calm in the evening, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 67, the weather service said. A calm wind will become northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Winds may gust as high as 23 mph.
Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.
Thursday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers with a high near 64, the weather service said.
Thursday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a low of 46, according to the weather service.
Friday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 61, the weather service said.
Friday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low around 40, according to the weather service.
Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 66, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 64, the weather service said.
Ramp closures are planned at the Turner Diagonal on Monday and Tuesday, according to KDOT. (KDOT map)
Northbound Turner Diagonal to westbound I-70 ramp in Wyandotte County will be closed on Monday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 5, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
In addition, eastbound I-70 to southbound Turner Diagonal ramp will be closed on Tuesday, May 5. Work will occur from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The ramp closures are necessary for grading work, according to a KDOT spokesman.
Traffic will be diverted using mobile lane closures, signs and traffic cones, the spokesman stated.
The KDOT spokesman urged all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas go to www.kandrive.org or call 5-1-1. Motorists were asked to drive safely and always wear their seat belts, according to the spokesman.
There were a total of 824 positive COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County on Sunday, an increase of 62 cases since Saturday afternoon. The number of deaths and hospitalizations here remained the same. (UG COVID-19 webpage)A chart showed the number of COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County. (UG COVID-19 webpage)COVID-19 cases increased by 284 cases on Sunday, to a total of 5,030, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. There were three more deaths reported Sunday, for a total of 134. (KDHE map)
Wyandotte County reported 824 positive COVID-19 cases on Sunday, an increase of 62 cases since 1:50 p.m. Saturday, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage.
There were no increases in deaths and hospitalizations by Sunday afternoon in Wyandotte County, according to the report. Wyandotte County is continuing its stay-at-home order until May 11.
The state of Kansas reported 5,030 cases with 134 deaths on Sunday, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. It was an increase of 284 cases since Saturday. There was an increase of three deaths since Saturday.
The KDHE stated there were cases in 80 counties on Sunday.
On Sunday, Leavenworth County increased 112 cases, totaling 498 cases. One hundred two of the new cases are inmates at Lansing Correctional Facility, according to a post on the Leavenworth County Health Department COVID-19 webpage.
Johnson County also reported 498 total cases, according to the KDHE.
Some of the other counties reporting large numbers of COVID-19 cases, according to KDHE, included: Ford County (Dodge City area), 815; Seward County (Liberal area), 547; Finney County (Garden City area), 457; Sedgwick County (Wichita area), 399; Lyon County (Emporia area), 248; and Shawnee County (Topeka area), 127.
Douglas County (Lawrence area) reported 51 cases, and Riley County (Manhattan area) reported 54 cases, according to the KDHE.
Two commissioners want testing on west side
On Thursday night, during a Unified Government Commission meeting, Commissioners Tom Burroughs and Mike Kane asked for more testing for western Wyandotte County.
They made their remarks during a report detailing new pop-up testing sites on the east side of Wyandotte County.
UG Health Department officials said they had been working with the health equity task force to offer more sites on the east side.
Providence to participate in plasma study
During the past week, Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, announced it would participate in a nationwide Mayo Clinic study that looked at the use of convalescence plasma as a therapy for COVID-19.
According to a news release, a Providence patient would begin to receive convalescence plasma this past week.
Dr. Sabato Sisillo, Providence chief medical officer, who is a pulmonologist and critical care specialist, along with Dr. Samir Desai, infectious disease specialist, are the principal investigators for the medical center. They will be collaborating with Mayo Clinic to identify and enroll possible patients into this study.
“We look forward to participating in this study as we all work towards aggressive steps in the fight against COVID-19 in our local community,” Dr. Sisillo said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the treatment is based on the function of antibodies, proteins created by the immune system that combat invaders to the body in a variety of ways. Some are capable of neutralizing a virus, while others work by mobilizing a range of other immune cells that fight off disease. It’s not yet known by which mechanism COVID-19 antibodies might work, but the thinking is that an infusion of convalescent plasma may boost a generalized response, known as passive immunity, until a patient develops a strong, targeted ability to fight the virus.
