Month: November 2020

COVID-19 cases top 10,000 in Wyandotte County

COVID-19 cases topped 10,000 in Wyandotte County on Saturday, increasing by 141 from Friday to Saturday, according to the Unified Government COVID-19 webpage.

There was no increase in deaths reported, remaining at 177.

In the nine-county Greater Kansas City area, there was a cumulative total of 80,112 cases on Saturday, with 1,020 cumulative deaths, according to the MARC Kansas City Region COVID-19 resource hub. There was a seven-day average of 6 deaths per day, an increase of 2.4 per day since last week.

There were an average of 753 COVID-19 patients in the hospital per day, an average of 185 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit per day and an average of 96 daily on ventilators. The average daily new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients was 174.

The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Dashboard reported 12,089,440 COVID-19 cases in the United States on Saturday, with 255,899 deaths.

Wyandotte County is currently under a mask order and a social distancing order. Also, on Friday, new limitations went into effect limiting gatherings to 10 persons, and a closing time of 10 p.m. for restaurants and bars. For more information on the new health order, see https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/11162020localhealthorderexecuted.pdf.

Flu shots encouraged

This week, the Food and Drug Administration reminded people on the front lines of growing, processing, preparing, selling and delivering food to get their flu shot.

The flu vaccine will protect people by reducing their risk of flu illness and hospitalization, and may reduce the stress on hospitals, conserving resources for others with medical needs.

The best time to get a flu shot is now before the flu begins spreading in your community, according to the FDA. It takes about two weeks after getting a vaccine for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection.

The same factors that contribute to workplace and community spread of COVID-19 — including prolonged close contact with coworkers, congregate housing, shared transportation, and frequent community contact among workers — likely contribute to the spread of the flu.

When an essential worker gets a flu shot, they protect themselves, their families, co-workers, and their communities. Healthy workers help to ensure the availability of a safe and nutritious food supply.

To learn more about how and where to get a flu shot, contact your employer, the Unified Government Health Department or visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

Information about local flu shots is available at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/flu_shots.

For more information about the testing site at the former Kmart location, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/10092020_newtestingsitewyco.pdf.

The new Wyandotte County health order with a limit of 10 persons to a gathering, and a closing time of 10 p.m. for restaurants and bars, with other new restrictions, is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/11162020localhealthorderexecuted.pdf.

The UG COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.

The KDHE’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.

The KC Region COVID-19 Hub dashboard is at https://marc2.org/covidhub/.

The Wyandotte County page on the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 website is at https://bao.arcgis.com/covid-19/jhu/county/20209.html.

The CDC’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

Faith news

Wyandotte County is in Phase 3 under Kansas Ad Astra reopening plan. Local health officials said under Phase 3, people should keep a distance of 6 feet between themselves and others. They may sit closer to people who live in their households. Also, people should wear masks and should wash hands or use hand sanitizer. There is a mask order in effect in Wyandotte County, requiring masks to be worn inside any public space.

Some faith groups are holding online or video services. In Wyandotte County, those who are older than 60 or who have other medical conditions should continue being very cautious, according to the Wyandotte County health officials. Those who are sick should stay home, according to officials.

More details about Wyandotte County health guidelines for churches are at https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/COVID-19GuidelinesForChurches.pdf.

Some churches have been changing their services as a result of new COVID-19 restrictions for the community. Residents are advised to visit the social media page of their church or faith organization, or to call them or email them, to see changes that have been made to regular schedules, or if there are video services planned on Sunday.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has information about churches reopening, Masses, and reflections, at https://www.facebook.com/archkck.

Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King and Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic churches have resumed in-person Masses. Christ the King Church, 3024 N. 53rd St., has had to cancel a Eucharistic procession on Leavenworth Road and through the neighborhood, as it could not get a permit, that was planned after the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Nov. 22, the feast of Christ the King. For more information, visit the churches’ websites or Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579, https://www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck, and https://www.facebook.com/ourladyandsaintrose/. Mass is online at https://www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck.

Casa – Worship House Christian Church, 5217 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, has an online service at www.facebook.com/casadealabanzaKCKS. Check with the church’s social media page for information on services. For more information, visit Facebook @casadealabanzaKCKS.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services in person with social distancing at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. There will be a livestream service at https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/ and https://www.opendoorkc.com/.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, plans to livestream at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch, and people are welcome to attend the service in person, using social distancing and other health measures.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kansas City, Kansas, has a Mass online for Sunday, Nov. 22, at https://www.facebook.com/StPatrickKCK. St. Patrick Church also has in-person Masses.

St. Paul’s Episcopal, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will livestream services at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. The parish will observe Christ the King Sunday. See st.paulskck.org and http://www.facebook.comStPaulsKCK.

Sunset Hills Christian Church, 6347 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, plans to have services at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. For more information about this Sunday’s plans, visit the Facebook page of Pastor Mike Barnett, https://www.facebook.com/mike.barnett.528. Services are also provided through checkout of DVD or SD Card and can be sent by email upon request. People are welcome to attend the service in person using social distancing and other health measures. Masks are available or bring your own to wear.

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., will have a livestreamed service Sunday, Nov. 22, on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc/ or online on the website at www.wyandotteumc.com.

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.
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Nebraska Furniture Mart announces mask policy

Effective Nov. 27, Nebraska Furniture Mart will require all customers to wear a mask or face shield for in-store shopping at all NFM locations, according to an announcement from the store.

Entry will only be granted to those wearing a face mask or face shield. Children under the age of 5 are exempt.

The retailer’s mask policy currently allows an exception to be made for customers citing a medical reason for not wearing a mask. Moving forward, anyone who has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask must wear a face shield.

Customers who opt out of wearing a mask or face shield can still take advantage of NFM’s new virtual shopping service or shop online and over the phone, with same-day delivery or pickup available on many in-stock items.

Throughout 2020, NFM has adapted to the ongoing pandemic by introducing new services like virtual shopping and same-day delivery in addition to existing services like online shopping and drive-through pickup, according to a spokesman.

In light of the rising numbers of positive COVID cases throughout the United States, this updated policy is designed to help ensure the health and safety of NFM customers and staff as the retailer enters the busy holiday shopping season. The new face covering policy is expected to remain in effect into 2021, and NFM will continue to update its policies in accordance with recommendations from the CDC and local health departments.

For more information, visit https://www.nfm.com/covid-19-updates.