COVID-19 case numbers reported

Wyandotte County reported an increase of 57 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, Dec. 31, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,576 cases. There were four additional deaths reported, for a cumulative total of 198.

The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Thursday reported 123,247 total cumulative cases, with, 1,480 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 182.

The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday reported 19,968,087 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 345,737 total deaths.

Free COVID-19 testing available Monday

The Unified Government Health Department has moved its COVID-19 testing from the 6th and Ann location to the former Kmart at 78th and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. The test site will reopen from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4.

Tests are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County. The tests are nasopharyngeal swab tests. The Health Department no longer uses saliva tests.

The tests now are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.

For other COVID-19 tests, visit www.GoGetTested.com/Kansas.

Testing sites are at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.

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.

To see information about the UG giving vaccines to health care workers, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/ug-to-start-giving-covid-19-vaccines-to-health-department-and-ems-personnel-next-week/.

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The KDHE vaccine report is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1677/Vaccine-Update-12-16-20.

Cards and letters of encouragement for caregivers at KU Health System may be sent to Share Joy, care of Patient Relations, 4000 Cambridge St., Mailstop 1021, Kansas City, Kansas, 66160. Emails can be sent to [email protected].

Wyandotte County is under a mandatory mask and social distancing order. Also, the 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.

Three Wyandotte County students initiated into honor society

Three Wyandotte Countians have been initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

The students are Angela Jones, Bonner Springs; Riley Kaiser, Kansas City, Kansas; and Brian Ward, Kansas City, Kansas.

About 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni are initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.

The top 10 percent of seniors and the top 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees also may qualify. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also may qualify.