Health officials and organizations, including Health Forward, are trying to encourage minorities to get COVID-19 vaccines when they become available.
Qiana Thomason, president and CEO of Health Forward, said at the University of Kansas Health System news conference Wednesday morning that there was a history of distrust among black and brown people because of past unauthorized medical tests on them, and because of current misinformation that continues to create bias and inequities in providing care.
Thomason said there were many examples of discrimination in health care against people of color. For example, a false idea has been promulgated in some medical circles that black people have more pain tolerance, and they do not, she said.
Thomason said Health Forward is focusing on education to encourage people to receive the vaccine. They are working together with other health organizations to build a multi-channel campaign with messages for communities of color and rural communities, she said.
They are planning town hall discussions where the public may air their concerns and have questions answered. They plan to get close to the problem and engage others in conversations, she said.
The health care system needs to be culturally responsive, and have black and brown personnel who can apply a culturally appropriate lens to situations, according to Thomason.
The KU doctors on Wednesday encouraged people to wear masks, socially distance, avoid large gatherings and stay home when sick over the New Year’s Eve holiday.
Governor receives vaccine
Gov. Laura Kelly received a COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
At a news conference Wednesday, Gov. Kelly said leadership is setting the example in getting the vaccines. She urged elected leaders to get the vaccine and work together to promote mitigation efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
The state started vaccinating a small group of state leaders, according to the state operations plan, this morning, she said. The plan has put essential leaders in line to receive vaccines so the government can continue to function, she said.
During her news conference, the governor acknowledge tht the passage and signing of the relief package is a good first step, as it extends unemployment benefits and funds the vaccine distribution plan.
Congress must recognize that if the economy of the state and local government is to recover, the federal government must provide funds, Gov. Kelly said.
Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas secretary of health, reminded people that COVID-19 protection is important on the upcoming holiday weekend.
He asked people to keep accident and injury protection in mind on New Year’s weekend.
Wyandotte County case numbers rising
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 207 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, Dec. 30, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,519 cases. There were no additional deaths reported, for a cumulative total of 194.
On Wednesday, Kansas reported an increase of 6,371 COVID-19 cases since Monday. There was a cumulative total of 222,433 cases, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment statistics. There was an increase of 193 deaths reported since Monday, for a cumulative total of 2,741 statewide.
The University of Kansas Health System reported 56 acute COVID-19 cases on Wednesday morning, no change from Tuesday, with 27 in the intensive care unit and 20 on ventilators, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Another 71 COVID-19 patients were in recovery, with 10 of those on ventilators.
HaysMed in Hays, Kansas, reported 24 COVID-19 patients, with six patients recovering and two on the ventilator.
The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Wednesday reported 122,096 total cumulative cases, with, 1,465 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 174.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday reported 19,740,471 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 342,312 total deaths.
Free COVID-19 testing available Thursday
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 hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday this week. There are holiday hours this week. They are scheduled to be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, and closed Friday, Jan. 1. Check in advance to see if the schedule changes because of the weather.
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.
Free COVID-19 tests also are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Pierson Community Center, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Registration is at www.GoGetTested.com/Kansas. Check in advance to see if schedules change because of the weather.
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 test sites, also see https://www.gogettested.com/kansas.
The KU doctors’ news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/1049023445619481.
Gov. Laura Kelly’s news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/videos/425099755569508.
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.
