Rain is in the forecast for today. Light snow is possible tonight and early Thursday. (National Weather Service graphic)There is a chance for light snow tonight and early Thursday, with little to no accumulation of snow in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
Rain moves in to the area today, with the possibility of a light rain and snow mix tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
About a quarter to half-inch of rain is expected today, the weather service said.
The snow could move in after midnight, the forecast showed. The light rain and snow mix could leave only a dusting to a few tenths of an inch of snow accumulation, possibly only on grassy or elevated surfaces, the weather service said. No impact is expected, according to the weather service.
Today, the high will be near 40, with a 90 percent chance of rain, the weather service said. A southeast wind will be around 8 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.
Tonight, snow is likely, possibly mixed with rain, then becoming all snow after 5 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 32 with an east wind of 6 to 8 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70 percent, with little to no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 39, and a northeast wind of 8 mph, the weather service said.
Thursday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 26 and a northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph, according to the weather service.
Friday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 36 and a north wind around 6 mph, the weather service said.
Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 23, according to the weather service.
Saturday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 36, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 23, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 34, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 23, according to the weather service. Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 40, the weather service said.
Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 24, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 43, the weather service said.
COVID-19 long-haulers, those who have symptoms for months, can be found throughout the population.
Dr. Michael Rippee, sports neurologist, said on Tuesday morning’s news conference at the University of Kansas Health System that he’s starting to see some COVID-19 long-hauler patients suffering from brain fog and chronic headaches.
Dr. Rippee said there are similarities between the athletes he treats who have concussions and some of the COVID-19 patients with chronic headaches and brain fog.
What happens in brain fog is that people become slower processing information, according to Dr. Rippee. While some patients have brain fog for a few weeks, others may have it for a half-year after getting COVID-19.
The brain fog could be related to the inflammatory process, according to the doctors. Because it’s not an actual direct infection of the nervous system, it can improve after a period of time.
Speech and cognitive therapy may be beneficial for some long-haulers with brain fog, according to Dr. Rippee. However, there isn’t a medication that will reverse it.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at KU Health System, said the health system will be starting a Long Haul Clinic soon for patients who have COVID-19 effects over a long period of time.
The patients in this clinic will be referred by a primary care doctor, then have access to coordinated care with different specialists to manage post-COVID-19 symptoms.
In other discussion, Dr. Hawkinson said that the two different COVID-19 vaccines now in use in the United States should be about the same level of effectiveness. The two vaccines are equivalent, he said, and data is still being gathered on them.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, said if someone calls you to tell you a vaccine is ready, don’t wait on the other one being available. The doctors consider them about equivalent. Dr. Stites said he was vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine on Monday because that’s what they had in supply when it was his turn.
The doctors at Tuesday’s news conference all agreed that they had little or no problems with their vaccines. Dr. Rippee had a sore shoulder, as did Dr. Hawkinson and Dr. Stites. Dr. Hawkinson said common after-effects of the COVID-19 vaccine for some people include headache, pain at the injection site, fatigue and malaise. Those should go away in two to three days.
The vaccines should still work on a new strain of COVID-19 being reported throughout the world and in the United States, according to the doctors. This strain is thought to spread more easily. Social distancing and mask-wearing are important with the virus.
The KU Health System reported COVID-19 inpatient case numbers were holding steady on Tuesday morning, and 70 active COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, the same number as Monday, according to Dr. Hawkinson. There were 29 patients in the intensive care unit, an increase of one from Monday. Fourteen of the ICU patients were on ventilators, a decrease of one from Monday. In addition, 56 others were still hospitalized from COVID-19 in the recovery phase, no change from Monday. There were a total 126 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, the same as Monday.
Case numbers reported
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 52 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, Jan. 5, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,999 cases. There were three additional deaths reported Tuesday, for a cumulative total of 201.
The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Tuesday reported 127,314 total cumulative cases, with, 1,529 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 161.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday reported 21,046,195 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 357,258 total deaths.
Free COVID-19 testing available Wednesday
The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will be open on Wednesday, Jan. 6, with testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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.
More COVID-19 tests will be available Wednesday at the Pierson Community Center, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. These tests are through WellHealth Management. For more information and to schedule a test, visit www.GoGetTested.com/Kansas.
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].
The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, in a virtual meeting.
On the agenda are a public comment time; general manager and staff reports; COVID-19 update; Unified Government public works update; November financial report; Wyandotte County regional hazard mitigation plan adoption; miscellaneous comments; and board comments.
The meeting will be conducted through the internet and telephone. The BPU offices are closed to the public because of the pandemic.
The BPU Finance Committee meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.
The public may access the meetings through the telephone and internet.
Members of the community who wish to speak to the board must be logged in to the Zoom meeting via the internet using their browser or the Zoom application. Members of the public will be asked to raise their hand to signal they wish to address the board.
During the public comment section of the agenda, community members will be asked to provide their name and address and will then have 5 minutes to speak. They will “raise their hand” on Zoom to be recognized to speak.
