January 2021 – Page 64 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

COVID-19 case numbers updated

Wyandotte County reported an increase of 23 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, Jan. 3, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,926 cases. There were no additional deaths reported Sunday, for a cumulative total of 198.

The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Sunday reported 124,316 total cumulative cases, with, 1,483 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 165.

The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday reported 20,636,663 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 351,580 total deaths.

Free COVID-19 testing available Monday

The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4, 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.

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/.

The KDHE vaccine report is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1708/COVID-19-Vaccine-Updates–123020-FINAL-PDF?bidId=.

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.

Edwardsville Fire Department loses paramedic to COVID-19

Jason Taylor, a paramedic with the Edwardsville Fire Department, has died from complications due to COVID-19.

Taylor died on the morning of Jan. 1, according to a news release from the Edwardsville Fire Department.

“We are saddened by the loss of paramedic Taylor,” Fire Chief Tim Whitham said in a news release. “Jason served our city and our citizens with compassion and expertise; we will miss him dearly.”

Taylor served as a paramedic with the department for three years. He began his career in 1998 with Franklin County Emergency Medical Services, and served with the city of Bonner Springs for most of his career, before coming to Edwardsville.

Taylor graduated from Penn Valley Community College in 2008, and became a mobile intensive care technician. He also was an instructor-coordinator through the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services.

Donations to support Taylor’s family may be made at the Edwardsville Fire Department Headquarters, 698 S. 4th St., Edwardsville, Kansas.

COVID-19 case numbers reported

Wyandotte County reported an increase of 134 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, Jan. 2, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,903 cases. There were no additional deaths reported Saturday, for a cumulative total of 198.

The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Saturday reported 124,178 total cumulative cases, with, 1,483 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 179.

The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Saturday reported 20,427,780 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 350,186 total deaths.