The one-year anniversary of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County was marked somberly, with a proclamation and a moment of silence at the Unified Government Commission meeting at 7 p.m. March 11.
UG public buildings were lit in blue, and memorial flags representing people who died from COVID-19 were placed on the lawn of Memorial Hall.
“One year ago today I recall receiving a call from Gov. Kelly’s office asking for me to come to Topeka to be with the governor and with Dr. Lee Norman and others to announce the first death of a Kansan, who was a Wyandotte County citizen, from COVID-19,” Mayor David Alvey said at the 7 p.m. meeting.
At that time they were just learning what COVID-19 was, and trying to figure out how they might adapt to stop the spread, he said. They were searching for any kind of data nationwide and worldwide on how they might respond to the crisis, he added.
They had to feel their way through it because there hadn’t been anything like it since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919, he said.
“What we have found throughout this time in the past year is, yes, we have lost 273 lives, and we have had many of our loved ones, people we work with, neighbors, friends, fellow church goers, suffering, some severely from the disease, and many died,” Mayor Alvey said. “And yet throughout all this we have shown our resiliency, we have shown the good will of so many people in our community, as employees of the Unified Government, as first responders, as members of the Public Health Department, our faith leaders throughout the community, those who provide social services, our next door neighbors who reach out to their neighbors, so many people have committed so much to preventing this from becoming an even greater pandemic, an even greater threat to our life and well-being. It is a great opportunity to remember everyone who has suffered, and also everyone who has done so much to prevent greater suffering and death.”
The mayor called on the community to prevent any more deaths, and continue to do what they must do to protect fellow citizens.
The mayor’s proclamation named March 7-13 in Wyandotte County as Covid Heroes Week, to honor those who died and all those who helped fight the pandemic.
Doug Bach, UG administrator, recognized the UG employeeswho provided essential services during the pandemic. He said now, more than ever, it was important to persevere in their response.
Commissioner Jane Philbrook echoed their comments and added that she was very impressed by the UG’s CARES Act team that came together to work on the federal funding that was available.
“We really came together,” Commissioner Melissa Bynum said about the community. “I saw so much outpouring of generosity among members of the community and organizations. I never witnessed anything like that over such a sustained period.”
She said everyone stepped forward to do something to try to be helpful.
“As long as I live I will never forget what I saw,” Bynum said.
Commissioner Christian Ramirez also thanked the community.
“You showed how resilient and adaptable we are as a community,” he said. “No matter what’s thrown at us, we work together to overcome it, and that’s just what we did.”
In a unanimous vote, the UG Commission extended the state of local health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic for Wyandotte County through June 15.
Bach explained the state of emergency declaration would keep Wyandotte County in line with federal aid and disaster relief. The county is still involved in testing and vaccination efforts. The UG will be able to apply for reimbursements for expenses related to COVID-19, Bach said.
Situation improving in Wyandotte County
At the 5 p.m. March 11 UG Commission meeting, Dr. Allen Greiner, chief health officer of Wyandotte County, said the situation has been improving here.
“We’ve got what I think is good news. We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” Dr. Greiner said. “We’re all nervous there still could be bumps and problems, and we know our community is still vulnerable. It’s looking good.”
During the past year, there were 17,800 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,500 probable cases in Wyandotte County, with 278 Wyandotte County resident deaths, he said.
About 11 percent of Wyandotte County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 during the past year, he said.
He said people can be proud that the number of deaths stalled, as survival improved with therapeutics and changes in people’s behaviors.
The seven-day rolling average for cases is encouraging, he said. Wyandotte County is down to about 13 cases a day in the seven-day average, and they haven’t seen that sort of number in about 10 months, he added.
The test positivity rate has dipped below 10 percent, which was an important milestone to the Health Department, as the rate was in the 20 and 30 percent range for months, according to Dr. Greiner.
“We know we have to push that down farther,” he said, adding that the state positivity rate now is around 3 percent. “I’d like to see us get there in the coming weeks as well.”
While there are people who worry about a fourth wave, a spike or a plateau, the Health Department will just continue fighting to get people vaccinated, he said.
The Health Department also is encouraging people to get tested for COVID-19 to help them keep track of the numbers in the community, assess community spread and mitigate transmission, according to Elizabeth Groenweghe, epidemiologist. This month, the Health Department is offering free groceries to residents who get tested at the sites working with the Health Equity Task Force.
Walk-in vaccinations start for 65 and older
Juliann van Liew, Health Department director, said walk-in vaccinations started on Thursday for Wyandotte County residents who are 65 and older. Any resident of Wyandotte County 65 and over is eligible, and former Zip Code restrictions do not apply.
She said the walk-in vaccinations for age 65 and up are taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Health Department’s three vaccination sites – one at the former Kmart store at 7836 State Ave., the former Best Buy store at 10500 Parallel Parkway, and the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th.
Categories other than 65 and older, including Phase 2 workers who are at high risk of getting COVID-19, need to make an appointment before getting a vaccine, according to the Health Department.
Van Liew said the Health Department gave out an estimated 400 vaccinations on Thursday at its three sites. Those who get a vaccination need to be Wyandotte County residents 65 or older, and they should bring a driver’s license or other identification with their age, name and address.
About 250 people 65 and older walked into the former Kmart store for a vaccination on Thursday, with the remainder at the other two locations, she said.
She said Wyandotte County residents will be highly prioritized in the future groups that are vaccinated.
Although Zip Codes in the eastern part of the county were prioritized for the past few weeks, they are still seeing low numbers there for vaccinations, Commissioner Harold Johnson pointed out.
Van Liew said the Health Department is recruiting people who will go door-to-door to get people signed up for a vaccine in some of the areas with low participation. They also may work with congregations to get people vaccinated.
Commissioner Gayle Townsend said it’s not that people in certain communities don’t want the vaccine, but there may be circumstances preventing them from getting it, such as not having time off from work or transportation.
Van Liew said that safety net providers, Swope Health and Vibrant Health currently are working with them to vaccinate people 65 and older. She said they plan to expand the number of clinics in coming weeks, and more vaccine probably will be available in doctors’ offices.
Also, there is a federal pharmacy program distributing vaccines directly from the federal government, which is not going through the KDHE nor the Health Department, she said. The federal government chose the locations, she said. Those pharmacy vaccination sites in Wyandotte County include the Medicine Shoppe at 65th and Parallel; Hen House at 81st and Parallel; and Price Chopper at 76th and State. Residents 65 and older may go online at the pharmacy’s website and find appointments.
Van Liew said the Health Department now has deployed one vaccine drop team, and is working toward getting other teams organized. The team now has to focus on congregate care facilities, she said.
On Thursday, the team visited the Wyandotte County Jail and vaccinated over 150 people there, she added. Last week, the team visited some homebound persons in partnership with Kansas City, Kansas, EMS, she said.
They are currently focusing on sites where people can’t get out, and later, in the coming months they may be able to visit businesses, churches and other community partners.
Vaccine supply is now averaging 3,500 doses of Pfizer per week at this time, Van Liew said. The Health Department also received about 1,200 doses in a special allocation because a number of meatpacking employees have been prioritized, according to Van Liew.
Special events will be held to try to reach meatpacking workers, some of whom are in refugee populations, she added.
Last week, the Health Department received 1,200 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine, she said, and they are using it at congregate sites. For example, it was used in vaccinations Thursday at the Wyandotte County Jail, and because only one dose is needed, they won’t have to go back to give a second dose, she said.
The week after next week, the Health Department expects to receive another shipment of Johnson and Johnson vaccine, she said, for drop team sites.
Those who are vaccinated at the Health Department’s three sites are receiving Pfizer vaccine currently; the Health Department has freezers that are cold enough to store the vaccine.
Groenweghe said so far, the Health Department has administered 21,155 first doses of Pfizer or Moderna. Those who have received first and second doses total 15,102. Because the Health Department vaccinates both residents and those who work in Wyandotte County, those numbers are not just Wyandotte County residents.
Wyandotte County residents who have been vaccinated total 15,322 who have received a first dose of vaccine, or 9.3 percent, and 9,377 residents who have received two doses, or 5.7 percent, she said. Those numbers include Wyandotte County residents who received vaccinations at the Health Department or at any other sites, such as at hospitals, clinics or pharmacies.
She said she hopes the Health Department sites will expand to weekends one day.
Van Liew said she expected the Wyandotte County resident numbers to jump in the next few weeks as they get the senior population vaccinated.
Groenweghe showed a breakdown of vaccinations by Zip Code in Wyandotte County. The highest number of vaccinations per 100,000 by Zip Code was 66012, the Bonner Springs area; followed by 66109, northwestern Wyandotte County and Piper; 66103, the Argentine area; and 66112, on the west side. The numbers were compared on a rate per 100,000.
The Health Department vaccinated a number of groups early, such as health care workers, first responders and teachers, she said. They are planning outreach efforts to parts of the county where people may have been overlooked.
Vaccination efforts have relied heavily on volunteers, she said. They have over 500 volunteers working at vaccination sites and remotely. So far, 50,000 hours have been worked by their volunteers, she added.
Van Liew said the Health Department has completed vaccinations for the Health Department, EMS, health care workers, child care workers, public safety employees, K-12 educators, critical infrastructure, those 85 and older, food, restaurant and grocery workers.
All those who completed their vaccine interest forms in these areas have been contacted and asked to come in for a vaccine, she said. While there are still some who are coming in from these groups, they have reached out to all of them they know about so far. They will continue to prioritize them, she said.
Van Liew said Kansas remains in phase 2, and it’s estimated that the first or second week of April will be when phase 3 will start.
Phase 3 will include people who have underlying health conditions, Van Liew said. Those conditions, such as cancer, COPD and chronic kidney disease, have been listed by the state. She said the Health Department probably will use Zip Codes to prioritize people in Phase 3. People will self-identify their health conditions, she said.
Phase 3 also will include critical infrastructure workers, she added, such as government workers, transportation, information technology, communications, housing, construction workers, banks and critical manufacturing.
Health Department loosens some school restrictions
The Unified Government Health Department has loosened some of the COVID-19 restrictions for schools.
A new school order was issued Thursday that, while still requiring masks at all times, will mandate 3 feet of distance between middle school and high school students in a classroom, instead of the previous 6 feet, according to Dr. Erin Corriveau, deputy Wyandotte County health officer.
Dr. Corriveau made her report at the 5 p.m. March 11 UG Commission meeting.
Elementary students are allowed to sit together at the same table, with four to six children together in the same classroom, she said. The same group of children will be together during the day. Each pod or group of four to six children should be at least six feet away from other children.
Middle school and high school students will be allowed to make four different class changes during the school day, Dr. Corriveau said.
Students at all grade levels should remain at least 3 feet away from other students while in the hallways, outside the building, except for incidental or passing contact, according to the new health order. Physical touching of any kind should be prohibited, the order stated.
The UG’s recent sports order gave schools and organizations options for mask-wearing during sports, she said. One option was to wear masks in practice. If players do not regularly receive COVID-19 tests, the Health Department recommended wearing masks, she said.
The Health Department recommended that players test weekly, and within 72 hours of playing a team from outside the county, she said. While the players may take their masks off while they play, they are expected to wear masks on the sidelines, in locker rooms and other locations, she added. Fans must wear masks.
Those students in band and choir are asked to wear masks, even over their instruments, she said. Singers also are asked to wear masks, and more than 6 feet of social distancing is required. Outdoors is preferred for band and choir.
There are no plans currently to relax the mask orders in the county, Dr. Corriveau said. Only a small percentage of the county’s residents have been vaccinated, she added.
What doctors have learned
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kasnas Health System, said at a news conference Thursday morning that doctors have learned how COVID-19 spreads and doesn’t spread in the past year.
They know now that when the world and its resources are behind a certain topic or subject, they can achieve results, he said. Therapeutics, research, antiviral drugs, steroids and vaccines have been a huge part of moving forward, especially vaccines, he said.
Individual behavior is one of the most important ways to stop the spread of the disease, with social distancing, masking and hand washing, and avoiding large groups, he said.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer for the University of Kansas Health System, said the last year was all about people trying to lift each other up in a time that has been like no other. He said the supply of vaccine in Kansas could quadruple in the next few weeks, and that may allow everyone in the state to be vaccinated within eight weeks. From 70 to 80 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated to end the pandemic, according to Dr. Stites.
COVID-19 case numbers reported
Case numbers at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas, have not been this low in almost a year, according to the doctors. The health system reported five active COVID-19 patients on Thursday, a decrease of three from Wednesday, according to Dr. Hawkinson. One was in the intensive care unit and on a ventilator. There were another 18 COVID-19 patients in the hospital who were out of the acute infection phase, a decrease of two from Wednesday. In all, there were 23 COVID-19 patients at KU Health System, a decrease of five since Wednesday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 20 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, March 11, since Wednesday, March 10, for a cumulative 17,812 cases. There was a cumulative total of 278 deaths reported, an increase of five since Wednesday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 161,007 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Thursday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 84. Cumulative deaths in the nine-county area were 2,281.
The state of Kansas reported 297,229 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, March 10, an increase of 778 cases since Monday. There were a total cumulative 4,851 deaths, an increase of 35 since Monday.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday night reported 29,214,421 cases in the United States, with 530,713 total deaths nationwide.
COVID-19 tests scheduled Friday
The Pierson Community Center COVID-19 testing site at 831 S. 55th is open at 9 a.m. Friday, March 12. Tests are through WellHealth. Appointments are required, check with the website, www.gogettested.com/Kansas, for available appointment times.
Another COVID-19 testing site will be at Lowe’s, 6920 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, at 8 a.m. Friday, March 12. Tests are through WellHealth. Appointments are required, check with the website, www.gogettested.com/Kansas, for available appointment times. Another site on www.gogettested.com/Kansas is the Vibrant Health clinic at the former Bethany medical building at 21 S. 12th St.
Unified Government COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites are scheduled to be open on Friday, March 12. The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 12. Appointments are not needed for COVID-19 tests and vaccinations for those over 65 on Friday. Walk-in vaccinations are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is also a UG Health Department location for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at the former Best Buy store, 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. A third Health Department site, for vaccinations, is at the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th.
More information is at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19. To see if there is any change to the schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
The Health Department is offering saliva COVID-19 tests to the public. Tests from the Health Department are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County.
The tests 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.
Walk-in vaccines available for those 65 and older
The UG Health Department is offering COVID-19 vaccines Monday through Friday for Wyandotte County residents who are 65 and older.
Those Wyandotte County residents who are 65 or older can walk in and do not need an appointment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at the vaccination sites at the former Kmart store at 7836 State Ave., the former Best Buy store at 10500 Parallel Parkway and the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th.
Those who are critical workers still need appointments for vaccines.
All those 65 and older should bring an ID or other proof of age, such as a driver’s license, government ID or birth certificate, as well as something showing their Wyandotte County address, such as an ID or a piece of mail.
Those Wyandotte County residents who are younger than 65 may fill out a form expressing interest in getting a vaccine at WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1.
The Health Department’s general contact page is at https://www.wycokck.org/Health/Contact.aspx. The general Health Department phone number is 913-573-8855. Their general email address is wypublichealth@wycokck.org. Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
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.
Saliva testing is now offered at the UG Health Department. For more information, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02042021-ugphd-saliva-testing-available.pdf.
The UG Commission 5 p.m. March 11 meeting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIaWS2-WPoo.
The UG Commission 7 p.m. March 11 meeting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeBd5fwS_5s.
The KU doctors’ news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/876109943172251.
The new school health order is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/localhealthofficerschoolorder3.11.21.pdf.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/265130208445513.
A weekly vaccine report for the state of Kansas is at
https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/123/Vaccine-Historical-Document-22521?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 ShareJoy@kumc.edu.
Wyandotte County is under a mandatory mask and social distancing order.
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 Johns Hopkins Data in Motion, a presentation on critical COVID-19 data in the past 24 hours, is at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video.