Kansas reported 3,491 positive COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and 124 total deaths, according to information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website.
It was an increase of 163 cases statewide, and an increase of four deaths. Seventy-six counties reported positive cases.
The Unified Government Health Department reported 585 cases and 53 deaths at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, according to the UG’s COVID-19 webpage. It was an increase of 12 cases, with no increase in deaths. The county reported 127 recoveries.
According to a UG Health Department social media post, another death at Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation facility has been recorded. There are now a total of 30 COVID-19 related deaths of residents.
There have been two residents of Life Care Center of Kansas City who have died, according to the Health Department’s social media page. Five residents and four staff tested positive. On March 11, another resident died who had COVID-19.
The UG’s COVID-19 webpage recently was redesigned, and it lists updates on clusters of cases in Wyandotte County.
The clusters listed on April 28 were Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation facility, 7850 Freeman Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, 128 positive cases; Life Care Center of Kansas City, 3231 N. 61st St., Kansas City, Kansas, 9 cases; Delaware Highlands Assisted Living, 12600 Delaware Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, 18 cases; Miracle Temple Minister’s Conference, 2106 Quindaro Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas, 51 cases; Rising Star Baptist Church, 1034 Walker Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, 7 cases; Kellogg’s Bakery, 801 Sunshine Road, Kansas City, Kansas, 16 cases; Donnelly College construction site, 608 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, 8 cases; and National Beef Packaging, 100 Osage Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, 20 cases.
With clusters, according to Health Department information, the Health Department provides guidance on the use of personal protective equipment, isolating positive cases, providing guidance on social distancing and workflow, and ensuring other symptomatic individuals in that location are tested.
Positive cases in the United States went up over 1 million today, according to the CDC.
In Kansas, Seward County, the Liberal area, reported an increase of 73 cases Tuesday. Some of the counties’ reports, according to the KDHE: Ford (Dodge City area), 544 cases; Johnson County, 446 cases; Seward (Liberal area), 422 cases; Sedgwick (Wichita area), 351 cases; Leavenworth County, 183 cases; Finney (Garden City area), 175 cases; Lyon County (Emporia area), 171 cases; Shawnee, 106 cases; Douglas (Lawrence area), 49 cases; Coffey (Burlington area), 48 cases; Riley County (Manhattan area), 46 cases; Reno County, 26; Labette County, 21; McPherson County, 20; Saline County, 20; Montgomery County, 16; Butler County, 15; Wabaunsee County, 15; Franklin County, 13; and Geary County, 11.
KU doctors: Flattening the curve
The number of positive COVID-19 patients at the University of Kansas Health System on Tuesday totaled 26, up from 24 on Monday. Eleven patients were in the intensive care unit, down from 12 on Monday. According to KU officials, 75 patients have been treated for COVID-19 and released.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at KU Health System, said the sheltering in place for the past four to six weeks has been paying off. The hospital has not seen a large surge in cases to date.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the KU Health System, said they have flattened the curve and have had about the same level for two to three weeks.
Dr. Stites also urged patients with chronic illnesses to continue to see their doctor, whether in person or by telehealth visits. There has been some early evidence that there are a number of people having heart attacks and strokes at home, who are afraid to come into the hospital, he said. He added the hospitals are safe and they have separated COVID-19 patients from the other patients.
Dr. Keith Sale, vice president of ambulatory services at KU Health System, said he thought the increased telehealth services will remain in the future. KU Health System as had about 25,000 telehealth visits in the past five weeks, as compared to 500 patients a year previously for telehealth, he said.
Future health care will probably be a balance between in-person visits and telehealth visits, he believes.
According to Dr. Hawkinson, it will be safe to reopen society only if everyone takes personal responsibility by keeping social distancing, washing their hands, not touching their faces and coughing into the elbow. Even if restrictions are lifted, COVID-19 will still be here until there is a vaccine and treatment, according to Dr. Hawkinson.
Dr. Stites said governments may reopen and businesses may reopen, but individuals still will have to take personal responsibility to make sure they do not get COVID-19.
To see the KU doctors’ news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/519558072023502/?tn=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARALIUbLMu7uxA1rh3oCACOBnr2S4-waghP8T5LTDCmKGRA0CxWvmx0zWGoqVr2p73W6cnctF6hRNdYg.
The Kansas COVID-19 website is at https://covid.ks.gov/.
The Kansas COVID-19 resource page is at https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus
The UG’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
Information from the CDC is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.