With today as the original date for the Phase 3 reopening in Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly said it is nearly three months to the day when they reported the first COVID-19 case in Kansas.
The governor in a news conference today said she was very proud of the way Kansas responded, with teachers providing lessons online and businesses finding creative ways to stay open.
While remarking that it probably will not get a lot easier until a vaccine is available, she said economic recovery was scheduled to begin today, and was transferred two weeks ago to local communities. The state continues to monitor and assist local communities.
She said she felt comfortable for the state to move to Phase 3, and that counties that were plateauing shouldn’t feel pressured to leave Phase 2.
Wyandotte County decided last week to move to Phase 3 today, citing some improvements in the hospitalization rates and in lower death rates. The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas, saw COVID-19 patients in the hospital at less than half of what they were a month ago. In Phase 3, gatherings up to 45 persons are allowed, with health measures, swimming pools can reopen and businesses can reopen.
In Phase 3, health guidelines are still being practiced, including frequent hand-washing, remaining home when sick, following isolation or quarantine orders, and wearing a cloth face mask while in public, according to officials.
Gov. Kelly said the S.P.A.R.K. Taskforce Executive and Steering Committee met today to discuss distribution of up to $525 million in CARES Act federal funding. The state received $1.034 billion of federal funding. Last week, the task force decided to distribute $400 million to local governments for health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19. The local counties were to receive at least $194 per person under last week’s plan, and additional funding based on case rates and unemployment rates.
She said they need to seek out as many ideas as they can for how best to deliver economic support, so businesses can reopen, residents can find jobs and pay rent, and local and state governments can be prepared to handle any future outbreaks.
While legislation she signed earlier today will continue the state’s COVID-19 response efforts, it isn’t perfect, she said. It will allow the state to provide resources for businesses, residents and communities that help economic recovery and will put a structure in place in case of another COVID-19 outbreak, she said.
Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas secretary of health and environment, said there were 10,650 positive cases in Kansas on Monday morning, an increase of 257 since Friday. There was an increase of five deaths sine Friday statewide, for a total of 236. Eighty-nine counties reported positive cases.
Dr. Norman reported 153 clusters, with 91 of those active. The clusters included: corrections, 3 clusters, 1,019 cases and 7 deaths; school and daycare, 2 clusters, 5 cases; gatherings, 14 clusters, 8 inactive, 183 cases, 13 deaths; group living, 7 clusters, 5 inactive, 57 cases, 3 deaths; health care, 7 clusters, 4 inactive, 55 cases; long-term care, 35 clusters, 16 closed, 756 cases, 126 deaths; meatpacking, 11 clusters, 2,868 cases, 12 deaths; and private industry, 74 clusters, 29 closed, 590 cases and 6 deaths.
Most counties are improving their metrics, according to Dr. Norman.
Some are plateauing or have slightly unfavorable trend lines, he said, including Douglas, Greenwood, Leavenworth, Riley, Sedgwick, Wyandotte, McPherson, Reno, Pottawatomie, Stevens and Meade.
One of the counties had an outbreak at a jail, where all offenders were tested, and a few came back positive, he said. In some of the counties, just a case or two can throw off the trend line, he said.
At the Thursday, June 4, Unified Government Commission meeting, Wyandotte County health officials stated that there had been good progress in general and the numbers looked good for moving to the next phase.
To see the governor’s news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/videos/592899934976032/
To see the June 4 UG meeting where moving into Phase 3 was discussed, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J60ySSjaQZs.
The UG’s COVID-19 information page is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
Wyandotte County is currently under Phase 3. See covid.ks.gov.
The state plan’s frequently asked questions page is at https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Reopening-FAQ_5.19.2020_Final.pdf.
Test sites are listed at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
Case numbers for individual counties in Kansas can be found at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1125/Historical—June-8?bidId=.
The CDC’s COVID-19 web page is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.