Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System discussed new CDC guidelines on mask-wearing on Wednesday morning.
The CDC this week issued guidelines saying it was OK for fully vaccinated people to not wear masks outdoors.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, said they were concerned that it would be dangerous to take masks off indoors.
The CDC is trying to take baby steps and keep the most people protected as possible, he added.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, said if everyone is vaccinated when they’re inside, it’s one statement. If they are around someone who are sick, it’s another statement. From 90 to 95 percent of COVID-19 infections are developed inside, he said.
“We know that being outside is clearly safer,” he said. If you’re in a crowded area outside, close to each other, you can still transmit COVID-19 to others, he said.
If you will have guests, he said people need to ask themselves, first, if the people they are going to have over to their homes are all fully vaccinated. Second, do the people you are around have contacts with others who are immunocompromised, he asked.
Dr. Stites said it makes him a little nervous when people say they want to open up all indoor dining, with a packed house.
“We know that the majority of Americans are still not vaccinated,” he said.
It is also important to take into account the ventilation and number of people who are vaccinated indoors, according to the doctors.
Only one of the 11 active COVID-19 patients currently at the KU Health System was vaccinated before admission, according to the doctors.
Dr. Stites said the pace of vaccinations has slowed at KU Health System, as well as through the two-state area, and they are still vaccinating people every day. They would like more people to get vaccinated, so they can all get back to herd immunity and normal faster.
Dr. Hawkinson said there have been asymptomatic people who have been admitted to the hospital for a different reason, but are found to be positive. It’s a concern that they have been out in the community, possibly spreading COVID, without knowing it.
The highest proportion of deaths occur in those over 65 and those over 80, he said. There aren’t any COVID patients over 80 currently in the hospital, which is a testament to vaccinations, he said.
Dr. Hawkinson advised people to get vaccinated. That includes young adults, he said. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to make a vaccine appointment.
Dr. Stites said it is safe and effective to get vaccinated. Hospitals show that infection control and vaccinations work, he said.
Dr. Hawkinson said about 50 percent of all COVID-19 tests in Kansas are now showing the UK variant, with about 10 percent showing the California variant.
Anil Gharmalker of Parsons, Kansas, a long-haul patient, said a year ago, he didn’t know if he would survive. He said his doctor told him he should feel grateful he is still here, because a year ago some of his organs were failing.
“We celebrate leaving on May 7,” he said. But he had to come back for different surgeries because he was having trouble breathing. He still has inflammation flare-ups every two to three weeks, he said, and steroids have been effective.
He also said he had a pretty strong response to a COVID-19 vaccine.
“It’s been difficult and kind of surreal,” he said about the last year. For everything that happened, there is a cost, he said. It’s likely that his lifespan has shortened, he thinks. Going forward, they are being very intentional of how they use the time that is left, he said.
Around 30 percent of those who had COVID-19 have long-haul symptoms, Dr. Hawkinson said. They also have an increased risk of excess mortality or having to go back to the hospital, he said.
Dr. Leslie Spikes, pulmonologist, said the numbers in the long-haul clinic have grown. Of eight new patients she recently saw, five were under the age of 30, she said. Most have persistent shortness of breath, some have chest discomfort, and many have fatigue and an overwhelming need to take naps during the day, she added.
“It is just another reason to get vaccinated so you don’t get this,” Dr. Spikes said.
Some long-haul patients who get vaccinated feel better after vaccinations, she said. They hope that over time, most patients will get back to normal, she said.
Free walk-in vaccinations available
Free walk-in vaccinations will be available for everyone over age 16 on Thursday, April 29, at three Unified Government Health Department locations.
The three locations are the former Kmart store at 78th and State, open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday; the Kansas National Guard Armory at 18th and Ridge, Kansas City, Kansas, open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday; and the former Best Buy location at 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, open from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Those who wish to schedule an appointment may use the Health Department’s self-scheduling tool at WycoVaccines.org and click on a blue button that says, “Click here to schedule an appointment online.” The page is available in Spanish by clicking at the top of the page.
Those who don’t have an internet connection may call 3-1-1 or 913-573-5311 for assistance in scheduling their vaccination appointment time and date.
To see more information about Health Department vaccinations and next week’s schedule, visit WycoVaccines.org.
Other sites available for vaccination
KU Health System offers vaccinations seven days a week at different locations. Appointments are required. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to see if vaccines are available.
The University of Kansas Health System also is open to anyone. People can call to get an appointment whether they are patients or not at the health system.
There are also pharmacies giving COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacy at 76th and State Avenue, and 81st and State Avenue (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/), and Medicine Shoppe pharmacy at 65th and Parallel by appointment when available (see https://www.facebook.com/The-Medicine-Shoppe-Kansas-City-281548241870522). CVS pharmacy also has announced that it will offer COVID-19 vaccines at one of its stores in Kansas City, Kansas. Registration is at CVS.com.
Other pharmacies and sites giving vaccines are listed at vaccinefinder.org.
Case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported a slight decrease in COVID-19 patients Wednesday. There were 11 active COVID-19 patients on Wednesday morning, a decrease of four since Tuesday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Of the 11 patients, four were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of one since Tuesday. Three patients were on a ventilator, a decrease of one from Tuesday. There were another 11 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but are out of the acute infection phase, no change from Tuesday. There is a total 26 patients, an increase of four since Tuesday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 19 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 28, for a cumulative 18,420 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 290 deaths reported, no change from Tuesday. Vaccination figures, updated on Wednesday, showed 28 percent of Wyandotte County residents, or 46,266, had had at least one COVID vaccination shot, and 21 percent had completed their vaccination.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 169,792 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 60. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,384.
KDHE reported 308,510 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Wednesday, April 28, an increase of 645 cases since Monday. There were a total cumulative 4,978 deaths reported statewide, an increase of eight.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday night reported 32,229,327 cumulative cases in the United States, with 574,326 total deaths reported nationwide.
Free testing available Thursday
Unified Government Health Department COVID-19 will have three free COVID-19 testing sites open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 29. The sites are the former Best Buy store at 10500 Parallel Parkway; the former Kmart store at 7836 State Ave.; and the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th St. (near 18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas.
For more information, visit 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. Appointments are not needed.
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.
The Health Department’s general contact page is at https://www.wycokck.org/Health/Contact.aspx. 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. There are more test sites listed on this page.
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 KU doctors’ news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/525992972142604.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/292961702392386.
A weekly vaccine report for the state of Kansas is at
https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/123/Vaccine-Historical-Document-22521?bidId=.
Wyandotte County has a local mask and social distancing ordinance approved by the UG Commission. 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.