Category: COVID-19

With 720 new COVID-19 cases reported in Wyandotte County from Friday to Monday, and hospitals experiencing high numbers of COVID patients, the Unified Government Health Department is discontinuing contact tracing, according to a spokesman.

The COVID numbers have been so high across Kansas that the state is not able to keep up with contact tracing, and made a decision to discontinue it recently, Janell Friesen, spokesman for the Health Department, said on Monday. The Health Department is following suit. Locally as well, the numbers are too high to keep tracing the contacts of people who have tested positive, she said.

The state of Kansas reported 14,270 new positive cases on Monday from Friday, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment statistics.

“We do still contact people who test positive, we just don’t also reach out to people they’re in close contact with,” Friesen said. “If possible, we ask them to reach out to anybody they know they’re in contact with.”

There were three new COVID-19 deaths in Wyandotte County from Friday to Monday, and there were 15 new COVID deaths in Kansas in the same period.

“We certainly would recommend folks take a number of precautions now,” Friesen said. “We are still seeing pretty high spread in the community. Hospitals are pretty full right now.”

For a lot of people, that means wearing a mask in public indoor spaces, maintaining social distance, getting vaccinated and a booster, she said. That also includes taking precautions for gatherings, she added.

Health officials won’t know for sure yet the effects on COVID numbers of large gatherings such as the 73,242 people who attended the Chiefs-Bills football game Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s also hard to tell the effect on COVID numbers, if any, from smaller public gatherings, such as the indoor in-person state of Kansas meeting on attorney services for the indigent on Saturday at KCKCC.

The Health Department doesn’t close down gatherings any more, as it could in the early days of the pandemic. Instead, the burden has shifted to you to prevent yourself from getting sick.

“It’s something where we ask everyone to look at what they’re doing in their day-to-day life,” Friesen said, and they help people think of ways they could minimize the risk.

The Health Department is there to offer guidance to individuals and organizations in Wyandotte County, Friesen said.

Employers and organizations can take precautions for people who work at their organizations, she added. School boards make the decisions on COVID precautions for each district.

“There’s a combination of what individuals can do and what organizations can do in terms of precautions and how we can layer on multiple things to help protect them,” Friesen said.

Report your at-home COVID test results online

Friesen said the Health Department has added a feature recently where Wyandotte County residents may report their at-home COVID test results online.

The “Report a Home COVID Test” feature is at the Health Department’s COVID website at wycokck.org/COVID-19.

This reporting form is for people in the community to take a test at home, then go online and report the positive or negative test result, she said. This is separate from tests that are given at the Health Department’s clinics or at other clinics in the community, at doctors’ offices and hospitals, she added. People should not report their clinic tests to the online form; the Health Department or other clinics will report those tests, she added. This new form is only for the at-home testing kits that people use in their own homes.

The at-home COVID-19 tests are available for purchase at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and other stores, and can be ordered online at Amazon.com. The federal government has announced it will give free COVID-19 at-home tests, up to four free tests per household. The free at-home test kits can be ordered at covidtests.gov.

Friesen said they are awaiting more information on the federal government’s plan to provide N95 masks at different community locations, such as pharmacies.

The Health Department is asking everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 from a home test or a clinic to stay home for at least five days, and until they feel better and are fever-free for 24 hours, and wear a mask around others for another five days after that.

Those who are positive who were near anyone while contagious, up to two days before symptoms, should let them know they have been exposed to COVID, the Health Department stated. Quarantine and isolation guidelines are at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html.

Higher grade masks recommended

The Health Department is recommending people wear higher grade masks to help stop the spread of COVID in Wyandotte County. High filtration masks such as N95 or KN95 masks are recommended because they filter out up to 95 percent of airborne particles, according to the Health Department.

The mask seals tightly to the face when fitted properly, according to the Health Department. If an N95 or KN95 is not available, double-masking with a cloth mask over a surgical mask can increase protection, according to the Health Department.

Mask quality matters, but any mask correctly worn and covering the nose and mouth offers more protection than no mask, health officials said.

Free COVID tests available

The Health Department provides free COVID-19 tests at its testing and vaccination site at the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave. Testing is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

More COVID testing sites are available online at KnowBeforeYouGoKS.com.

You should get tested for COVID-19 if:
• You’re sick
• You’ve been exposed to COVID-19
• You will be traveling
• You are attending a large gathering or event

It is important to stay home while you wait for your test results, especially if you have any symptoms or you have been exposed to COVID-19, the Health Department stated.

COVID-19 numbers

• There have been 36,457 confirmed cases through Friday, Jan. 21, and 5,810 probable cases of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County throughout the whole pandemic. The numbers for Monday, Jan. 24, were 37,177 cumulative cases and 441 cumulative deaths, an increase of three deaths since Friday.

• There have been 438 deaths due to COVID-19 in Wyandotte County as of Friday.

• The 7-day average: 483 cases per day

• Percent positivity (new method): 33%

• 59% of Wyandotte County residents have received at least 1 dose of vaccine

• 49% of Wyandotte County residents are fully vaccinated

• Find data, vaccine, and testing information updated each week at wycokck.org/COVID-19

The state of Kansas reported 695,675 cumulative COVID cases on Monday, Jan. 24, an increase of 14,270 cases since Friday, Jan. 21, according to KDHE statistics.

There were a cumulative 7,336 deaths, an increase of 15 deaths since Friday in Kansas.

All-time high of COVID patients at KU Health System

The University of Kansas Health System reported an all-time high of COVID inpatients, according to doctors at the morning media update Monday. There were 213 total COVID inpatients, an increase of 10 from Friday.

There were nine COVID deaths over the weekend at the health system, and a total of 40 for January. Those with the active COVID virus totaled 133, up nine from Friday. Twenty-four COVID patients were in the intensive care unit, down four from Friday. Sixteen patients were on ventilators, up two from Friday. There were another 80 inpatients at KU Health System who had COVID but were out of the acute infection phase, an increase of one from Friday.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at KU Health System, said masks are effective at stopping the spread of COVID. He cited a study last September at St. Louis University and another study done in Bangladesh.

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Heath System, said the evidence was overwhelmingly clear that masks work. He said studies should have controls and variables that are important to evaluate. People should not just search for studies that back their position, but should look at the overall picture.

COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County are about as high as they have been.

Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer for Wyandotte County, said that the seven-day average was about 483 cases on Wednesday in Wyandotte County. He spoke during the Thursday morning media update from the University of Kansas Health System.

“We can’t keep up with contact tracing,” Dr. Greiner said. The state health agency also can’t keep up. They are trying to do education other ways, he said.

Dr. Greiner said 33 percent of all the tests that are done in Wyandotte County are positive. Those positive cases who have never had COVID in the past are in the high 60s or low 70 percentile, he said.

He commended health care staff everywhere for being flexible during a highly stressful period.

“In the last month, the things people have gone through have been incredibly tough,” Dr. Greiner said.

The Unified Government Health Department has been able to provide people who tested positive with a letter that they can give to their employer to take time off, especially if they can’t get in to see their doctors, he said.

When this surge started, they tried to prioritize some people, including the older people who were highest risk and the middle-aged people who work in the public sector, to let them know to take some time off from work, he said.

Wyandotte County is only at 58 percent for those who have had their first vaccines, 49 percent for fully vaccinated, and 16 percent for boosters, he said. Only 40 percent of the 5-to-17 year olds have had first shots. They need second shots and boosters.

“We’ve got to get boosters into arms to protect people as much as we can,” Dr. Greiner said.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at KU Health System, said there are a variety of reasons people haven’t received boosters. Some haven’t prioritized their time, others may feel they don’t need it since they had the virus previously, he added.

“That additional dose really is key, just because of the time point that you are from that second dose,” Dr. Hawkinson said. It allows the immune system to further develop, he added.

Dr. Joseph LeMaster, chief medical officer in Johnson County, described a similar situation in Johnson County. They have seen record numbers of cases, with diagnosis rates about four times that of any other time in the pandemic, he said.

They are hopeful that numbers will come down, with indicators from wastewater monitoring pointing that way, he said.

“We don’t yet know what we are going to be facing in terms of the hospital systems, and the number of people that are going to be hospitalized,” he said.

They also are behind where they need to be in vaccination numbers, Dr. LeMaster said. More vaccinations are needed in the 17 and younger group.

Now that people have had the opportunity to get vaccinated, the issue is whether they will choose to get vaccinated, he said.

There is a certain amount of vaccine hesitancy happening, he said, and they have not reached certain minority populations.

Dr. Greiner said people have complicated lives, and there are a lot of families where parents work two or three jobs and have trouble getting to the vaccination sites. They have added some hours and also have had special clinics held at churches.

Dr. LeMaster pointed out that people could be out a day or two when they get the vaccine, but if they get COVID-19, they could be out for a week or more. He asked people to “do the math.”

He said most places, patients can get a COVID shot in their doctors’ offices now, and a booster shot.

Four cities in Johnson County recently put a mask ordinance back into place. Dr. LeMaster said he encouraged everyone to wear a mask in indoor situations with groups of people.

Johnson County is recommending more than a single mask – use a double mask, he said. The booster shot is the most effective solution, he added.

“I would be encouraging people not to be gathering unmasked in any indoor gatherings at all,” Dr. LeMaster said.

Dr. Greiner said Wyandotte County had a mask mandate for indoor public places, which is now not in effect here.

“It’s one of those things where you need societal buy-in,” he said. It’s like a red light, people need to trust that others will do this.

Dr. Greiner encouraged people to wear a double cloth mask, or a high-quality disposable surgical mask or a KN95 mask.

Enforcement has been a problem in the two counties, without enough people available to enforce a mask mandate.

Dr. LeMaster said they have been trying to educate people about masking. People are continuing to gather in large numbers in restaurants, retail situations and churches. While they have the freedom to do that, it doesn’t mean it’s wise to do so, he said.

“People wear masks when they come here (hospitals),” Dr. Greiner said. “The surgeons have been wearing masks for decades.”

They’re trying to protect their patients in the operating room, he added.

State laws changed to where the public health officers no longer make the health orders, but it’s in the hands of the county commissioners, Dr. LeMaster said.

It is a key time to seeing how they can help the hospitals as the COVID numbers are surging, he said. Numbers of increasing cases are followed two weeks later by increased hospitalizations, he added.

Dr. Greiner said it’s a balance. “You want to balance individual freedoms with what’s good for the collective.”

The Wyandotte County Health Department had a close relationship with the commissioners and the mayor, and they’re trying to work with them to reach the right balance, Dr. Greiner said.

Dr. LeMaster said even people who were boosted can become infected with the Omicron variant, and they may not have symptoms. It’s about protecting other people around you, not just you, he said. It’s important to wear a mask to not pass the virus along to someone else.

To see more of this conversation, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/472075981106790.

UG taking a mask survey

The Unified Government is currently taking a short public survey on its website about whether residents favor masks.

The survey is online at https://elucd.typeform.com/to/Avah4P3y?utm_source=self_distribution&typeform-source=www.wycokck.org.

BPU COVID-19 cases down from two weeks ago

The Board of Public Utilities’ COVID-19 cases are down compared to the last three weeks, according to Dennis Dumovich, director of human resources at BPU. He made his report on Wednesday night at a BPU board meeting.

He said the BPU was down to four positive cases still in quarantine, with two due to come off quarantine on Thursday.

The BPU had nine COVID-19 cases about two weeks ago, he said.

Just under 75 percent of the BPU employees have been vaccinated, according to Dumovich. They are finding that employees who test positive are about half vaccinated and half not, he said. There have been a number of people who received booster shots that also were positive, he added.

Dumovich reported one BPU employee had to be hospitalized for COVID. Most have come back with no symptoms after five days, he added.

BPU Vice President Rose Mulvany Henry suggested that the BPU should work on a written pandemic plan to keep employees safe. General Manager Bill Johnson said although they don’t have a written plan, it would be easier to develop a plan now, since they previously implemented measures and made investments in technology that allowed employees to work from home. He said he wasn’t aware of a current need to have employees work from home, but he could come up with a written plan on how to handle a future pandemic and other emergencies.

COVID cases surging

On Thursday, KU Health System reported 118 active COVID inpatients, a decrease of six patients from Wednesday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Twenty-one COVID patients were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of three from Wednesday. Fifteen were on ventilators, a decrease of three from Wednesday. Another 78 patients were still hospitalized because of COVID but were out of the acute infection phase, an increase of three from Wednesday. There were a total of 196 COVID patients, a decrease of three since Wednesday. One COVID patient death was recorded on Jan. 19.

On Thursday, the Unified Government Health Department COVID information website reported 36,003 total cumulative COVID cases, an increase of 1,209 since Tuesday. There was a cumulative total of 435 deaths, an increase of four deaths since Tuesday.

The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID information dashboard on Thursday reported 269 daily new hospitalizations in the nine-county Kansas City area. There were 4,657 new cases and 26 newly reported deaths in the Greater Kansas City area

Vaccines and tests available

The Unified Government’s Kmart facility at 7836 State, is open for COVID testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Rapid tests are not available at this site.

The Kmart facility is open for free vaccines from noon to 6 p.m. on Fridays. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, see WycoVaccines.org.

Wyandotte County residents now can voluntarily report their at-home COVID tests to the Health Department at wycokck.org/covid-19.

Free COVID vaccines also are available by appointment only at the Health Department building at 6th and Ann Avenue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Free COVID testing also is available from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 18th and Ridge.

There also are vaccines and tests available at mobile events.

The vaccines.gov website shows some other vaccination sites open in Wyandotte County.