December pandemic numbers: 42,000 cases, 1,000 hospitalizations, 250 fatalities
by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector
Topeka — Testing confirmed emergence in Kansas of more than 10,000 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and documented 25 instances of the Omicron mutation, while public health reports showed more than 1,000 hospitalizations and 250 fatalities linked to the virus so far in December.
Medical professionals in Kansas attributed the rise in hospital patients to the Delta version of COVID-19. In Kansas, an Omicron spike in hospitalization could arrive in January.
“I, like everyone else, was hoping that the Delta was the worst we were going to see and then we were going to get past that and we could move on to more normal,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “I think Omicron has taken everybody a bit by surprise — the fact that it is so transmittable.”
She said growth in COVID-10 hospitalizations placed stress on health facilities expected to care for the typical caseload of patients and those requiring post-release rehabilitation services. The compounding burnout is prompting resignations and retirements among health workers, she said.
On Monday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 512,461 infections, 16,846 hospitalizations and 6,964 deaths attributed to coronavirus since March 2020. So far in December, KDHE confirmed 42,694 cases, 1,064 hospitalizations and 259 fatalities.
In terms of vaccinations among Kansans 12 years of age or older, the state health agency said 66% were fully vaccinated as of Dec. 17. The highest rates of vaccination among the state’s 105 counties: Geary, 81%; Johnson, 80%; Graham, 79%; Jackson, 70% and Brown, 67%. The lowest rates of vaccination by county: Neosho, 30%; Elk, 37%; Linn, 38%; Sheridan and Riley, both 40%.
The lowest infection rates among Kansas counties per 100,000 population: Stevens, 10 per 100,000; Gray, 12; Stanton, 14; Hamilton, 17; and Ottawa, 20. Highest infection rates by county: Wabaunsee, 161 per 100,000; Harper, 155; Woodson and Chautauqua, 132; and Allen, 125.
Physician Chris Brown, a hospitalist at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas, said people should pay attention to symptoms of COVID-19 and seek medical assistance before the virus had time to cause serious illness. Common symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, loss of smell or taste, sore throat, congestion, nausea and diarrhea.
Last week, KUHS was treating 64 people with the active COVID-19 virus. Only three of those patients had received a vaccination for coronavirus.
“Listen to evidence-based medicine,” Brown said. “Get vaccinated. Get your booster.”
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the University of Kansas Health Services have tripled since Thanksgiving, according to doctors.
Dr. Chris Brown, a hospitalist at KU Health Services, said on Wednesday that the pandemic has worn doctors and their colleagues down, and has changed the way he and other hospitalists do their jobs.
He said he is managing patients and their families, as many family members of patients may have caught COVID. The main KU hospital is located in Kansas City, Kansas.
According to Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, the omicron strain now is the dominant strain of COVID, and is about 73 percent of all new cases. Omicron has spread very fast, and it is too soon to say what effect it will have on hospitalizations. The current surge is mostly from delta, he added.
Dr. Stites said that although masks are not popular, when they are combined with more vaccinations and boosters, it will be the best way out of the pandemic.
People know how to bend the curve, and should not let the curve bend them, he added.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, said early data shows the vaccines are effective against omicron. While he thinks it’s more than likely everyone will be infected at some point, those who are vaccinated stand the best chance of a mild case and faster recovery, according to Dr. Hawkinson.
Some vaccine clinics, such as the Unified Government’s Kmart facility at 78th and State, are on a holiday schedule, and will be open for free COVID vaccines from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday of next week. The Kmart facility also will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday next week for free testing. The Kmart site is closed Dec. 23 and 24, and Dec. 30 and 31. For more information, see WycoVaccines.org.
The vaccines.gov website was showing some vaccination sites open today in Wyandotte County. Some of these included area pharmacies with slots still open. Some of the sites were taking appointments online, while others can be contacted by phone. Some of the sites are closed on Dec. 24.
It takes about two weeks for a booster vaccine to fully take effect, according to information from the UG Health Department.
COVID cases increasing
On Wednesday, KU Health System reported a total of 83 COVID inpatients, down one from Tuesday, with 64 active COVID inpatients being treated, an increase of one from Tuesday. Only three COVID patients were vaccinated. There were 19 COVID patients in the intensive care unit, the same as Tuesday, with 14 on ventilators, an increase of one. Nineteen other COVID patients were still in the hospital because of COVID but were out of the acute infection phase, a decrease from 23 on Tuesday.
On Thursday, the UG Health Department COVID information website reported 27,215 total cumulative COVID cases, an increase of 89 cases since Wednesday, and an increase of one death, for a cumulative total of 404 deaths.
On Wednesday, the UG COVID information website reported an increase of 80 cases since Tuesday, and an increase of one death.
The UG Health Department reported 56.8 percent of Wyandotte County residents had at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, while 47.82 percent of Wyandotte County residents had completed their vaccinations.
Two Omicron cases have been confirmed in Wyandotte County, according to the Unified Government Health Department.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment lab confirmed the Wyandotte County Omicron results over the weekend, said Janelle Friesen, public information officer for the Health Department.
The results were from two people who live in Wyandotte County. The KDHE labs are screening positive COVID-19 samples to check for genetic characteristics associated with the Omicron variant and sequencing samples to confirm if they are Omicron, the Health Department stated.
The two persons in Wyandotte County with confirmed cases were both adults between 20 and 30 years old, according to authorities. Both were fully vaccinated with two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Health Department.
Anyone with any respiratory symptoms, such as a cough, fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, sore throat or loss of taste or smell, should get tested for COVID, according to a Health Department spokesman. A full description of possible COVID symptoms is on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.
How to protect yourself from COVID
“With new COVID variants like Omicron, is more important than ever that we each take steps to protect ourselves and others from COVID,” said Juliann Van Liew, director of the Health Department, in a news release. “Vaccinations are still the best protection against serious illness and hospitalization from COVID, and boosters are especially important to help protect against Omicron. We also strongly encourage people to wear masks in public indoor spaces and continue social distancing. If you will be gathering or traveling for the holidays, we recommend testing before doing so, especially for those who are unvaccinated or are experiencing any symptoms.”
Vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalizations and death, and protect against serious outcomes with the Omicron variant, according to the spokesman.
The Health Department spokesman also said testing is valuable if people are getting ready to travel, or plan to attend a big gathering or holiday events, as well as when they return from traveling.
Also, anyone who has been exposed to COVID or was in close contact with a person who tested positive should be tested four or five days after being exposed, according to the spokesman.
Vaccinations are still considered the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID, the spokesman stated. The Health Department recommends that residents get the booster shot as well as the initial shots. Booster shots are now available for those 16 and older, when there has been six months since the second dose of Pfizer and Moderna, or two months after the dose of Johnson and Johnson.
Those who are 6 to 17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine currently, but if they are 18 and older, they may receive the other ones.
Immunity from COVID-19 vaccines wanes over time, and boosters help bring the immunity back up, the Health Department stated. Boosters appear to be especially important in protecting against the Omicron variant, according to research.
Masks also are important to help reduce the spread of COVID, according to the Health Department.
“We do encourage folks to wear a mask if they are going to e out and about in indoor public spaces,” Friesen said.
That also is the recommendation of the KDHE.
The Health Department also recommended staying at least 5 feet from other people who do not live in your household, when you are in public settings. This applies especially if you are at higher risk of getting sick, or you have people in your life who are at high risk.
Case numbers increasing
COVID cases in Wyandotte County, of all variants, are averaging 82 per day, which is four times higher than it was at the end of October, according to the spokesman.
The percent positivity of COVID-19 tests in Wyandotte County is about 33 percent, more than twice the level at the end of October.
Among new COVID cases in Wyandotte County in the past two weeks, about one-third were among children and teens ages 0 to 19, and one-third were among people in their 20s and 30s.
On Monday, Dec. 20, the Health Department reported 26,949 total cumulative COVID cases in Wyandotte County, with 402 total deaths. Since Friday, there was an increase of 143 COVID cases in Wyandotte County, and one new death.
Where to get vaccinations and boosters
The Health Department, which offers free vaccines and boosters, has special holiday hours this week and next week.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for vaccinations Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of these two weeks at the Health Department’s Kmart facility at 7836 State Ave. It will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Testing will be conducted at the Kmart site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for these two weeks.
The Kansas National Guard Armory at 18th and Ridge also offers testing by the KDHE, the spokesman stated. Their special holiday hours are listed on a calendar page at https://bit.ly/WyCoCOVIDtest. On Monday, Dec. 20, the Armory site was open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Special vaccine clinics also are scheduled, including one today at the Merc grocery store at 501 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. This clinic is sponsored by El Centro and it will be open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 20. This clinic will have $25 gift cards for those Wyandotte County residents who get vaccinated for the first time. There is no charge for the vaccine. No appointment is necessary.
The Health Department also offers vaccines and testing at its downtown office at 619 Ann Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, by appointment only, telephone 913-573-8855.
Visit https://bit.ly/WyCoCOVIDtest to see what age groups qualify for the free vaccines, and the hours the sites are open. Check with WycoVaccines.org for additional information.
Vaccinations and boosters also are available at several area pharmacies and at some doctors’ offices in the community.
For more information about where vaccines are available, visit www.vaccines.gov.
