Additional COVID-19 test sites have been announced in Wyandotte County.
The Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force announced that it has increased the number of pop-up COVID-19 testing sites being offered throughout the county during the month of May.
The mission of the Task Force is to make testing and other resources more accessible and equitable to underserved members of the community, according to a spokesman.
“To reach more of our community members, we need to hold testing clinics at locations in peoples’ neighborhoods, at organizations they know and trust,” said Patrick Sallee, CEO of Vibrant Health. “From the race and ethnicity data we have seen for our county, we know that the COVID-19 virus, as well as many chronic health conditions that increase risk with COVID-19, do not impact everyone in our community equally. This means it is especially important for us to make testing more accessible.”
Testing opportunities
The Task Force held its first pop-up testing event on Monday, April 20, at All Saints Parish (Todos Los Santos). Since then, several other pop-ups have been held at a variety of community host sites, including a local college, a public library and other area churches.
So far, approximately 200 community members have been tested through these events.
Multiple drive-thru testing sites in Wyandotte County have been scheduled for the month of May at locations throughout the community. These locations were selected to increase access to COVID-19 testing for underserved populations. Testing events are held in coordination with Vibrant Health and Swope Health.
Upcoming sites include:
Date, Time, Location and Partner
Monday, 5/11, 3-6 p.m., Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Pkwy., Vibrant Health
Tuesday, 5/12, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Roswell Church of Christ, 2900 Roswell Ave., Vibrant Health
Wednesday, 5/13, 3-6 p.m., New Bethel Church, 745 Walker Ave., Vibrant Health
Thursday, 5/14, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., La Fe en Jesu Cristo, 1500 Central Ave., Swope Health
Thursday, 5/14, 3-6 p.m., Cross-Lines Community Outreach, 736 Shawnee Ave., Vibrant Health
Friday, 5/15, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Zotung Christan Church, 5041 State Ave., Vibrant Health
Testing is provided free of charge to Wyandotte County residents. Individuals who want to be tested must register in advance by calling 913-371-9298 (calls answered by Community Health Council of Wyandotte County). Testing is provided regardless of a person’s immigration status, health coverage or ability to pay.
Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force
The Task Force was formed in response to the race and ethnicity COVID-19 data, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities. The group focuses on making testing and other resources more accessible and equitable to underserved members of the community. The Task Force represents a partnership of community organizations including:
• Argentine Assembly of God, Hosanna Christian Network Radio • Bethel Neighborhood Center • Calvary Temple Baptist Church • Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, MORE2, and Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) • Groundwork NRG • JUNTOS Center for Advancing Latino Health • Livable Neighborhoods Taskforce • NBC Community Development Corporation • Salem Baptist Church • Unified Government • Unified Government Public Health Department
• University of Kansas Family Medicine • University of Kansas Health System • University of Kansas Medical Center • Vibrant Health • Wyandotte Health Foundation • Wyandotte residents
The Health Equity Task Force is in the process of scheduling multiple testing sites each week throughout the month of May. A map of testing locations and other testing details can be found on the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage at www.wycokck.org/COVID-19. Click on the COVID Hub, then click on the section that says “Experiencing Symptoms? Get Tested!”
Wyandotte County reported 1,038 total COVID-19 cases on Saturday, including 38 new cases. The number of deaths and hospitalizations was the same. (UG COVID-19 webpage)Kansas reported 6,751 positive cases on Saturday, an increase of 250 cases since Friday. (KDHE map)
Wyandotte County reported 1,038 total positive COVID-19 cases on Saturday, an increase of about 38 cases since Friday.
There were no increases in hospitalizations or deaths, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage.
Kansas reported 6,751 positive cases on Saturday, an increase of 250 cases. There were 157 total deaths, an increase of five since Friday, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment figures.
Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer for the Unified Government, has loosened stay-at-home restrictions effective at 11:59 p.m. May 10 in Wyandotte County.
The loosening of restrictions means that Wyandotte County residents and businesses will now enter the red zone of the ReStart WyCo Road to Recovery plan released on May 1.
The red zone phase of the plan becomes effective at midnight after Sunday night, and it will last from May 11 until at least May 25.
Each phase, or zone, of the ReStart WyCo plan will be in place for at least 14 days because the incubation period for COVID-19 is 14 days, according to the UG Health Department. This allows the UG Health Department to monitor the population for further outbreaks of the virus, for the duration of one incubation period.
What is the red zone?
The red zone is a phase listed in the Road to Recovery guidance document prepared by the ReStart WyCo committee formed by Mayor David Alvey. The ReStart WyCo committee is made up of health professionals and business representatives from throughout Wyandotte County.
The Road to Recovery document provides guidance on a four-phased approach to reopening various public-facing businesses and organizational sectors of the community in a way that ensures a high degree of safety is maintained for everyone, according to the health department.
The ReStart WyCo Road to Recovery document includes sector-specific guidance for a range of businesses, including offices, retail, restaurants, and much more. The intent of the guidance is to provide practical steps that businesses can take to protect employees and customers while re-opening in a safe and controlled manner.
Each phase provides a different level of guidance to help save lives and reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus. To view or download the Road to Recovery document, visit the ReStart WyCo Hub at wycokck.org/COVID-19.
“As we enter the red zone, actions like social distancing and excellent personal hygiene will continue to be effective tools to help keep everyone safe. It’s important to understand that just as we can move toward fewer restrictions in our day-to-day activities, if the data shows it’s needed, we may have to return to more restrictions for limited periods of time. Our goal is to re-open our community step-by-step, while not compromising the health of any of our residents,” Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer, said.
The red zone relaxes stay-at-home requirements but recommends the highest level of caution for vulnerable community members while providing guidance on how some businesses may open safely with certain restrictions.
Examples of loosened restrictions for some sectors:
• General population o Outdoor activities in groups of up to 10 are allowed with social distancing • Retail o In-store pickup is allowed with social distancing, but delivery and curbside pickup are encouraged when possible o Common areas should be adjusted to maintain 6 feet of distance between workers • Offices o Employees should be allowed to work from home where possible o Office space should be adjusted to maintain 6 feet of distance between workers • Construction o All construction where workers can easily maintain 6-foot social distancing is allowed • Mass sporting events o May be held without fans physically attending
Detailed information and categories concerning bars, exercise venues, places of worship, manufacturing, and more is available in the ReStart WyCo Road to Recovery document. To view or download the Road to Recovery document, visit the ReStart WyCo Hub at wycokck.org/COVID-19.
Reducing exposure remains the best defense
If businesses can continue to operate remotely, they are strongly encouraged to do so. COVID-19 remains a threat and minimizing exposure by working remotely continues to be a recommended strategy for limiting the spread of the virus, the health department stated.
The ReStart WyCo guidance retains more restrictive recommendations throughout the reopening phases for vulnerable populations, including people over 60 years old, immune-compromised, or with underlying medical conditions.
How to know when it is time to change zones?
Mayor Alvey and Dr. Greiner have been clear from the beginning that COVID-19 data will dictate when it is safe for the community to advance from zone to zone, the health department stated. Moving from one zone to the next will involve carefully considering:
• The number of hospitalizations and deaths in Wyandotte County and surrounding area hospitals over a 14-day period, and • the percentage of positive tests over a 14-day period.
If, after 14 days, there is a reduction in deaths, hospitalizations, and positive tests, the county will be able to further relax guidance by moving on to the next zone, according to the health department. The recommendation on whether or not to move to the next zone will be provided by Dr. Greiner before May 25. If there is not a reduction in deaths, hospitalizations and positive tests, or if these numbers have increased, Dr. Greiner may recommend staying at the current zone for a period of time, or possibly recommend that we return to an earlier zone.
What are the four zones of the Road to Recovery document?
Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to spread in Wyandotte County, health officials stated. To protect against the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of everyone in the community, the ReStart WyCo Committee formed by Mayor David Alvey developed sector-specific reopening guidance outlined in the Road to Recovery document.
Stay at Home orders are quite stringent and ask that only essential businesses remain open. There is still a chance we may need to Stay at Home again in the future. The Red Zone is slightly relaxed compared to Stay at Home but is far from “business as usual.” Red Zone still recommends the highest level of caution for vulnerable community members, while also offering guidance on how some businesses may open safely. During Yellow Zone restrictions, more businesses may open, but caution is still required. Green Zone is the least stringent phase and offers few staffing restrictions while still urging some cautions.
Stay at home a. This is the zone Wyandotte County has been in since March 24. The stay-at-home period in Wyandotte County will end at 11:59 p.m. May 10. Stay at home requires that only essential businesses remain open.
Red zone a. This zone relaxes the stay-at-home requirements but recommends the highest level of caution for vulnerable community members while providing guidance on how some businesses may open safely, but with certain restrictions. Wyandotte County will enter the red zone at midnight after Sunday night and remain in the red zone until at least May 25.
Yellow zone a. This zone relaxes stay at home requirements even further while allowing more businesses to open under caution.
Green zone a. This is the least stringent zone, though it retains some restrictions on staffing levels, event attendance, in-person dining, and group gatherings
“The last several months have been difficult for Wyandotte County, with many affected by business closures, financial insecurity, or even the loss of friends or family,” Mayor David Alvey said. “While our focus on public health and prevention will continue, we are now also looking to the future, and this shift to the Red Zone on May 11th is a first step in that direction. By continuing to work together, we will restore and reopen our community at the appropriate time and in the right way, overcoming the public health crisis that has threatened so many and altered our way of life.”
Residents or businesses with questions or comments about the Road to Recovery document may contact 311 or visit the ReStart WyCo Hub at wycokck.org/COVID-19.
Wyandotte County information from UG Health Department
After calling for the release of the list of businesses that have received emergency small business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., and Andy Kim, D-N.J., are introducing a bill to require the Small Business Administration to make that information public.
Rep. Davids and Kim are both members of the House Small Business Committee.
Congress has allocated nearly $700 billion in taxpayer money to help small businesses pay their workers and stay afloat through the PPP. But several reports of large, publicly traded companies receiving these loans ahead of deserving and suffering small businesses have surfaced. Some have even already borrowed funding from their own executives.
“There is no reason why Kansas small business owners should be struggling to access relief loan programs while large corporations with deep pockets have no problem. We should be requiring the SBA to be transparent and make information on businesses receiving these funds public, so Congress can conduct proper oversight and ensure these loan programs reach smaller and less advantaged businesses. Companies that can’t withstand public scrutiny of their businesses dealings while receiving federal taxpayer-funded loans shouldn’t be receiving them at all,” Rep. Davids said in a news release.
“We all know that the SBA’s efforts to help small businesses has been broken, and we won’t be able to fix it until we have enough transparency to see how deep the problems go. This is an important step in making sure the hundreds of billions meant to help keep our small businesses afloat and people in their jobs do just that, instead of enriching publicly traded companies who don’t need the help. I look forward to working with Congresswoman Davids to get the job done for our small business owners,” Rep. Kim said.
The bill will require SBA to publish information on any businesses that receive loans over $1 million, including recipient name, business type, and amount of the loan. It will also require them to publish how much of that loan is forgiven, once that determination is made. More than 20,000 loans for over $1 million have been made so far through the Paycheck Protection Program.
