The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issuing new guidance today surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested.
KDHE is now recommending 14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:
• Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (currently California, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15. • Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado within the past week. • Traveled on a cruise ship on or after March 15. People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine. • Traveled internationally on or after March 15. People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel should finish out their quarantine. • Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin, and Gunnison counties in Colorado within the past week. • Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. You should quarantine at home for 14 days since your last contact with the case. (A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.)
“We know there are a lot of questions and concerns from people,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE secretary, said in a news release. “One thing we want to stress is that having contact with someone who may have been exposed to someone who may be a COVID-19 case is not a reason to worry or quarantine yourself. Public health officials will notify you if you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.”
There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return, according to officials.
Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Home quarantine guidelines
Those who are under home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain at about a 6-foot distance from other people.
If a person under quarantine develops symptoms of COVID-19 during their 14-day quarantine period, including a measured fever of 100.4 (F) or higher and lower respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath, they should contact their healthcare provider and tell them about their recent travel or other COVID-19 exposure.
Testing for COVID-19
Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. KDHE only approves COVID-19 testing requests from healthcare providers and local health departments. People who are currently being tested for COVID-19 should remain in home isolation, or hospital isolation if symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized, until test results are available. If the test result is negative, isolation is no longer required. If test results are positive for COVID-19, the person must remain in isolation until released by public health.
Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid spreading the virus and to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other for at least 10 minutes through droplets from coughing and sneezing.
To reduce risk, everyone should:
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. • Stay home if you are sick. • Cover coughs and sneezes. • Clean and disinfect surfaces daily.
For more information, visit the KDHE website at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus. KDHE has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is 1-866-534-3463 (1-866- KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, [email protected]. Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your health care provider.
State health officials responded to some questions on Friday about the Life Care Center, 3231 N. 61st St., where a COVID-19 patient was before going to Providence Medical Center. The patient died on Wednesday.
Mayor David Alvey and President Donald Trump declared states of emergency Friday to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, and some individuals in Wyandotte County were in self-quarantine.
A caregiver who came into contact with a COVID-19 patient is currently under self-quarantine, according to officials at a news conference at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Also, some Kansas City, Kansas, firefighters reportedly were under self-quarantines.
The patient, in his 70s, died Wednesday at Providence Medical Center, according to health officials.
On Friday, Providence Medical Center announced restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. It only will allow entrance at three points, the Main Entrance, Emergency Entrance and South Entrance, visitors will be screened, and visitors under age 14 will not be allowed, except in special circumstances, according to a news release.
According to Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas secretary of health, at a news conference Friday, Kansas had six COVID-19 patients as of midday Friday, including one announced Friday in Butler County.
Dr. Norman was asked about the nursing home where the resident previously lived, Life Care Center at 3231 N. 61st St., Kansas City, Kansas. He said health officials were aware it was owned by the same company that also had cases in the state of Washington, and they would try to determine if there were any shared staff within the chain, or if there was any significance to that link.
The nursing home’s news release stated that the patient had been at the nursing home since Feb. 25, when the patient was released from the hospital. The patient had been in the hospital for other health issues. No one was aware of the COVID-19 virus until a post-mortem test came back positive.
In Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey declared a state of emergency on Friday, according to a news release from the Unified Government.
At the state level, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported that there have been 93 negative tests for COVID-19 in the state through 10 a.m. Friday. Of the six positive cases, one was in Wyandotte County, four were in Johnson County and one was in Butler County.
According to KDHE, other labs in the state are beginning to test for COVID-19, and are asked to report results to KDHE.
At the federal level on Friday, President Trump declared a national emergency to stop the spread of coronavirus, and the FDA approved some COVID-19 tests. He said more tests, including drive-through tests, would become available in the coming days or weeks.
Locally, various organizations around the Kansas City area continued to cancel events on Friday. Several Wyandotte County organizations have announced cancellations. Many sports events were canceled, also. The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce announced it would cancel all events and meetings.
Local big-box stores in Wyandotte County appeared busy on Friday.
The Piper Public Schools have announced they will be closed March 16-20 because of the COVID-19 coronavirus risk, according to a news release. Piper students were asked to take home any personal belongings that would slow the work of custodians as they are disinfecting facilities, according to a statement. It is a precautionary measure, according to officials. Piper’s regular spring break was scheduled March 23-27.
Statement from nursing home
Life Care Center of Kansas City, Kansas, released a statement from Rebecca Brennan, executive director, on COVID-19 on Friday:
“A patient from Life Care Center of Kansas City passed away on Wednesday, March 11. Late yesterday afternoon, March 12, the Unified Government Public Health Department of Wyandotte County contacted our Kansas City facility and notified us that this patient had tested positive, post-mortem, for COVID-19.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and loved ones of this patient.
“We have begun notifying our families, residents and associates as of this report.
“HIPAA privacy guidelines prevent the sharing of personal patient information. With that, here is an outline of all the information we are able to share regarding this situation:
• “The patient began their stay when they were discharged to Life Care Center of Kansas City from Providence Health Center on Feb. 25.
• “On Saturday, March 7, the patient was transferred to a local hospital to receive care for a medical issue entirely unrelated to symptoms or signs of COVID-19. The patient was treated in the emergency room and released by the hospital back to our facility on the same day.
• “On Tuesday, March 10, the patient became unresponsive in our facility. We called 911, and the patient was transferred to the hospital.
• “The patient did not exhibit signs or symptoms of respiratory illness when discharged to the hospital.
• “On Wednesday, March 11, the patient passed away in the hospital.
• “At 4:30 p.m. on March 12, we received notification from the health department that a post-mortem test was conducted showing the patient as positive for COVID-19.
• “We immediately isolated any patient who had known contact with the patient.
• “As of today, Friday, March 13, we have no other patients or staff who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
“Prior to this incident and continuing now, we have been following all CMS, CDC and state and local health department guidelines concerning COVID-19. Our associates are being diligent on practicing proper hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment, which is recurring education they normally receive, beginning with their orientation at our facility. Every associate is also screened when they arrive for work, including checking temperature, to ensure no additional sickness is brought into our building. If they have a fever over 100.4, we send them home and ask they contact their personal physician.
“These guidelines also place restrictions on the entrance of visitors, family members and vendors. We posted signage on our doors with information on COVID-19. We placed an infection prevention station at the entrance with personal protection supplies.
“We continue to work in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Unified Government Public Health Department of Wyandotte County.”
Hospital statements
Providence Medical Center released a statement on Friday: “Providence Medical Center is committed to protecting the safety of our hospital patients, healthcare providers and community and remains in close contact with the Wyandotte County Health Department, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure proper precautions are followed.
“To support reducing community impact of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), entrances to Providence Medical Center are being restricted to the following locations: Main Entrance; South Entrance and Emergency.
“Until further notice, all individuals accessing the hospital through a restricted entrance will be screened for COVID-19 prior to entry. New visiting hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; no individual under the age of 14 will be allowed entry (special considerations may be allowed for patients in critical care).
“Signs and Maps will be posted at closed entry points of the Hospital redirecting individuals to the restricted entry points.
“At this time, our top priority remains protecting public health and ensuring the safety of our patients, visitors, staff, physicians, volunteers and community.
“If you would like additional information related to COVID-19, you may contact KDHE by calling 1-866-534-3463; visiting www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus; or emailing [email protected].”
Providence Medical Center’s statement on Thursday: “Providence Medical Center is committed to protecting the safety of our hospital patients, healthcare providers and community and remains in close contact with the Wyandotte County Health Department, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure proper precautions are followed. “A patient presented to the Hospital’s Emergency Department by ambulance from a nursing home. Our staff and physicians immediately provided lifesaving care to stabilize the patient’s condition, following all infection control protocols set forth by KDHE and CDC. “Unfortunately, the patient died less than 24 hours after admission due to complications. It was decided to take samples post-mortem for COVID-19 due to the patients observed dissent, low blood pressure and high fever. “Our hospital has identified the staff who came into contact with the patient while providing care and is following all guidelines regarding healthcare work exposure. “We extend our deepest condolences to the patient’s family. At this time, our top priority remains protecting public health and ensuring the safety of our patients, visitors, staff, physicians, volunteers, and community.”
The UG’s news release about the state of emergency
Mayor David Alvey of the Unified Government serving Wyandotte County declared a state of emergency for Kansas City, Kansas-Wyandotte County, Kansas today.
“This is the next logical step in our strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus,” said Alvey.
The mayor made the following statement regarding his declaration:
“Today I’ve been in consultation with Mayor Jeff Harrington of Bonner Springs and Mayor John McTaggart from Edwardsville, Kansas to discuss the status of the COVID-19 virus in the Unified Government region, and our next steps in controlling the spread of the virus in our communities.
“Based upon our discussions, and with the recommendation of Matt May, the Director of Emergency Management for the Unified Government, I have decided to declare a State of Emergency in our region.
“Declaring a State of Emergency will allow the leaders of the Unified Government to get the materials and resources we need to effectively control the spread of COVID-19 more easily. The Department of Health of the Unified Government already has the authority to combat the virus, but today’s Declaration allows us to obtain needed resources more readily.
“We are still strongly recommending that our residents avoid large gatherings that bring people into close proximity. In addition, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for our residents to continue to follow the recommended safety procedures we’ve been communicating over the past several days.”
These measures to which the Mayor refers in his statement were first shared with the public during a Facebook Live session on Thursday, March 11. These measures include:
• Avoid large gatherings
• Practice social distancing
• If you’re sick, stay home
• Practice good hygiene, including washing hands frequently, and avoid touching your nose, eyes or mouth with unwashed hands at all times
• If you feel ill, call your healthcare provider and stay home until you receive additional instructions from his or her office
• Cover coughs with a tissue or your sleeve
“One example of social distancing is using online services to take care of tasks such as paying your bills or online banking,” said Terrie Garrison, the Interim Director of the Public Health Department serving Wyandotte County. “For example, the Unified Government offers residents a number of ways to conduct normal daily tasks with us, without having to come into City Hall. We encourage our residents to take advantage of these online services and remain at home.”
Many common business services like renewing vehicle tags, paying municipal traffic and parking tickets, or appealing a property appraisal can be completed online at mywyco.wycokck.org or via the myWYCO app available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
In addition to these measures, the Unified Government is providing residents with a wealth of information on how to best protect themselves from COVID-19. Resources provided by the Unified Government include:
• WYCOKCK.ORG/CORONAVIRUS: This website contains information from the Centers from Disease Control (CDC) and KDHE.
• The Wyandotte County Help Line is available to residents at 3-1-1 for those with questions about COVID-19.
• In addition, the KDHE has also set up a hotline at 866-534-3463.
Another key step that residents should take is to formulate a Family Action Plan. “KDHE encourages all Kansans to work with their families to create a family action plan,” said Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer with the United Government. “This includes planning for medical and dietary needs, identifying a room in your home to separate those who are sick from the rest of the household, and other key decision-making.” To learn more about creating a Family Action Plan, visit KDHEKS.gov/coronavirus or click here.
“The residents of Wyandotte County are a resilient, resourceful community of people,” said Alvey. “We have faced public health challenges before, and we have persevered and overcome them, just as we will now. We want our residents to stay up to date on the latest developments on this issue through our website and social media.”
The Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival, originally scheduled for April 11, has been canceled because of the risk of the COVID-19.
The event is held annually at Kansas City Kansas Community College Fieldhouse.
“We’re trying to protect our participants and our guests,” Karen Hernandez, a co-founder of the event, said. The festival typically has 1,000 to 1,200 people in attendance, she added.
Hernandez said she hopes the festival can be held in the fall of 2020, if the danger has passed by then.
“This was going to be our 15th year,” she said. “It’s really sad we had to cancel it, but we’ve got to keep our community safe.”
