COVID-19 cases increase 271 today in Kansas
An extra $600 weekly payment for those receiving unemployment benefits went to recipients today, according to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.
It was part of the federal legislation passed by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic effects.
“A processing issue that has delayed implementation of the $600 weekly payment has been resolved, and the Department of Labor will be processing more than $3.4 million in benefits today,” Gov. Kelly said at a news conference. The $600 is in addition to the regular unemployment payments.
In addition, Gov. Kelly has directed the state Department of Labor to evaluate all its processes and procedures for handling worker compensation claims filed by first responders and health care workers that are related to the pandemic. The state will submit a temporary regulation and develop a draft of legislation for workers who get COVID-19 while part of their employment.
Kansas Secretary of Labor Delia Garcia said the $600 payments would go automatically to those receiving unemployment and no additional action was needed on the recipients’ part. The state now has Spanish language information at www.getkansasbenefitsnow.gov, at a top right button on the website, she said.
Gov. Kelly reported that Kansas has 2,482 positive COVID-19 cases on Thursday, up 271 cases from Wednesday. There were 112 total deaths in the state, up two from Wednesday. Seventy-four of 105 counties have reported positive cases.
Kansas had an increase of 186 cases on Wednesday, and the Thursday increase is now the largest increase to date in Kansas.
Gov. Kelly answered a question about name-calling by protesters in Topeka who demonstrated their opposition to the stay-at-home order today. Hundreds of protesters were there. She said she worked many years with adolescents, so there was no name she hadn’t been called at some point in her life. Als
“I understand your frustration,” Gov. Kelly said. “I’m as frustrated by this.”
She said she wished she could snap her fingers and have it all over with, but she can’t, and they have to pay attention to the science and reopen the economy as health indicators will allow. There are three phases in reopening, and each includes some steps, such as enough testing to determine the extent of the virus.
Kansas is still in need of testing supplies, Gov. Kelly said, and she has been asking federal agencies to provide them.
She said she has talked with industries across the state this week, as well as the tourism industry, chambers of commerce, small businesses and others to prepare for lifting the orders on May 3. They may not be able to lift the order on May 3, but it was the state’s original intent to do so, she added.
Gov. Kelly said states need additional federal funding to address shortfalls from the last few months, including extending the tax filing deadlines. The state is estimated to be down $1.3 billion for the next two years. She said the third stimulus bill will include some assistance from the federal government, but more will be needed.
Total positive cases up 17 in Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County reported 490 total cases and 47 total deaths at 4 p.m. April 23, according to the Unified Government COVID-19 webpage. Wyandotte County had 473 cases at 4:40 p.m. April 22, an increase of about 17. There were the same number of deaths as the late report April 22.
Testing was expanded this week by the Health Department in Wyandotte County. For information about how to get a test and times available, visit https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/ExpandedCOVID-19testinginWyCo.pdf.
Mayor launches Re-Start WYCO Committee
Mayor David Alvey announced today he was launching a Re-Start WYCO Committee.
The committee has already held one meeting, according to a spokesman, and is scheduled to meet again on Friday.
The group includes health and business leaders. It will not decide when to reopen or relax guidelines, but it will provide guidance on how to safely reopen when the time comes, according to a spokesman.
Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer of Wyandotte County, will advise the county on when to reopen, based on all the data available, according to the spokesman. The co-chairs are Dr. Greiner and UG Commissioner Brian McKiernan.
“We recognize the hardship this pandemic is placing on families and businesses across Wyandotte County, and I am heartened by our community’s commitment and sacrifice to protect its most vulnerable,” stated UG Mayor David Alvey, in a news release. “We need a strategy and a plan that focuses first on health, but also addresses the need to gradually restore and re-open our community at the appropriate time, and in a manner that doesn’t undo our previous efforts to combat COVID-19.”
KU Health System planning additional testing
The University of Kansas Health System is planning additional COVID-19 testing as it is scheduled to receive additional equipment allowing them to handle perhaps 1,000 tests a day, according to doctors at a news conference Thursday morning.
KU Health System also is participating in a trial for patients using convalescent plasma, according to the doctors.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the KU Health System, said that the KU Health System is gearing up to resume some elective surgery soon.
He said procedures are being put in place to make sure that the patients will be safe. There could be some changes, such as waiting in vehicles instead of in a waiting room, in the future.
He said the doctors were concerned that people have been delaying health care during the COVID-19 pandemic across the country. He urged people to take care of chronic medical problems, such as heart problems.
KU Health System reported 23 COVID-19 inpatients, 12 in the intensive care unit, and 69 to 70 discharges on Thursday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control.
Other county COVID-19 totals
Seventy-four Kansas counties reported positive COVID-19 patients on Thursday.
Some of the largest numbers, besides Wyandotte County, included Johnson Count, 403; Ford County, 288; Leavenworth County, 154; Lyon County, 105; Finney County, 87; Coffey County, 48; and Douglas County, 44.
To see the governor’s news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/videos/3247224465502124/.
To see the KU Health System news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/615755085675997/?tn=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARCXe6Lj0JvWyLHYg6Xg5zxs1J6nnRGeWqeFt9ctoh4xifrT7r-9TdLmKPWHM9i_1eJLgWNf52EJf7-H
The Kansas COVID-19 resource page is at https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.
The UG’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
To see more details about the mayor’s Re-Start WYCO Committee, visit https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/ReStartWYCOCommitteeFormed04232020.pdf.
