Four COVID-19 variants have been found in Kansas so far, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Dr. Lee Norman, who spoke at the University of Kansas Health System’s news conference on Tuesday morning, said the variants haven’t yet taken hold and become the dominant strain in Kansas. On Monday, there were 483 new COVID-19 cases in Kansas in three days, and most new cases were likely not the strains.
Dr. Norman said the other strains that haven’t shown up yet in Kansas probably will be seen later.
“I think of this as a road race between the vaccine administration and the wild strain, the normal strain and these variants that are out there,” Dr. Norman said. “I think it really emphasizes, one, the need to do the anti-contagion measures of masks and distancing, and then vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because we know vaccines work against these strains.”
It’s going to require constant vigilance, more testing, more wastewater testing and to continue to do the things that are successful, Dr. Norman said. That’s why Kansas is the fifth best in the nation on new cases and sixth best in the country on new hospitalizations, he said.
Doctors at the news conference were hoping the pause on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine on Tuesday morning would not affect the Kansas vaccination program. There was plenty of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine available, according to the doctors, and those vaccines were not affected by the Johnson and Johnson “pause.”
Dr. Norman said the spread of variants is a lingering concern. Vigilance at the state level is going up all the time, with the state doing increased genomic sequencing on samples of COVID-19 to determine if there are variants. Wastewater testing is happening around the state, he said. It’s reassuring there hasn’t been a marked uptick, and it’s continuing to drop in some communities, he said.
“We’re all kind of holding our breath with vaccine administration going up, up and up,” he said.
Over 34 percent of the state’s residents have received at least one dose of the vaccines, and more than 1.5 million total doses have been administered, with almost a million Kansas residents receiving at least one dose, according to state vaccine information on the KDHE website. Of those over 18, about 50 percent have received one dose, according to Dr. Norman.
“I’d breathe easier knowing when people get at least their first shot,” he said. “And yet, those variants are looming over us. We’re following it very closely and can respond quickly with mobile units and a strike team should there be an outbreak.”
To people who have symptoms and think they shouldn’t get tested because people around them are vaccinated now, Dr. Norman said it’s a bit early. There’s still a lot of asymptomatic infections, and they know COVID-19 is also in a lot of younger people. Younger groups are more vaccine hesitant or want to wait to get a vaccine, he said.
The age group of 18 to 35 are vaccine hesitant and may be more likely to be infected because of gatherings, and can be asymptomatic, he said. For this group, there is a campaign, “Know Before You Go,” for those who are leaving college to go home or visit relatives.
There is still a need for widespread testing, he said. Like a wildfire, the worst seems to be over, but there are still hotspots, and testing will tell them where to go to put the flare-ups out.
Dr. Norman said they’re at an important point now. Only a few weeks ago, demand was outstripping vaccine supply, but now, more vaccine is available and it needs to get into people’s arms, he said. A number of sites have open slots and have not requested more vaccine in a week or two, he said. That vaccine then can be reallocated to counties with strong demand, he said. However, those areas where demand is not strong still have a number of people who need to be vaccinated, he said.
Residents of Wyandotte County can get vaccinations at three walk-in clinics run by the Health Department, and also through appointments through the KU Health System as well as at several pharmacies (listed below under “Vaccinations available”).
According to Dr. Norman, there has been good success with monoclonal antibodies as a preventive measure administered to those who were living in a household where there was an active COVID-19 infection, including against variants. Alternate ways of administering this are being tried, such as under the skin, not just intravenous infusion.
The KDHE COVID-19 website has a tab for COVID-19 variants, which identifies 22 counties as having variant cases. (See https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery, with the tab “Variants”).
According to the KDHE map, Wyandotte County had three cases of B.1.1.7. variant. This variant, also known as the United Kingdom variant, has 50 percent increased transmission and likely increased severity based on hospitalizations and case fatality rates.
The KDHE map also showed two cases of the B.1.1.7. variant detected in Johnson County and one case of the same variant detected in Leavenworth County.
There were 22 cases of the B.1.1.7. variant detected in Shawnee County, the Topeka area, according to the KDHE map. Sedgwick County, the Wichita area, had 46 cases of the B.1.1.7. variant, according to the KDHE map. Labette County had 18 cases of the same variant. Neosho County had nine cases of the same variant.
According to the KDHE, Sedgwick County also has been found to have one case of the Brazilian or P.1 variant. P.1 was reported on Tuesday by KDHE.
The South African variant, B.1.351, also has been identified in Kansas, according to the KDHE. Finney County has two cases of this variant.
Harper County has one case, Douglas County has one case and Jefferson County has two cases of B.1.429, a California strain, according to the KDOT map. It has a 20 percent increased transmissibility, and therapeutics can be significantly effective.
The P.1, from Brazil by way of Japan, can be treated with monoclonal antibody therapeutics, which have a moderate impact on neutralization, according to KDHE information.
The South African variant, B.1.351, has a 50 percent increased transmission rate. Monoclonal antibody therapeutics may have a moderate impact on neutralization, according to KDHE information.
Some of the variant cases in the state may have been in the past and no longer are active.
The KDHE recommends wearing a mask, social distancing, good hygiene, staying home if ill, isolation, quarantine and getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The mask should be snugly fitting with multiple layers of fabric.
Vaccinations available
COVID-19 vaccinations will be available from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th, (18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas; the former Kmart building, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas; and at the former Best Buy location, 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.
Vaccinations are open to anyone older than 16 who is a resident of Wyandotte County.
Residents may walk in to the Health Department clinics or may make an appointment. All clinics are open Tuesday to Friday, and the Armory location also is scheduled to be open on Saturday, April 17. Two of the clinics will be open on Mondays.
Go to WycoVaccines.org to schedule an appointment online, or call 3-1-1. Walk-ins also are available. The vaccination schedule for the rest of the month also is available at WycoVaccines.org.
Other sites available for vaccinations
The University of Kansas Health System also may have vaccinations for Wyandotte and Johnson county residents. Any residents of Kansas can call to get an appointment whether they are patients or not at the health system.
KU Health System offers vaccinations seven days a week at different locations. Appointments are required. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to see if vaccines are available.
There are also pharmacies giving COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacy at 76th and State Avenue, and 81st and State Avenue (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/), and Medicine Shoppe pharmacy at 65th and Parallel by appointment when available (see https://www.facebook.com/The-Medicine-Shoppe-Kansas-City-281548241870522). CVS pharmacy also has announced that it will offer COVID-19 vaccines at one of its stores in Kansas City, Kansas. Registration is at CVS.com.
COVID-19 case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported 13 active COVID-19 patients on Tuesday morning, an increase of one from Monday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Of the 13 patients, five were in the intensive care unit, no change from Monday. Two patients were on a ventilator, no change since Monday. There were another 12 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but are out of the acute infection phase, no change since Monday. There is a total 25 patients, an increase of one from Monday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of eight COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, April 13, for a cumulative 18,233 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 288 deaths reported, the same as Monday. There were 21.5 percent of Wyandotte County residents who had completed at least one dose of vaccination as of April 7, according to the Health Department’s vaccine page.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 165,329 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 60. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,351.
The state of Kansas reported 304,719 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Monday, April 12, an increase of 483 cases since Friday. There were a total cumulative 4,930 deaths reported statewide.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday night reported 31,345,312 cases in the United States, with 563,440 total deaths reported nationwide.
COVID-19 tests scheduled
Free COVID-19 testing is available from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, at Faith Deliverance Family Worship Center, 3043 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. No appointment is needed. People may be tested regardless of symptoms or exposure. Testing is through Vibrant Health and the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force.
COVID-19 testing is available beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Lowe’s, 6920 State Ave., by appointment. The tests are listed on the Go Get Tested site
at www.gogettested.com/Kansas. The WellHealth tests need appointments, which can be made at the website.
Unified Government Health Department COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites are scheduled to be open on Wednesday, April 14. For more information, visit https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19. To see if there is any change to the schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
The Health Department is offering saliva COVID-19 tests to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, at the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave. and at the former Best Buy at 10500 Parallel Parkway. Tests from the Health Department are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County.
The tests are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.
The Health Department’s general contact page is at https://www.wycokck.org/Health/Contact.aspx. Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
Testing sites are at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
Saliva testing is now offered at the UG Health Department. For more information, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02042021-ugphd-saliva-testing-available.pdf.
The University of Kansas doctors’ news conference is online at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/148058347166610.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/292961702392386.
A weekly vaccine report for the state of Kansas is at
https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/123/Vaccine-Historical-Document-22521?bidId=.
Wyandotte County has a local mask and social distancing ordinance approved by the UG Commission. The UG COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
The KDHE’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.
The KC Region COVID-19 Hub dashboard is at https://marc2.org/covidhub/.
The Wyandotte County page on the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 website is at https://bao.arcgis.com/covid-19/jhu/county/20209.html.
The Johns Hopkins Data in Motion, a presentation on critical COVID-19 data in the past 24 hours, is at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video.