With school starting today in Wyandotte County, doctors had some advice for students returning in person to school.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, recommended that students try to separate themselves from their classmates and keep their masks on. He spoke during a news conference sponsored Tuesday by the KU Health System. Parents should let students know that they should stay within their groups, socially distanced, and everything will be OK, he added.
Dr. Erin Corriveau, deputy medical officer for the Unified Government Health Department, said masks are most important. It’s a simple act of kindness to wear masks, she said, and she hopes students have bene practicing at home.
Pastor Glenn Brady of New Bethel Church at 745 Walker, Kansas City, Kansas, said it’s most important for kids to be courteous, one to another. Part of being courteous is distancing and wearing a mask, he added.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer for the University of Kansas Health System, said the most important thing is for parents to tell kids, “I love you.” With so many stresses in the world, those words mean more than ever, he said, and they show that parents care about kids and give kids security. Then the kids can show courtesy, kindness and wear masks.
Dr. Corriveau said parents should talk to kids about cohorting, or sticking with the same group of kids they’re with in the classroom. The students should be careful about what they do in their off times and on the weekends, she said. If they’re involved in activities, really encourage mask wearing, she said.
She also said testing keeps people safe by helping to identify the people who have COVID-19, then isolate them so they don’t spread the virus any further.
Recently, according to Dr. Corriveau, the numbers of positive cases have been lower in Wyandotte County. They are still encouraging people to get tested if they have symptoms or have been exposed to a positive case, she said.
Pastor Brady said his church has still not resumed full services at this point. They have online services and also have held some outdoor services, he said.
“From the beginning, we took the attitude of wisdom with faith,” he said.
Wyandotte County reported 12 additional positive COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with a cumulative total of 6,179 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There were 118 cumulative deaths reported, the same as Monday.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, reported 18 acute COVID-19 patients on Tuesday morning at the KU Health System, with four in the intensive care, down from seven on Friday, and two on ventilators, the same as Friday. Numbers of acute patients dropped to 13 on Monday, Labor Day, and there were six admissions since Monday morning, according to Dr. Hawkinson, with some discharges. There also are non-acute COVID-19 patients at the Health System, including two more on ventilators.
Testing offered Wednesday
Testing will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Judson Baptist Church, 8300 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
The pop-up testing is through the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force and Vibrant Health.
Testing also will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Health Department parking lot, 6th and Ann, Kansas City, Kansas, weather permitting.
Check with the UG’s website or call 311 to see if there are any changes in the schedule because of weather. Information about testing is at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
The KU doctors’ news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/243674583573888.
The UG COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
The KC Region COVID-19 Hub dashboard is at https://marc2.org/covidhub/.
The Unified Government Health Department is collecting input on people’s experiences getting tested for COVID-19 in Wyandotte County. The survey is on the UG website at https://us.openforms.com/Form/ea97a450-3d74-4d86-8d1f-6e340d55cf7c.
The UG Health Department new school and sports guidance is online at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/09042020fallsportsrecommendations.pdf.
A previous UG sports order is online at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/08132020localhealthofficerorderregardingsports.pdf.
The Wyandotte County school start order is online at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
Wyandotte County is under a mandatory mask order and is in Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan. For more information, residents may visit the UG COVID-19 website at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information or call 311 for more information.
The KDHE’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.
The CDC’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.