Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas secretary of health, said on Tuesday that the state will come out with more guidance by Monday on Phases 3 and 4 of the state vaccine plan.
Gov. Laura Kelly and Dr. Norman announced Monday that Phases 3 and 4 of the vaccine plan would start Monday, March 22.
One of the questions raised about the new phases is how will vaccination sites know if a person has a chronic disease and is in one of the phases. The topic was discussed at the Tuesday morning media update at the University of Kansas Health System.
Dr. Norman said the state will come out with some guidance on that topic soon. He said that people will be on the honor system, but they might want to bring a pill bottle with their name and the medication name on it, or a copy of their prescription with them when they get a vaccine.
Dr. Norman said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment decided to combine phases 3 and 4, which deal with people with severe illnesses and people with other medical risks.
He said even the professionals found it hard to differentiate between Phase 3, those with severe illnesses, and Phase 4, those in the other medical risk category. The CDC has provided guidance on the lists, but when they look at it as doctors, no bright line separates the conditions, Dr. Norman said.
Dr. Norman said this would be a great time for people to touch base with their medical providers to talk about the vaccine, if they haven’t received one yet.
In general, Dr. Norman said that the state doesn’t want to make vaccine providers shuffle through medical records, or burden primary care doctors with a lot of paperwork.
The state has a vaccine priority plan that lists the various categories of those eligible for vaccines, at https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/121/Vaccine-Prioritization-Slides-PDF.
Dr. Norman said Kansas expects a large influx of Johnson and Johnson vaccine at the end of March to help with the vaccination efforts in Kansas.
Besides health departments and some hospitals, vaccines are being distributed at safety net clinics, and some pharmacies.
Dr. Norman said it’s critical to get vaccines to medical practices, where primary care providers can talk with people about the vaccines. He said Johnson and Johnson vaccine would be ideal for medical offices, as it’s easier to handle.
On another topic, the doctors were concerned about parties and spring break celebrations that could spread COVID-19.
Dr. Norman said St. Patrick’s Day parties could turn out to be super spreader events.
“We can’t let our guard down,” Dr. Norman said. “COVID is not gone and it’s not forgotten.”
On the topic of some state legislators who were proposing to change the hundred-year-old public health laws, Dr. Norman said, “To turn public health authority over to a legislative committee or an attorney general is ill-advised.”
He said the health departments need to be able to act in the event of any health outbreaks. Last week, the state had an outbreak of syphilis, and a team from the state health department responded the next day. Anything that slows their ability to respond to outbreaks with investigations and treatment is ill-advised, he said. They have also had food outbreaks, as well as mandatory isolation and quarantine for mumps, according to Dr. Norman.
“It isn’t just about COVID-19,” Dr. Norman said.
COVID-19 case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported 11 active COVID-19 patients on Tuesday morning, the same number as Monday. Of the 11 patients, four were in the intensive care unit, an increase of one since Monday. One patient was on a ventilator, no change since Monday. There were another 15 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but are out of the acute infection phase, a decrease of five since Monday. There is a total 26 patients, a decrease of five from Monday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of eight COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, March 16, since Monday, for a cumulative 17,908 cases. There was a cumulative total of 278 deaths reported, no change since Monday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 162,252 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 72. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,291.
The state of Kansas reported 298,218 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Monday, March 15, an increase of 470 cases since Friday. There were a total cumulative 4,835 deaths reported, an increase of 11 deaths.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday night reported 29,547,756 cases in the United States, with 536,887 total deaths reported nationwide.
COVID-19 tests scheduled Wednesday
Free COVID-19 tests will be available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at Faith Deliverance Family Worship Center, 3043 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
The tests are through the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force. Groceries will be given away to those who get tested, while supplies last. Appointments are not necessary. For more information, see https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
Another COVID-19 testing site will be at Lowe’s, 6920 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 17. Tests are through WellHealth. Appointments are required, check with the website, www.gogettested.com/Kansas, for available appointment times.
Unified Government Health Department COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites are scheduled to be open on Wednesday, March 17. The test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 17. Appointments are not needed for COVID-19 tests and vaccinations for those over 65 on Wednesday. There is also a UG Health Department location for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at the former Best Buy store, 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. A third Health Department site, for vaccinations, is at the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th.
More information is at 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. 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.
More residents now can walk in for vaccinations
The UG Health Department is offering COVID-19 vaccines Monday through Friday for Wyandotte County residents who are 65 and older, and also for high-contact critical workers in Phase 2.
Those Wyandotte County residents who are 65 or older, and critical workers in Phase 2, can walk in and do not need an appointment from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the vaccination sites at the former Kmart store at 7836 State Ave., the former Best Buy store at 10500 Parallel Parkway and the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th.
Those who walk in to get vaccines should bring an ID and something showing their Wyandotte County address, such as mail. Critical workers should bring a work badge or a document showing they work in Wyandotte County.
Those Wyandotte County residents who are younger than 65, or are not eligible yet, may fill out a form expressing interest in getting a vaccine at WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1.
For more information, visit http://wyandotteonline.com/ug-health-department-expands-walk-in-vaccine-eligibility/.
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 new school health order is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/localhealthofficerschoolorder3.11.21.pdf.
The University of Kansas Health System doctors’ morning media update is online at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/162676125697518.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/265130208445513.
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 is under a mandatory mask and social distancing order.
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.