Jason Taylor, a paramedic with the Edwardsville Fire Department, has died from complications due to COVID-19.
Taylor died on the morning of Jan. 1, according to a news release from the Edwardsville Fire Department.
“We are saddened by the loss of paramedic Taylor,” Fire Chief Tim Whitham said in a news release. “Jason served our city and our citizens with compassion and expertise; we will miss him dearly.”
Taylor served as a paramedic with the department for three years. He began his career in 1998 with Franklin County Emergency Medical Services, and served with the city of Bonner Springs for most of his career, before coming to Edwardsville.
Taylor graduated from Penn Valley Community College in 2008, and became a mobile intensive care technician. He also was an instructor-coordinator through the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services.
Donations to support Taylor’s family may be made at the Edwardsville Fire Department Headquarters, 698 S. 4th St., Edwardsville, Kansas.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 134 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, Jan. 2, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,903 cases. There were no additional deaths reported Saturday, for a cumulative total of 198.
The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Saturday reported 124,178 total cumulative cases, with, 1,483 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 179.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Saturday reported 20,427,780 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 350,186 total deaths.
Free COVID-19 testing available Monday
The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4, with testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tests are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County. The tests are nasopharyngeal swab tests. The Health Department no longer uses saliva tests.
The tests now 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.
Cards and letters of encouragement for caregivers at KU Health System may be sent to Share Joy, care of Patient Relations, 4000 Cambridge St., Mailstop 1021, Kansas City, Kansas, 66160. Emails can be sent to [email protected].
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 193 COVID-19 cases on Friday, Jan. 1, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,769 cases. There were no additional deaths reported Friday, for a cumulative total of 198.
The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Friday reported 123,779 total cumulative cases, with, 1,483 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 182.
On Friday, Kansas reported an increase of 5,312 COVID-19 cases since Wednesday. There was a cumulative total of 227,745 cases, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment statistics. There was an increase of 138 deaths reported since Wednesday, for a cumulative total of 2,879 statewide.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday reported 20,128,693 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 347,788 total deaths.
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas received a COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 31. He sent out this statement: “I opted to receive the COVID vaccine not only to keep those around me safe, but because I think it’s important for everybody throughout our many different communities in Kansas City to know that the vaccine is safe, that it’s a fairly easy, painless process, and that this is the next step to addressing COVID-19—making sure our community is safe very broadly,” said Mayor Lucas. “I know that in some communities—certainly the African American community I’m from and others—some have had some concerns about the vaccine: it’s safety and whether it’s something they should do. I’m here to say that you should. It’s pretty painless, and, importantly, it’s an important tool that’s really going to help our community overcome COVID-19. As vaccine rollout continues throughout our community, effective, efficient and equitable distribution will be a top priority of Kansas City government in this new year.” (Photo from Mayor Lucas’s office)
Counties’ numbers reported
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the counties with the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases on Friday in Kansas included:
Sedgwick County, 40,608 Johnson County, 39,696 Wyandotte County, 15,892 Shawnee County, 11,929 Reno County, 7,041 Douglas County, 6,346 Butler County, 5,493 Ford County, 5,182 Leavenworth County, 5,118
Free COVID-19 testing available Saturday
Free COVID-19 tests are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Pierson Community Center, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Appointments are requested. Registration is at www.GoGetTested.com/Kansas. Check in advance to see if schedules change because of the weather.
The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4, with testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tests are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County. The tests are nasopharyngeal swab tests. The Health Department no longer uses saliva tests.
The tests now 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.
Cards and letters of encouragement for caregivers at KU Health System may be sent to Share Joy, care of Patient Relations, 4000 Cambridge St., Mailstop 1021, Kansas City, Kansas, 66160. Emails can be sent to [email protected].
