The Unified Government Health Department has reported several COVID-19 outbreaks in Wyandotte County.
Long term care facilities
There are currently three confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19 at long-term care facilities in Wyandotte County, according to the Unified Government Public Health Department (UGPHD).
A spokesman stated the Health Department is in regular communication with each of these facilities. UGPHD staff is providing testing, PPE (personal protective equipment), and guidance on infection control steps, according to a spokesman.
All of the facilities are implementing measures to better understand the spread of the virus in their facilities and how to more effectively protect staff and residents, such as testing residents and staff and following public health guidance on quarantine and isolation, according to a spokesman.
Life Care Center of Kansas City
After seeing several positive cases, Life Care Center tested all residents and staff as a precaution, a UG Health Department spokesman stated. Testing supplies were provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
Test results came in over the weekend, bringing the total number of positive cases to 37 (30 residents and seven employees). In addition, four residents at this facility have passed away due to COVID-19.
Delaware Highlands Assisted Living
Delaware Highlands has now tested all residents and staff at their facility twice, with the most recent round of testing occurring last week. No additional positives were found during the most recent round of testing, according to the spokesman.
The total number of positives remains at 18 (16 residents and two employees). There have been no COVID-19-related deaths linked to this outbreak.
Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation
Riverbend remains the largest outbreak in Wyandotte County, with the number of positive cases at 132 (105 residents and 27 employees), according to the spokesman.
There have been 36 deaths among residents, and three residents are currently hospitalized.
In response to outbreaks at long-term care facilities and the increased risk for COVID-19 in these settings, a Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Group has been formed, the Health Department stated.
The advisory group is chaired by Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich, a board-certified geriatric medicine specialist and head of geriatric nedicine for the University of Kansas Health System. Members include physicians, government officials, experienced providers from long-term care nursing facilities, and emergency management professionals.
The advisory group has already produced a detailed guidance document that can be used by facilities hoping to reduce the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities.
Additionally, Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich, UGPHD Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Greiner, and UGPHD Deputy Medical Officer Dr. Erin Corriveau have reached out to every long-term care and assisted living facility in Wyandotte County to talk to their leadership and provide support and guidance, the spokesman stated.
Other outbreaks
There has been a large increase in the number of positive cases in Wyandotte County, in part due to testing residents linked to outbreaks, according to the spokesman.
A prime example is an outbreak linked to Triumph Foods, located in St. Joseph, Missouri, which employs people from throughout the metro area.
Over the weekend, 78 Wyandotte County residents who work at Triumph Foods were confirmed positive for COVID-19, according to the spokesman. Though the outbreak is located in Missouri, the positive cases are “counted” in the county in which people reside.
The UGPHD also continues to investigate several other outbreaks at businesses and organizations within Wyandotte County, the spokesman stated. Outbreaks of five or more cases are now shown on the new COVID-19 hub.
Outbreak data on COVID-19 hub
The latest numbers and additional information on outbreaks in Wyandotte County on the Unified Government’s new COVID hub. The hub includes an interactive map of outbreak locations, as well as additional information on the public health response to outbreaks.
To view the new data hub, visit wycokck.org/COVID-19 and click on the “COVID hub” tab. For general COVID-19 information and questions, dial 3-1-1.
- Information from the UG Health Department