27 ACTIVE CASES – 2 HOSPITALIZED – UP TO 3 POSSIBLE NEW DEATHS

UPDATED NUMBERS & PERCENTAGES

By William

MCPHERSON – Monday afternoon, the McPherson County Health Department released another report regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease within McPherson County. The report included a listing of sixteen (16) new positive case reported since Friday as well a listing of the updated overall case data information.

CASES TESTING POSITIVE on FRIDAY:

As of the Monday report, McPherson County now has had 289 total positive cases.

Of those 289 cases, 262 are now considered recovered according to the recovery guidelines set forth by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. This gives McPherson County 27 cases considered active.

There are currently two (2) individuals hospitalized and one death although the McPherson County Health Department is confirming the medical records on three (3) other deaths before listing them in their numbers.

NEWEST POSITIVE CASES:

  • The Report on Monday did not include an individual listing of the sixteen (16) new positive cases.

UPDATED CASE DATA (as of Friday, October 2):

  • Asymptomatic Cases = 26
  • Cases with an unknown exposure = 113
  • Cases involving those individuals 60 years and older = 71
  • Cases involving those individuals 50-59 years old = 31
  • Cases involving those individuals 40-49 years old = 41
  • Cases involving those individuals 30-39 years old = 36
  • Cases involving those individuals 18-29 years old = 78
  • Cases involving those individuals under 18 years old = 32
  • Female involved cases = 152
  • Male involved cases = 137
  • Those cases requiring Hospitalization (May not represent current hospitalizations) = 24
  • Those cases requiring ventilation (May not represent any current ventilated cases) = 4
  • Those cases resulting an individual’s death = 1 with three (3) pending verification of medical records

REGARDING & EVALUATING THE SCHOOL YEAR:

The McPherson County Health Department is working closely with key partners to evaluate the school year.

It is our goal to continue to keep the community informed.

The percent of positive cases out of how many McPherson County residents were tested during a 14-day period will facilitate the McPherson County Health Department recommendations.

Previously, the McPherson County Health Department would remove those being tested for preoperational reasons from the total number of those tested to better gauge the number of ill patients that were positive for COVID-19.

Starting September 11, the McPherson County Health Department will no longer remove preoperational tests from the number reported to represent community spread data more accurately.

The data reported below are not the only data that influences the recommendation to move to more-or-less restrictions.

Criteria that will influence the recommendation to move schools to more or less restrictive measures can be found on www.mcphersoncountyks.us on the home page under “COVID-19: Reopening McPherson County.”

Data has been updated to reflect the above-mentioned changes includes:

Dates               # New Positives          # Tested          % Positive       % Positive w/o Pre-Ops

6/19 to 7/12               22                    449                  4.89%              5.47%

7/13 to 7/26               30                    312                  9.61%              11.49%

7/27 to 8/9                 32                    311                  10.28%                        12.64%

8/10 to 8/23               20                    282                  7.09%              8.62%

8/24 to 9/6                 38                    321                  11.83%            14.39%

9/7 to 9/20                  38                    419                  9.06%              10.10%

9/21 to 10/4*             21                    389                  5.39%              6.21%

*=Numbers may change as more results are reported to the McPherson County Health Department from those time periods.

(Editor’s Note) While some of the following information may seem repetitious, it is still incredibly important for people to continue reading, processing, and acknowledging the situation and severity of the coronavirus.

UPDATE ON PHASE 3 & GOVERNOR’S MANDATE:

  • PHASE 3 – McPherson County is in Phase 3 of Reopening Kansas. Updated documents can be found on http://www.mcphersoncountyks.us on the home page, under “COVID-19: Reopening McPherson County.”
  • The McPherson County Health Department RECOMMENDS that McPherson County REMAINS IN PHASE 3 at least until SEPTEMBER 14th, 2020. This decision extends PHASE 3 again by two incubation periods and is based off the number of positive cases with unknown exposure and the continuous increase in new cases over the past 14 days, and the recommendation from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
  • The McPherson County Board of Health still RECOMMENDS that all McPherson County Communities still follow the RECOMMENDATIONS from the McPherson County Health Department and the McPherson County Health Officer which includes WEARING FACE MASKS while in public when a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals. Mask wearing CAN & WILL significantly decrease the amount of COVID-19 spread in our communities, both from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals.
  • The McPherson County Health Department will continue to evaluate the threat COVID-19 poses to our communities.

McPherson County Board of Health (County Commissioners) passed a resolution to opt out of Governor Kelly’s Executive Order 20-52 on July 2nd, 2020.

McPherson County Board of Health recommends the McPherson County communities still follow the recommendations from McPherson County Health Department and McPherson County Health Officer, which includes wearing face masks while in public when 6-foot of distance cannot be maintained

between individuals. Mask wearing can and will significantly decrease the amount of COVID-19 spread in our communities, both from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals.

McPherson County residents are encouraged to help slow the spread of coronavirus by:

  • Following Phase 3 of Reopening Kansas and McPherson County (as found at www.mcphersoncountyks.us).
  • Maintaining social distancing.
  • Avoiding gatherings in groups greater than 45 people.
  • WEARING CLOTH FACE COVERINGS or homemade masks WHEN IN PUBLIC!
  • Practicing cough etiquette and washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

CURRENT TRAVEL QUARANTINES GUIDELINES:

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the McPherson County Health Department have updated their listing of required quarantine after traveling out of state.

They continue to mandate a 14-day home quarantine for anyone in Kansas if you have done any of the following:

  • Attended/Traveled to a mass gathering event (out-of-state) of 500 people or greater where individuals did not have 6-foot distances and wear masks.
  • Traveled to Aruba on or after September 24.
  • Traveled on a cruise ship or river cruise.

{This McPherson County COVID-19 Update is SPONSORED by CrossDove Creations}

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