The Riley County health department is looking to set up a quarantine building in Manhattan.
Speaking to the Riley County commissioners, Director Julie Gibbs shared a letter of support for an alternative care site for individuals who may need to be quarantined or isolated. The building being considered is the Four Points by Sheraton off of Fort Riley Blvd.
The whole building will be closed to the public and be used as a long care term care facility. The building will serve as a quarantine site for first responders, healthcare providers, or those who have tested positive, but have nowhere to go and are not sick enough to go to the hospital.
The department is currently trying to agree on a lease price. They would need at least 30 rooms for 30 days at a price of around $67,000. However, this price was before the hotel headquarters found out they would have to completely shutdown the building. This would include having to drain the pool and moving out furniture. A price is expected to be narrowed by the end of the day.
Gibbs says they will still need to figure out meals for the community, transportation, and laundry services. She also says the department’s updates will start including numbers of those who have recovered from COVID-19 soon.
