Kansas First District Congressman Roger Marshall is back in Kansas, not for politics, but as a volunteer.
The Congressman, who is also an obstetrician, began on-boarding Wednesday at Swope Health Clinic in Kansas City. He’s seen first hand the challenges facing the health care workers on the front lines as well as the challenges the virus poses.
“Some people present with a fever, some with a headache, some just weakness or maybe even diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms. We do a basic history physical, take their vitals and then do the testing for COVID,” he said.
Marshall says even as the numbers continue to rise in Kansas, he believes the worst of the pandemic is behind us.
“Except in southwest Kansas, we have a little fire brewing down there. The rest of the state I believe we’re at the peak or plateau as Dr. (Anthony) Fauci talks about, but then there’s little embers of fire starting to pop up and we’re trying to hop on those,” he said.
Those embers of fire are primarily around meat packing plants in Ford, Seward and Finney counties where Tyson Fresh Meats operates, including one of the largest outbreaks in the state in Dodge City.
Marshall was scheduled to visit Dodge City on Monday and Garden City on Tuesday. He says he fears it will cause some disruptions to Kansas cattle producers trying to get their livestock to market.
“I’ve had ranchers sitting on cattle that should’ve gone to market three weeks ago. Folks that have cattle for sale are unable to find to give them a bid right now. It’s a huge crisis,” he said.
The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes $19 billion for agriculture, many of those dollars appropriated to help save some of the struggling Kansas farms and ranches.
Being away from Washington, D.C. caused Marshall to miss a vote on the replenishing the paycheck protection program Thursday, which ultimately passed. Already 20,000 loans have been made to small businesses in Kansas through that program.
Marshall says reopening the economy must happen soon, although the challenge will fall on municipalities to do so in a responsible manner. He says he fears for the mental health of individuals the longer the financial and economic hardships may last. He encourages any who may be experiencing mental health issues to seek treatment at a federally funded mental health center, including Manhattan’s Pawnee Mental Health, which has received funding through the CARES Act.
Marshall’s full interview with News Radio KMAN can be heard below.
