4 p.m. Sunday update
Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials announced Sunday that the number of positive COVID-19 cases had grown to 747 as of 11 a.m.
Included in that were two more cases in Riley County, bringing the county total to 13. KDHE noted two new Geary County cases over the weekend and Pottawatomie County remained at two. Wabaunsee County also reported its first case Sunday.
See the full map here: KDHE Kansas COVID-19 case summary
Most of the cases so far in the Manhattan area have been said to be travel related. However, the Riley County Health Department stated there is new information to indicate community spread in at least one of the newly reported cases. The source of the person’s exposure is unknown. A community spread case means the patient had no recent travel history or contact with another person to be infected, indicating that the virus may have spread within the local community.
That patient is in isolation at home. The individual confirmed to health officials that they went to Dillon’s Westloop on March 26 and to Walmart on March 30. The patient developed symptoms on March 31 and has been in isolation since that time.
The latest Geary County case, announced Sunday was attributed to a 48-year-old man who recently traveled to Texas. He is currently self-isolated at his home.
Currently all Riley County patients are isolating at home. There have been 79 negative tests in Riley County and 18 cases are still pending. There have been 22 deaths in Kansas attributed to the virus.
7:45 p.m. Saturday
During the daily Riley County Health Department press conference, Riley County Health Director Julie Gibbs gave an update on the status of COVID-19 in Manhattan. Gibbs gave an update on the two new cases in Riley County.
She says the second patient also has a history of travel.
Gibbs also provided information on the those in the community being monitored for COVID-19.
Finally, Gibbs provided information on how to protect yourself with a mask.
Riley County has 11 positive cases.
More information about COVID-19 developments in Kansas and preventing the spread of the virus can be found at kdheks.gov.
