7:17 Tuesday update – RCHD recommends wearing masks in certain situations; Riley County EMS implements shift changes among staff members
The Riley County Health Department is now recommending that masks be worn when going somewhere where social distancing is difficult.
“This may be the case in grocery stores or other stores where there could be a large amount of people,” Julie Gibbs, the RCHD Director, said. “Therefore, it is our recommendation for everyone – grocery-store workers, delivery personnel and the public – to wear a mask if social distancing will be hard to maintain. Remember that wearing this type of mask will help you to help others.”
To help with this effort, the health department is partnering with Westview Community Church to distribute cloth masks to the local community.
“Phase one of this effort will be collection only, starting tomorrow on Wednesday from 11 a.m. til 3 p.m. and again on Friday from 11 a.m. til 3 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. til noon,” Gibbs said. “Phase two will include both the collection of donated masks and distribution of those masks to the public. Phase two is not expected to launch until next week.”
Those wanting to donate homemade masks can take them to the church’s west entrance at 615 Gillespie Dr..
Gibbs recommends waiting until next Monday to pick up masks so workers have time to sanitize them.
More information about these efforts can be found on Westview Community Church’s Facebook page.
—
The Riley County Emergency Medical Services department has begun implementing shift changes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to administrative teams beginning to work in shifts, changes have been made to limit interactions between other EMS staff.
“If we have a crew that is assigned to station number two, they cannot interact with crews that are at station number three or station number four,” David Adams, the Riley County EMS Director, said. “Those crews could only work at that station and can’t cross and work at a different station for any number of reasons.”
Measures have also been implemented to prevent staff from accidentally spreading the virus when they leave work.
“Our employees leave their uniforms at work so that we don’t incidentally expose our families if we have come in contact with the virus,” Adams said. “The crews the next day on shift wash their clothes for them and they’re ready for when they come back to work.”
According to Adams, limits have also been placed on the public’s access to EMS facilities.
4:15 p.m. Tuesday RCHD update
2 p.m. Tuesday update
Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials have announced that the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Kansas grew to 900 as of noon Tuesday.
That includes three new cases of COVID-19 for Riley County, totaling 17. There continue to be four in Pottawatomie County, though KDHE lists only three. Local health department officials say KDHE inadvertently listed a positive case to Riley County on April 3.
Testing continues in both counties, with Riley County reporting 123 people have been tested while 55 people in Pottawatomie County have also now been tested.
With the threat of community spread still a reality locally, the Riley County Health Department has ordered the closure of all playgrounds at USD 383 schools as well as Bishop Stadium. That order came down Tuesday afternoon.
Geary County is reporting four positive cases and 59 total tests conducted.
Statewide there have been 27 deaths attributed to the virus, 227 hospitalizations and 8,614 negative tests.
Tune in at 5 p.m. daily for the daily briefing with RCHD Director Julie Gibbs on News Radio KMAN.
5 p.m. Monday update
Riley County is reporting 14 total cases of COVID-19 while neighboring Pottawatomie County now has four individuals who have tested positive.
Health Department Director Julie Gibbs provided information on the latest new case during her daily update.
“One gentleman who is in his 40’s had travel in his history and the other gentleman is in his 30’s and we are currently in contact with him and his family,” she said.
A third individual, an Ogden resident in his 50’s tested positive Monday morning and is in isolation at his home. Pottawatomie County health officials say their latest case involves a man from the western part of the county in his 70’s.
Included in that report, Gibbs says two people have since recovered, 14 cases are pending and 87 Riley County residents have tested negative. In addition 17 residents are being monitored but are not confirmed as positive cases.
Elsewhere, Geary County reported its third positive case Monday, bringing the total number of positive cases in the Manhattan-Junction City area to over 20. Statewide there have been 845 positive cases with 25 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
