Update 5 p.m.
By Nick McNamara
Riley County has no plans to implement stricter health and safety restrictions than that state when Kansas progresses into phase 2 of re-opening businesses.
Health Officer Julie Gibbs provided no new additional details on Wednesday’s new positive COVID-19 test during the county’s online pandemic update.
Gibbs says Gov. Laura Kelly will announce Thursday or Friday whether the state will remain in phase 1 for another period of time. The earliest Kansas can enter phase 2 is May 18, according to the governor’s plan. Once the call is made, local officials will have a clearer picture of its next steps.
“At this time, the county is not looking at issuing a more restrictive order,” says Gibbs. “We will revoke [Local Health] Order No. 7 if she does move onto phase 2 and we will go along with the governor’s order.”
That order limited restaurant seating to 50 percent capacity and instituted a 10 p.m. close time for such businesses while also requiring child care providers to abide by the same restrictions as under the stay-at-home order. Those include keeping children in stable group no more than 10 and taking temperatures upon arrival and departure. Once revoked, Gibbs says they will continue to encourage group stability and taking temperatures but will allow larger groups to convene.
Ascension Via Christi Hospital President Bob Copple says some businesses waited to re-open in phase 1, something he anticipates occurring in phase 2 when salons and gyms will be allowed to open again.
“It’s all about do the y have the resources, do they have the PPE that they might need, do they have everybody trained, are they really ready to do that well,” says Copple. “I think what we’ve seen with the business owners in town is a fairly measured approach to making sure I’m ready and I understand and until I’m ready and I understand I’m not going to open.”
Officials are also planning for playgrounds to re-open in phase 2 depending on state guidelines.
Though no additional local orders are anticipated to amend the state’s second phase of re-opening, Gibbs says some regulatory bodies might implement their own guidelines to businesses under their purview.
“There are some restrictions that will be set along with those,” says Gibbs. “I know the Board of Cosmetology, they do have certain guidelines they want […] employees to follow.”
Gibbs says guidance on re-opening businesses can be found online at KDHEKS.gov or RegionReimagined.org or RileyCountyKS.Gov. Questions can also be directed to info@Manhattan.org or by calling the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce at (785) 776-8829
Copple also notes that no COVID-positive patients are currently hospitalized, but they’ve seen an increase in patient loads for unrelated illnesses. He reiterated recommendations to get treatment if necessary and to not put off care out of fear of contracting the illness, saying waiting can lead to less ideal outcomes.
Additionally, Via Christi has implemented a new procedure for individuals planning non-emergency procedures. Those patients will be asked to come to the hospital in advance to be tested and then to self-isolate as they await results and ultimately the procedure.
“People are actually at risk for complications from procedures if they end up being positive with COVID,” says Copple. “It’s related to people being under anesthesia, […] you’re going to be more apt to potentially having an infection — that’s why you’re doing all this stuff ahead of time.”
Copple says for emergency procedures, they’ll perform surgery and then worry about testing after.
“We’re going to save their life first and then we’ll worry about whether or not they’re COVID-positive.”
Gibbs and Copple continue to encourage residents to stay at home if necessary and to maintain physical distancing in public. They also advise continuing good hand hygiene, wearing masks when physical distance cannot be maintained, and watching out for their health in general.
Original:
Riley County reported one new positive case Wednesday, a 30-year-old woman associated with an outbreak in another county.
This patient is currently in home isolation.
There are about a dozen active cases, 46 recoveries, 714 negative test results and 59 total cases in Riley County since mid-March.
Pottawatomie County remains at 21 total positive cases.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the counties are now releasing data Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays rather than five days a week.
Riley County reported its first death attributed to the virus Tuesday, a Manhattan man in his 30s with an underlying health condition.
KDHE is reporting that so far, 57,544 people have been tested for the coronavirus.
Of those that have been tested, 50,160 have tested negative while 7,468 have tested positive.
There have also been 704 hospitalizations and 164 deaths due to the coronavirus in Kansas.
