Riley County is beginning to see a flattening of the curve in terms of the COVID-19 cases reported by the health department.
As of Monday, Riley County had recorded 426 positive coronavirus cases. That includes 110 active cases, 312 patients who’ve made recoveries and four deaths, the latest of which was reported Friday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Three patients are currently hospitalized, including one on a ventilator.
Local Health Order no. 16 is being drafted and should be announced later this week. It will look into preventative measures to put in place with an influx of K-State students getting set to return to Manhattan. Gibbs explains how they’re approaching things like Rush week at K-State.
“We know that we have to have modifications in place, so things like are going to have to have limitations definitely. K-State has had many conversations with us and putting safeguards in place,” she said.
Gibbs says K-State President Richard Myers had suggested a mask mandate for Riley County be included in the next local health order (No. 16), which is set to be released later this week. The Commission unanimously turned down a mandate at their Monday meeting.
“He expressed his concern that without a mask ordinance in place within the next two weeks he would not be comfortable with bringing students, faculty and staff back to campus in August,” she said.
Gibbs expressed support for a mandate, citing studies showing masks to be an effective preventative tool. A mandate would have required masks inside all public buildings in the county, as well as outside when six feet social distancing cannot be achieved.
Commissioners however did not share the same sentiment, referencing a lack of cases outside of Manhattan. Commissioner Marvin Rodriguez says rural areas don’t have cases and the people there are smart enough to know when to wear them.
“I’m good the way the order reads right now and if something does happen, we can always make a change, but right now there is very little stuff going on. The two deaths in Leonardville were both in the nursing home,” he said.
The current local health order expires July 30.
Riley County Statistics for Monday, July 27, 2020:
- Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 426**
- Total Active: 110
- Total Recovered: 312
- Total deaths: 4
- Pending test results: 159
- Negative test results: 4,179
- Average age: 31.3 years old
- Gender: Female: 47.7% (203), Male 52.3% (223)
