Ascension Via Christi is now caring for 18 COVID positive patients, the highest number of active hospitalizations in Riley County to date.
The Riley County Health Department also reported Monday it has two patients under investigation at the hospital, four of the positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.
In an email to News Radio KMAN Monday, Via Christi President and CEO Bob Copple stated the census at the Manhattan hospital has been trending upward for a few weeks, with a mix of non-COVID and COVID patients.
“This is the situation we are all trying to avoid where you simply run out of space for patients. We are definitely seeing an upward trend in patients needing inpatient care. We are working shift by shift to accommodate patients and staffing,” Copple said.
The grim report comes amid 106 new positive cases reported since Friday and 91 additional recoveries. The number of active cases climbed to 477, compared to 283 active cases just one week ago.
Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs spoke with Riley County commissioners Monday about WellHealth’s saliva based testing which continues at CiCo Park.
“They’ve so far administered 2,815 tests since they started on Dec. 18. Of those, 302 have tested positives, about 10 percent,” he said.
The health department has still only received the single shipment of Moderna vaccines from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment containing 200 doses. It says additional vaccines were provided in collaboration with Konza Prairie Community Health Center, allowing nearly 500 people to receive vaccines so far.
The health department anticipates receiving a second shipment of boosters to complete the required second dose of the vaccine needed for immunization.
On the Pottawatomie County side, two more COVID related deaths are being reported, bringing the total number of deaths to six. The county also is reporting 67 new positive cases and 86 recoveries since Friday. This brings the total number of active cases to 80. There are currently five Pottawatomie County residents hospitalized due to COVID.
