Many organizations and departments in the area are making adjustments to operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, the Riley County Police Department announced enhanced safety measures. Those that impact the public include the suspension of citizen ride-alongs, tours of the law enforcement center and speaking engagements with large groups. Patrol officers will exercise at least a 6-foot distance between themselves and people they are assisting. Unnecessary contact such as handshaking will be limited. In-person response to calls will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if an officer can appropriately respond by phone. RCPD’s Hazardous Materials…
Author: KMAN Staff
On Monday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Riley County Historical Museum Executive Director Cheryl Collins as she reflects on what life in Manhattan was like in 1950.
Bed space at Ascension Via Christi due to COVID-19 is not much of a concern, according to their president. President and CEO Bob Copple says most patients who contract the virus would not even need to be hospitalized. Using data from other countries, not very many of the patients were hospitalized. Most of the interaction patients will have would be with primary care. “Some of the uncertainty and anxiety has been around that everyone is going to be in the ICU on ventilator, but that is not what we have seen in other countries,” says Copple. There will be some…
Due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus, Manhattan residents have been stocking up on groceries. As in most places, the most popular item during the pandemic has been toilet paper, which the Manhattan Walmart had run completely out of by the weekend. Other stores like Dillon’s and HyVee experienced similar runs on cleaning supplies. Some stores on Saturday were even limiting the quantities of some products, like toilet paper that customers could purchase. Other items in high demand are eggs, paper items, and cleaning supplies. Despite the fear, customer Jim Henson said he did not believe his experience was all…
Kansas State University announced Saturday it is limiting campus housing operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and state of emergency. An email to students Saturday says students will be able to return to the residence halls to pick up medications and computers only, but prior authorization is required. Jardine Apartments will remain open with limited services available. The university is asking students who live in off-campus housing to remain away from campus communities if possible. Students who meet the following criteria are being allowed to stay in the residence halls: International students who are unable to return home or find a temporary off-campus…
OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials on Saturday confirmed the state’s eighth novel coronavirus case in a person from Franklin County in eastern Kansas. No details about the person were released, but the news follows on the heels of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment announcing Saturday morning the state’s seventh case — a woman in her 50s associated with Johnson County Community College. That case is the county’s first believed to have been contracted locally, the release said. Four other COVID-19 cases have been reported in Johnson County. All of them become infected while traveling out of state.…
Fort Riley leaders announced Saturday that a number of measures are being enacted to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. . All service members returning from leave/official travel will immediately report to staff duty for health screening.. All personnel who traveled outside the U.S. or have come in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 are required to undergo 14 days restriction of movement.. Mandatory hand washing stations at high traffic locations. . Limiting large group gatherings. . If you or any family members feel sick, stay home or in your barracks, notify leadership, and call 1-800-TRICARE. . Commanders/directors…
Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Karen Hibbard spoke with KMAN Friday about the cancellation of events in Manhattan in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. She says that some of the 14 conventions and events held during the month of March that the bureau directly works with have already been held, but many have been cancelled. Hibbard says the cancellation of events in Manhattan affects several areas of life such as shopping, restaurants and tourism and that getting back to normal will be important for the economy’s recovery. Among the events that were cancelled was the Kansas State High School…
Potential legislature closing Kansas 22nd District Senator Tom Hawk spoke to KMAN Friday about the possibility of the Kansas legislature closing down in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. He says this step may be taken to prevent the gathering of large groups. Hawk says they have prepared their budget in case a shut down does happen. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly recently announced restrictions on who is allowed in the Kansas State Capitol building. COVID-19 testing supplies Hawk also talked to KMAN about the supply of COVID-19 testing supplies in Kansas, saying he is frustrated with the federal government’s approach. However,…
Release from Kansas Insurance Department. Topeka – The Kansas Insurance Department has been in communication with all major medical insurance carriers offering fully insured health plans in Kansas regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). As of today, The Department can confirm that all major medical insurance carriers for fully insured plans are committed to waiving the cost sharing for Novel Coronavirus testing. “I would like to commend the carriers in Kansas for taking this critical step,” Commissioner Vicki Schmidt said. “While there are number of moving parts in response to the coronavirus, I am pleased the carriers in Kansas took this…