Manhattan and Wamego’s local hospitals are limiting elective non-emergent services, as part of COVID-19 preparedness efforts. In a statement released Wednesday morning, Bob Copple, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan said “there is no substitute for that independent medical judgement, but it’s critical that we all be good stewards of our healthcare resources.” Surgeons and other physicians who perform procedures at Ascension Via Christi hospitals and other ambulatory sites of care are being asked to postpone elective, non-urgent cases such as bariatric, plastic joint replacement and others for 45 days or more. Patients scheduled for non-emergent procedures should…
Author: KMAN Staff
Americans are looking to maintain as much normalcy as possible amid nationwide closures in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic and so are local governments. Amid the uncertainty, Manhattan is exploring ways to accommodate comments from members of the public if city commission meetings are moved entirely online. “I don’t think it’s about limiting the public access,” says Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers. “It’s about coordinating their comments to you all and how we can do that without requiring them to show up and requiring staff to be here to actually make it real time.” The meetings would be conducted…
K-State Biosecurity Research Institute Director Stephen Higgs spoke with KMAN about the development of potential COVID-19 vaccines. Higgs says there are vaccines currently in the works, but their development will likely take some time. According to Higgs, there is vaccine research that has already passed the animal-testing stage, but people shouldn’t expect it to be available any time soon. Higgs also spoke to KMAN about the importance of social distancing when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19. He says staying away from other people is particularly important because those with the virus may not show any symptoms. He…
USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid and board member Brandy Santos joined us for a discussion on how the district is responding to Gov. Laura Kelly’s announcement to close schools to in-person learning for the remainder of the school year. The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. to go over some recommendations from the Kansas State Department of Education. Manhattan Christian College President Kevin Ingram joined us to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting his campus as they switch to all online learning.
The Riley County Health Department is offering a service in conjunction with Ascension Via Christi hospital for those who may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. RCHD Director Julie Gibbs says those who believe they have COVID-19 symptoms can call a phone number where health professionals will advise them on what to do based on what they are experiencing. The phone number for the screening service is 785-323-6400. Gibbs is urging people to call this number before contacting their healthcare provider. There are currently zero confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Riley County.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has banned home and business evictions until May 1 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Kelly signed an executive order Tuesday that she says is designed to mitigate the financial fallout for many Kansans during the spread of the virus. The order, which the governor’s office did not announce, requires financial institutions to suspend business and home evictions. Earlier Tuesday, the governor signed another executive order ordering the state’s K-12 schools to close and move all teaching online for the rest of the spring semester. The orders came after the number of positive COVID-19 cases in…
Catholic churches have joined the long list of businesses and organizations to cancel events and halt certain operations in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Catholic Diocese of Salina, which includes the St. Isidore’s, St. Thomas More and Seven Dolors parishes in Manhattan, announced Tuesday that all masses have been canceled with the exception of funeral masses. Kerry Ninemire, a pastor at Seven Dolors, says there are plans to offer mass over the internet. .Ninemire also recommended watching masses online at wordonfire.org. Financial giving to the church will remain available online and through the mail, but Ninemire…
Release from Kansas Insurance Department. Topeka, Kan. – Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, today, issued a bulletin regarding Department operations during the time in which the State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation issued by Governor Laura Kelly on March 12, 2020 is in effect. Bulletin 2020-1 announces alternative working arrangements, potential delays in processing license applications and approving company filings as well as suspends all regulatory statutes in Chapter 40, that govern the regulation of insurance, that include a “deemed approved” clause. The Department, however, is not suspending statutes that require insurance companies to pay claims promptly, and in accordance with their…
In an unprecedented move Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly ordered all K-12 schools in Kansas to cease their operations for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. “This situation has evolved rapidly and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future,” Gov. Kelly said. The order comes just days after school districts across the state decided to temporarily close in hopes of eventually reconvening. Once school buildings are thoroughly sanitized, then some of them can open to small groups. Kelly says the pandemic cannot be controlled statewide if schools return to normal operations.…
Topeka (AP)-A Kansas legislator is urging the House to approve a bill that would require the state to develop annual academic report cards on all children in foster care. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that less than 40% of the state’s 7,000 foster children who were seniors last year completed high school. Sen. Molly Baumgardner told House legislators Monday that too many of the state’s foster children ended up in correctional facilities when they should be going to college. The bill, already passed in the Kansas Senate, mandates for the collection of academic records on each foster child, focusing on standardized…