CDC puts 4 Kansas counties at high COVID-19 community level, another 19 at medium

Jan. 30—The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 2,148 new COVID-19 cases and 41 additional deaths in the state for the week running Jan. 18 to 25.

Eleven Kansas counties were reported to have a high weekly new case rate, meaning they have more or equal to 100 cases per a 100,000 in population. KDHE put Sedgwick County at a "substantial" rate, reporting 50 to 99 cases per 100,000.

Eighteen counties remain at low, which means they experienced less than 10 cases per 100,000.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports Sedgwick County to have low COVID-19 community level.

Across Kansas, four counties were at high as of Thursday: Clay, Trego, Morton and Seward. That's an increase from last week when one county was at high.

In counties at high, the CDC recommends masking in public, indoor places. At medium, those at higher risk for developing severe COVID-19 should consider masking and other precautions.

Nineteen counties are now at medium, up from 12 last week.

The CDC updates the metric each Thursday for U.S. counties and bases the assessment on the number of new cases and hospitalizations per 100,000 people (seven-day totals) and the percent of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-positive patients (a seven-day average).

The CDC estimates the county to have about 81 cases per 100,000 individuals.

As for the percent of inpatient beds used by those with confirmed COVID-19, the CDC puts that metric at 1.3%.

The Sedgwick County Health Department reports an 8.8% positive COVID test rate as of Thursday. This is an almost a 2% jump in a week, with the positive test rate being 7.1% Jan. 20.

The positive test rate accounts for the 14-day average of recorded positives over the total number administered and does not include at-home tests and those not reported to the county.

The highest number of reported positive tests in a day was 123 on Jan. 24. There were 10 new reported positives Thursday.

Protecting yourself against COVID-19

To protect yourself from contracting the virus, wear a mask when necessary, avoid large gatherings if possible, wash your hands frequently and practice physical distancing.

If you start to develop symptoms or were exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus, you can get a test through the local health department or an at-home test, which is available at most grocery stores and pharmacies.

If you do contract the virus, the CDC says to quarantine yourself for at least five days after symptom onset.

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