As of Oct. 28, Johnson County has:
14,131 positive cases of COVID-19 (increase of 168 since yesterday)
8.4 positive, 14-day moving average
273 incidence rate, number of new cases/100K persons, over prior 14 days, increase of 10 since yesterday)
199 deaths (3 additional deaths since yesterday)
135,806 (individuals tested negative
(an increase of 583 since yesterday)
11,180 presumed recovered (increase of 109 since yesterday)
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Positive cases represent those reported to the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment by physicians, private laboratories, hospitals and the Kansas Department of Health and Environmental Laboratories. Presumed Recovered are surviving individuals not hospitalized and more than 30 days since symptom onset. These numbers are not representative of the total number of individuals with COVID-19 in Johnson County. All data is provisional and subject to change. |
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NOTE: This e-newsletter will be provided Monday through Friday. Look for dashboard updates on Saturday and Sunday, by visiting jocogov.org/coronavirus, where information will be updated seven days per week, by 10 a.m.
ADDITIONAL NOTE REGARDING DATA, Oct. 28: We want to make the community aware that after spot checking several COVID-testing records from our drive-thru clinic in Olathe last week, our epidemiologists discovered a computer error in the way negative COVID-19 lab results were communicated from a local laboratory to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Our COVID-19 dashboard pulls data from KDHE’s EpiTrax system, which houses test results from all reportable diseases in Kansas. This resulted in approximately 1,000 negative test results not being counted on the dashboard starting the week of Oct. 11, resulting in a higher percent positive number on the “Testing and Percent Positive Rates” and the “Schools” tabs. The lab and KDHE are working on addressing this issue and will reconcile the negative test results by the end of the week. Once we receive the correct data from KDHE, the dashboard will be updated. This only affects the data on the dashboard. Everybody who was tested at our drive-thru has been notified of their test result, whether positive or negative.
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NEW: JCDHE director provides COVID-19 update to the BOCC |
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On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment Director Dr. Sanmi Areola provided a written COVID-19 update to the Board of County Commissioners.
Highlights from the report include:
- There were 714 new infections last week. Down from 746 the week prior. Our peak was 810 cases the week of July 12. This translates to an average of 102 new infections per day.
- When calculated as a rate, we are at 119 cases per 100,000 residents per week. Our goal is <50 new infections per 100,000 residents.
- The primary measure/criteria for schools is the incidence rate. Positivity rate is 8.4% (due to a technical issue with a laboratory reporting negative lab results to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the total number of tests over the past few weeks is undercounted resulting in a higher percent positive - see additional details above). Our goal is 5%.
- As it gets colder, it's important to remain vigilant with wearing masks, physical distancing and avoiding large groups.
- A study by Donna Ginther and Carol Zambrana of The University of Kansas’ Institute for Policy and Social Research (IPSR) concluded that counties with mask mandates had roughly half as many cases of COVID-19 as the statewide average when adjusted for population.
- Counties with a mask mandate, including Johnson County, saw a decrease starting 14 days after the mandate.
- No-mask counties are steadily increasing cases and now have much higher case rates than Johnson County.
- Counties with mask mandates are seeing an average of seven fewer cases each day per 100,000 residents.
- The mask mandate in Johnson County is associated with 6.5 to 8.5 fewer cases.
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NEW: BOCC will discuss COVID-19, among other items |
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The Board of County Commissioners will address the pandemic during its regularly scheduled business session at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, Oct, 29.
COVID-19-related items include:
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NEW: Johnson County Wastewater part of COVID-19 statewide study |
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As the state is experiencing an increase in the positive cases of COVID-19, the University of Kansas and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are teaming up with Johnson County, among other jurisdictions in the state, to expand a study of COVID-19 in wastewater. According to the state’s top doctor, testing can help identify the virus up to a week before it shows in the case and hospitalization numbers. The initial study began in the spring to predict the spread of the virus.
“This is a productive collaboration with other public health partners,” said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of JCDHE. “Data and information collected will add another tool for us as we make decisions to control transmission of the virus that spreads COVID-19 in Johnson County.”
“Johnson County Wastewater is collecting samples at six wastewater treatment facilities,” said Aaron Witt, chief engineer. “The goal is that this information can assist our Department of Health and Environment in protecting the health of our community.”
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UPDATE: Additional COVID-19 community testing event added this week |
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Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is partnering with local organizations and the Mid America Regional Council to provide expanded testing opportunities. In addition to drive-thru testing available at the JCDHE health clinic, here are other places you can get tested this week.
- From 9 a.m.-noon, on Thursday, Oct. 29, at New Haven SDA Church, 8714 Antioch, Overland Park. This is a drive-thru event, but you can walk up with physical distancing and mask use. You must be 6 years or older to participate. Onsite registration is available, but pre-registration is encouraged.
- From 8-11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 31, get tested at Shawnee Mission North High School, 7401 Johnson Dr., Overland Park. This is a drive-thru event, but you can walk up. Keep six feet of distance and wear a mask. You must be 6 years or older to receive a test. Onsite registration is available, but pre-registration is encouraged. Harvesters will also be available at this event to provide mobile food pantry items, boxed and at no cost. Supplies are limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
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NEW: Flags to fly at half staff, in honor of those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 |
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Kansas surpassed 1,000 Kansas deaths due to COVID-19. In honor of the lives lost and the families they left behind, Governor Laura Kelly has directed that flags be lowered to half-staff throughout the state effective immediately to sundown, Friday, Oct. 30.
“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of 1,007 Kansans who lost their lives to COVID-19,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “One of the many terrible impacts of this virus has been that families are unable to hold in-person services to mourn the passing of their loved ones. Each one of these Kansans was someone’s child, parent, or grandparent. They were part of a community. Today, I’m directing that flags be lowered to half-staff, so that we may honor and remember them.”
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UPDATE: News from the state |
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On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Governor Laura Kelly held a news conference to provide the latest information on the state's response to the pandemic.
Highlights from the briefing include:
- Bipartisan group of legislators gathered to address a possible statewide mask mandate, due to case and hospitalization rates increasing. The Governor and others will now reach out to individual cities and counties to assist the jurisdictions to voluntarily implement mask mandates. The Governor said additional efforts will be taken if this strategy doesn't work.
- Kansas continues to break records on new cases in the U.S. Hospitals are strained in areas.
- The Governor discussed The University Kansas study on mask mandate effectiveness.
- The state's expanded testing strategy continues. Asymptomatic testing is increasing statewide. Testing will nearly double in the state by the end of the year.
At 9 a.m., on Oct. 28, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment provided the following data:
- 82,045 positives
- 1,007 deaths
- 550,988 negatives
Get additional statewide COVID-19 data. KDHE noted the following regarding data on its website today: Over the weekend, KDHE’s disease surveillance system, EpiTrax, received an update which has automated a process that was previously done manually. Approximately 300 cases were associated with this on Monday. Approximately 1,500 cases are associated with that today. Moving forward, the associations will be done automatically.
Important Notes:
- Update does not affect the percent positivity or number of people tested.
- To see cases by date diagnosed or by symptom onset refer to the KS COVID-19 Overview section on our COVID-19 dashboard.
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UPDATE: COVID-19 in Johnson County, in the news |
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Keeping the public informed of the county's response to COVID-19 is a high priority. In addition to this e-newsletter, be sure to also follow our local media outlets for additional information.
See below for a featured story of the day:
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UPDATE: University of Kansas Health System offers daily update on regional health care response |
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The University of Kansas Health System provides daily updates on how COVID-19 is impacting our health care system and community. Chief Medical Officer Steve Stites, MD, and Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, with The University of Kansas Health System and special guests talk about the fight against COVID-19.
Tune in at 8 a.m., Monday through Friday, on Facebook.
On the Wednesday, Oct. 28 edition, Doug Girod, MD, chancellor for The University of Kansas, and Chris Wilson, vice president of system integration and innovation, provided an update on COVID-19 spread on the KU campus. They discussed what’s working and what’s not.
Highlights from today’s update include:
- There is evidence that people can become re-infected with coronavirus, as well as infect others.
- It is questionable whether there are durable antibodies as patients recover from COVID-19.
- There was discussion about the success in bringing the numbers of positive cases down, not only on the KU campus, but in the city of Lawrence as well. Each credited the collaborative effort between the city of Lawrence, the Douglas County Health Department and The University of Kansas.
- The doctors looked at recent data from Johnson County regarding infection in young adults and noted that it was significantly higher than its neighbors.
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Additional resources to stop the spread of COVID-19 |
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS
The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment released on Oct. 1, public health recommendations for K-12 schools to help families and school districts make decisions about the reopening of schools in Johnson County. Read the recommendations. Read school reopening FAQs.
WORKPLACE GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS
ENFORCEMENT OF MASK MANDATE
If you are seeking enforcement of the Governor's mask order, contact the consumer fraud hotline at the District Attorney's Office, 913-715-3003. DO NOT CALL 911.
MASK USE
WHAT IF I GET SICK
WHO TO CALL WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19
Call the Johnson County COVID-19 hotline at 913-715-CV19 (2819), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Spanish language available through same number. You can also call the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317, after business hours. You can email questions to [email protected] or use a chat bot at kdheks.gov/coronavirus.
TRAVEL-RELATED QUARANTINE
VISIT OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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