On Tuesday, Dec. 1, 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 update include:

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, this week's Board of County Commissioners meeting will take place virtually, using Zoom, an online meeting tool, to conduct the meeting. Watch the meeting live at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, Dec. 3. either on our website or Facebook Live.

We will not be accepting live public comments during the meeting. If you would like to make a public comment for the meeting, please email those comments to [email protected] before noon, tomorrow, Dec. 2. Please include your name and address. Comments received by noon will be shared with the entire board prior to the meeting. Comments will not be read into the record during the meeting. If you are unable to email the comments, you may call the following number, and we will record your information, 913-715-0424.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all differently. And it's especially challenging for those who have limited digital access or skills. To help you navigate the pandemic, the Johnson County Library has created a list of resources that cover a variety of topics.

Johnson County Library is the primary organization implementing the Digital Navigators project of the Community Reinvestment Phase II of Johnson County COVID-19 Recovery Funding. The goal of this project is to provide support and assistance for Johnson County residents who lack digital access and skills who have been impacted by COVID-19. Johnson County Library staff are connectors to education, career, technology, human services and other resources through our information and public service channels.

Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is partnering with local organizations and the Mid-America Regional Council to provide expanded testing opportunities. As always, you can continue to get tested through the JCDHE drive-thru clinic. APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED for JCDHE testing. you are encouraged to get tested if you have symptoms, if you you've been exposed to someone with the virus or if you've been in a large crowd.

Here are the latest pop-up community testing events:

Johnson County Department of Health and Environment wishes you a safe and happy holiday season.

Please note the following changes in testing availability during some holidays:

Get additional information about JCDHE COVID-19 testing.

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:

On Monday, Nov. 30, Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss local, state and federal COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, including the continued collaboration on vaccine distribution and administration planning.

Highlights from the briefing summary include:

Read the full White House governors meeting summary.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the COVID-19 vaccine initially will be available in very limited doses - but will scale up in production rapidly, allowing for enough supply to vaccinate all. Planning efforts are based on three phases of availability:

Recommendations for each phase will take many factors into account, including each vaccine’s characteristics, vaccine supply, disease epidemiology and local community factors. Read the Kansas COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.

KDHE is also providing a weekly vaccine update. Read the latest vaccine update.

There are no changes this week to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment travel quarantine list. Those who should quarantine include:

Mass gatherings are defined as any event or convening that brings together 500 or more persons in a single room or space at the same time such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater or any other confined indoor or outdoor space. This includes parades, fairs and festivals. Mass gatherings do not include normal operations of airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, or other spaces where 500 or more persons may be in transit. It also does not include typical office environments, schools, restaurants, factories or retail/grocery stores where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within six feet of one another for more than 10 minutes. 

Get more information about the KDHE travel quarantine list.

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 Tuesday, Dec. 1 edition, Bob Moser, dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Salina, and David Wild, the health system’s vice president of performance improvement gave an update on the virus spread, its impact on communities and what they are learning.

Highlights from the briefing include:

A new emergency public health order went into effect, beginning 12:01 a.m., Monday, Nov. 16. Read frequently asked questions about the order. If you have further questions about Johnson County's public health order, call the Johnson County call center at 913-715-5000, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, TDD: 800-766-3777.

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.

COVID-19 in the Workplace: A guide for employers includes steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at work, concentrating on the rules of infection control and what to do when a case of COVID-19 occurs in the workplace.

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.

Anyone who wishes to report a concern may do so by calling the county’s Call Center at 913-715-5000 or email [email protected]. DO NOT CALL 911.

Get information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on the use of masks.

Get guidance from the CDC.

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.

Visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Travel & Exposure Related Isolation/Quarantine webpage.

We have a webpage for the common questions surrounding COVID-19.