The University of Kansas Health System reports a big drop in the number of COVID-19 patients today. 15 people with the active virus are being treated, down from 22 yesterday. Of those patients, 11 are in the ICU, up from eight yesterday. Three of those patients are on ventilators, the same as yesterday. 11 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 12 yesterday. That’s a total of 26 patients, down from 34 yesterday. HaysMed has one active and one recovering patient, the same as yesterday. The news is not all good. Of the seven patients no longer hospitalized with COVID-19, two of them died, the first deaths since May 4.

            On today’s Morning Media Update, we answered media and community questions about the new CDC guidelines on mask wearing. Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control was joined by Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer and David Wild, MD, vice president of Performance Improvement. Also joining them was Amanda Cackler, director of Quality and Safety. 

            Doctors began the discussion explaining the new CDC guidelines on mask wearing. The recommendation now is fully vaccinated people can safely enter most indoor settings without wearing a mask. There are exceptions, such as public transportation and healthcare facilities, including The University of Kansas Health System. Businesses will still be allowed to make their own policies on patrons wearing masks. The panel says it’s a big step toward normalcy and a sign that vaccines work. But they warned that by no means is the virus gone and it’s the responsibility of everyone to get vaccinated. They say it would not be surprising to see case numbers go up in a few weeks. Still, they say the rest of this spring and summer should be much better than last year.

            Here are the media and community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. Time code for the question is in parentheses. See the video for their full answers and comments.

• (16:20) Is it safe for vaccinated people to unmask in front of non-vaccinated people? The guidance remains that if you are a fully vaccinated household you can meet with one other unvaccinated household. If you’re unvaccinated a mask is always recommended.
• (21:10) With the new guidelines, is there concern that unvaccinated people who are against masks will just pretend they are vaccinated? Yes, there is concern, and unless vaccine passports become a reality, everyone’s on the honor system.
• (24:50) With the new CDC guidelines, what about traveling to hotspots? It’s still risky, especially with all of the virus variants out there. It’s important to know the infection dynamics of the place you want to visit.
• (26:30) Does HIPAA make it illegal for businesses to ask about someone’s vaccine status? HIPAA is protection from your private health information being shared by healthcare providers. Schools have asked for vaccination status from children for a long time and people who come into the country must prove they’ve had all necessary vaccinations. During a public health emergency, this is no different. The consensus is it will not be a HIPAA violation.
• (28:15) Those who won’t vaccinate likely won’t wear a mask either. How do I tell and make that decision when I’m in public? The real harm to someone who’s unvaccinated and won’t wear a mask is to themselves and to other unvaccinated people, not to you.
• (29:10) Is it safe to take my four-year-old into a store if everyone else is not wearing a mask? Since children under 12 still can’t be vaccinated, it’s best for younger children to continue wearing a mask in a store.
• (31:30) If I’m immunocompromised do I still need to wear a mask even if I’m vaccinated? Those with compromised immune systems have been advised to wear masks in public long before the pandemic and should still consider wearing them.
• (34:10) Now that we’re on the honor system, will there be contact tracing and consequences if an unmasked and unvaccinated person makes another sick? Contact tracing will continue, but there will most likely not be consequences.
• (35:30) The New York Times says the concept of herd immunity doesn’t really apply to COVID-19. What do you think? Herd immunity does apply, and can be achieved in different ways, both in a drop in cases and in increase in vaccinations.
• (38:55) I live in a community where less than 30 percent of the people are vaccinated and they don’t want to wear masks. Is it safe for kids under 12? Nothing has changed for those under 12, and until a vaccine is approved for them, they still need to follow the rules of infection prevention.
• (42:50) If a person got their first COVID-19 vaccine in February but were never able to get the second, and currently have the virus, should they start over getting shot number one and then shot number two? The guidance is not to restart but to get the second dose and wait for ten days of isolation after the first onset of symptoms.
• (43:45) With vaccinated people no longer wearing masks, do we know yet how long those vaccines last, because when it wears off, and no masks, and COVID-19 is still out there, could the pandemic start all over? We know from the early participants in clinical trials, which began in August, those vaccinated still have immunity. The expectation is immunity will last a year and then it will be time for a booster.
• (43:55) Will Dr. Hawkinson’s vaccine eligible children get the shot? Yes, they are scheduled to get theirs on Monday during this Morning Media Update. They are ready for it and are excited.

Monday, May 17 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. COVID-19 has killed the traditional workplace for many occupations including caregivers. So, what does the future workforce look like? How do you combat isolation when working from home? Answers to those questions and more from Dr. Jovanna Rohs, director of early learning from the Mid-America Regional Council and our own Jon Joffe, system vice president of human resources. 

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