The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 35 COVID patients today, up from 29 Wednesday. Other significant numbers:
- 24 with the active virus today, 19 Wednesday
- 2 in ICU, 1 Wednesday
- 2 on ventilators, 1 Wednesday
- 11 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 10 Wednesday
Key points from today’s guests:
Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas City, MO
- Universal mask mandates may not come back anytime soon, but please be kind to those who still wear one. “Don’t be a meanie!”
- COVID has led to much closer communication and relationships with surrounding cities and counties
- Too many guns in the hands of people who are not responsible gun users responsible for high crime rate in Kansas City
- New York murder rate has gone from 2500 a year in 1990 to 400 today. If New York can reduce the number so dramatically so can Kansas City
- Opioid and fentanyl addictions rising, but health and sheriff’s departments from Clay County leading the way in the region in addressing the problem
- Excited for new green space coming to downtown, the South Loop Link Park, built over I-670 from Wyandotte Street to Grand Boulevard. Expected to help lower crime rate by bringing more people and activity to the area.
Marvia Jones, PhD, director, Kansas City Health Department
- Higher presence of COVID in area wastewater shows us that the transmission rate of the new variants is very high
- It’s important to remember the mental health aspect of COVID or any disaster planning
- More youth these days have lost a loved one to COVID so we must be vigilant for those around us who may be in pain
- Building more jails and adding more police will only go so far to reducing crime. Must address the conditions which caused the crime.
- Adding downtown green space will do a lot for mental health
- “Better days are possible, and they are ahead.”
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Rising hospitalizations from COVID over the last week are “a little concerning.”
- The numbers of the current surge of COVID cases are going up more slowly than during delta or omicron
- Pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women have a higher risk of adverse outcomes from COVID for them and their babies. Vaccines are safe and vital for them.
- Even if you have been vaccinated and double boosted, there are no vaccines that absolutely protect from infections. They are designed to keep you from becoming severely ill and needing hospitalization or dying.
Monday, June 27 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. In these tough economic times, many patients, including cancer patients are struggling to pay medical bills and get to appointments. We talk with two experts who explain what can be done here at the health system.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
