A slight increase in the number of COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System today. 30 patients are hospitalized, up from 29 yesterday. 9 patients are in the ICU, down from 11 yesterday. Six patients are on ventilators, down from 7 yesterday. 30 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase. That’s down from 33 yesterday. In addition, HaysMed has 16 total COVID-19 inpatients today, up from 15 yesterday, with 3 of those patients in the recovery phase. Doctors are concerned about the death rate, saying there have been 20 deaths from the virus at the health system so far in October, the most of any month since the pandemic began.
Joining the discussion today were Janell Friesen (Freeze -in), PIO for the United Government Public Health Department and Mariana Ramirez-Mantilia, Director of Juntos Center for Advancing Latino Health at KU Medical Center. They have updates on COVID-19 in Wyandotte County.
Latino and Hispanic deaths related to COVID-19 made the news yesterday when the CDC released Excess Deaths by age, race and ethnicity through October 3rd. The report looked at the 299,000 more deaths this year compared to last. It shows 2 out of 3 of these excess deaths were from COVID-19 and the hardest hit were among Hispanic or Latino adults aged 25-44. Mariana Ramirez-Mantilia notes that description fits many residents of Wyandotte County. Her organization, Juntos, which means “together” in Spanish, specializes in bringing community members in touch with the many resources available to help in the pandemic. She says the COVID-19 positivity testing rate is as high as 40 percent among the Latino, African American and immigrant population, and many of those workers have a hard time with a 14-day quarantine. That often means not working and not getting paid. She says there has also been a lack of access to Spanish communications on COVID-19 and her organization has been working to improve that.
Janell Friesen says the number of new cases a day in Wyandotte County is creeping up a bit, now at about 40. She says the Health Department keeps the data constantly updated at this link on their website. She announced a new public testing site is opening at the old K-Mart on 78th and State in KCK and says it will be able to offer testing for those without symptoms but worried they may have been exposed. She also says there is no age restriction on testing and urges everyone to be safe both at Halloween and while voting by wearing a mask and observing proper social distancing.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, addressed new CDC guidelines defining close contact. The CDC now says 15 cumulative minutes of exposure rather than 15 consecutive minutes is enough to be at risk. He reminded us that a six-foot distance from others is good, while 8-10 feet is better. As far as how long someone is contagious, he says it’s two days prior to symptoms showing. He also said we need to remember children can spread the disease.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, said he’s not sure of the accuracy of the drive-through COVID-19 tests promising results in minutes. He reminds us that COVID-19 is a disease of both the old and the young. He offered a challenge to those not sure masks work. He said next week when temperatures are supposed to drop to freezing, take a look at your breath cloud and see how far it travels. He said then put on a mask and try breathing. He says the difference should convince you how effective they are.
Friday, October 23 at 8:00 a.m. is the next morning media update. Dr. David Wild and Lance Williamson from Infection Prevention and Control join the panel to answer community questions as we head into the weekend.
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