Sedgwick County COVID-19 Update – August 14, 2020

COVID-19 Overall Case Count
Confirmed cases as of noon August 14, 2020
U.S. cases – Johns Hopkins University & Medicine
Kansas and counties cases – Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Sedgwick County cases – Sedgwick County Health Department

*Sedgwick County’s data reflects people who test positive with nasopharyngeal (NP) swab molecular testing (confirmed COVID-19 cases). The KDHE dashboard differs because it also includes people who are IgM antibody test or antigen test positive if they are linked to a confirmed case or if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Sedgwick County COVID-19 Case Count

**A person is considered recovered from COVID-19 72 hours after symptoms stop or 10 days after symptoms start, whichever is longer.

Sedgwick County Health Department Update

• During its special meeting on Thursday, the Board of County Commissioners voted to move forward with a rapid response saliva test.
• Currently, the Health Department continues to offer nasopharyngeal swab sampling to symptomatic residents and high-priority professions like healthcare professionals, corrections officers, first responders, and law enforcement officers.
• Almost 65,000 residents have been tested for COVID-19 in Sedgwick County and 126 residents were scheduled to be tested at the SCHD drive-through site this morning.
  • The Sedgwick County Health Department offers no-cost testing of symptomatic residents and people working in certain high-priority professions.
  • Please call United Way of the Plains at 2-1-1 if you think you should be tested for the disease or if you have general questions about it.

• Next week, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. the Mobile Outreach Team will provide no-cost COVID-19 testing for symptomatic residents, contacts of COVID-19 positive people, or people in certain high-risk professions.  Dates and locations are listed below:
• Tuesday, August 18 at Madison Avenue Central Park Pavilion, 512 E. Madison, Derby, KS 67037
• Thursday, August 20 at the Haysville Community Center, 130 E. 2nd South, Haysville, KS 67060

Sedgwick County Updates

• The Board of County Commissioners voted to move forward with a rapid response saliva test with a clinical reference laboratory in Lenexa, Kansas.
• Commissioners also agreed to move forward in partnership with Wichita State University for nasopharyngeal swab testing and saliva testing, first reimbursing WSU for expenses that have already been incurred – up to $1.5 million which will create a local lab capacity for Sedgwick County.
• Upon recommendation from Dr. Elizabeth Ablah with KU School of Medicine, County staff will begin to develop a transition plan for providers in Sedgwick County to achieve the goal of testing a total of 2,234 residents per day.

• Currently, the Health Department continues to offer nasopharyngeal swab sampling to symptomatic residents and high-priority professions like healthcare professionals, corrections officers, first responders, and law enforcement officers.

Prevention Measures

• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• Maintain social distancing – keep at least six feet of space between you and others who are not in your household
• Wear a face mask/covering if social distancing is not an option
• Cover all coughs and sneezes
• Stay home if you are ill

Mental Health Support

• COMCARE of Sedgwick County is offering a Support Line for individuals who may be experiencing an elevation in mental health symptoms.
• Individuals may call (316) 660-1111 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• They’ll receive resources, coping skill ideas, and encouragement to keep doing what they need to do to stay healthy, emotionally and physically.
• Residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis should call (316) 660-7500.

All questions from media should be directed to Communications at (316) 660-9370 or communications@sedgwick.gov.