Sedgwick County COVID-19 Update – August 9, 2021

COVID-19 Overall Case Count
Confirmed cases as of noon August 9, 2021
(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, oropharyngeal (throat) swab, or saliva 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.

Vaccination Doses Given by Sedgwick County

This table shows how many doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been provided by the Health Department. Vaccines are only available for Sedgwick County residents. More information can be found at the COVID-19 Vaccination StoryMap.

*This table only contains vaccination doses given by the Sedgwick County Health Department. Other vaccination providers are required to report vaccination doses given to KDHE, not Sedgwick County.

Sedgwick County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Sedgwick County provides Pfizer vaccine (for people aged 12 and older) or one-dose Johnson and Johnson (for people 18 and older) at walk-in clinics (including the community vaccine clinic, 223 S. Main) across the County. Find a location near you at https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/clinic-locations/.

• You are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after receiving your second shot.

• Everyone, especially minors, are encouraged to eat a meal or snack prior to arriving to prevent any nausea that may occur following your vaccination.

• If you are receiving a vaccine, the Sedgwick County Health Department asks that you are well hydrated before and after receiving your dose.
• People going to the community vaccine clinic should plan to bring a quarter for the parking meter.
• To find a vaccine clinic near you, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ and enter your ZIP Code. You can also check with your doctor’s office or community health center to find out if the vaccine is offered there.

Mobile and Partner Vaccine Clinics

Sedgwick County provides Pfizer vaccine (for people aged 12 and older) or one-dose Johnson and Johnson (for people aged 18 and older) at no-cost walk in clinics – including the community vaccine clinic, 223 S. Main – across the County. If you are a business planning an event and would like to offer COVID-19 vaccine, please contact the Sedgwick County Health Department at SCHDCovidVaccine@sedgwick.gov

Item giveaways may be provided to people who receive vaccine at certain mobile and partner clinic locations as identified below.

Special Event No-Cost Vaccine Vouchers for Pets Offered at COVID-19 Clinic on August 14!

Pets and people receive vaccines to prevent disease. Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) is partnering with Sedgwick County Animal Response Team (SCART) and area veterinarian (vet) clinics to offer a no-cost vaccine voucher for pets.

• Individuals who receive a no-cost COVID-19 vaccine at the “Vaccine Jabs & Tail Wags” clinic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 14 at the community vaccine clinic, 223 S. Main in Wichita, will receive one no-cost vaccine voucher for their dog or cat. No appointment is necessary and masks are required in the building. Do not bring pets inside the community vaccine clinic. Instead, show us a picture of your best furry friend, and you’ll receive a Pet Kit to take home to them.
• The pet vaccine voucher will include a list of participating vet clinics that voucher recipients should contact within 30 days to schedule their pet for a vaccination. No appointments using the voucher can be made after September 13. Eligible pet vaccines include Rabies and either Canine Distemper/Parvo (dog) or Feline FIV (cat).

No-Cost, Walk-In COVID-19 Sampling

• No-cost, walk-in sampling is regularly available for residents, regardless of symptoms, through the Health Department Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment is required.

• Mobile testing sites are held occasionally on Saturdays and Sundays

• The County sampling site is at the Sedgwick County Park Sunflower Shelter, 6501 W. 21^st St, Wichita, KS, 67205 and takes saliva, NP, and oral PCR samples.
• Please enter off of 13^th Street and follow the signs in the park.
• Results are generally available within 12-24 hours. The Health Department will make three attempts to reach residents with their results.

• If you receive a voicemail or missed call from the Health Department, please call back in order to receive your results.
• For the quickest response, please call (316) 660-1022 and listen for the prompt to leave a message for the results department. 
• NOTICE! The County sampling site will be CLOSED on Monday, September 6.  
• Beginning Monday July 19, Sedgwick County Health Department will perform in-house testing of COVID-19 nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) samples collected by Health Department staff.

Sedgwick County Updates

• After insightful discussions during the Board of County Commission staff meeting on Tuesday, August 3, regarding the latest local information on COVID-19, Dr. Minns is making a strong recommendation to Sedgwick County for the following:
  • Vaccinations for anyone eligible including those aged 12 and older as soon as possible.
  • Follow the CDC recommendation regarding the wearing of masks or face coverings.  These recommendations include anyone not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, wear a mask in indoor public spaces. Additionally, in areas of substantial or high transmission (including Sedgwick County) consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings or for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated. 
  • For individuals that are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wearing a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission(including Sedgwick County).

• The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is partnering with Lyft to provide access to reliable, affordable transportation to older adults who need a ride to the get to their COVID-19 vaccine.
• Aging services professionals can help their older clients by using the special #LyftUp promo codes – worth up to $25 per person each way.
• The vaccine ride codes are part of the LyftUp program to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
• There are no location restrictions, and the vaccine ride codes are valid through December 31, 2021.
• For more information visit https://www.ncoa.org/article/ncoa-and-lyft-help-older-adults-get-rides-to-their-covid-19-vaccine
• Johns Hopkins University and IBM Research have unveiled a new artificial-intelligence chat-bot developed to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
• The chat-bot, Vaccine Information Resource Assistant, or VIRA, allows you to ask questions about COVID-19 vaccines and provides science-based answers.
• It can be found at www.vaxchat.org.