Kansas
COVID numbers are slightly up around KC. Here’s what experts say about a new surge
COVID-19 instances are rising barely in Kansas Metropolis, however native public well being specialists say we don’t have sufficient data to know if we’re heading towards one other surge.
tljungblad@kcstar.com
COVID-19 an infection numbers are rising as soon as once more within the Kansas Metropolis space, however hospitals have but to see an inflow of sick sufferers.
Johnson County well being officers reported a rise in BA.2 instances on Thursday. The Star has beforehand reported that this pressure is unlikely to trigger a “wave” as giant as earlier variants.
Infectious illness skilled Dr. Dana Hawkinson mentioned in a Friday information briefing that latest BA.2 instances could also be attributable to extra group gatherings and fewer COVID-19 precautions in latest weeks.
Nonetheless, he famous that it’s troublesome to inform precisely how and the place instances are rising given the latest declines within the variety of individuals testing and likewise how testing is reported, with extra individuals taking at-home assessments and never reporting these outcomes to the federal government.
A extra speedy metric of COVID-19’s prevalence is wastewater—and viral counts are remaining steadily low.
“BA.2 has been the dominant lineage in Missouri for weeks already, it’s virtually the one factor we’re seeing,” mentioned Dr. Marc Johnson, who runs The College of Missouri’s wastewater sequencing lab, throughout Friday’s briefing.. “Thus far, at the least, there was no correlation between the prevalence of BA.2 and the case numbers.”
Consultants mentioned that we don’t but have sufficient data to find out whether or not the slight will increase in native case numbers sign a brand new COVID-19 “surge” that residents must be anxious about.
How are native COVID-19 numbers trying?
Officers reported a complete of 654 new instances within the Kansas Metropolis space over the previous week. That’s larger than final week’s complete of 496 new instances. The previous week noticed a mean of 93 instances per day within the metro space, whereas final week’s common was 71 instances per day over seven days.
The state of Missouri has reported 17 new COVID deaths prior to now 12 days. These deaths didn’t essentially happen within the counties that comprise the Kansas Metropolis metro space. Johnson County reported three deaths within the final week, whereas Wyandotte County reported one. That’s a complete of at the least 4 new deaths in Kansas Metropolis, bringing the native complete as much as at the least 4,276.
New knowledge reporting that deemphasizes every day case numbers and demise totals by county has modified the best way The Star gives COVID-19 updates. It is because each Kansas and Missouri are treating COVID-19 as “endemic” now. Right here’s what which means for you.
How are hospitals holding up?
The College of Kansas Well being System is at present treating 5 sufferers with energetic COVID-19 infections. It was treating 9 presently final week. One in all these sufferers is within the ICU, and is on a ventilator.
The hospital lately introduced that it’s going to cease giving COVID assessments to all incoming sufferers and as a substitute take a look at solely those that suppose they’re contaminated or are symptomatic. Hawkinson mentioned that this transformation could affect the every day well being system COVID numbers.
“Shifting ahead, it’s going to be very troublesome to inform what sort of capability points we’re having, and how much affect the surge [has] on instances and hospitalizations,” he mentioned in Friday’s information briefing. “Not everyone seems to be getting examined at these websites that report back to the federal government– some individuals are not even testing, some could also be doing residence testing.”
Hospitals within the Kansas Metropolis space should not but seeing a big inflow of COVID-19 sufferers, however specialists are staying vigilant in case a brand new “wave” arrives.
How vaccinated is the Kansas Metropolis space?
Vaccination charges within the space are rising slowly, with 61.4% of the inhabitants totally vaccinated within the Kansas Metropolis area. Japanese Kansas has a better vaccination fee, at 69.26%, than western Missouri does at 55.54%.
Getting vaccinated continues to be the simplest technique to defend your self and others from COVID-19, and specialists suggest utilizing elevated warning if you’re not but vaccinated.
Do you’ve got extra questions on staying protected from COVID-19 in Kansas Metropolis? Ask our Service Journalism group at kcq@kcstar.com.
Former Tennessee Volunteers corner Kamal Hadden signed his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Former Tennessee corner Kamal Hadden underwent a rookie minicamp with the Kansas City Chiefs after being selected by them last month. He officially signed his rookie contract with the organization; the four-year deal is valued at $4,158,396, with $138,396 in signing bonuses.
The Kansas City Chiefs recognized his growth during his tenure at the University of Tennessee and selected him with the No. 211 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Hadden became Tennessee’s third draft pick of the day and their third overall during this year’s draft process. He also became the third defensive back selected from Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel.
“Tennessee prepared me greatly for the league, sticking with me and helping me grow as a man and helping me grow as a player. They helped me tremendously… just giving me the opportunity to showcase who I am as a player but also as a man.” – Kamal Hadden to reporters at the 2024 NFL Combine
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – Major changes for Kansas City, Kansas residents amid Providence Medical Center announcement.
The KCK hospital announced it will no longer offer a vital service.
Labor and delivery will be no more starting June 30, 2024.
Providence said it is exploring partnerships with other hospitals in the area in hopes patients can continue services as needed.
The hospital released the following statement:
Providence Medical Center Board of Directors, we are deeply saddened to announce that due to the steady decline in Labor and Delivery patients over the last ten years, Providence Medical Center will no longer be able to offer Labor and Delivery services on our healthcare campus, effective June 30, 2024.
We are exploring partnerships with hospitals and clinics in the Kansas City metropolitan area to assist our community with the transition. We will continue to provide, and expand, gynecological services at 8101 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS to meet patient demand.
We want to thank all our past, and present, hard-working staff and community partners that worked tirelessly to provide Labor and Delivery healthcare services in Wyandotte County and surrounding counties for over 100 years.
ALSO READ: St. Luke’s reunites trauma survivors with medical staff
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) – If you think your rent is high, just look at your childcare bill. Child Care Aware of America’s latest report shows, Kansas is one of 11 states where child care is at least twice the cost of rent.
The newest report says the high daycare costs are attributed to parents with two kids. In Wichita, if you send two kids to daycare, prices could range anywhere from $1600 to $2400 a month.
“The price of childcare has to go up because everything else has gone up also. So in order for us to pay our employees a decent wage, we have to go up on our prices,” said Margo Jones, Owner/CEO OF Kids World Childcare Learning Center.
Jones’ facility is licensed for 59 kids. To give them quality care before they start school, Jones says she has to pay her employees at least $11 an hour. So, she has to charge parents more.
Her prices for infants, $1,200 a month, toddlers and 2-year-olds $1,000 a month, 3-year-olds are $900 a month and for 4 and 5-year-olds $840 a month.
“We have to be able to charge enough to pay overhead. Got expenses, taxes, and all that stuff that takes care, you know, we have to put all that into a business as well as paying our employees,” said Jones.
Child Care Aware of America’s latest annual report, released Wednesday shows if you have two kids and live in one of 11 states, including Kansas, or Washington DC, child care costs at least twice as much as rent.
Government assistance helps Kids World with expenses, but it’s still hard for parents to afford daycare.
“If we were paying the sticker price of childcare, and we weren’t getting some of that help. It would be twice what our rent is, even at a more affordable daycare,” said Rebekah Sturgill, a daycare parent.
Sturgill says it’s a decision between growing her career or staying at home to take care of her son, Cash.
“‘We’re already really plugged in with a lot of our jobs. My husband and I are both teachers. So do we have the extra income and then use it towards childcare? Do we give up some of those really precious things that are helping our community and staying home,” said Sturgill.
Jones adds compared to other places in Kansas, living in Wichita is affordable.
“If you try some other places like Overland Park, Kansas City, their prices are even higher, because their wages are higher,” said Jones.
With daycare employees starting out at $11 an hour they have to have credentials in first aid, CPR, and child development just to qualify.
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