BY JUSTIN SABATA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ellis County Health Director Jason Kennedy has seemingly had to repeat his recommendations to the public since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Questions from residents have flooded the department while Kennedy has provided almost weekly COVID updates at each Ellis County Commission meeting.
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As reported by the health department Monday, there were 18 active cases in Ellis County (27 active cases as of publication). Though alarming, Kennedy assured this spike was inevitable given the summer holidays.
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\u201cWe expected this, following the Fourth of July weekend. We expected it,\u201d he said. \u201cYou see cases across the country increasing. You see cases in the state of Kansas increasing.\u201d
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An aspect of the pandemic that was not expected, however, was the majority of cases being attributed to case clusters, according to Kennedy.
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\u201cOf our 30 cases in a week (as of Monday), 23 of them have been associated with four clusters,\u201d Kennedy said.
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Those clusters included one at a truckstop outside of Topeka, two private gatherings in Hays, and one at a long-term care facility in Hays. According to Kennedy, every resident and staff member of the long-term facility was tested within four days of the initial positive test.
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Kennedy once again recommended that residents practice social distancing if they do not want to become infected.
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\u201cAny time you gather in groups, you bring together big groups of people, you have a likelihood of being around someone who has COVID,\u201d Kennedy said.
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Kennedy also reiterated his recommendations for traveling during the pandemic for those concerned with infecting themselves or the community.
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\u201cDon\u2019t travel,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t want to go get COVID and bring it back to Ellis County, don\u2019t travel.\u201d
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Other tips given by the health director included washing your hands, avoiding touching your face and avoiding contact with people. That advice has been given by medical professionals around the country since earlier this year.
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As the commissioners listened, Kennedy moved on to the topic of masks. While avoiding any sort of political fuel for the fire, he gave his professional stance on masks in public and how it relates to Ellis County.
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\u201cWe have 18 active cases (Monday\u2019s number) in a population of 28,000 people, so we have a fairly uninfected population base,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, do masks work? In situations, absolutely. High population density and high viral load. Long term care facilities, indoor spaces, at your mass gatherings that you shouldn\u2019t be having anyways, inside your home.\u201d
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A concern of First District Commissioner Butch Schlyer was if residents need to wear masks all of the time, instead of in certain situations. According to Schlyer, the concern comes from the recommendations given on television.
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Kennedy recognized the media\u2019s presence during the pandemic, and again stated the situations in which masks are most needed – places with high population density and high viral load.
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Schlyer was worried about social distancing participation when college classes resume in the fall. Fort Hays State has continued to develop its plans for the fall semester to keep students and employees safe while updating policies \u2014 sometimes on a daily basis as the situation evolves.
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\u201cI\u2019m expecting infection rates in Ellis County to start soaring,\u201d Schlyer said. \u201cMost especially, when the college starts to open again and we get students back in town that are going to do what students do. They\u2019re going to have their gatherings; they\u2019re not going to social distance.\u201d
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Schlyer also included the upcoming Ellis County Fair, Labor Day and Oktoberfest as other areas of concern. Kennedy recognized the potential threats but also described the measures the community has already taken.
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\u201cAs far as what the community is doing, I think they\u2019re taking the appropriate steps right now as they are presented from KDHE and CDC,\u201d Kennedy said.
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