BY JUSTIN SABATA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two weeks into the 2020 fall semester, Fort Hays State University students have been given a student-oriented COVID resource. In an email sent Friday afternoon, students were given a link to the new COVID-19 Dashboard<\/a> as part of the university\u2019s virus response page<\/a>. The email also provided the first case update FHSU has provided students since the spike in cases began.\u00a0 \u201cIn this first dashboard report, the University is reporting 81 positive cases (SHC and CRL diagnosed cases) among our on-campus population,\u201d the email said. \u201cThe data in this first report covers the period August 17 through August 27, 2020.\u201d On Friday, the Ellis County Health Department reported 47 new positive cases with 159 total active cases. The current weekly percent-of-positives rate is 22.8, well above the national average of 5.9 reported by John Hopkins University<\/a>. There has been one additional hospitalization in the county since Wednesday.\u00a0 Ellis County Director of Health Services, Jason Kennedy, spoke to the Hays City Commission on Thursday. During the commission meeting, which saw several individuals protesting the current mask mandate in Hays, Kennedy pointed out the dramatic rise in the 7-day average case growth since late last week, and also stated reasons for the increase. \u201cThat case growth is because people are tired of mandates, they\u2019re tired of making good choices, they\u2019re tired of the virus,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cWe don\u2019t get that option right now.\u201d Kennedy also reminded the public of the continued presence the virus has on everyday life. \u201cThis initial wave you see is a wave we\u2019ll see again, and again, and again,\u201d he said. \u201cThe virus is not going away, it\u2019s part of society.\u201d The commission voted 3-2 in favor of extending the mask mandate in Hays until October 5.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n