There’s more to the new coronavirus than the number of cases confirmed here in Kansas. The Kansas News Service wants to make it easy for you, so we’ve put together a list of things you probably want to know about.
It’ll update as the virus progresses through the state, and was last updated at 3:45 p.m. March 18.
CASES AND DEATHS
21 cases (see map for counties)
1 death (confirmed postmortem from Wyandotte County)
TESTING AVAILABILITY
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is not giving public updates on how many people might possibly be infected. But the head of the agency, Lee Norman, said on March 18 that test supplies are running low. So he’s advising Johnson County only to conduct tests on people hospitalized with severe symptoms until more tests become available. If community transmission shows up in other counties, he said, that directive could apply statewide.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY?
It gives the state government more power to marshal resources and triggers the state’s response plan. The state Legislature decided Friday to extend the declaration through January 2021, with the aim of giving Gov. Laura Kelly the ability to make certain decisions when lawmakers aren’t in session.
HOW ARE UNIVERSITIES RESPONDING?
K-State, University of Kansas and Wichita State: All of them will go fully online for the end of the school year. Students at K-State and KU will need special exemptions to remain in dorms.
Other colleges: Washburn won’t hold classes until March 20, and then it’ll be online. Newman University expanded spring break for two weeks (March 14 to March 29). Johnson County Community College will close campus from March 14-29, and all courses will restart online on March 30. Fort Hays State will move its classes online beginning March 23 through the remainder of the semester and students who live on campus will have to leave. Pittsburg State started break a day early and will resume classes indefinitely online on March 30.
HOW ABOUT K-12 SCHOOLS?
Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson are immediately shutting down all K-12 schools, public, private and parochial, for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. The decision came two days after the two issued a strong recommendation that all schools close March 16 through 20.
Already, health departments had ordered public schools in Douglas, Franklin and Shawnee counties to close for two weeks, and Riley County’s department ordered Manhattan to close through at least the end of March.
A Kansas State Department of Education task force is looking into how to provide at-home learning resources, meals and more, and will make recommendations on March 18.
WHAT’S BEEN CANCELED OR SUSPENDED?
On March 17, the governor issued an executive order temporarily banning landlords from evicting businesses or residential tenants. It’s effective until May 1. That same order put in a moratorium on any mortgage foreclosures through the same period.
The governor mandated on March 16, through an executive order, that gatherings are restricted to less than 50 people. It is in line with guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kansas state workers: Starting March 16, access to the Statehouse in Kansas will be limited to official business only: state officials, lawmakers, staff and media. Kelly wants most state employees to stay home for at least two weeks starting March 23.
State prisons: The Kansas Department of Corrections ended visitation at all state facilities as of Friday, and will “re-evaluate on an ongoing basis.” It urges families to talk to inmates through email, phone calls and video visits.
Electric companies: Evergy, which serves 950,000 customers in Kansas, will not disconnect residential or business services for an unspecified amount of time due to the “unprecedented challenge” of coronavirus that “may result in customers facing unexpected or unusual financial strain.”
Casinos: All four state-owned gaming facilities will close at the end of business on March 17, and remain so until at least March 30.
Public events: Many events and public places around the state have been canceled until at least the end of March.
High school sports: The Kansas State High School Athletics Association canceled the state basketball tournament after Thursday’s semifinal rounds.
College sports: The NCAA Tournament for men’s and women’s basketball will not take place. The Big 12 suspended spring sports until March 29.
HOW BAD IS THE VIRUS?
COVID-19 usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, like a fever or cough. Most people with mild symptoms recover in two weeks. More severe cases, found in older adults and people with health issues, can have up to six weeks’ recovery time.
HOW CAN YOU AVOID IT?
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Frequently.
- Cover your coughs.
- If you’re an older Kansan or medically fragile, put off any vacations and limit your trips to the grocery store or any public space.
- Stay home if you are sick — this goes for all ages.
SHOULD I SELF-QUARANTINE?
KDHE provided guidelines on March 15 about who should stay at home for 14 days if they’ve traveled to the following places:
- States with known widespread community transmission (California, New York and Washington) on or after March 15.
- Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado within the past week.
- Traveled on a cruise ship on or after March 15 (people who have previously been told to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine).
- Traveled internationally on or after March 15 (people who have previously been told to quarantine because of their international travel should finish out their quarantine.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COVID-19
Kansas Department of Health and Environment: http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
