The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed its third and fourth probable cases of COVID-19, in Harvey County. That’s along with the nine positive cases.
The probable cases are a man in his 20s and a woman in her 50s. The individuals were close contacts with another individual previously reported to have COVID-19 in Harvey County. Both individuals were in self-quarantine when they were identified as close contacts.
The man and woman were serology tested by their provider, but not by nasal swab testing. Only their blood work was tested because they were a close contact of a confirmed case, but have at no point shown symptoms. Testing was conducted by a private lab.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently began including probable cases in its county case counts. That decision brings Harvey County’s total cases to 13, including nine confirmed and four probable cases. Nine individuals have recovered.
Two of those probable cases were previously announced by the County.
On April 13, the KDHE classified two Harvey County cases as probable for COVID-19, including one death. These cases were probable because they met clinical criteria for symptoms with a presumptive-positive lab test for blood work, but were negative in testing for an active COVID-19 virus.
At this time, the KDHE is not including the April 13 probable cases in its counts because of its testing standards for older tests. However, Harvey County will include them in its counts.
The KDHE has reported 7,116 cases of COVID-19 in Kansas to date.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has issued the State’s guidance for reopening, “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas.” The state is currently in the first phase of the guidance. The plan in its entirety can be found at covid.ks.gov.
The KDHE has a phone hotline available to answer questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 at 1-866-534-3463.
