For Newton Now
The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed its eighth positive case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Harvey County. The individual has already completed the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s criteria for recovery.
The confirmed case is a woman in her 40s. The woman had self-quarantined after being in contact with another individual with COVID-19.
The KDHE requires COVID-19 patients to self-isolate for 10 days after onset or 72 hours after resolution of fever, whichever is longer. The Health Department has followed up on all contacts. The woman completed the recovery criteria while test results were completed. Testing was conducted by a private lab.
As of this morning, the KDHE had confirmed 4,449 cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. That number does not include this new Harvey County case. Of Harvey County’s eight cases, six individuals have recovered. Harvey County reported its first confirmed case March 26.
The KDHE has also classified two Harvey County cases as probable for COVID-19, including one death. The cases are 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. The KDHE has not included probable cases in its confirmed statistics at this time.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly previously issued an extension to a Stay Home executive order through May 3 in response to COVID-19. On April 30, Gov. Kelly issued the State’s guidance for a reopening plan beyond May 3, “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas.” 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.
