First novel coronavirus death reported in Johnson County, officials confirm Saturday
Johnson County health officials reported the county’s first fatality from the novel coronavirus Saturday.
The patient, a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions and no travel history, is the second fatality in Kansas.
“This is a tragic loss of life and we share our heartfelt condolences with the family,” said Sanmi Areola, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment in a news release
“While the vast majority of cases of COVID-19 are believed to be mild, the virus can cause a very serious infection that can lead to death, especially in people over age 60 and those with underlying medical conditions.”
Details of the death have not been released.
Johnson County has reported 26 of the state’s 60 COVID-19 cases, the highest proportion of any Kansas county.
The state’s first death was reported in Wyandotte County on March 12. A man in his 70s was diagnosed with the virus after post-mortem examination.
Testing for the virus, which has infected over 22 thousand people nationwide, was reduced in Johnson County Wednesday after it reached the stage where transmission was occurring on a community level, officials said. That means new cases are not attributable to travel or transmission from any individual known to be infected.
Kansas health officials announced Friday that the state was running “precariously low” on test kits and could run out by the end of the weekend.
There have been three fatalities from the rapidly spreading virus reported in Missouri.
A woman in her 80s in Jackson County and a woman in her 60s in Saint Louis County both died from the virus Friday. Officials reported Wednesday that a man in his 60s died from the virus in Boone County.
As of Friday night 73 presumed cases were confirmed in Missouri.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 1:30 PM.
