KS reports 262 total coronavirus cases Saturday as governor issues stay at home order

Kansas has 262 cases of the new coronavirus, state health officials said Saturday, which is nearly 60 cases more than the state reported the day before.

The state has gradually increased its reported positive number of cases — reporting 59 new cases in a little under 24 hours, according to data released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. It also included another reported death in the state, in Johnson County, due to the coronavirus — bringing Kansas up to five deaths total.

At least 50 people have been hospitalized due to the coronavirus.

More than 3,800 people have been tested for the coronavirus in Kansas. Roughly 3,600 of those test results have come back negative. About 70% of the cases have been tested by private labs in the state.

According to the report by KDHE, patients’ age has ranged between 7 to 95 years old.

Only individuals showing symptoms can be tested for the coronavirus in Kansas. KDHE Secretary Lee Norman has previously said the state is changing the way its going about testing — giving priority to first responders and healthcare workers who may have been exposed to the virus. Individuals with underlying health conditions and over the age of 60 also receive priority.

By the end of the week, government officials project Kansas will be reporting around 900 positive cases, Gov. Laura Kelly said during a news conference Saturday afternoon. Its spread is expected to peak in mid to late April, Norman said during a news conference Friday.

Gov. Laura Kelly issued a stay-at-home order Saturday, which will begin early Monday morning.

More than 116,000 positive coronavirus cases have been reported in the U.S., according to data from John Hopkins University.

This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 3:38 PM.