Kansas reports four new COVID-19 deaths, a 12.5% increase in positive cases
Four more COVID-19 related deaths and 78 more cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed in Kansas Saturday, state health officials said.
The increase in cases, which brings the state to at least 698 confirmed instances of the virus, represents a 12.5% increase in cases from Friday. About 9% of the more than 7,500 Kansans who were tested for COVID-19 had the virus, according to statewide data.
Of those cases, at least 172 people have been hospitalized and at least 21 people have died. Among the recent deaths was a sixth death in Wyandotte County reported Friday night and a second death reported in Shawnee County.
Wyandotte County, which now has 149 confirmed cases of the rapidly spreading virus, announced Friday that it would increase enforcement of existing stay-at-home orders. The announcement came as the county confirmed 19 cases among residents and staff at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center.
In Johnson County, where the virus is most widespread, the county confirmed 13 more cases, bringing its total to 185.
Among the new cases reported in the state were the first two confirmed in Miami County, according to a news release from the county’s health department. The cases involved a person in their 70s who had recent contact with a person who tested positive in another state and a person in their 60s whose exposure is still under investigation.
On Friday, the Johnson County health department said Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a clarification to her stay-at-home order stating that, while religious activities were considered essential, they are still subject to guidelines regarding social distancing and prohibiting mass gatherings.
A spokeswomen for Kelly on Saturday didn’t immediately respond to a request to confirm her office had issued the guidance.
Many churches had already shifted toward canceling services or moving them online.
The Kansas order was announced last week and was followed by a stay-at-home order in Missouri on Friday.
Nationwide, the rapidly spreading virus has infected more than 290,000 people and killed more than 7,800 according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
This story was originally published April 4, 2020 at 1:21 PM.
