COVID-19 updates: Three new deaths linked to KCK facility as curve fails to flatten
Four more people have died of the coronavirus in Wyandotte County and 40 new cases were reported Friday, officials said.
Cases on both sides of the state line have continued to increase as numbers show the curve has yet to flatten, inmates in a prison have grown angry and an elderly couple east of Troost struggled to get groceries delivered.
Kansas’ biggest outbreak
Three more people have died of COVID-19 from a rehabilitation center and nursing home in Kansas’ biggest outbreak for COVID-19.
The total number of deaths linked to Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation center in Kansas City, Kansas is now 10. Ninety-two people connected to the facility have tested positive, including 84 residents and eight staff members. Four residents are still hospitalized.
The unified government was notified of the outbreak on April 3 after several residents tested positive.
According to figures released Friday, the county’s total death count related to COVID-19 is 20. There are 300 positive cases in the county, up 40 from Thursday’s report, and 56 of those persons are in the hospital.
Prison disturbance
An hours-long disturbance at Lansing Correctional Facility began about 3 p.m. Thursday. About 20 to 30 inmates scattered linens and paper, set off fire extinguishers and broke windows, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. They also damaged computer equipment, video surveillance and lights.
A tactical team used tear gas when entering the cell house, which holds about 168 residents.
Earlier this week, KDOC said eight inmates and seven staff members tested positve for COVID-19. Now, the numbers have increased to 12 inmates and 14 staff members.
KSHB-TV reported Friday morning that a man in the prison told them inmates were angry about how the coronavirus cases at the facility were handled.
Flattening the curve
Public health officials have stressed the importance of flattening the curve, or slowing the rate at which the disease spreads since the pandemic began. But data analyzed by The Star shows that the trajectory of the cases does not appear to be leveling off.
The Kansas City area surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 cases Thursday. One month ago, the area had just one case.
The pace of confirmed cases has not slowed consistently as dozens of cases are added some days while fewer are added on other days.
As of Thursday, Kansas City had reported 257 cases. Jackson County has seen 177 cases. Clay County has reported 38 cases and Platte County reported 21. In Kansas, Wyandotte County has reported 272 cases to Johnson County’s 252.
Experts say numbers are not accurate because not everyone with symptoms has been tested and results can take days.
Grocery delivery
A Kansas City resident tried to have groceries delivered from the Hy-Vee grocery store in Prairie Village to her parents’ home near 75th Street and Prospect Avenue, but was told there was no delivery to that location. Taryn Hodison’s parents, both in their 70s, are shut in as the coronavirus outbreak has prompted stay-at-home orders.
Their home is within five miles of the store’s service area.
Hy-Vee initially tried to say DoorDash was short-staffed. Later, both companies said the glitch was due to an oversight because the zip code where Hodison’s parents live was not activated in the delivery system.
It raised concerns as food deserts grow more isolated during the coronavirus lockdown and leaving home to search for fresh produce or toilet paper has its own risks.
The Star’s Laura Bauer, Katie Moore, Kaitlyn Schwers and Anna Spoerre contributed reporting
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 1:53 PM.
