Kansas again sees largest daily increase in COVID-19 cases, with more testing in west
The state of Kansas saw its largest single-day jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row Thursday as testing in the rural part of the state increased and results from a private lab backlog were reported.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed 271 cases of the new coronavirus Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 2,482. Additionally, the state reported 112 deaths related to virus, an increase of two from Wednesday.
According to statewide data roughly 11.6% of the more than 21,000 Kansans tested were infected. The testing numbers represent less than 1% of the state’s population, according to the United States Census Bureau.
The highest number of cases in the state are still being reported in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, where a combined 887 people have tested positive for the rapidly spreading virus.
However, 165 of the 271 cases confirmed Thursday were reported in Ford, Finney, Seward and Lyon counties. The federal government provided personal protective equipment and testing resources for the counties, all of which house meat and food processing plants.
The positive tests follow an announcement from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Sunday that her office is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to contain clusters of positive case in counties centered around the meatpacking industry.
At least 442 Kansans have been hospitalized due to the virus, according to data released Thursday.
Across the state line, Missouri has confirmed at least 6,321 cases of the new coronavirus. As of Wednesday, the state had tested more than 59,000 residents.
The virus has infected more than 856,000 people nationwide, which has led to the deaths of more than 47,000 according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 4:05 PM.
