Kansas adds 118 coronavirus cases Sunday, with more testing in rural counties
The number of people in Kansas testing positive for the new coronavirus increased by 118 Sunday, according to statistics updated by state officials.
The increase in cases comes after a weekend when larger numbers were coming out, driven by more testing in some rural counties. On Saturday, the state saw a 10% jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases with the addition of 279. On Friday, the state had added 295.
Kansas also reported one additional death Sunday, bringing the total killed to 118.
Hundreds of the new cases over the weekend came from rural counties centered around the meatpacking industry. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced earlier in the week that additional resources would be sent to those counties in an effort to contain outbreaks related to meatpacking plants. Seward, Ford, Finney and Lyon counties have reported more cases with more testing.
Of the 118 cases added Sunday, 69 came from Seward and Ford counties. The new cases brought the state total to 3,174.
A total of 26,227 people have been tested in Kansas.
Overall, the rate at which Kansas residents have tested positive has increased to 12 percent, up from past days when it was measured closer to 9% or 10%.
The state has ranked last in the United States in per-capita testing.
Of those infected with the virus, 485 people in Kansas have been hospitalized.
Johnson County reported 16 additional cases Sunday, bringing the total to 430. Wyandotte County reported 14 additional cases, bringing its total to 565.
State health officials have said less testing is often conducted on weekends.
