Kansas COVID-19 case counts will continue to rise, top state health official predicts

Kansas’s top health official predicted Wednesday that the state’s rising tide of coronavirus cases will only continue, even as Gov. Laura Kelly prepared to mandate the use of masks in public spaces.

Since the end of May, the number of new cases has trended upwards and is now approaching levels last seen during the pandemic’s April peak. Hundreds of new cases are reported every day – more than 500 since Monday alone.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman provided a bleak assessment of the state’s fight against the coronavirus at a late afternoon news conference, the day before Kelly is expected to release her mask order.

“I predict that not only will we see this trend line, but that it will steepen,” Norman said as he pointed to a chart showing the upward march of cases.

The chart also plotted key dates in Kansas response to the pandemic, including May 27, when Kelly dropped all remaining mandatory coronavirus restrictions and left counties to set their own rules. After that, the chart shows, case counts began climbing again.

“Many just returned to business as usual,” Norman said of the counties.

Norman, who oversees the state’s public health response to the virus, equivocated on whether the mask mandate will be effective in denting the surge of infections.

“I think it will be successful to the degree that people adopt it,” Norman said.

Whether Kansans will, by and large, comply with the order remains an open question. Some county leaders appear intent on altering or overturning the directive. It’s also unlikely to be criminally enforceable, severely limiting the ability of law enforcement to take action on violations.

Norman also said large gatherings are expected in some counties and he expressed confidence that future infections will be traceable to those areas. Health officials fear the long Independence Day weekend, with cookouts and parades, will present plentiful opportunities for the virus to spread.

Norman gave few details about the order, saying that Kelly will release it Thursday. The governor has called a meeting of the State Finance Council for 1 p.m. Thursday, where Kelly and legislative leaders are expected to review the measure.

This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Kansas COVID-19 case counts will continue to rise, top state health official predicts."