Another COVID wave may be on its way to Kansas City, local health experts say
National COVID-19 data suggests that a new pandemic wave may be heading for the Midwest, despite current data showing slow case increases and low hospitalizations & death counts.
Experts at the University of Kansas Health System say that hospitalizations are rising in the Northeast, often the first region to see new pandemic data trends.
“Unfortunately, we are going to see another wave, and it’s going to come soon in this direction,” said Dr. Steve Stites, Chief Medical Officer at The University of Kansas Health System, in a news briefing on Friday, May 6. “I think in the next six to eight weeks we’ll start to experience it more here.”
Infectious disease expert Dr. Dana Hawkinson added that case numbers are likely being underreported due to fewer testing events and clinics, more at-home testing and many people not testing at all.
What does Kansas City’s COVID-19 data look like this week?
New cases continue to rise slightly, while hospitalizations and deaths remain low. But this may change in the coming weeks if trends from other parts of the country make their way here.
Officials reported a total of 1,342 new cases in the Kansas City area over the past week. That’s a little higher than last week’s total of 1,159 new cases. The past week saw an average of 192 cases per day in the metro area, while the previous week’s average was 166 cases per day over seven days.
This week’s numbers do not include Wyandotte County, which experienced a cybersecurity attack on Wednesday, April 18. The county has not yet regained control of its COVID-19 data dashboard.
The state of Missouri reported one new COVID death in the past 12 days. This death did not necessarily occur in the counties that comprise the Kansas City metro area. Johnson County reported two deaths in the last week, while Wyandotte County’s death count is not available. That’s a total of at least two new deaths in the Kansas City metro, bringing the local total up to at least 4,289.
New data reporting that deemphasizes daily case numbers and death totals by county has changed the way The Star provides COVID-19 updates. This is because both Kansas and Missouri are treating COVID-19 as “endemic” now. Here’s what that means for you.
How are hospitals holding up?
The University of Kansas Health System is currently treating six patients with active COVID-19 infections. It was treating nine at this time last week. One of these patients is in the ICU, but is not on a ventilator.
Hawkinson noted that those with COVID-19 symptoms should get tested as soon as possible so they can access new treatments like Pfizer’s Paxlovid pill to reduce their risk of hospitalization.
“If we can keep as many people as possible out of the hospital, that is what we want,” he said in Friday’s news briefing. “That’s why we continue to endorse vaccinations, being up to date with boosters, and if you have symptoms, test as early as possible.”
While patient numbers are low for now, he expects to see them rise again as the new wave arrives.
Johnson County’s health department is now distributing free COVID-19 tests from its Olathe office to those who want them.
How vaccinated is the Kansas City area?
Vaccination rates in the area are rising slowly, with 61.84% of the population fully vaccinated in the Kansas City region. Eastern Kansas has a higher vaccination rate, at 69.84%, than western Missouri does at 55.88%.
The FDA has placed restrictions on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after reports of a very rare side effect that causes blood clots. Sixty total cases of a condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) have been recorded in patients who took the J&J shot. Nine of them were fatal.
“It’s important to note that these are complications that occur early after vaccination,” said Stites. “So if you’ve had the J&J vaccine, I don’t think you have to worry about a late onset of a new complication.”
The FDA now recommends only using the J&J vaccine if you are over 18 and do not have access to any other COVID-19 vaccination options.
Getting vaccinated is still the most effective way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, and experts recommend using increased caution if you are not yet vaccinated.
Do you have more questions about staying safe from COVID-19 in Kansas City? Ask our Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published May 6, 2022 at 1:18 PM.
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