Wyandotte County warns public of COVID surge and recommends masking indoors
COVID-19 cases are surging around the Kansas City area, and Wyandotte County officials are encouraging residents to take safety precautions in public.
“As people are planning their summer activities, we encourage them to consider wearing a well-fitting mask in indoor public spaces, monitor for symptoms, get tested if you don’t feel well, and stay home if you are sick,” said Elizabeth Groenweghe, chief epidemiologist with the Unified Government Public Health Department in Wyandotte County.
The department announced a surge in COVID-19 cases in a Friday press release, noting that the county has surpassed its threshold of 50 new cases per day. Data recorded by The Star shows that new cases across the metro rose by nearly 25% in the past week alone.
“It’s also important to stay up-to-date on your COVID vaccines and boosters to help prevent serious illness and death from COVID,” Groenweghe added.
Currently available vaccines are still the best defense against severe illness from the highly contagious BA.5 subvariant, which experts say is now the dominant strain in Kansas City.
What are the COVID-19 risk levels in Wyandotte County?
Wyandotte, Jackson and Johnson counties have all risen to “high” community levels of COVID-19 since just last week. That means the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors regardless of your vaccination status, maintaining good ventilation and getting up to date on your vaccines and boosters.
Clay and Platte counties are still at a “medium” community level, which carries similar recommendations. However, masks are not encouraged indoors at this level unless you are immunocompromised or indoors with someone who is.
All five counties that make up the Kansas City metro area remain at “high” transmission levels, along with most of the other counties in the nation. That means your risk of catching COVID-19 in public is elevated. CDC data shows that over 92% of U.S. counties are experiencing this elevated risk.
How vaccinated is Wyandotte County?
According to data reported by the Mid-America Regional Council, 58.8% of Wyandotte County residents over the age of five have completed their course of vaccination. Of these people, 36.5% have gotten a booster shot.
70.7% of residents over five years old have gotten a first shot but have not completed their vaccination against COVID-19.
Do you have more questions about the latest COVID-19 surge? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.co.
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