The start of a plateau? COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations stagnant in Kansas City
COVID-19 hospitalizations and case numbers are mostly stagnant in the Kansas City area this week, indicating that the current wave may be reaching a plateau. However, doctors warn that the metro is still experiencing high levels of infection.
“Our cases are down,” said Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control and The University of Kansas Health System in a Friday news briefing. “Hopefully we are starting to see a trend now of less acute infections… but we could continue to see an uptrend in hospitalizations.”
Hospitalization data generally lags several weeks behind case trends, and current case counts show only a portion of the true case numbers in the area because of people testing at home, which does not get counted in public health data.
The BA.5 strain of the omicron variant has the ability to evade some antibodies caused by vaccination and past infections, so it is reinfecting some people who have had COVID recently. However, the protection provided by currently available vaccines and booster shots is still the best defense against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19.
What does Kansas City’s COVID-19 data look like this week?
Officials reported a total of 3,502 new cases in the Kansas City area since last week. That’s higher than last week’s total of 3,095 new cases. However, last week’s case count only included half a week’s worth of data from Johnson County, due to a change in the way the county reports COVID-19 information. That means last week’s case total was artificially lowered. The previous week’s case count was 3,902.
Since many people are taking COVID tests at home, which aren’t publicly recorded, experts say real case totals are likely anywhere from two to five times higher than what data shows.
The state of Missouri is no longer reporting death counts at the county level. Johnson County reported one death in the past week, while Wyandotte County did not report any new deaths. That brings the Kansas City metro area’s death total up to at least 4,340 since the pandemic began.
How are hospitals holding up?
The University of Kansas Health System is treating 28 patients with active COVID-19 infections, just slightly lower than 29 at this time last week. Four of these patients are in the ICU, and two of them are on ventilators, compared to eight and four respectively at this time last week.
“We know that, nationally, there continues to be an increased trend of hospitalization, so it is concerning,” Hawkinson said. “That is why we continue to endorse vaccination, getting tested early and, if you are at a high risk for hospitalization, getting on Paxlovid as well.”
Hospital officials do not yet know whether a new variant of concern, omicron BA.2.75, is present in the Kansas City area. For now, the highly contagious BA.5 strain remains dominant in the metro.
While vaccines formulated to fight the omicron variant and its subvariants are coming, the currently available vaccines remain the best protection against getting sick from COVID-19.
What are the COVID-19 risk levels in the Kansas City area?
Jackson, Wyandotte and Johnson counties remain at “high” community levels of COVID-19 since 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 93% of U.S. counties are experiencing this elevated risk.
How vaccinated is the Kansas City area?
Vaccination rates in the area are rising slowly, with 63.05% of the population fully vaccinated in the Kansas City region. Eastern Kansas has a higher vaccination rate, at 71.58%, than western Missouri does at 56.70%.
Getting vaccinated and obtaining a booster shot is still the most effective way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Both mRNA booster shots (Pfizer and Moderna) are safe and effective at reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.
Do you have more questions about staying safe from COVID-19 in Kansas City? Ask our Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
.jpg)