First Presumptive-Positive COVID-19 Case identified in Rooks County

According to a Facebook post from the Rooks County Health Department on Sunday, April 5th, the first presumptivepositive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Rooks County. The possible case was identified this past Sunday with testing sent to LabCorp on March 27, 2020. LabCorp, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found this to be a presumptive-positive case. The result must be verified by the CDC lab and treated as positive pending confirmation. (A case is considered to be “presumptive-positive” until it is verified by the CDC.)

“Rooks County has been prepared for positive cases of novel coronavirus and will continue to work with local and state public health partners in addressing the potential spread of the virus,”Rooks County Health Officer, Dr. Jennifer Brull said. “It is our main priority to keep Rooks County citizens healthy and safe.”

The case is located in Rooks County and the patient has been notified and has been in home isolation since the illness started, following CDC guidance.

Rooks County Health Department is working with local healthcare providers, partners and the KDHE to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely. In the meantime, the general public can help. Please adhere to the current Safer at Home order and practice social distancing,” Lori Eichman, Rooks County Health Department Administrator said. “Wash your hands and stay home. If you are sick, please contact your primary care provider by phone for information and evaluation.”

If you have recently taken an ocean or riverboat cruise, traveled out of the try or to any of the following states: Louisiana, Colorado, Washington, California, Florida, New York, Illinois or New Jersey, the KDHE has ordered self-quarantine for 14 days following travel. If you develop fever with lower respiratory symptoms including cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or have had contact with someone with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19, continue to stay home and call your healthcare provider. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE and CDC websites at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

The latest KDHE numbers from Tuesday, April 7th, at noon, for the State of Kansas, include the following:

• There are 900 COVID-19 cases in the state.

• 223 hospitalizations.

• 27 statewide deaths.

• 8,614 negative tests.

• Average age: 54; median: 55; and oldest, 97.

For those requiring hospitalization, the average age is 63; median age, 63; youngest, 27; and oldest, 95.

Today’s report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed where Rooks County is listed as officially having its first positive case of COVID-19.

Stay safe and keep your distance.