Two deaths, five cases of Omicron
Riley County has identified 1,202 new COVID cases and 389 additional recoveries since the last report on January 5. This is the highest increase in case numbers in Riley County since the start of the pandemic.
Two Riley County residents have died in the last four days after testing positive for COVID-19.
“We have to hope that this surge will pass quickly and that the health system holds,” said Riley County Health Department Director Julie Gibbs. “What people can do now is stay home if they are sick, get medical care if they need help, and rely on information from medical professionals, health departments, and the CDC if they have questions. It is not too late to get vaccinated. Vaccines are your best resource to avoid serious illness.”
There are currently 1,017 active cases in Riley County and the percent of positive test results rose to 20.19% for the last two-week period.
Ascension Via Christi is currently caring for 18 COVID-positive patients. Six patients, all unvaccinated, are in the Intensive Care Unit. Four are on ventilators.
Nine of the other 12 patients are unvaccinated.
A 40-year-old unvaccinated male tested positive on December 21, 2021 and died January 7 at Ascension Via Christi in Manhattan. An 86-year-old vaccinated male tested positive for COVID-19 on January 8 and passed away January 10 at Ascension Via Christi.
There have been at least five cases of the Omicron variant in Riley County as identified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
KDHE tests roughly two percent of positive cases for variants of concern, such as Omicron.
“Thankfully, most people who get the Omicron variant have mild symptoms, but the hospitals in Kansas are facing serious challenges as case numbers soar,” Gibbs said.
At 1:15 p.m. this Thursday, January 13 Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs and Ascension Via Christi President and CEO Robert Copple will appear live on the Riley County Health Department’s Facebook page to provide an update and answer questions. The video will be shared live with the public at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and saved to the page so people can watch it later.
The next written update will be published Wednesday, January 19.
Riley County Stats for January 12, 2022
Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 10,372
Total active: 1,017
Total recovered: 9,287
Total deaths: 68
Percent Positive
Two-Week Average: 20.19%
Tested Positive: 1,087
Tested Negative: 4,298
Total Tested: 5,385
Week 1 (January 2 - 8) 19.99%
Total Positives: 717
Total Tested: 3,857
Week 52 (December 26, 2021 - January 1, 2022) 20.58%
Total Positives: 370
Total Tested: 1,798
Contact Riley County Health Department
COVID-19 testing (785) 323-6400
COVID-19 vaccine (785) 565-6560
--from RCHD