Riley County COVID-19 numbers are higher than realized

(RILEY COUNTY, KS – May 4, 2022) The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recorded 40 COVID-19 cases for Riley County between April 18-24. The Incidence Rate per 100,000 is 53.9, putting Riley County in the substantial incidence category which is 50-99 cases per 100,000 people.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is currently caring for zero (0) COVID-19 positive patients. 

Last week, the Riley County Health Department (RCHD) discovered that not all cases reported to KDHE were being included in the local totals for Riley County in the EpiTrax system. The discrepancy in case numbers began April 13 and impacted the weekly reports issued for April 20 and 27. The April 27 update from Riley County reported 4 new COVID-19 cases in MMWR week 16, but KDHE was actually tracking 40 cases for that time period.

To solve the problem, Riley County will now share data directly from KDHE reports and bypass the internal system. This will cause a lag time in numbers reporting, but will produce a more complete count.