UPDATE:
The Riley County Health Department just received confirmation that a Kansas State University student has tested positive for the new coronavirus. This makes three confirmed positives today. The 22 year-old student was in the group with the K-State professor who recently traveled to England. So far, the professor and one student have tested positive. The professor was released from the hospital last week and is recovering at home.
This student followed protocol and has been in quarantine in their Manhattan home since their return to the community on March 18, 2020. The Riley County Health Department has been in daily contact with them. The student has been sick for the last few days and is now in isolation at home.
"This virus presents a life and death situation for our community. The time to take action is now. If everyone does their part to limit the spread, we have a fighting chance," said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, should call a medical professional immediately. A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.
The Q&A hotline at 785-587-4526 will remain active for voicemail only. Please email general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County to [email protected].
Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/.
The Riley County Health Department will continue to hold live updates at 4:15 p.m. daily on Facebook, except for Sundays.
For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, visit the Riley County website at https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19, follow RCHD on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.
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Riley County health authorities were in the process Tuesday afternoon of finding out more information on the 29-year old man diagnosed with COVID-19. He is the fourth resident of Riley County with that confirmed diagnosis.
Julie Gibbs, Health Officer, said 23 people were being monitored in Riley County, "and we still have 10 tests pending. This number includes tests pending on Fort Riley. We have had a total of 50 negative tests so far in the county."
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Another Riley County resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus today ( Tuesday , bringing Riley County’s total to four (4). This patient is a 29 year old male who was tested at KSTAT. The Riley County Health Department is conducting contact tracing and following up with the patient and all close contacts.
No other further details about the patient are available at this time but that information will be shared when it becomes available.
“It is crucial that everyone do their part to help stop the spread,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Make the choice to stay home to protect yourself, your family, your friends, and neighbors. Make social and business contacts virtually instead of in person. We all have to work together to flatten the curve. The time to take action is now.”
Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, should call a medical professional immediately. A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.
The Q&A hotline at 785-587-4526 will remain active for voicemail only. Please email general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County to [email protected].
Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/.
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The Riley County Health Department was notified late last night that another local resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus. The patient, a 57 year old man, presented with symptoms at the Emergency Room at Ascension Via Christi Hospital on March 27 and was tested the same day. The results of the test were just released from the Oklahoma facility where the sample was sent.
The 57 year old man is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Via Christi Hospital. He is considered an imported case, and not an instance of community spread. The patient had recently traveled with his family to a church meeting in the Kansas City area. His family members are currently in quarantine at their home in Riley County.
The Riley County Health Department is completing contact tracing for the family and will notify anyone who may have had close contact with them. While this patient will be added to Riley County’s list, it appears he was exposed to the virus elsewhere in Kansas.