TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly held a press briefing  Monday to discuss the week-long spike in COVID-19-related deaths in Kansas as the total number of reported coronavirus cases rose past 26,000. She said that if the battle against the virus doesn't improve, she will consider moving the state back into phase 2 of her reopening plan. It limits mass gatherings to no more than 15.
The state Department of Health and Environment said Kansas had another nine deaths since Friday, increasing the total for the pandemic by 2.8% to 335.
The state had 28 new reported deaths during the seven days ending Monday, an average of 4.0 a day for a new high mark since June 1. The worst seven-day average since the pandemic began was 5.0 for the seven days ending April 13.
The health department said Kansas had an additional 1,063 coronavirus cases since Friday, up 4.2% to 26,172. The number of cases is thought to be far higher because people can be infected without feeling sick and because of a lack of testing, particularly early in the pandemic.