Share |

 

TOPEKA - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issuing new mandates today surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested.

KDHE is now mandating 14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:

·         Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (currently California, Florida, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15.

·         Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado in the week prior to March 15 or after.

·         Traveled on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.

o    People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.

·         Traveled internationally on or after March 15.

o    People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran should finish out their quarantine.

·         Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. You should quarantine at home for 14 days since your last contact with the case.  (A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.)

There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return. Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Home Quarantine Guidelines

Those who are under home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain at about a 6-foot distance from other people.

If a person under quarantine develops symptoms of COVID-19 during their 14-day quarantine period, including a measured fever of 100.4 (F) or higher and lower respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath, they should contact their healthcare provider and tell them about their recent travel or other COVID-19 exposure.

Testing for COVID-19

Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. COVID-19 is a reportable condition in Kansas and all suspect cases should be reported by healthcare providers. COVID-19 testing requests can only be made by healthcare providers and local health departments.

In counties with known community transmission, currently Johnson County, testing will be limited to people hospitalized with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Johnson County residents with mild symptoms should isolate at home and away from others for at least seven days after symptoms started or for 72 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medications and symptoms have significantly improved, whichever is longer. Anyone with more severe symptoms should call their healthcare provider. Individuals who have mild symptoms should not expect to be tested at this time. Testing needs to be prioritized to the sickest patients who are seriously ill and require admission to the hospital. Excessive testing of patients with minor symptoms may put too much strain on laboratories and hospital resources. Since there is no treatment currently for COVID-19 testing patients with mild illness needs to be a lower priority.

People who are currently being tested for COVID-19 should remain in home isolation, or hospital isolation if symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized, until test results are available. If the test result is negative, isolation is no longer required. If test results are positive for COVID-19, the person must remain in isolation until released by public health.

Prevention

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid spreading the virus and to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other for at least 10 minutes through droplets from coughing and sneezing.

 

To reduce risk, everyone should:

·         Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

·         Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

·         Stay home if you are sick.

·         Cover coughs and sneezes.

·         Clean and disinfect surfaces daily.  

For more information, please visit the KDHE website at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus. KDHE has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, COVID-19@ks.gov.  Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

NEWS

USD 362 to return to onsite food service

thumb

Move follows decade with food management companies   After a decade of partnering with private management vendors, Prairie View Unified School District 362 will return to self-operation of its food service program next school year. The decision came at the monthly... [More]

La Cygne to change insurance carrier

thumb

Purchase will still be through Truly   La Cygne city leaders have opted for a new municipal insurance underwriter. On a 3-0 vote at last Wednesday’s regular meeting, with David Brenneman and Ed Smith not present, the council voted for the city to be insured through... [More]

Agriculture leading economic contributor for Linn County

thumb

Agriculture touches the lives of everyone in Linn County, whether you are a producer or a consumer, providing a direct or indirect impact of over $170 million to our county in 2023.  Farming and beef cattle ranching, including feedlots and dual-purpose farming and ranching... [More]

More News

SPORTS

Prairie View brings home two State titles in powerlifting championship

thumb

The Prairie View powerlifting team traveled to Santa Fe Trail on March 23 for the 3A State Powerlifting Meet. The Buffalos did very well at the meet with seven lifters placing in the top three and Prairie View placing second overall as a team. “We came up 11 points short... [More]

Jayhawk softball hosts Prairie View in season opener

thumb

The Jayhawk Linn softball team hosted Prairie View in their season opener on March 19. The Lady Hawks played a double-header and lost both games to the Lady Buffs 5-15 and 13-15. The first game saw the Buffalos take a 6-3 after three innings. After this, Prairie View outscored... [More]

More Sports

COMMUNITY

Youth Track meet organized for April 27

thumb

Mary Jane Britz, a junior at Prairie View High School has organized a track meet for grade school age students in the Prairie View District. “I lived in Wisconsin before moving to Kansas and while living in Wisconsin the track team would put on a youth track meet every... [More]

CHC/SEK expands behavioral health services in Linn County

thumb

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas expanded its behavioral health program into Linn County by welcoming Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker John Smart to its staff. Smart will provide therapy services to adults and children aged 10 and older in CHC/SEK’s... [More]

JLHS store program wins Stahl Scholarship package

thumb

STAHLS’ Company recently announced the 2023 fourth quarter winners of the Stahl Family Scholarship, celebrating entrepreneurial spirit and one of the two winners was Terri Gentry, a teacher at Jayhawk Linn High School, and her spirit wear store crew comprised of students.... [More]

More Community

View Legals for Free Business Directory
PLEASANTON WEATHER