Barton County had 66 active, positive cases of COVID-19 on Friday, according to numbers released by Public Information Officer Donna Zimmerman. Four of the new cases reside in Ellinwood, 37 reside in Great Bend, four in Hoisington and 21 in rural Barton County.

This brings the total number of cases the county has experienced to 2,706 (1,168 males and 1,538 females). There are 132 active quarantine/isolation orders, out of a total 7,374 issued over the course of the pandemic.

The Barton County Health Department continues to identify close contacts of the individuals of each positive case. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for a prolonged period (10 minutes or longer) or having direct contact with infectious secretions. BCHD will actively monitor the close contacts for 10 days for symptoms. The public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and infection control:

- Maintain at least a 6-foot social distance from other individuals.

- Cancel mass gatherings where individuals will be in close contact with each other.

- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible OR use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

- Cover coughs/sneezes with inner elbow.

- Regularly clean high-touch surfaces.

- Avoid shaking hands.

State statistics

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports that, as of 9 a.m. Friday, there have been 347,928 COVID-19 cases, 12,151 hospitalizations and 5,385 deaths statewide. There have been 17 Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MID-C) cases associated with COVID-19. There were 2,991 new cases, 82 new hospitalizations and 28 new deaths reported since Wednesday, Aug. 11.

County total positive and probable cases to date:

• Barton 2,793 (+12 since Wednesday)

• Ellsworth 1,248 (+10)

• Pawnee 1,182 (+2)

• Rice 1,116 (+2)

• Rush 447 (-)

• Russell 896 (+1)

• Stafford 381 (+2)

There was one new death in the Golden Belt, in Stafford County, bringing the total there to 12.

The delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected at least once in all area counties. The alpha variant has been detected in every area county except Stafford. Ellsworth County has detected the alpha variant in one case, the delta variant in 12, and the gamma variant in two cases. All are listed as “variants of concern,” for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility.

Vaccinations

As of Friday morning, 1,463,008 people – 50.2% of all Kansans – have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

The percentage of area populations 12 years of age or older who have received at least one dose:

• Barton 47.68

• Ellsworth 55.66

• Pawnee 52.73

• Rice 45.59

• Rush 50.21

• Russell 44.91

• Stafford 46.31