Individuals facing quarantine because they were exposed to a positive COVID-19 case – but who are themselves asymptomatic – will now have a little more freedom, Barton County Administrator Phil Hathcock said Friday. The county has revised orders to allow quarantined asymptomatic individuals to leave their homes if no contact is made with a non-household member.
The Barton County Health Department has issued numerous quarantine orders over the past several weeks due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases, a statement from the county begins. “Barton County’s primary concerns are the health and wellbeing of its citizens and to prevent the spread of the pandemic.”
Previous orders confined quarantined individuals to their homes, making even a trip to an empty park a violation. The wording of the orders was revised upon evaluation and consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Under the new revisions, the restrictions from public places, school or other places of business where contact with non-household individuals is possible remain in place for quarantined individuals. Should symptoms develop, quarantined individuals are instructed to stay home and contact their health care provider.
“This revision was made to allow asymptomatic quarantined individuals to remain active and in good mental health,” Hathcock’s news release stated. “The revisions will be reflected on new quarantine orders issued and will be effective on existing active quarantine orders.”
16 new cases
Barton County revised its report on local COVID-19 statistics at 5 p.m. Friday, adding 16 new cases since the last report on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Fridays cases — seven males and nine females — included one Claflin resident, nine Great Bend residents and six rural Barton County residents.
At last report, there were 267 positive cases, of which 73 were active (down from 74 on Wednesday). The county had issued 1,946 quarantine or isolation orders and 505 were active (down from 507 on Wednesday). Four deaths have been attributed to COVID-19. The gender of positive cases was 116 males and 151 females.
The residence of positive cases, total number and number of active cases are:
Claflin - 10 - 1
Ellinwood - 17 - 2
Great Bend - 133 - 31
Hoisington - 50 - 9
Olmitz - 1 - 1
Pawnee Rock - 2 - 2
Rural Barton County - 54 - 24
Statewide
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported Friday, Aug. 28, that there have been 41,048 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, resulting in 2,278 hospitalizations and 443 deaths. There have been 362,099 negative tests.
Find more statistics online at coronavirus.kdheks.gov.
