Barton County has now reported more than 200 positive COVID-19 cases.

With 12 new cases reported at 4 p.m. Friday, the county now has 210 positive cases, according to information released by Barton County Public Information Officer Donna Zimmerman.

Friday’s cases represented four males and eight females. Two reside in Claflin, five are in Great Bend, two are in Hoisington and three live in rural Barton County.

To date, Barton County has issued 1,640 quarantine or isolation orders and 405 of those remain active. Of the 210 positive cases reported, 99 are males and 111 are females; 76 cases are active and four people have died.

Residence, total cases, current active

Claflin - 5 - 2

Ellinwood - 16 - 2

Great Bend - 109 - 33

Hoisington - 44 - 19

Olmitz - 1 - 0

Pawnee Rock - 2 - 2

Rural Barton County - 33 - 18

KDHE statistics

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment updates COVID-19 statistics every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As of Friday morning, Kansas has reported 36,856 confirmed and probable cases (12.65 per 1,000 residents). A confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. A probable case is someone presumptive lab evidence (or no lab testing) with COVID-19 symptoms or epi-linked to a confirmed case. A person with multiple positive tests is only counted once.

Definition: Epidemiological (Epi) Link: Characteristic that links two cases, such as close contact between two people or a common exposure.

There have been 2,159 hospitalizations, 419 deaths and 329,459 negative tests statewide.

Barton County has had 10 residents hospitalized for COVID-19. Three were Intensive Care Unit admissions; two received mechanical ventilation and seven patients have been discharged.

The hospitalized cases were all white, no Hispanic or Latino; one was 45-54 years old, three were 55-64; three were 65-74; and three were 85 years of age or older.

In central Kansas as of 9 a.m. Friday, KDHE showed the following counties’ case count and case rate (per 1,000 residents) was: Barton, 173 (6.7); Edwards, 19 (6.8); Ellis, 179 (6.3); Ellsworth, 24 (3.9); Ness, 14 (5.1); Pawnee, 79 (12.3); Reno, 555 (9.0); Rice, 41 (4.3); Rush, 15 (4.9); Russell, 20 2.9); Stafford, 16 (3.8).

Monitoring cases

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. The health department will actively monitor the close contacts for 14 days for symptoms. The public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and infection control.

Infection Control

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty 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

Social distancing

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

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