Barton County has reported its fifth positive case of COVID-19, this in an individual from Great Bend, Barton County Public Information Officer Donna Zimmerman said Wednesday morning.  

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has now defined “probable” cases for tracking purposes. Probable cases are those who have had close contact with a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 case and symptomatic within 14 days of contact. 

Barton County also reports we have two probable cases, one in rural Great Bend and one from Hoisington, she said.

“This does not mean that unidentified cases do not exist elsewhere in the county and precautions should be taken by all residents of the county in all areas,” Zimmerman said.  

“We continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action, including the issuance of quarantine/isolation orders,” she said. To date, 56 quarantine/isolation orders have been served in various locations in county by the Barton County Sheriff’s Office with more to be served today. 

“This is a very serious and sometimes deadly virus,” she said. “We strongly encourage the public to take this pandemic seriously by practicing social distancing and staying home.”

Zimmerman said they will continue to provide further information as it becomes available.

Symptoms can include fever, chills, rigors, myalgia, malaise, headache, sore throat, lower respiratory illness (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) and now may include olfactory and taste disorders.

Refer to the KDHE website for additional information and statewide statistics at www.kdheks.gov/.