The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports there have been 236,818 COVID-19 cases, resulting in 7,113 hospitalizations and 3,027 deaths as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. There were 5,501 new cases, 130 new deaths and 158 new hospitalizations reported since Monday, Jan. 4.

State cases numbers for area counties are: Barton, 2,294; Ellsworth, 1,090; Pawnee, 1,027; Rice, 861; Rush, 349; Russell, 743; Stafford, 291.

The state’s COVID-19 death summary for these counties: Barton, 36; Ellsworth, 13; Pawnee, 7; Rice, 4; Rush, 9; Russell, 17; Stafford, 8.

Total hospitalizations for those counties: Barton, 71; Ellsworth, 4; Pawnee, 35; Rice, 14; Rush, 29; Russell, 24; Stafford, 10. 

KDHE also updated its cluster summary on Wednesday. The state publishes the names of locations that have five or more COVID-19 cases with symptom onset dates in the last 14 days.

Long-term care facility Great Bend Health and Rehab was on the list for the second week, showing 20 cases in the last 14 days – 11 more than last week. The last onset date there was Dec. 31, 2020. Larned State Hospital also remained on the list with 10 cases, four more than last week, with the last onset date on Dec. 30.

Great Bend USD 428

Great Bend USD 428 reports that two students at Great Bend Middle School tested positive during the winter recess. The district was notified on Tuesday, Jan. 5. There were no school contacts with either case.

On Jan. 6, the district was notified that a staff member at Park Elementary School and a staff member at Great Bend Middle School tested positive during winter recess. Again, there were no additional close contacts at the schools.