Reports of new COVID-19 cases in Barton County were released this week, starting with four on Sunday.

Sunday’s cases were three males and one female. Three reside in Great Bend and one resides in Hoisington.

The total is now 180 positive cases - 85 males and 95 females. To date, county officials have issued 1,442 quarantine or isolation orders and 257 of those are active, down from 322 on Friday. Of the 180 positive cases to date, 62 remain active and there have been three deaths.

Location, total cases, current active

Claflin - 3 - 0

Ellinwood - 15 - 1

Great Bend - 93 - 23

Hoisington - 38 - 22

Olmitz - 1 - 0

Pawnee Rock - 2 - 2

Rural Barton County 28 - 14

Hospitalization summary

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports Barton County has had 10 residents who required hospitalization, with three ICU admissions and two on mechanical ventilation. KDHE has received reports of six discharged patients.

About active cases

Last week a Pawnee County resident viewing a Facebook post by the Pawnee County Health Department asked, “how do we have two new cases in the past seven days but no active?"

PHCD responded, “the cases were already almost past the minimum 10 day recovery period when they were identified. The recovery is at a minimum 10 days from the onset of symptoms and 72 hours fever free without fever reducing medications. There is often a lag time between when the test takes place and when the results are received. In addition, some will still test positive for a time after being ill. I know it is confusing but the guidelines we follow are CDC and KDHE.”

Statewide

Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports there have been 35,167 confirmed and probable cases statewide, resulting in 405 deaths, as of Monday morning, Aug. 17. This was an increase of 1,282 new cases and three new deaths from Friday, Aug. 14.

There have been 2,034 hospitalizations and 319,095 negative tests. The total case rate per 1,000 is 12.07 with 268 cases diagnosed daily.

Case rates by county range from 0 to 66.0 per 1,000 residents. There have been no confirmed cases in Rawlings and Wallace counties; Ford County has had 2,219 cases. The case rate per 1,000 for area counties is: Barton, 6.4 (165 cases); Stafford, 2.9 (12 cases); Pawnee, 10.6 (68 cases); Rush, 3.6 (11 cases); Ellis, 5.6 (161 cases); Russell, 2.8 (19 cases); Ellsworth, 3.6 (22 cases); Rice, 4.2 (40 cases); and Reno, 7.7 (477 cases).