After a week of no deaths related to COVID-19 in the Golden Belt, Barton County saw an increase of four deaths as of Friday morning, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Two new deaths were reported in Pawnee County and one each in Ellsworth, Rice and Russell counties.

There were the first new area deaths related to COVID-19 since Friday, Jan. 28.

As of 9 a.m. Friday, Kansas has had 744,493 COVID-19 cases, resulting in 18,491 hospitalizations and 7,716 deaths statewide. There were 4,871 new cases, 130 new hospitalizations and 139 new deaths reported since Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Area cases

Here are the area case totals as of 9 a.m. Friday, with any change since Wednesday.

• Barton 6,292 (+57) 

• Ellsworth 1,984 (+22)

• Pawnee 2,051 (+16)

• Rice 2,503 (+17)

• Rush 786 (+6)

• Russell 1,826 (+7)

• Stafford 1,102 (+6)

Area deaths

Here are the COVID-related death totals for area counties as of 9 a.m. Friday, with any change since the last area deaths were reported on Friday, Jan. 28:

• Barton 85 (+4)

• Ellsworth 31 (+1)

• Pawnee 23 (+2)

• Rice 18  (+1) 

• Rush 17

• Russell 36 (+1)

• Stafford 26

Hospitalizations

The Great Bend Tribune also reports on COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Barton, Pawnee and Stafford counties. 

• As of 9 a.m. Friday, Barton County has reported 170 hospitalizations attributed to COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic, including 32 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions to date, and 112 discharged patients reported to KDHE. These numbers were unchanged from Wednesday.

• Pawnee County has reported 73 hospital admissions, 15 ICU admissions and 48 discharged patients to date. These numbers are unchanged from Wednesday, Jan. 26.

• Stafford County has reported 36 hospital admissions, 15 ICU admissions and 23 discharged patients to date. Admission numbers have not changed since Jan. 5.