Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 have now been detected in all Kansas counties, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Out of 14,372 specimens sequenced to date, 10,249 were the Delta variant and only 25 have been the Omicron variant. While Omicron has not been detected in the Great Bend Tribune’s area counties, one specimen was found in McPherson County and one in Finney County as of 9 a.m. Monday.
Kansas County COVID-19 Rankings are not being published during the holiday observances but will resume on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.
KDHE reports that 51.66% of Barton County’s eligible residents (those age 5 years and older) have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 47.02% have completed the vaccine series. Vaccine series completion includes individuals who have completed two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson and Johnson/Janssen.
For Pawnee County, 57.13% have received at least one dose and 53.28% have completed the series.
For Stafford County, 51.35% have received at least one dose and 47.42% have completed the series.
Kansas statistics
As of 9 a.m. Monday, Kansas has had 512,461 COVID-19 cases over the course of the pandemic, resulting in 16,846 hospitalizations and 6,964 statewide deaths. There were 6,939 new cases, 119 new hospitalizations and 14 new deaths reported since Wednesday, Dec.22. One death was reported in Stafford County.
Area cases
Here are the total cases for area counties as of 9 a.m. Monday, with the change since Wednesday, Dec. 22:
• Barton 4,704 (+56)
• Ellsworth 1,591 (+6)
• Pawnee 1,643 (+8)
• Rice 1,797 (+30)
• Rush 601 (+7)
• Russell 1,458 (+21)
• Stafford 845 (+6)
Area deaths
Here are the death totals for area counties as of 9 a.m. Monday, with any change since Dec. 22.
• Barton 71
• Ellsworth 31
• Pawnee 21
• Rice 16
• Rush 16
• Russell 34
• Stafford 24 (+1)
Hospitalizations
The Tribune also reports on COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Barton, Pawnee and Stafford counties. These numbers have not changed since last week.
• As of 9 a.m. Monday, Barton County has reported 159 hospitalizations attributed to COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic, including 31 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions to date, and 106 discharged patients have been reported to KDHE. The median age of patients admitted so far in December is 60.
• Pawnee County has reported 71 hospital admissions, 15 ICU admissions and 48 discharged patients to date. The median age of patients admitted in December is 60 years old.
• Stafford County has reported 35 hospital admissions, 13 ICU admissions and 19 discharged patients to date. The median age of patients admitted in December is 62.
