More than a quarter of the entire population of Kansas has have had COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic, according to information supplied by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The population of Kansas was 2.913 million in 2019. As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, there have been 739,622 COVID-19 cases to date, resulting in 18,361 hospitalizations and 7,577 deaths (about 1% of total cases) statewide. There were 8,952 new cases, 123 new hospitalizations and 41 new deaths reported since Monday, Jan. 31.

Area clusters

The number of area COVID-19 cluster locations reported was down from last week (five compared to seven on Jan. 26). Every Wednesday, KDHE publishes the names of locations that have five or more COVID-19 cases with symptom onset in the last 14 days. All of the locations listed Wednesday were on the previous week’s list, except for Homestead Assisted Living  of Russell.

Area locations were:

• Ellsworth Correctional Facility, 32 cases with the last onset date being Jan. 31.

• Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility, 32 cases with the last onset date Jan. 28.

• Larned State Hospital, 22 cases with the last onset date Jan. 27.

• Russell Regional Hospital, six cases with the last onset date on Jan. 26.

• Homestead Assisted Living of Russell, five cases with the last onset date on Jan. 21.

Also of area interest, Hutchinson Correctional Facility was on the list with 50 cases. The last onset date was Jan. 29.

Area cases

All of the area counties except Stafford saw a smaller number of new cases from Monday to Wednesday than they saw from Friday to Monday. Stafford County started the week with five new cases and saw 14 more on Wednesday. Here are the area case totals as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, with any change since Monday.

• Barton 6,235 (+89) 

• Ellsworth 1,962 (+14)

• Pawnee 2,035 (+11)

• Rice 2,486 (+19)

• Rush 780 (+6)

• Russell 1,819 (+9)

• Stafford 1,096 (+14)

Area deaths

Here are the death totals for area counties as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. These numbers were unchanged from Friday, Jan. 28:

• Barton 81

• Ellsworth 30

• Pawnee 21

• Rice 18  

• Rush 17 

• Russell 35

• 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. Wednesday, 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 reflect an increase of one hospitalization and one dismissal since Monday. The median age of COVID-19 patients admitted in January was 79.

• Pawnee County has reported 73 hospital admissions, 15 ICU admissions and 48 discharged patients to date. These numbers were unchanged from last Wednesday, Jan. 26. The median age of COVID-19 patients admitted in January was 93.

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