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State shows jump in Barton County COVID-19 cases
coronavirus cdc

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports there have been 92,215 cases of COVID-19 statewide, resulting in 3,984 hospitalizations and 1,087 deaths. There were 2,988 new cases, 41 new deaths and 91 new hospitalizations reported since Monday, Nov. 2.

Barton County has not sent an update since 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, when there had been 797 total cases over the course of the pandemic. KDHE updated its statistics on Wednesday and according to their information, Barton County has had 860 cases, an increase of 39 cases since the state’s last report of 821 cases on Monday.

KDHE does not show an increase in Barton County hospitalizations since we last reported on them on last Friday, Oct. 30. There have been 42 COVID-19 hospitalizations. These numbers include one new patient placed in an intensive care unit (10 total) and one additional patient being released (27 total). The number of patients place on mechanical ventilation was unchanged at five.


Cluster summary

KDHE updates its summary of cluster names and locations every Wednesday, publishing those that have five or more COVID-19  cases with symptom onset dates in the last 14 days.

The only clusters listed for the Golden Belt were at Ellsworth Correctional Facility and at Medicalodges Kinsley. ECF has had nine cases within the last 14 days, with the last onset date being Oct. 21. The long-term care facility at Kinsley in Edwards County has had five cases in the last 14 days, with the last onset date being Oct. 22.


Great Bend USD 428

The Great Bend USD 428 website has been updated since it last showed information of COVID-19 notifications it received on Sunday, Nov. 1.

• On Monday, a staff member at Great Bend High School tested positive. No additional quarantines expected.

• On Monday, a staff member at Riley Elementary tested positive. One additional quarantine was expected.

• On Wednesday, a student at GBHS tested positive; 11 additional quarantines were expected for close contact.

Close contact is defined as anyone who has been closer than 6 feet for longer than 10 cumulative minutes.

Great Bend Public Schools will not inform of quarantine orders for students or staff due to exposure outside of school.