Amid the growing concerns over the novel coronavirus, and mounting shortages and cancellations, the Barton County Commission Monday morning will convene as the Barton County Board of Health. The 10:30 a.m. meeting is set for the commission chambers with the sole agenda item being an update from Health Director Shelly Schneider.

“The Barton County Health Department’s number one priority is the health of Barton County residents,” Schneider said Friday. Remember, she added, there are many illnesses circulating this time of year, and at this time, they are not aware of any COVID-19 illnesses in the local communities.

“I am in direct communication with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,” she said. “We’re going by their direction.”

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Thursday afternoon issued an emergency declaration for the states in response to COVID-19. This proceeded the KDHE’s Thursday night announcement of the first reported coronavirus-related death in the state, a man in his 70s from Wyandotte County.

“This is a minute-by-minute situation,” Schneider said. State officials were considering the possibility of issuing of restrictions on large gatherings next week, but that could come sooner.

On the home front

Meanwhile locally, “the Barton County Health Department is not tracking the travel of our residents,” Schneider said. “Please use reliable sources for all information you are seeking,” and for up-to-date maps of COVID-19 in the United States visit www.cdc.gov.  

“If you or a family member are experiencing signs of fever which includes a temperature over 100.4 without fever reducers, a cough or severe shortness of breath and any body aches, please call ahead and seek care and guidance from your primary care provider,” she said.  If one does not have a primary care provider, call Heart of Kansas (our Federally Qualified Health Center), St. Rose Urgent Care or Express Wellness Urgent Care.

“It is important to call rather than just show up to protect the health of the community and our health care providers,” Schneider said. The primary care provider will provide you with proper guidance about next steps for receiving care. 

“If you fear you may have been exposed to COVID-19 during recent travels, and if you and or a family member are experiencing the previously mentioned symptoms, your primary care provider is the one who can request testing from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,” she said. 

And, “as always, stay home if you are sick, practice social distancing, use proper cough hygiene, and above all wash your hands thoroughly,” she said. “Together, we must protect our community members whose immune systems are fragile.”

According to Schneider, if testing occurs, the Barton County Health Department, in conjunction with the KDHE, will investigate and provide the community with additional information.

“Thank you for helping each other,” she said.