Reno County's active COVID-19 cases dive
jgreen@hutchnews.com
Ten new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Reno County over the Labor Day weekend, but 60 people were reclassified as recovered, resulting in a significant drop in the county's active case rate.
All of the new cases, data from the Reno County Health Department's COVID dashboard indicates, were within the county's general population, with no new cases at the prison or community college.
More than two-thirds of those moved to recovered, however, were from the prison, which now reports just 41 of its 398 cases remain under active supervision. The active count in the general population on Tuesday morning was 43.
The county's case count surpassed 800 on Saturday, with nine new confirmed cases. It reached 809 on Sunday with one additional case. No cases were added from Monday, which was a holiday, though six additional test results were posted.
The new cases fell in every age category from under 20 to up to age 69.
The 10 news cases were from 194 tests conducted, for a positive test rate of 5.15%, the lowest rate in several weeks. The county's overall positive test rate was 11.2%. Removing the prison-related cases, the community test rate was 7.28%.
There were no admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center from Reno County and the number in the hospital declined to just one, with one other person there awaiting test results.
County emergency management director Adam Weishaar noted during Tuesday's weekly COVID-19 update that 14 new outbreaks have been reported across the state since Sept. 2, primarily in long-term care facilities, but also including schools and sporting activities.
"One thing I want to stress is social distancing," said Reno County health officer Karen Hammersmith. "If you're not social distancing from coworkers — at least 6 feet away unless it's for 10 minutes or less — you may have your entire staff going down due to quarantine if you come down with one case of COVID.
"That 6 feet for more than 10 minutes can wipe out a business. We don't necessarily close it down, but it can't keep its doors open if it doesn't have the staff. We continue to see that.
"Over the last six months I've been surprised how often people are surprised when they realize everyone in the office will have to go into quarantine. If you're in smaller offices for longer periods, even if you're 6 feet, you're probably still exposed.
"If you have to work in those areas, you need to distance yourself from co-workers any way you can. If you can, work remotely or move to different offices away from others. Social distancing is key. We stress handwashing and wearing masks, but being close to co-workers is causing issues."