Fort Riley officials issued a COVID-19 statement via social media on Friday.

In 2020, we fought the virus on the defense—the wear of face coverings, physical distancing, sanitation, and travel and occupancy restrictions helped quell the spread. While we must continue to apply defensive measures, for the first time we are attacking! At Fort Riley, 100% of our volunteering first responders and emergency medical care personnel have been inoculated with a safe and effective vaccine approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Now more than ever, we need everyone to keep up the fight. As expected, we are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases. However, again and again we are seeing individuals and families preventing the spread by observing the appropriate movement restrictions. To maintain this momentum, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/covid19?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZUrSrnG6RYyFkHoY2_X5z7YY3Awwlslsvtz0OMETJrBTl8wszHbKmWfB_qCTUoXdsyyXCBvxu6aD_ndqcIyppLnKaWNCNQWlrbTtJOUe3MpvJ1SegbrnSc1cAyDfutd3mYOyZr8Tm3mW8h3P_U19zSD&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#COVID-19</a> General Order has been updated with the following: •

 Social gatherings and visitations are prohibited inside all housing on the installation. • 

Service members are prohibited from having or attending social gatherings inside any home/barracks on or off the installation.• These prohibitions apply to parties, dinners, social clubs, meetings, social visits, and similar activities.• These prohibitions do not apply to visits with immediate family members, duty-related activities, childcare, tutoring, welfare checks, providing care for an individual or pet, repair or cleaning services, and similar nonsocial activities. *

While conducting any authorized activity, individuals will maintain a distance of six feet from one another, abide by sanitation requirements, and wear face coverings when physical distancing requirements cannot be met. 

The arrival of the vaccine and first series of inoculations is only the start of our offensive against the virus. In conjunction with our defensive efforts, our generation can also achieve a great Victory. Keep it up!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Fort Riley officials issued a COVID-19 statement via social media on Friday.In 2020, we fought the virus on the defense—the wear of face coverings, physical distancing, sanitation, and travel and occupancy restrictions helped quell the spread. While we must continue to apply defensive measures, for the first time we are attacking! At Fort Riley, 100% of our volunteering first responders and emergency medical care personnel have been inoculated with a safe and effective vaccine approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Now more than ever, we need everyone to keep up the fight. As expected, we are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases. However, again and again we are seeing individuals and families preventing the spread by observing the appropriate movement restrictions. To maintain this momentum, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/covid19?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZUrSrnG6RYyFkHoY2_X5z7YY3Awwlslsvtz0OMETJrBTl8wszHbKmWfB_qCTUoXdsyyXCBvxu6aD_ndqcIyppLnKaWNCNQWlrbTtJOUe3MpvJ1SegbrnSc1cAyDfutd3mYOyZr8Tm3mW8h3P_U19zSD&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#COVID-19</a> General Order has been updated with the following: • Social gatherings and visitations are prohibited inside all housing on the installation. • Service members are prohibited from having or attending social gatherings inside any home/barracks on or off the installation.• These prohibitions apply to parties, dinners, social clubs, meetings, social visits, and similar activities.• These prohibitions do not apply to visits with immediate family members, duty-related activities, childcare, tutoring, welfare checks, providing care for an individual or pet, repair or cleaning services, and similar nonsocial activities. *While conducting any authorized activity, individuals will maintain a distance of six feet from one another, abide by sanitation requirements, and wear face coverings when physical distancing requirements cannot be met. The arrival of the vaccine and first series of inoculations is only the start of our offensive against the virus. In conjunction with our defensive efforts, our generation can also achieve a great Victory. Keep it up!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Fort Riley updates COVID-19 General Order

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Geary Community Hospital released a community COVID-19 update Friday.&nbsp;

These numbers reflect data from the Geary Community Hospital testing site only.

Since the most recent report, there have been 72 total tests completed, bringing the total number of tests to 6,969. Of those tests, 53 were negative in this round of testing. There have been 6,051 negative tests in total since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;

There were 10 positive tests, bringing the total of positives to 909. Currently, there are nine tests still pending results.&nbsp;

Five people are currently hospitalized at GCH with COVID-19, down two from the last report. Of those five that are hospitalized, two are in the Intensive Care Unit and one is on a ventilator.&nbsp;

As a reminder, these numbers reflect data collected from the GCH testing site only. GCH serves multiple surrounding counties and numbers exceed just Geary County.&nbsp;

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please call 785-210-4214 for the GCH screening line.&nbsp;

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Geary Community Hospital released a community COVID-19 update Friday.&nbsp;These numbers reflect data from the Geary Community Hospital testing site only.Since the most recent report, there have been 72 total tests completed, bringing the total number of tests to 6,969. Of those tests, 53 were negative in this round of testing. There have been 6,051 negative tests in total since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;There were 10 positive tests, bringing the total of positives to 909. Currently, there are nine tests still pending results.&nbsp;Five people are currently hospitalized at GCH with COVID-19, down two from the last report. Of those five that are hospitalized, two are in the Intensive Care Unit and one is on a ventilator.&nbsp;As a reminder, these numbers reflect data collected from the GCH testing site only. GCH serves multiple surrounding counties and numbers exceed just Geary County.&nbsp;If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please call 785-210-4214 for the GCH screening line.&nbsp;

Geary Community Hospital COVID-19 Update

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to finish giving COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care residents and health care workers by the end of this month and has moved people aged 65 and older into the next group to receive the shots.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday announced new details about the order in which her state’s residents will be eligible for inoculations, and making people aged 65 to 74 years an earlier priority was the biggest shift.

The state’s previous plan had that age group getting theirs after people in “congregate” living, such as state hospitals, shelters for the homeless, and prisons.

The governor’s comments last month that prisoners would get vaccinated relatively early prompted scathing comments from the Kansas Republican Party and leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

But Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference, “This is all based on science.”

<a href="https://twitter.com/KansasGOP/status/1347315181769129988" target="_blank">The Kansas GOP tweeted</a>&nbsp;that Kelly “listened to us” in moving older Kansans up in line but added: “It’s a bad thing prisoners remain in the same phase as those seniors. Prioritize law-abiding Kansans first!”

The American Medical Association&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-policy-calls-more-covid-19-prevention-congregate-settings" target="_blank">adopted a policy</a>&nbsp;in November calling for prisons to have priority in getting vaccines, with one board member calling it among the steps vital to stopping the spread of the virus.&nbsp;<a href="https://justicelab.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/COVID_Vaccine_White_Paper.pdf" target="_blank">A report in December</a>&nbsp;from professors of medicine at Yale, Columbia and the University of North Carolina called for giving inmates vaccines early, saying outbreaks in prisons and jails “spill over to the community.”

“My administration will make our decisions based on what the doctors, the public health experts and the science tells us, not the politics,” Kelly said.

Kelly released the updated vaccine rollout plan, with a chart designed to make its five phases easier to follow, amid concerns that the process was moving too slowly.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Kansas last among states for its inoculation rate per 100,000 residents. That was no longer the case in&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank">a CDC report</a>&nbsp;Thursday, with five states trailing Kansas.

The CDC’s data said 36,538 vaccine shots had been given in Kansas, or 1,254 per 100,000 residents. Kelly told reporters the actual figure is 45,872, or almost 26% higher and 1,575 for every 100,000 residents.

Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state Department of Health and Environment, said he believes the true number of shots given could be nearly twice Kelly’s figure, about 90,000.

“People are not sitting on the vaccines and keeping it in storage,” Norman said. “They’re giving it into people’s arms.”

The state’s revised vaccine distribution plan shows that the second group to get shots also will include critical workers including firefighters, law enforcement officers, meatpacking employees, grocery store workers, teachers and child-care workers.

The third phase includes people aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at severe risk if they are infected with COVID-19, including cancer and Type 2 diabetes, as well as workers in critical industries such as information technology, aviation, transportation and government.

People with less severe health problems are included in the fourth phase and the fifth and final group includes everyone else.

Counties with unused vaccine doses after inoculating all health care workers and long-term care residents who wanted to be vaccinated were supposed to shift spare doses to counties in need of more. But the process is paperwork heavy, and some counties just went ahead and vaccinated people in lower priority groups, said Dennis Kriesel, executive director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments.

He said the state should have moved quicker to explain the phases of the rollout, noting that people are desperate for information. He got one call from a woman in her 70s with lymphoma who wanted details because she hadn’t been able to see her grandchildren in a year.

“We didn’t need the vaccines to be ready to set our priorities,” he said. “We could have set the priorities months before that.”

Sedgwick County health director Adrienne Byrne said she has been getting emails from people with chronic illnesses who have hardly left their homes since March.

She said the county has administered about half of the 10,400 doses it has received and noted that the process is speeding up. A massive clinic has been set up at an arena, with staff capable of vaccinating 50 people every 15 minutes.

“Some of them are crying with relief,” she said. “I heard one gentlemen say to the person who gave him the vaccine: ‘You may have just helped save my life.’”

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.csKEwO2cHbw8M5zi6TRutzHWqdxBIFAo23eiujJpUwU/s/1303160919/br/92812776098-l" target="_blank">View a visual representation of the distribution order here.</a>

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAxMDcuMzI5NTQzNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjEvMDEvQUNUVUFMLVBIQVNFLUdST1VQLnBkZiJ9.E_BnrO0RAeuHPTBmfzO-dQxS4LAoUpXOaBJkO01153s/s/1303160919/br/92812776098-l" target="_blank">View informational slides regarding vaccine distribution here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610104544544.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to finish giving COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care residents and health care workers by the end of this month and has moved people aged 65 and older into the next group to receive the shots.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday announced new details about the order in which her state’s residents will be eligible for inoculations, and making people aged 65 to 74 years an earlier priority was the biggest shift.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F707415516490444%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The state’s previous plan had that age group getting theirs after people in “congregate” living, such as state hospitals, shelters for the homeless, and prisons.The governor’s comments last month that prisoners would get vaccinated relatively early prompted scathing comments from the Kansas Republican Party and leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature.But Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference, “This is all based on science.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s a good thing <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovLauraKelly</a> listened to us and moved vulnerable seniors up the vaccine priority list. It’s a bad thing prisoners remain in the same phase as those seniors. Prioritize law-abiding Kansans first! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a>&mdash; Kansas GOP (@KansasGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasGOP/status/1347315181769129988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://twitter.com/KansasGOP/status/1347315181769129988" target="_blank">The Kansas GOP tweeted</a>&nbsp;that Kelly “listened to us” in moving older Kansans up in line but added: “It’s a bad thing prisoners remain in the same phase as those seniors. Prioritize law-abiding Kansans first!”The American Medical Association&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-policy-calls-more-covid-19-prevention-congregate-settings" target="_blank">adopted a policy</a>&nbsp;in November calling for prisons to have priority in getting vaccines, with one board member calling it among the steps vital to stopping the spread of the virus.&nbsp;<a href="https://justicelab.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/COVID_Vaccine_White_Paper.pdf" target="_blank">A report in December</a>&nbsp;from professors of medicine at Yale, Columbia and the University of North Carolina called for giving inmates vaccines early, saying outbreaks in prisons and jails “spill over to the community.”“My administration will make our decisions based on what the doctors, the public health experts and the science tells us, not the politics,” Kelly said.Kelly released the updated vaccine rollout plan, with a chart designed to make its five phases easier to follow, amid concerns that the process was moving too slowly.On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Kansas last among states for its inoculation rate per 100,000 residents. That was no longer the case in&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank">a CDC report</a>&nbsp;Thursday, with five states trailing Kansas.The CDC’s data said 36,538 vaccine shots had been given in Kansas, or 1,254 per 100,000 residents. Kelly told reporters the actual figure is 45,872, or almost 26% higher and 1,575 for every 100,000 residents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610057822570.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during Thursday's news conference." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during Thursday's news conference.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state Department of Health and Environment, said he believes the true number of shots given could be nearly twice Kelly’s figure, about 90,000.“People are not sitting on the vaccines and keeping it in storage,” Norman said. “They’re giving it into people’s arms.”The state’s revised vaccine distribution plan shows that the second group to get shots also will include critical workers including firefighters, law enforcement officers, meatpacking employees, grocery store workers, teachers and child-care workers.The third phase includes people aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at severe risk if they are infected with COVID-19, including cancer and Type 2 diabetes, as well as workers in critical industries such as information technology, aviation, transportation and government.People with less severe health problems are included in the fourth phase and the fifth and final group includes everyone else.Counties with unused vaccine doses after inoculating all health care workers and long-term care residents who wanted to be vaccinated were supposed to shift spare doses to counties in need of more. But the process is paperwork heavy, and some counties just went ahead and vaccinated people in lower priority groups, said Dennis Kriesel, executive director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments.He said the state should have moved quicker to explain the phases of the rollout, noting that people are desperate for information. He got one call from a woman in her 70s with lymphoma who wanted details because she hadn’t been able to see her grandchildren in a year.“We didn’t need the vaccines to be ready to set our priorities,” he said. “We could have set the priorities months before that.”Sedgwick County health director Adrienne Byrne said she has been getting emails from people with chronic illnesses who have hardly left their homes since March.She said the county has administered about half of the 10,400 doses it has received and noted that the process is speeding up. A massive clinic has been set up at an arena, with staff capable of vaccinating 50 people every 15 minutes.“Some of them are crying with relief,” she said. “I heard one gentlemen say to the person who gave him the vaccine: ‘You may have just helped save my life.’”<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.csKEwO2cHbw8M5zi6TRutzHWqdxBIFAo23eiujJpUwU/s/1303160919/br/92812776098-l" target="_blank">View a visual representation of the distribution order here.</a><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAxMDcuMzI5NTQzNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjEvMDEvQUNUVUFMLVBIQVNFLUdST1VQLnBkZiJ9.E_BnrO0RAeuHPTBmfzO-dQxS4LAoUpXOaBJkO01153s/s/1303160919/br/92812776098-l" target="_blank">View informational slides regarding vaccine distribution here.</a>

🎥 Older Kansans moved up in line for COVID-19 vaccination

Geary Community Hospital is working to ensure the&nbsp; Community is kept informed in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine and it's availability to our community. 

Kansas is currently in Phase 1 for vaccines. There is not a date set for when the State will move to the next phase. We ask that anyone that is interested in the COVID-19 vaccine, please click on the link below for the county that you reside in. If the county you reside in, is not listed, please contact your local health department. 

Morris County:<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ72MVN?fbclid=IwAR3Dmk6WJaKGsMmncbz0CIyayOvSzcx3UMPJQsdu-uEJ09Hcza-v7Gr4lOM" target="_blank">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ72MVN</a>

<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ72MVN?fbclid=IwAR3Dmk6WJaKGsMmncbz0CIyayOvSzcx3UMPJQsdu-uEJ09Hcza-v7Gr4lOM" target="_blank"></a>Geary County<a href="https://form.jotform.com/210035411304031?fbclid=IwAR0MnQufGyGxgD5LZtpHHBYUel_LW056YzIwtyUEWOqCGxpQ-wD_nDNiDCI" target="_blank">https://form.jotform.com/210035411304031.</a>

Geary Community Hospital is working to ensure the&nbsp; Community is kept informed in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine and it's availability to our community. Kansas is currently in Phase 1 for vaccines. There is not a date set for when the State will move to the next phase. We ask that anyone that is interested in the COVID-19 vaccine, please click on the link below for the county that you reside in. If the county you reside in, is not listed, please contact your local health department. Morris County:<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ72MVN?fbclid=IwAR3Dmk6WJaKGsMmncbz0CIyayOvSzcx3UMPJQsdu-uEJ09Hcza-v7Gr4lOM" target="_blank">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ72MVN</a><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ72MVN?fbclid=IwAR3Dmk6WJaKGsMmncbz0CIyayOvSzcx3UMPJQsdu-uEJ09Hcza-v7Gr4lOM" target="_blank"></a>Geary County<a href="https://form.jotform.com/210035411304031?fbclid=IwAR0MnQufGyGxgD5LZtpHHBYUel_LW056YzIwtyUEWOqCGxpQ-wD_nDNiDCI" target="_blank">https://form.jotform.com/210035411304031.</a>

GCH provides update on vaccine status

Geary County health officials reported 20 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There were five recovered cases. There were 150 active cases in the county.

Seven people were hospitalized, which was down three.

Geary County health officials reported 20 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There were five recovered cases. There were 150 active cases in the county.Seven people were hospitalized, which was down three.

Health Department issues Wednesday report on COVID-19

Wednesday key local agency heads met to further discuss and plan for the future vaccination of the next eligible group. They also participated in a webinar concerning the vaccination process. The agencies included Frank Corcoran of Geary Community Hospital, Lee Wolf of Konza Health, Tammy VonBusch of Geary County Health Department, Dr. Jimmy Jenkins, Geary County Health Medical Advisor, and Garry Berges of Geary County Emergency Management.

The state stressed that the entire state is still in Phase 1A, which is for health care workers and long-term care facilities. Until all people in the state in Phase 1A are vaccinated, we can not move to Phase 1B.

Once Phase 1B is completed, the next phase will be able to begin. The complete listing of the different phases and who is in what phase is still being developed at the State level and is expected to be announced soon. Once that information is received at the local level, the execution of that phase will begin. Planning for distribution of the vaccine for the different phases continue. As more information is received, it will be provided to the public.

The Geary County Health Department is allowing residents to signup on a COVID-19 vaccination contact list. Based on information provided on the form, it will place you in a Phase group. When that phase of the vaccine is made available, you will be contacted and given a location and time to receive the vaccination. The survey is available on Geary County COVID-19 website (<a href="https://www.gearycounty.org/1418/Novel-Coronavirus-COVID-19">www.GearyCounty.org</a>) and the Geary County Health Dept. Facebook page. You can contact the Health Department at 762-5788 if you do not computer access. The survey is HIPAA compliant.

Wednesday key local agency heads met to further discuss and plan for the future vaccination of the next eligible group. They also participated in a webinar concerning the vaccination process. The agencies included Frank Corcoran of Geary Community Hospital, Lee Wolf of Konza Health, Tammy VonBusch of Geary County Health Department, Dr. Jimmy Jenkins, Geary County Health Medical Advisor, and Garry Berges of Geary County Emergency Management.The state stressed that the entire state is still in Phase 1A, which is for health care workers and long-term care facilities. Until all people in the state in Phase 1A are vaccinated, we can not move to Phase 1B.Once Phase 1B is completed, the next phase will be able to begin. The complete listing of the different phases and who is in what phase is still being developed at the State level and is expected to be announced soon. Once that information is received at the local level, the execution of that phase will begin. Planning for distribution of the vaccine for the different phases continue. As more information is received, it will be provided to the public.The Geary County Health Department is allowing residents to signup on a COVID-19 vaccination contact list. Based on information provided on the form, it will place you in a Phase group. When that phase of the vaccine is made available, you will be contacted and given a location and time to receive the vaccination. The survey is available on Geary County COVID-19 website (<a href="https://www.gearycounty.org/1418/Novel-Coronavirus-COVID-19">www.GearyCounty.org</a>) and the Geary County Health Dept. Facebook page. You can contact the Health Department at 762-5788 if you do not computer access. The survey is HIPAA compliant.

Local agency heads plan for future vaccination efforts

(RILEY COUNTY, KS – January 6, 2021) Riley County has identified 140 new positive cases and 42 additional recoveries since the last report on Monday, January 4, 2021. 

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 15 positive patients. Three of the positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.

The Riley County Health Department is not expecting any additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to arrive this week. At this point, health departments only receive notice of vaccine arrivals a couple hours before the shipment arrives.

“We have distributed all of the coronavirus vaccine doses we have received so far. We were notified by KDHE that we will not receive a vaccine shipment this week, but we might get more doses next week,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “On Mondays, the state receives an update about how many doses they will receive, then they work as quickly as possible to distribute across the state. It is a difficult process and we are doing everything we can to be ready at a moment’s notice.”

In order to finish the process of vaccinating all health care workers when additional shipments of the coronavirus vaccine arrive, the Riley County Health Department requests all healthcare organizations and independently contracted licensed healthcare providers to email their prioritization spreadsheets to: covid19vaccine@rileycountyks.gov

Any licensed health care provider who has not received the spreadsheet can request one using the same email above. If you are not a licensed healthcare professional and send an email to this address, we will be unable to answer due to the high volume of emails we are receiving. 

For general questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine timelines and availability, members of the public can check the FAQ information online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2F1873%2FFrequently-Asked-Questions%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3bGd1-sO9rK4WQyCage7ZKO9AZoYrs5snP6jg58ySmhTY1NGdz6uSHtSM&amp;h=AT1t2yV3Nj5N3HExvbJODr7FoOCUtuo_blCCzxglhZ1oDrLJrX59DZvPwmqz_wz_2ghRiCkUQ2hj_mt7d99PZGRWyb0msFzCQQNCnmEg8cuPz5ht-XQCWscBngzSirk2KviC&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/.../Frequently-Asked-Questions</a>. Questions can also be emailed to vaccine@rileycountyks.gov At this time the health department is unable to accept requests for vaccinations for individuals or businesses. RCHD is not scheduling appointments or accepting submissions of names of individuals or businesses for coronavirus vaccines.

Riley County Statistics for Wednesday, January 6th:

Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 5,173

Week 53 (December 27-January 2): 14.5% 209 positive 1,446 total tests 

Week 52 (December 20-December 26): 11.3% 238 positive 2,106 total tests 

Two-week average: 12.58% 447 positive 3,552 total tests 

The next written update will be published on Friday, January 8th. The next video update will be today at 4:15 p.m. on the RCHD Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/.

KDHE continues to provide testing for all Kansans with no out of pocket fees through January 31, 2021. As part of the Kansas Unified Testing Strategy, WellHealth will continue to provide free saliva-based testing today and every day, except Sundays, holidays, and severe weather days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at CiCo Park in Manhattan through the end of January. Appointments are recommended and can be made online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gogettested.com%2Fkansas%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3hR4zefFqnuPTfgWklJ44xb8t0B-4gBB1Tqdg8A-Zf98ZiwQCTkRINhns&amp;h=AT0RJ3wZPO8F5fx98-30T5pxtQtXWiREFPeFQGQk5_8_lcp99q-d_LOIgfMy9R8oJbuCHM0LuMvF-2ALbG0vo6-9c1LacsK4jqrmhGfRx_IPC85tX_Cr4xJAe33hIP5S1Mfh&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">https://www.gogettested.com/kansas</a>

<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gogettested.com%2Fkansas%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3hR4zefFqnuPTfgWklJ44xb8t0B-4gBB1Tqdg8A-Zf98ZiwQCTkRINhns&amp;h=AT0RJ3wZPO8F5fx98-30T5pxtQtXWiREFPeFQGQk5_8_lcp99q-d_LOIgfMy9R8oJbuCHM0LuMvF-2ALbG0vo6-9c1LacsK4jqrmhGfRx_IPC85tX_Cr4xJAe33hIP5S1Mfh&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank"></a>Drive-up flu shots are available at the health department. Please make an appointment by calling 785-776-4779 ext. 7675 or schedule an appointment online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fflu%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1mCRJWR8zmowIgViGR7MCBZAcSZ6CawZddUmavu6zKUdVqn4Dz58_uaeM&amp;h=AT3QqWjmXRyIILv3udNvELYW2EFYpaaDFEzt53YrVtTEn0R05k0Oa5RM-ftWsE0xP79UWOMQd5sQzUolYCJRPb6EJsXHdrJOHkapmcm4ztFTA7A1A56OXGghfmDW2uf9jMM_&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">http://www.rileycountyks.gov/flu</a>.

For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit the Riley County website at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3vTnt8fJhNwUXBUM7TyHrDBlNnXxCNrCc2lUkvQMC0tpTUeIRcA1bsL5E&amp;h=AT396LMAykgTUqrjIdkxJL9OE5bvAwtrEqd3IjjjPl32l7aHB1GQuGLJgIqFlflLNOyZx0Ikny0lMgqPpRS9Q7mmZeigL6DQU_luuyJRwCwZ34etD7n12IVO_ietCfWQjO9w&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at /Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(RILEY COUNTY, KS – January 6, 2021) Riley County has identified 140 new positive cases and 42 additional recoveries since the last report on Monday, January 4, 2021. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 15 positive patients. Three of the positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.The Riley County Health Department is not expecting any additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to arrive this week. At this point, health departments only receive notice of vaccine arrivals a couple hours before the shipment arrives.“We have distributed all of the coronavirus vaccine doses we have received so far. We were notified by KDHE that we will not receive a vaccine shipment this week, but we might get more doses next week,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “On Mondays, the state receives an update about how many doses they will receive, then they work as quickly as possible to distribute across the state. It is a difficult process and we are doing everything we can to be ready at a moment’s notice.”In order to finish the process of vaccinating all health care workers when additional shipments of the coronavirus vaccine arrive, the Riley County Health Department requests all healthcare organizations and independently contracted licensed healthcare providers to email their prioritization spreadsheets to: covid19vaccine@rileycountyks.govAny licensed health care provider who has not received the spreadsheet can request one using the same email above. If you are not a licensed healthcare professional and send an email to this address, we will be unable to answer due to the high volume of emails we are receiving. For general questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine timelines and availability, members of the public can check the FAQ information online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2F1873%2FFrequently-Asked-Questions%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3bGd1-sO9rK4WQyCage7ZKO9AZoYrs5snP6jg58ySmhTY1NGdz6uSHtSM&amp;h=AT1t2yV3Nj5N3HExvbJODr7FoOCUtuo_blCCzxglhZ1oDrLJrX59DZvPwmqz_wz_2ghRiCkUQ2hj_mt7d99PZGRWyb0msFzCQQNCnmEg8cuPz5ht-XQCWscBngzSirk2KviC&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/.../Frequently-Asked-Questions</a>. Questions can also be emailed to vaccine@rileycountyks.gov At this time the health department is unable to accept requests for vaccinations for individuals or businesses. RCHD is not scheduling appointments or accepting submissions of names of individuals or businesses for coronavirus vaccines. Riley County Statistics for Wednesday, January 6th:Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 5,173Total active: 381Total recovered: 4,770Total deaths: 22Positive Rate: Week 53 (December 27-January 2): 14.5% 209 positive 1,446 total tests Week 52 (December 20-December 26): 11.3% 238 positive 2,106 total tests Two-week average: 12.58% 447 positive 3,552 total tests The next written update will be published on Friday, January 8th. The next video update will be today at 4:15 p.m. on the RCHD Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/.KDHE continues to provide testing for all Kansans with no out of pocket fees through January 31, 2021. As part of the Kansas Unified Testing Strategy, WellHealth will continue to provide free saliva-based testing today and every day, except Sundays, holidays, and severe weather days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at CiCo Park in Manhattan through the end of January. Appointments are recommended and can be made online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gogettested.com%2Fkansas%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3hR4zefFqnuPTfgWklJ44xb8t0B-4gBB1Tqdg8A-Zf98ZiwQCTkRINhns&amp;h=AT0RJ3wZPO8F5fx98-30T5pxtQtXWiREFPeFQGQk5_8_lcp99q-d_LOIgfMy9R8oJbuCHM0LuMvF-2ALbG0vo6-9c1LacsK4jqrmhGfRx_IPC85tX_Cr4xJAe33hIP5S1Mfh&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">https://www.gogettested.com/kansas</a><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gogettested.com%2Fkansas%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3hR4zefFqnuPTfgWklJ44xb8t0B-4gBB1Tqdg8A-Zf98ZiwQCTkRINhns&amp;h=AT0RJ3wZPO8F5fx98-30T5pxtQtXWiREFPeFQGQk5_8_lcp99q-d_LOIgfMy9R8oJbuCHM0LuMvF-2ALbG0vo6-9c1LacsK4jqrmhGfRx_IPC85tX_Cr4xJAe33hIP5S1Mfh&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank"></a>Drive-up flu shots are available at the health department. Please make an appointment by calling 785-776-4779 ext. 7675 or schedule an appointment online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fflu%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1mCRJWR8zmowIgViGR7MCBZAcSZ6CawZddUmavu6zKUdVqn4Dz58_uaeM&amp;h=AT3QqWjmXRyIILv3udNvELYW2EFYpaaDFEzt53YrVtTEn0R05k0Oa5RM-ftWsE0xP79UWOMQd5sQzUolYCJRPb6EJsXHdrJOHkapmcm4ztFTA7A1A56OXGghfmDW2uf9jMM_&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">http://www.rileycountyks.gov/flu</a>. For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit the Riley County website at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3vTnt8fJhNwUXBUM7TyHrDBlNnXxCNrCc2lUkvQMC0tpTUeIRcA1bsL5E&amp;h=AT396LMAykgTUqrjIdkxJL9OE5bvAwtrEqd3IjjjPl32l7aHB1GQuGLJgIqFlflLNOyZx0Ikny0lMgqPpRS9Q7mmZeigL6DQU_luuyJRwCwZ34etD7n12IVO_ietCfWQjO9w&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3DDQQVnRUTkwtwGGA7olZ0a03pOl_AUi_thG2NjLGtph3c9EDDkEj144giQcIVRanmnwjr69WznHf21i8qm3orpD32wBts4MNVz-S5OAU-LboaloMTif7mN5bq5IlyNBoLKcDciuW0nP0_UqD6QMbV6G-6s5m64IITAGYd8b6YnwQ" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at /Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Riley Co. COVID-19 Update

The State will continue to offer the free COVID 19 testing at the former Dick Edwards parking lot located at 375 Grant Ave. This will continue thru the end of January 2021. The site is open for testing 7 days a week from 8:30am till 4:30pm.

This site is available for any person who wishes to be tested. Symptoms are not required.

Appointments are encouraged and can be made online for streamlined communications and results delivery. To register online, visit www.tourhealth.com, register and sign up

for your preferred date and location. Drive-up will be allowed without appointments.

This site has been operational since the middle of December and has provided free COVID 19 testing for those utilizing the services.

The State will continue to offer the free COVID 19 testing at the former Dick Edwards parking lot located at 375 Grant Ave. This will continue thru the end of January 2021. The site is open for testing 7 days a week from 8:30am till 4:30pm.This site is available for any person who wishes to be tested. Symptoms are not required.Appointments are encouraged and can be made online for streamlined communications and results delivery. To register online, visit www.tourhealth.com, register and sign upfor your preferred date and location. Drive-up will be allowed without appointments.This site has been operational since the middle of December and has provided free COVID 19 testing for those utilizing the services.

Free COVID-19 testing will continue at 375 Grant Avenue

Geary Co. COVID-19 Update

The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will reopen to the public on Sunday, Jan. 10&nbsp; at 1:00 p.m. All services that were being offered at the time the library closed will resume with the exception of the availability of the public restrooms and drinking fountains which will remain closed until further notice.&nbsp; Library Director Susan Moyer said the library’s operating schedule will also be slightly different.&nbsp; Instead of closing at 9:00 p.m. on Monday-Thursday the library will close at 7:00 p.m. on those days.&nbsp; This, too will be in effect until further notice. All other operating hours will remain the same.&nbsp; With this change, the regular operating schedule will be:&nbsp; Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The mandatory mask and handwashing policy adopted by the library board will be strictly enforced.&nbsp; In addition, patrons who are ill or experiencing symptoms associated with the corona virus including but not limited to shortness of breath, fever, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of smell, and body aches should not enter the building.&nbsp; Any questions can be directed to Susan Moyer, Library Director, by email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:susanm@jclib.org" target="_blank">susanm@jclib.org</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will reopen to the public on Sunday, Jan. 10&nbsp; at 1:00 p.m. All services that were being offered at the time the library closed will resume with the exception of the availability of the public restrooms and drinking fountains which will remain closed until further notice.&nbsp; Library Director Susan Moyer said the library’s operating schedule will also be slightly different.&nbsp; Instead of closing at 9:00 p.m. on Monday-Thursday the library will close at 7:00 p.m. on those days.&nbsp; This, too will be in effect until further notice. All other operating hours will remain the same.&nbsp; With this change, the regular operating schedule will be:&nbsp; Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The mandatory mask and handwashing policy adopted by the library board will be strictly enforced.&nbsp; In addition, patrons who are ill or experiencing symptoms associated with the corona virus including but not limited to shortness of breath, fever, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of smell, and body aches should not enter the building.&nbsp; Any questions can be directed to Susan Moyer, Library Director, by email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:susanm@jclib.org" target="_blank">susanm@jclib.org</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Library will reopen Sunday

WESTMORELAND, Kan. - The Pottawatomie County Health Department released updated community COVID-19 numbers Monday.&nbsp;

Since the last report, Pottawatomie County has identified 69 new confirmed positive cases nd 46 additional recoveries.

The 69 new cases brings the total number since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,178 for Pottawatomie County, as opposed to 1,033 recoveries.&nbsp;

Currently, there are 123 active cases in the county, with six people hospitalized due to COVID-19.&nbsp;

The county also announced one death from the Coronavirus since the last report, bringing the total to four since the start of the pandemic.&nbsp;

These numbers were obtained in a release from the Pottawatomie County Health Department. For more information, visit the<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas"> KDHE website.</a>

WESTMORELAND, Kan. - The Pottawatomie County Health Department released updated community COVID-19 numbers Monday.&nbsp;Since the last report, Pottawatomie County has identified 69 new confirmed positive cases nd 46 additional recoveries.The 69 new cases brings the total number since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,178 for Pottawatomie County, as opposed to 1,033 recoveries.&nbsp;Currently, there are 123 active cases in the county, with six people hospitalized due to COVID-19.&nbsp;The county also announced one death from the Coronavirus since the last report, bringing the total to four since the start of the pandemic.&nbsp;These numbers were obtained in a release from the Pottawatomie County Health Department. For more information, visit the<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas"> KDHE website.</a>

Pottawatomie County updates COVID-19 numbers

Thirteen Geary County residents were hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment, according to the report Monday from the Geary County Health Department. That was up four from Friday.

There were 45 recovered cases and 38 confirmed positive cases. There are 127 active cases in the county. Since the pandemic began there have been 17 deaths, 1,202 confirmed positive cases and 1,064 recovered cases in Geary County.

Thirteen Geary County residents were hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment, according to the report Monday from the Geary County Health Department. That was up four from Friday.There were 45 recovered cases and 38 confirmed positive cases. There are 127 active cases in the county. Since the pandemic began there have been 17 deaths, 1,202 confirmed positive cases and 1,064 recovered cases in Geary County.

Geary County health officials release the latest COVID-19 numbers

RILEY COUNTY — A 79-year-old male and an 82-year-old male died last week at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan after testing positive for COVID-19. The 79-year-old man tested positive on December 16th and passed away on December 30th. The 82-year-old man tested positive on December 30th and passed away on January 2nd. No further information will be released about the patients. 

Riley County has identified 116 new positive cases and 184 additional recoveries since the last report on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. 

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 14 positive patients and 1 PUI patient at this time. A Person Under Investigation is someone experiencing symptoms who is waiting for test results. Four of the positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.

Nearly 500 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered by the Riley County Health Department to medical staff and those who are critical to public safety. 

“I wish we could give one to everyone who wants a vaccine right now,” Director Julie Gibbs said. “But we have a limited supply and have worked diligently using a systematic approach to determine those most at risk of catching or spreading the virus to protect the health and safety of Riley County.” 

We continue to work each week to determine how to distribute the vaccines to best fit the needs of our community. Below is the current phases we are working on in accordance with guidance from KDHE. We hope to be finished vaccinating those in Phase 1 near the end of January. We do not know when Phase 2 will begin because we do not know when additional shipments of the vaccine will be distributed to Riley County.  Vaccines are not yet available for the public. As soon as we know when vaccines will be available to the public, we will publicize that information widely and often. 

Phase 1:Hospitals and Long-term care facilitiesEmergency Medical Services (EMS)Health Department Staff Most at Risk of Catching or Spreading the Virus (swab site/vaccination site workers)Urgent Care Services

Phase 2: Healthcare, first responders, and critical infrastructure Priority 1 - Primary Care Offices and Respiratory Therapy

Priority 5: Pediatric, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and otherK-12 Education (teachers, bus drivers, staff members)Licensed Child Care providers and preschools, RCHD home visitors, etc. Frontline Behavioral Health and Social Services Public Transportation 

FAQ information about the COVID-19 vaccine is posted on the Riley County Coronavirus website at <a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1873/Frequently-Asked-Questions?fbclid=IwAR33fewv3hWFcMaGJf3kwMaRcgYacL2xWUFo7c91iluoDvv3TGRkinGIivQ" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/.../Frequently-Asked-Questions</a>

<a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1873/Frequently-Asked-Questions?fbclid=IwAR33fewv3hWFcMaGJf3kwMaRcgYacL2xWUFo7c91iluoDvv3TGRkinGIivQ" target="_blank"></a>Riley County Statistics for Monday, January 4th:

Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 5033

Case counts are preliminary and subject to verification. The next written update will be published Wednesday, January 6th. The next video update will also be on the 6th at 4:15 p.m. on the RCHD Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/. 

KDHE continues to provide testing for all Kansans with no out of pocket fees through January 31, 2021. As part of the Kansas Unified Testing Strategy, WellHealth will continue to provide free saliva-based testing today and every day, except Sundays, holidays, and severe weather days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at CiCo Park in Manhattan through the end of January. Appointments are recommended and can be made online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gogettested.com%2Fkansas%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0yGsIQzqA2E3deroBI24NtG1mYZztUcB8X4sVaWP1z0R7XnFpCZjLDlDo&amp;h=AT2OVAJZevBweF05VkUHt3xL0DZ1paBhLqtWQ3YSyzp19e-au5zdegmDBHO7zZSfQ21GUq81atXkZjeDl5NYMM4AfpWGch7u-oP6KOlFJMnUy1q9EGTadTjlT0HeHDOZTyrb&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2nK9XdqUm0kvHK6EgSb3B1nH5o35nIqjTK6a6_1EC6rEPis-iXl9Y8D1DP6OQTWRIVIs-zBuM0vCFJJq8J_RKM9fUGMT2tXeLxy3MFTyKDg9GeowTx7zEsR_2HVlRn9EgLjb9nHgUhB80Ry66F-rHirtH0zV3kKUTgTazi_2r89sk" target="_blank">https://www.gogettested.com/kansas</a>Drive-up flu shots are available at the health department.

Please make an appointment by calling 785-776-4779 ext. 7675 or schedule an appointment online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fflu%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0nioHOb-SzpMRAbTH1d0StfCEefLAh5mAzotHx0c5rHkGE2bOiK5Ciih8&amp;h=AT1JTXZMcqD2JvVn_i0Y0EjH50QGuG5ILZ7F5uTUAn7DHNnpQpxkRvTyuqWfMfe0OZHgSJAsghZi6hdjFjeTvPgZHCAXSXW-4lR2n76jk6Zs50_NY-ThcWRv_k7LTBuH3-FV&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2nK9XdqUm0kvHK6EgSb3B1nH5o35nIqjTK6a6_1EC6rEPis-iXl9Y8D1DP6OQTWRIVIs-zBuM0vCFJJq8J_RKM9fUGMT2tXeLxy3MFTyKDg9GeowTx7zEsR_2HVlRn9EgLjb9nHgUhB80Ry66F-rHirtH0zV3kKUTgTazi_2r89sk" target="_blank">http://www.rileycountyks.gov/flu</a>. For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit the Riley County website at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR06sXAEt-mYXfw-iOSKLHsgO8OevZIE75JI6QTXQvb54NeQlNfn0-AhgJE&amp;h=AT3C4RzS1q-dAxCjT8t2LHuPcC1Sn_wJfg0cnLvp6mjt98V1nFjTcEbuySH2mX6j8fXSmV3Hc-PCPmCKQR0dFK8VdVcbda4chi2RbSan2VoyEWkmZINnNJFUa3OGztJ-kM8p&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2nK9XdqUm0kvHK6EgSb3B1nH5o35nIqjTK6a6_1EC6rEPis-iXl9Y8D1DP6OQTWRIVIs-zBuM0vCFJJq8J_RKM9fUGMT2tXeLxy3MFTyKDg9GeowTx7zEsR_2HVlRn9EgLjb9nHgUhB80Ry66F-rHirtH0zV3kKUTgTazi_2r89sk" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at /Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Via a release from the RCHDRILEY COUNTY — A 79-year-old male and an 82-year-old male died last week at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan after testing positive for COVID-19. The 79-year-old man tested positive on December 16th and passed away on December 30th. The 82-year-old man tested positive on December 30th and passed away on January 2nd. No further information will be released about the patients. Riley County has identified 116 new positive cases and 184 additional recoveries since the last report on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 14 positive patients and 1 PUI patient at this time. A Person Under Investigation is someone experiencing symptoms who is waiting for test results. Four of the positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.Nearly 500 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered by the Riley County Health Department to medical staff and those who are critical to public safety. “I wish we could give one to everyone who wants a vaccine right now,” Director Julie Gibbs said. “But we have a limited supply and have worked diligently using a systematic approach to determine those most at risk of catching or spreading the virus to protect the health and safety of Riley County.” We continue to work each week to determine how to distribute the vaccines to best fit the needs of our community. Below is the current phases we are working on in accordance with guidance from KDHE. We hope to be finished vaccinating those in Phase 1 near the end of January. We do not know when Phase 2 will begin because we do not know when additional shipments of the vaccine will be distributed to Riley County. Vaccines are not yet available for the public. As soon as we know when vaccines will be available to the public, we will publicize that information widely and often. Phase 1:Hospitals and Long-term care facilitiesEmergency Medical Services (EMS)Health Department Staff Most at Risk of Catching or Spreading the Virus (swab site/vaccination site workers)Urgent Care ServicesPhase 2: Healthcare, first responders, and critical infrastructure Priority 1 - Primary Care Offices and Respiratory TherapyPriority 2: Surgical and RadiologicalPriority 3: Physical TherapyPriority 4: Optometrist and DentalPriority 5: Pediatric, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and otherK-12 Education (teachers, bus drivers, staff members)Licensed Child Care providers and preschools, RCHD home visitors, etc. Frontline Behavioral Health and Social Services Public Transportation FAQ information about the COVID-19 vaccine is posted on the Riley County Coronavirus website at <a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1873/Frequently-Asked-Questions?fbclid=IwAR33fewv3hWFcMaGJf3kwMaRcgYacL2xWUFo7c91iluoDvv3TGRkinGIivQ" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/.../Frequently-Asked-Questions</a><a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1873/Frequently-Asked-Questions?fbclid=IwAR33fewv3hWFcMaGJf3kwMaRcgYacL2xWUFo7c91iluoDvv3TGRkinGIivQ" target="_blank"></a>Riley County Statistics for Monday, January 4th:Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 5033Total active: 283Total recovered: 4728Total deaths: 22Case counts are preliminary and subject to verification. The next written update will be published Wednesday, January 6th. The next video update will also be on the 6th at 4:15 p.m. on the RCHD Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/. KDHE continues to provide testing for all Kansans with no out of pocket fees through January 31, 2021. As part of the Kansas Unified Testing Strategy, WellHealth will continue to provide free saliva-based testing today and every day, except Sundays, holidays, and severe weather days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at CiCo Park in Manhattan through the end of January. Appointments are recommended and can be made online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gogettested.com%2Fkansas%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0yGsIQzqA2E3deroBI24NtG1mYZztUcB8X4sVaWP1z0R7XnFpCZjLDlDo&amp;h=AT2OVAJZevBweF05VkUHt3xL0DZ1paBhLqtWQ3YSyzp19e-au5zdegmDBHO7zZSfQ21GUq81atXkZjeDl5NYMM4AfpWGch7u-oP6KOlFJMnUy1q9EGTadTjlT0HeHDOZTyrb&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2nK9XdqUm0kvHK6EgSb3B1nH5o35nIqjTK6a6_1EC6rEPis-iXl9Y8D1DP6OQTWRIVIs-zBuM0vCFJJq8J_RKM9fUGMT2tXeLxy3MFTyKDg9GeowTx7zEsR_2HVlRn9EgLjb9nHgUhB80Ry66F-rHirtH0zV3kKUTgTazi_2r89sk" target="_blank">https://www.gogettested.com/kansas</a>Drive-up flu shots are available at the health department. Please make an appointment by calling 785-776-4779 ext. 7675 or schedule an appointment online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fflu%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0nioHOb-SzpMRAbTH1d0StfCEefLAh5mAzotHx0c5rHkGE2bOiK5Ciih8&amp;h=AT1JTXZMcqD2JvVn_i0Y0EjH50QGuG5ILZ7F5uTUAn7DHNnpQpxkRvTyuqWfMfe0OZHgSJAsghZi6hdjFjeTvPgZHCAXSXW-4lR2n76jk6Zs50_NY-ThcWRv_k7LTBuH3-FV&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2nK9XdqUm0kvHK6EgSb3B1nH5o35nIqjTK6a6_1EC6rEPis-iXl9Y8D1DP6OQTWRIVIs-zBuM0vCFJJq8J_RKM9fUGMT2tXeLxy3MFTyKDg9GeowTx7zEsR_2HVlRn9EgLjb9nHgUhB80Ry66F-rHirtH0zV3kKUTgTazi_2r89sk" target="_blank">http://www.rileycountyks.gov/flu</a>. For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit the Riley County website at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR06sXAEt-mYXfw-iOSKLHsgO8OevZIE75JI6QTXQvb54NeQlNfn0-AhgJE&amp;h=AT3C4RzS1q-dAxCjT8t2LHuPcC1Sn_wJfg0cnLvp6mjt98V1nFjTcEbuySH2mX6j8fXSmV3Hc-PCPmCKQR0dFK8VdVcbda4chi2RbSan2VoyEWkmZINnNJFUa3OGztJ-kM8p&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2nK9XdqUm0kvHK6EgSb3B1nH5o35nIqjTK6a6_1EC6rEPis-iXl9Y8D1DP6OQTWRIVIs-zBuM0vCFJJq8J_RKM9fUGMT2tXeLxy3MFTyKDg9GeowTx7zEsR_2HVlRn9EgLjb9nHgUhB80Ry66F-rHirtH0zV3kKUTgTazi_2r89sk" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at /Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Riley County announces 2 additional COVID-19 deaths

By COLLEEN SLEVIN and CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated Press

California on Wednesday announced the nation’s second confirmed case of the new and apparently more contagious variant of the coronavirus, offering a strong indication that the infection is spreading more widely in the United States.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the infection found in Southern California during an online conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“I don’t think Californians should think that this is odd. It’s to be expected,” Fauci said.

Newsom did not provide any details about the person who was infected.

The announcement came 24 hours after word of the first reported U.S. variant infection, which emerged in Colorado. That person was identified Wednesday as a Colorado National Guardsman who had been sent to help out at a nursing home struggling with an outbreak. Health officials said a second Guard member may have it too.

The cases triggered a host of questions about how the version circulating in England arrived in the U.S. and whether it is too late to stop it now, with top experts saying it is probably already spreading elsewhere in the United States.

“The virus is becoming more fit, and we’re like a deer in the headlights,” warned Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute. He noted that the U.S. does far less genetic sequencing of virus samples to discover variants than other developed nations, and thus was probably slow to detect this new mutation.

The two Guard members had been dispatched Dec. 23 to work at the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in the small town of Simla, in a mostly rural area about 90 miles outside Denver, said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist. They were among six Guard members sent to the home.

Nasal swab samples taken from the two as part of the Guard’s routine coronavirus testing were sent to the state laboratory, which began looking for the variant after its spread was announced in Britain earlier this month, Herlihy said. Samples from staff and residents at the nursing home are also being screened for the variant at the lab, but so far no evidence of it has been found, she said.

The Colorado case announced Tuesday involves a man in his 20s who had not traveled recently, officials said. He has mild symptoms and is isolating at his home near Denver, while the person with the suspected case is isolating at a Colorado hotel while further genetic analysis is done on his sample, officials said.

The nursing home said it is working closely with the state and is also looking forward to beginning vaccinations next week.

Several states, including California, Massachusetts and Delaware, are also analyzing suspicious virus samples for the variant, said Dr. Greg Armstrong, who directs genetic sequencing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said the CDC is working with a national lab that gets samples from around the country to broaden that search, with results expected within days.

The discovery in Colorado has added urgency to the nation’s vaccination drive against COVID-19, which has killed more than 340,000 people in the U.S.

Britain is seeing infections soar and hospitalizations climb to their highest levels on record. The variant has also been found in several other countries.

Scientists have found no evidence that it is more lethal or causes more severe illness, and they believe the vaccines now being dispensed will be effective against it. But a faster-spreading virus could swamp hospitals with seriously ill patients.

The discovery overseas led the CDC to issue rules on Christmas Day requiring travelers arriving from Britain to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. But U.S. health officials said the Colorado patient’s lack of travel history suggests the new variant is already spreading in this country.

Topol said it is too late for travel bans.

“We’re behind in finding it. Colorado is likely one of many places it’s landed here,” he said. “It’s all over the place. How can you ban travel from everywhere?”

Colorado public health officials are conducting contact tracing to determine its spread.

Researchers estimate the variant is 50% to 70% more contagious, said Dr. Eric France, Colorado’s chief medical officer.

“Instead of only making two or three other people sick, you might actually spread it to four or five people,” France said. “That means we’ll have more cases in our communities. Those number of cases will rise quickly and, of course, with more cases come more hospitalizations.”

London and southeast England were placed under strict lockdown measures earlier this month because of the variant, and dozens of countries banned flights from Britain. France also briefly barred trucks from Britain before allowing them back in, provided the drivers got tested for the virus.

New versions of the virus have been seen almost since it was first detected in China a year ago. It is common for viruses to undergo minor changes as they reproduce and move through a population. The fear is that mutations at some point will become significant enough to defeat the vaccines.

South Africa has also discovered a highly contagious COVID-19 variant that is driving the country’s latest spike of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608566572342.png" alt="image courtesy GISAID" />
 <figcaption>image courtesy GISAID</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLLEEN SLEVIN and CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated PressCalifornia on Wednesday announced the nation’s second confirmed case of the new and apparently more contagious variant of the coronavirus, offering a strong indication that the infection is spreading more widely in the United States.Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the infection found in Southern California during an online conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.“I don’t think Californians should think that this is odd. It’s to be expected,” Fauci said.Newsom did not provide any details about the person who was infected.The announcement came 24 hours after word of the first reported U.S. variant infection, which emerged in Colorado. That person was identified Wednesday as a Colorado National Guardsman who had been sent to help out at a nursing home struggling with an outbreak. Health officials said a second Guard member may have it too.The cases triggered a host of questions about how the version circulating in England arrived in the U.S. and whether it is too late to stop it now, with top experts saying it is probably already spreading elsewhere in the United States.“The virus is becoming more fit, and we’re like a deer in the headlights,” warned Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute. He noted that the U.S. does far less genetic sequencing of virus samples to discover variants than other developed nations, and thus was probably slow to detect this new mutation.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjaredpolis%2Fvideos%2F1622822051256882%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The two Guard members had been dispatched Dec. 23 to work at the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in the small town of Simla, in a mostly rural area about 90 miles outside Denver, said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist. They were among six Guard members sent to the home.Nasal swab samples taken from the two as part of the Guard’s routine coronavirus testing were sent to the state laboratory, which began looking for the variant after its spread was announced in Britain earlier this month, Herlihy said. Samples from staff and residents at the nursing home are also being screened for the variant at the lab, but so far no evidence of it has been found, she said.The Colorado case announced Tuesday involves a man in his 20s who had not traveled recently, officials said. He has mild symptoms and is isolating at his home near Denver, while the person with the suspected case is isolating at a Colorado hotel while further genetic analysis is done on his sample, officials said.The nursing home said it is working closely with the state and is also looking forward to beginning vaccinations next week.Several states, including California, Massachusetts and Delaware, are also analyzing suspicious virus samples for the variant, said Dr. Greg Armstrong, who directs genetic sequencing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said the CDC is working with a national lab that gets samples from around the country to broaden that search, with results expected within days.The discovery in Colorado has added urgency to the nation’s vaccination drive against COVID-19, which has killed more than 340,000 people in the U.S.Britain is seeing infections soar and hospitalizations climb to their highest levels on record. The variant has also been found in several other countries.Scientists have found no evidence that it is more lethal or causes more severe illness, and they believe the vaccines now being dispensed will be effective against it. But a faster-spreading virus could swamp hospitals with seriously ill patients.The discovery overseas led the CDC to issue rules on Christmas Day requiring travelers arriving from Britain to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. But U.S. health officials said the Colorado patient’s lack of travel history suggests the new variant is already spreading in this country.Topol said it is too late for travel bans.“We’re behind in finding it. Colorado is likely one of many places it’s landed here,” he said. “It’s all over the place. How can you ban travel from everywhere?”Colorado public health officials are conducting contact tracing to determine its spread.Researchers estimate the variant is 50% to 70% more contagious, said Dr. Eric France, Colorado’s chief medical officer.“Instead of only making two or three other people sick, you might actually spread it to four or five people,” France said. “That means we’ll have more cases in our communities. Those number of cases will rise quickly and, of course, with more cases come more hospitalizations.”London and southeast England were placed under strict lockdown measures earlier this month because of the variant, and dozens of countries banned flights from Britain. France also briefly barred trucks from Britain before allowing them back in, provided the drivers got tested for the virus.New versions of the virus have been seen almost since it was first detected in China a year ago. It is common for viruses to undergo minor changes as they reproduce and move through a population. The fear is that mutations at some point will become significant enough to defeat the vaccines.South Africa has also discovered a highly contagious COVID-19 variant that is driving the country’s latest spike of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.___

Highly infectious COVID-19 variant spreading in US

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Geary Community Hospital released a COVID-19 update with data collected from the GCH testing site.

Since the last report, GCH has completed 50 additional tests, bringing their total to 6,718 since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Of those 50 additional tests, 22 were negative, 14 are positive, with 14 tests pending results.

The 14 added positives bring the total number of positives at the GCH testing site to 844. The total number of negative tests from the GCH site is now 5,860.&nbsp;

Of the current active cases, Geary Community Hospital is caring for eight patients, down one since the last report; however, of the eight currently hospitalized, four are in the ICU, with two on ventilators.&nbsp;

This information was obtained via the Geary Community Hospital Facebook page.&nbsp;

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Geary Community Hospital released a COVID-19 update with data collected from the GCH testing site.Since the last report, GCH has completed 50 additional tests, bringing their total to 6,718 since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;Of those 50 additional tests, 22 were negative, 14 are positive, with 14 tests pending results.The 14 added positives bring the total number of positives at the GCH testing site to 844. The total number of negative tests from the GCH site is now 5,860.&nbsp;Of the current active cases, Geary Community Hospital is caring for eight patients, down one since the last report; however, of the eight currently hospitalized, four are in the ICU, with two on ventilators.&nbsp;This information was obtained via the Geary Community Hospital Facebook page.&nbsp;

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - According to a release from the Geary County Health Department, there have been six additional COVID-19 related deaths since the last report on December 23. This bring s the total number of casualties to 17 since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;

No further information was released by the Geary County Health Department regarding the deaths.&nbsp;

Additionally, there were eight new confirmed cases within the county, bringing the total number of cases to 1,164. Of those cases, there are currently 134 active cases, up six from the last report, with nine hospitalized.&nbsp;

There have been two additional recoveries, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 1,019 since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;

For more information on COVID-19, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">website</a>.

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - According to a release from the Geary County Health Department, there have been six additional COVID-19 related deaths since the last report on December 23. This bring s the total number of casualties to 17 since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;No further information was released by the Geary County Health Department regarding the deaths.&nbsp;Additionally, there were eight new confirmed cases within the county, bringing the total number of cases to 1,164. Of those cases, there are currently 134 active cases, up six from the last report, with nine hospitalized.&nbsp;There have been two additional recoveries, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 1,019 since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;For more information on COVID-19, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">website</a>.

Geary County Announces 6 New Covid-19 Deaths

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 29, 2020)&nbsp;—&nbsp;Hy-Vee, Inc. announces today that it has administered its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to long-term care facility staff and residents of the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, Minnesota, according to a media release.

Nearly 100 residents and staff members from the facility were vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine today, which was recently authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA). Hy-Vee pharmacists will return to the long-term care facility after 28 days to administer the second dose.

“This is a historic moment for us all,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman, CEO and president. “As an early vaccine provider, we are committed to being at the forefront and working hand-in-hand with the CDC and our local governments to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to patients as we enter this first critical phase of vaccine distribution. I want to personally thank all of our dedicated pharmacy professionals for the work they will be doing in the coming months to vaccinate and protect the residents of the many communities we serve.”

Hy-Vee is part of a select group of retailers that was selected earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be a COVID-19 vaccine provider. As the vaccine becomes more widely available to pharmacies, Hy-Vee will offer COVID-19 vaccines at all Hy-Vee pharmacy locations throughout its eight states, which includes Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Currently, Hy-Vee is working with local governments and organizations to provide vaccinations to those included in the CDC’s Phase 1A vaccine distribution plan, which includes health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. The vaccine will be free to patients.

“Hy-Vee’s eight-state footprint and bandwidth of more than 270 pharmacies gives us the unique opportunity to offer much-needed vaccine accessibility to both urban and rural communities across the Midwest,” said Aaron Wiese, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president of business innovation and chief health officer. “Our team of more than 2,700 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are committed to following all CDC guidelines, and we have processes in place to ensure the administration of the vaccines are done so in a safe and efficient manner.”

Hy-Vee pharmacy members are required to wear masks and other personal protective equipment when administering vaccines. All patients must also wear masks during the vaccination process and are encouraged to practice social distancing when at the pharmacy location.&nbsp;

In addition, Hy-Vee offers free COVID-19 lab testing (molecular PCR) at more than 180 pharmacy locations, and rapid antigen COVID-19 testing for eligible patients for a minimal cost at 47 pharmacy locations. To schedule a testing appointment, patients can visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hy-vee.com/covidtesting" target="_blank">www.hy-vee.com/covidtesting</a>.

Hy-Vee is currently searching for more than 1,000 pharmacy technicians to assist with COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccine administration as more doses become available. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hy-vee.com/careers" target="_blank">www.hy-vee.com/careers</a>. In addition to enjoying a number of competitive benefits including a 10% employee discount, competitive pay and flexible scheduling, technicians who assist with the rapid antigen COVID-19 tests are eligible to receive a $250 bonus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609334794932.png" alt="Hy-Vee pharmacists provided the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to those at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, MN. Tuesday. Approx. 100 people were vaccinated after the MN Dept. of Health asked us to immunize the care facility. -photo courtesy Hy-Vee" />
 <figcaption>Hy-Vee pharmacists provided the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to those at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, MN. Tuesday. Approx. 100 people were vaccinated after the MN Dept. of Health asked us to immunize the care facility. -photo courtesy Hy-Vee</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 29, 2020)&nbsp;—&nbsp;Hy-Vee, Inc. announces today that it has administered its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to long-term care facility staff and residents of the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, Minnesota, according to a media release.Nearly 100 residents and staff members from the facility were vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine today, which was recently authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA). Hy-Vee pharmacists will return to the long-term care facility after 28 days to administer the second dose.“This is a historic moment for us all,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman, CEO and president. “As an early vaccine provider, we are committed to being at the forefront and working hand-in-hand with the CDC and our local governments to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to patients as we enter this first critical phase of vaccine distribution. I want to personally thank all of our dedicated pharmacy professionals for the work they will be doing in the coming months to vaccinate and protect the residents of the many communities we serve.”Hy-Vee is part of a select group of retailers that was selected earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be a COVID-19 vaccine provider. As the vaccine becomes more widely available to pharmacies, Hy-Vee will offer COVID-19 vaccines at all Hy-Vee pharmacy locations throughout its eight states, which includes Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Currently, Hy-Vee is working with local governments and organizations to provide vaccinations to those included in the CDC’s Phase 1A vaccine distribution plan, which includes health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. The vaccine will be free to patients.“Hy-Vee’s eight-state footprint and bandwidth of more than 270 pharmacies gives us the unique opportunity to offer much-needed vaccine accessibility to both urban and rural communities across the Midwest,” said Aaron Wiese, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president of business innovation and chief health officer. “Our team of more than 2,700 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are committed to following all CDC guidelines, and we have processes in place to ensure the administration of the vaccines are done so in a safe and efficient manner.”Hy-Vee pharmacy members are required to wear masks and other personal protective equipment when administering vaccines. All patients must also wear masks during the vaccination process and are encouraged to practice social distancing when at the pharmacy location.&nbsp;In addition, Hy-Vee offers free COVID-19 lab testing (molecular PCR) at more than 180 pharmacy locations, and rapid antigen COVID-19 testing for eligible patients for a minimal cost at 47 pharmacy locations. To schedule a testing appointment, patients can visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hy-vee.com/covidtesting" target="_blank">www.hy-vee.com/covidtesting</a>.Hy-Vee is currently searching for more than 1,000 pharmacy technicians to assist with COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccine administration as more doses become available. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hy-vee.com/careers" target="_blank">www.hy-vee.com/careers</a>. In addition to enjoying a number of competitive benefits including a 10% employee discount, competitive pay and flexible scheduling, technicians who assist with the rapid antigen COVID-19 tests are eligible to receive a $250 bonus.

Hy-Vee Administers First COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

WESTMORELAND, Kan. - The Pottawatomie County Health Department released a community COVID-19 update.

Since the last report on Wednesday, December 23, there have been 80 new positive cases within Pottawatomie County, with 84 additional recoveries.&nbsp;

There are currently 123 active cases, with seven people hospitalized in the county. Those hospitalized have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.&nbsp;

There have been a total of 1,075 positive cases since the start of the Pandemic, with 952 total recoveries.&nbsp;

This information was provided via a release from the Pottawatomie County Public Information Office.&nbsp;

WESTMORELAND, Kan. - The Pottawatomie County Health Department released a community COVID-19 update.Since the last report on Wednesday, December 23, there have been 80 new positive cases within Pottawatomie County, with 84 additional recoveries.&nbsp;There are currently 123 active cases, with seven people hospitalized in the county. Those hospitalized have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.&nbsp;There have been a total of 1,075 positive cases since the start of the Pandemic, with 952 total recoveries.&nbsp;This information was provided via a release from the Pottawatomie County Public Information Office.&nbsp;

Pottawatomie County COVID-19 Update

Via Gary Berges, Geary County Emergency Services

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. -&nbsp;The Geary County Health Department announces today that they have changed the length of quarantine times from 14 days to 10 days for those testing positive with certain restrictions. They have also received assistance from Kansas Department of Health to conduct contract testing for those testing positive.

Due to the large number of cases and contacts that the Geary County Health Department continues to receive, we have begun passing those on to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) contact tracers for tracking and follow-up. Anyone who has been notified that they are a positive case or a contact to a case should follow the state's isolation and quarantine guidelines until they are contacted by one of the contact tracers from KDHE. Please feel free to reach out to the Geary County Health Department for information if you have any questions. They can be reached at (785) 762-5788.

Also, to align with the surrounding counties and with KDHE contact tracing, Geary County will begin using the 10-day quarantine for all contacts to a positive case. However, this does not change the incubation period, which is still 14 days. Once a person is released at the end of 10 days, they must still follow mask and social distancing guidelines through day 14 to ensure they do not potentially spread COVID-19 to anyone if they should become sick after day 10.

Via Gary Berges, Geary County Emergency Services JUNCTION CITY, Kan. -&nbsp;The Geary County Health Department announces today that they have changed the length of quarantine times from 14 days to 10 days for those testing positive with certain restrictions. They have also received assistance from Kansas Department of Health to conduct contract testing for those testing positive.Due to the large number of cases and contacts that the Geary County Health Department continues to receive, we have begun passing those on to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) contact tracers for tracking and follow-up. Anyone who has been notified that they are a positive case or a contact to a case should follow the state's isolation and quarantine guidelines until they are contacted by one of the contact tracers from KDHE. Please feel free to reach out to the Geary County Health Department for information if you have any questions. They can be reached at (785) 762-5788.Also, to align with the surrounding counties and with KDHE contact tracing, Geary County will begin using the 10-day quarantine for all contacts to a positive case. However, this does not change the incubation period, which is still 14 days. Once a person is released at the end of 10 days, they must still follow mask and social distancing guidelines through day 14 to ensure they do not potentially spread COVID-19 to anyone if they should become sick after day 10.

Geary County Changes Quarantine Length

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials believe the coronavirus mutation that set off alarms in parts of Britain is no more apt to cause serious illness or be resistant to vaccines than the strain afflicting people in the United States but it still must be taken “very seriously,” the government’s top infectious disease expert said Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci endorsed the decision of U.S. officials to require negative COVID-19 tests before letting people from Britain enter the U.S. He declined to weigh in on whether that step should have been taken sooner. He said the variant strain is something “to follow very carefully” and “we’re looking at it very intensively now.”

He said: “Does it make someone more ill? Is it more serious virus in the sense of virulence? And the answer is, it doesn’t appear to be that way.” British officials are telling their U.S. colleagues it appears that the vaccines being rolled out will be strong enough to deal with the new variant but, Fauci said, “we’re going to be doing the studies ourselves.”

Fauci said the U.S. is at a critical phase of the pandemic, with the worst probably still ahead. He predicted the general population would be getting immunized widely by late March or early April — beyond the front-line workers, older people and certain other segments of the public given priority for the vaccines.

Fauci spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609155761906.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci received the COVID-19 vaccine last week-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci received the COVID-19 vaccine last week-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials believe the coronavirus mutation that set off alarms in parts of Britain is no more apt to cause serious illness or be resistant to vaccines than the strain afflicting people in the United States but it still must be taken “very seriously,” the government’s top infectious disease expert said Sunday.Dr. Anthony Fauci endorsed the decision of U.S. officials to require negative COVID-19 tests before letting people from Britain enter the U.S. He declined to weigh in on whether that step should have been taken sooner. He said the variant strain is something “to follow very carefully” and “we’re looking at it very intensively now.”He said: “Does it make someone more ill? Is it more serious virus in the sense of virulence? And the answer is, it doesn’t appear to be that way.” British officials are telling their U.S. colleagues it appears that the vaccines being rolled out will be strong enough to deal with the new variant but, Fauci said, “we’re going to be doing the studies ourselves.”Fauci said the U.S. is at a critical phase of the pandemic, with the worst probably still ahead. He predicted the general population would be getting immunized widely by late March or early April — beyond the front-line workers, older people and certain other segments of the public given priority for the vaccines.Fauci spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Fauci: US taking hard look at variant of coronavirus

Some of the federal COVID-19 SPARKS relief money received by Geary County will support multiple departments and agencies with a new radio system. They range from Geary County and Geary Community Hospital to the Junction City Police Department. 

Police Chief John Lamb said the new radio system is a step in the right direction. "Because it allows us to communicate so much clearly with all the other agencies, not just within our community but also outside our community with the other counties."

Lamb explained for example if a pursuit goes into Dickinson or Saline counties, for example, they will be able to work off the state system and communicate with those agencies. "If we get deployed to say, a tornado strike down south then the officers going will be able to communicate with those officers down there because we're all on the 800 megahertz system."

The cost of the new system is approximately $2 million.

Some of the federal COVID-19 SPARKS relief money received by Geary County will support multiple departments and agencies with a new radio system. They range from Geary County and Geary Community Hospital to the Junction City Police Department. Police Chief John Lamb said the new radio system is a step in the right direction. "Because it allows us to communicate so much clearly with all the other agencies, not just within our community but also outside our community with the other counties."Lamb explained for example if a pursuit goes into Dickinson or Saline counties, for example, they will be able to work off the state system and communicate with those agencies. "If we get deployed to say, a tornado strike down south then the officers going will be able to communicate with those officers down there because we're all on the 800 megahertz system."The cost of the new system is approximately $2 million.

New radio system will benefit multiple entities

Saint Xavier School was unable to host a live auction last spring to raise funds to support the school. But Principal Shawn Augustine noted recently a virtual auction that was done in the late November - early December time frame generated after expenses just over $20,000. "For being the very first time that we've done a virtual auction we didn't know what to expect but it was much better than we probably could have expected."

The live auction in the spring normally raises about $100,000. But Augustine noted that officials are hoping to something with a live auction in the future. "We're hoping, but we don't know with the pandemic where we're headed here but we're hoping that we're about to do something still with the live auction.&nbsp; Obviously it will look different because we usually do a ( food ) buffet style type thing. If we're able to and be able to spread out more in our gymnasium we'd be able to serve the food."

Typically live auctions are the held near the end of March or in April. Augustine added they're hoping with the pandemic things will get better and they can do something. The auction is something people in the area enjoy and attend and are very supportive.

Saint Xavier School was unable to host a live auction last spring to raise funds to support the school. But Principal Shawn Augustine noted recently a virtual auction that was done in the late November - early December time frame generated after expenses just over $20,000. "For being the very first time that we've done a virtual auction we didn't know what to expect but it was much better than we probably could have expected."The live auction in the spring normally raises about $100,000. But Augustine noted that officials are hoping to something with a live auction in the future. "We're hoping, but we don't know with the pandemic where we're headed here but we're hoping that we're about to do something still with the live auction.&nbsp; Obviously it will look different because we usually do a ( food ) buffet style type thing. If we're able to and be able to spread out more in our gymnasium we'd be able to serve the food."Typically live auctions are the held near the end of March or in April. Augustine added they're hoping with the pandemic things will get better and they can do something. The auction is something people in the area enjoy and attend and are very supportive.

Saint X School  virtual auction was successful

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross recently announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.7&nbsp;million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, to modernize and retool the University’s Technology Development Institute in response to adverse economic impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;The EDA grant, to be matched with $425,000 in local investment, is expected to create 80 jobs, retain more than 60 jobs, and spur nearly $8 million in private investment.

“President Trump is working diligently every day to support our nation’s economy following the impacts of COVID-19 through the CARES Act,”&nbsp;said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.&nbsp;“This investment will enable Kansas to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, create new opportunities for manufacturing growth in the state, and build a more resilient economy for its future.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross recently announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.7&nbsp;million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, to modernize and retool the University’s Technology Development Institute in response to adverse economic impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;The EDA grant, to be matched with $425,000 in local investment, is expected to create 80 jobs, retain more than 60 jobs, and spur nearly $8 million in private investment.“President Trump is working diligently every day to support our nation’s economy following the impacts of COVID-19 through the CARES Act,”&nbsp;said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.&nbsp;“This investment will enable Kansas to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, create new opportunities for manufacturing growth in the state, and build a more resilient economy for its future.”“This investment comes at a crucial time to help Kansas and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,”&nbsp;said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “The modernization of Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute will allow manufacturers to retool and learn new techniques, quickly develop prototypes, pivot operations in response to new product demands, and address evolving workplace safety concerns in response to the coronavirus pandemic.”“I want to extend my thanks to the U.S. Department of Commerce for making an investment in Kansas State University during a time when our academic institutions have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “This grant will also spur local job creation and innovation, and support our efforts to continue rebuilding our state’s foundation.”“The pandemic has had a huge impact on manufacturing operations across the state,”&nbsp;said Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D.&nbsp;(KS-01). “With its wide-reaching network and cohort of industry experts, K-State University’s Technology Development Institute is uniquely positioned to assist impacted manufacturers as they work to respond and recover from the pandemic. This grant from the Economic Development Administration will create new opportunities for employment, economic growth, and private investment, helping manufacturers pivot operations and retool their workforce to meet the challenges and demands of today’s economy.”The CARES Act,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-signing-h-r-748-cares-act/" target="_blank">signed into law</a>&nbsp;by President Donald J. Trump, provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.On May 7, Secretary Ross&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2020/05/us-department-commerce-announces-availability-15-billion-cares-act" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;that EDA is accepting applications for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding opportunities.EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eda.gov/pdf/about/Economic-Adjustment-Assistance-Program-1-Pager.pdf" target="_blank">Economic Adjustment Assistance</a>&nbsp;(EAA)&nbsp;<a>(</a><a></a><a href="https://www.eda.gov/plug-ins.htm" target="_blank">PDF</a>)&nbsp;program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit our recently updated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eda.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page</a>.This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by Flint Hills Regional Council, which EDA funds to help bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

Coronavirus Update