Category Archives: COVID-19

COVID-19, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffees Cancelled Until July 9

Leave a comment
The Chamber Coffee
for tomorrow June 25th
at Old Fort Auto is being CANCELED due to recent COVID-19 cases locally.
Coffees will tentatively
resume July 9th with
more details to come.
Thank you!
_____
In the meanwhile, check out
OLD FORT AUTO
in Fort Scott’s Downtown Historic District!
213 S. Scott Street
Click here to visit their Facebook page.
Click here to visit their website!
_________
Contact the Chamber with any questions
at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].
Business, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

Common Grounds Customers On Certain Dates Should Quarantine For Symptoms of COVID 19

Leave a comment

SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Bourbon County, Kansas

PRESS RELEASE:

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19

June 23, 2020;

It is the recommendation of the Bourbon County Health Officer, that if you were served at Common Ground Coffee Company (12 E. Wall, Fort Scott, KS) on the dates of June 16th (between 3:00-9:30pm) and June 17th (between 6:30am-2:30pm), to please quarantine yourself in your home and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, through July 1st.

Symptoms are:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. This list does not include all possible symptoms.

For more information you may call the SEK Multi-County Health Department: Bourbon: (620)223-4464 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm OR the COVID-19 Hotline: (866)534-3463.You may also visit the COVID-19 Resource Center at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/OR Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments on Facebook or our website: www.sekmchd.com for local updates.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has Another COVID 19 Case

Leave a comment

SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Bourbon County, Kansas

PRESS RELEASE:

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19

June 23, 2020;

A Bourbon County, KS positive COVID-19 test was confirmed this afternoon. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. This case is a contact of a positive case that was confirmed yesterday. The Bourbon County Public Health Department is diligently working to complete the investigation at this time.

The Bourbon County Public Health Department urges the public to continue to take appropriate actions. Individuals should continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available and avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth).

Please remember if you have the symptoms to:

Call before going to a Clinic, Hospital, ER, or Health Department

Close contact means: 6 foot or less for 10 minutes or more, with a positive case.

STAY HOME IF SICK!

If you are experiencing life threatening symptoms, PLEASE CALL 911.

For more information you may call the SEK Multi-County Health Department: Bourbon: (620)223-4464 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm OR the COVID-19 Hotline: (866)534-3463.You may also visit the COVID-19 Resource Center at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/OR Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments on Facebook or our website: www.sekmchd.com for local updates.

Business, COVID-19, Fort Scott

COVID 19 Help Fort Scott Businesses Starts June 14, With Eligibility Requirements

Leave a comment

 

A grant application to help Fort Scott businesses suffering from the results of the shut down for the  COVID 19  Pandemic opens tomorrow , June 24 at 8 AM, according to Allyson Turvey, Tourism and Community Development Manager for the City of Fort Scott.

The City of Fort Scott will begin accepting applications for the Community Development Block Grant – CV (CDBG-CV) grant program.

Details will be made available at http://fscity.org/353/CDBG-CV

Who Is Eligible

  • Businesses located within the City limits
  • The business must have no more than 50 employees and can be as small as one employee
  • Sole proprietors/self-employed with a valid Tax ID/EIN
  • No less than 51% of the jobs impacted must meet Low to Moderate Income Levels
  • Grants are for COVID 19 related hardship only

Who is not eligible?

  • Farmers/Ranchers
  • New Businesses or Services (Opened after March 1, 2020)
  • Businesses with any local, state, or federal tax liability
  • Sales Consultants (i.e. Mary Kay Sales Consultant, Tupperware Sales Consultant, etc.)
  • Government, government employee households
  • Non-profits

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted by the City of Fort Scott.

 

The City of Fort Scott was recently awarded $132,000 in CDBG-CV funding which will be granted to local businesses facing financial hardships due to COVID-19. Qualifying businesses may receive a maximum of $10,000 in grant funding, award allocation will be based on the number of jobs retained.

Businesses located within city limits, and with fewer than 50 employees, and as small as one employee may be eligible to apply. Awards will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. An application will only be considered once it is fully completed with all requested documentation required to support the requested funding.

As sole proprietors and self-employed individuals did not qualify for the previous round of CDBG Emergency Funding, they will be given priority for this program. These individuals must submit their completed application before July 23rd, 2020 to receive precedence in application processing. Other businesses may still submit applications during this time frame, these applications will be held until July 24th before processing. All completed applications will be time-stamped and logged upon receipt to ensure they are processed in order of submission.

Grants may be considered for working capital expenses for 60 days.

Funds can only be used for qualified expenses incurred after March 1, 2020.

There may be no duplication of benefits. For instance, if a business has already received funds from the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), they may still qualify. However, funds cannot be used for the same need as was utilized under the PPP program.

City employees will review applications and make recommendations to the City Commission. The City Commission will approve/decline/adjust requests at a regularly scheduled public meeting.

Application forms and additional eligibility requirements may be found online at http://fscity.org/353/CDBG-CV. Hard copy applications, along with program parameters will also be available at City Hall, 123 S. Main St.

Questions regarding the application process, and eligibility guidelines should be directed to Allyson Turvey, via email at [email protected], or by phone at (620) 223-0550.

 

Bourbon County, Business, COVID-19, Government

Bourbon County Emergency Funding Is Accepting Applications

Leave a comment

Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoener announces the Bourbon County CDBG-CV program is now officially open to accept applications.

To be eligible, your business must be located within Bourbon County but outside the city limits of City of Fort Scott.

You can view other eligibility criteria and program parameters online here: https://www.bourboncountyks.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bourbon-County-CDBG-CV-Plan.pdf.

 

Submit your online application today here: https://www.bourboncountyks.org/emergency-funding-application/ and we will follow up with an email for supporting documentation.

 

Also, feel free to pick up a paper application packet in the County Clerk’s office and return to me in paper form or electronically.

COVID-19, Government, Health Care, Kansas

Osawatomie State Hospital Has One Staff Positive for COVID 19

Leave a comment

COVID-19 Case at Osawatomie State Hospital; Kansas Neurological Institute Reports 12 Cases

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced today that one staff member at Osawatomie State Hospital (OSH) has tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first positive case at OSH in either residents or staff. Howard also announced the Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI) has 12 new positives cases in five staff members and seven residents.

To protect the identity of staff and residents at each hospital, no further information will be released.

Friday, June 19, an employee at OSH reported a positive test result to the hospital’s infection control nurse. In coordination with the Miami County Health Department, all 11 residents on the unit who were in close contact with the positive employee will be tested as a priority. A testing strategy that reaches beyond those working or living on the unit is currently being discussed and several steps have been taken to further maximize safety precautions already in place to minimize risk of further exposure:

  • Any employee with direct, close contact with the positive employee has been contacted and begun a 14-day quarantine as instructed by the Miami County Health Department.
  • Any patients directly exposed to the positive employee are strongly encouraged to isolate in their room and wear a facemask anytime they leave their room. Patients on the unit where the employee worked will remain on the unit and are being closely monitored for any change in status. COVID-19 testing will be implemented at the appropriate time according to time of exposure.
  • At this time, there will be no admissions to the affected unit. All staff working on the affected unit are required to wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times, to include nurses, other professionals, security and housekeeping.
  • Separate entrances and exits have been established on the affected unit to minimize exposure to staff and patients on other units.
  • The frequently touched surfaces in the affected unit are now being disinfected three times per shift.

“This is an extremely stressful time for patients, their loved ones and our staff members,” OSH Superintendent Kristin Feeback said. “We recognize that communication with patients, families and staff is critically important, especially after a confirmed COVID-19 case. I appreciate our staff being so responsive and adaptive to the instructions given by local health officials to make sure we do all we can to prevent the spread of the virus as effectively as possible.”

Thursday, June 18, KNI reported one staff member and one resident in the same home on campus tested positive for COVID-19 and at least one more staff member was symptomatic. Officials at KNI worked in collaboration with the Kansas Department for Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Shawnee County Health Department to administer more than 80 tests to all staff working in the affected home as well as all residents in the building where that home is located. At the time of this release, those tests have resulted in positive cases in five staff members and seven residents in three living units covering two campus buildings. Three of the 12 positive cases at KNI are symptomatic, but zero currently require hospitalization.

KDHE and KNI and local health department officials are expanding testing on campus in the coming days to include all staff in potentially affected areas with a goal of an additional 200 staff tested by end of day today. Residents in all three affected living units have already been tested. KNI continues to follow similar PPE practices to those implemented at OSH.

“We are thankful to the health officials at the state and local level for their quick and effective communication and response,” KNI Superintendent Brent Widick said. “Our residents are like family and we work very hard to keep them safe, so this kind of news takes a real emotional toll on our staff.”

KNI reported its first two cases of staff members on April 17 this year. Both of those cases have been cleared.

For current information on COVID-19 in Kansas, and to sign up for updates, go to the KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center at kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

Three More COVID 19 Cases In Bourbon County Today, June 22

Leave a comment

SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Bourbon County, Kansas

PRESS RELEASE:

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19

June 22, 2020;

“Governor Kelly and her officials recommend that we stay in phase 3 for 2 more weeks (July 6th at the earliest),” Rebecca Johnson, with the multi-county health department, said. ” I, as the SEK Health Officer, recommend Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson Counties stay in phase 3 until July 6th. See covid.ks.gov for the Ad Astra plan.”

Bourbon County, KS has had 3 more positive COVID-19 tests confirmed today. This makes total positive tests for Bourbon County 14. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. The individual’s symptoms range from minimal to moderate. They are isolated in their home and their family is in quarantine. The cases are travel-related, with travel out of county and out of state. The Bourbon County Public Health Department is diligently working to complete the investigation at this time.

The Bourbon County Public Health Department urges the public to continue to take appropriate actions. Individuals should continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available and avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth).

Please remember if you have the symptoms to:

Call before going to a Clinic, Hospital, ER, or Health Department

Close contact means: 6 foot or less for 10 minutes or more, with a positive case.

STAY HOME IF SICK!

If you are experiencing life threatening symptoms, PLEASE CALL 911.

For more information you may call the SEK Multi-County Health Department: Bourbon: (620)223-4464 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm OR the COVID-19 Hotline: (866)534-3463.You may also visit the COVID-19 Resource Center at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/OR Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments on Facebook or our website: www.sekmchd.com for local updates.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Fiscal Budget 2021

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly’s SPARK Taskforce Approves Resolution, Budget for Fiscal Year 2021

 

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce Executive Committee approved proposed operating expenditures for the Recovery Office and SPARK Taskforce for the 2021 fiscal year.

 

“Kansas communities and businesses are hurting from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Governor Kelly said. “We must get these resources to Kansas counties as quickly as possible. To do that, we need an office infrastructure that’s prepared to administer these funds efficiently and effectively.”

 

The FY21 budget, as approved, accounts for roughly 0.25% of the state’s overall allocation of the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). The proposal will now advance to State Finance Council for consideration and final approval on Thursday, June 25.

 

“Today’s Executive Committee decision will ensure the Recovery Office has adequate resources to develop the necessary framework and structure for administering the state’s portion of the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF),” Executive Director Cheryl Harrison Lee said.

 

The Executive Committee also approved a resolution stipulating compliance with all federal guidance that must be adopted by counties receiving funding in Round 1 prior to drawing down CRF funds.

 

 

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Governor Addresses Claims For Unemployment Insurance

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly Takes Immediate Action to Address KDOL’s Unemployment Insurance Caseload

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced multiple actions she will be taking to address the issues impacting the Kansas Department of Labor’s (KDOL) ability to handle the volume of claims for Unemployment Insurance (UI).

 

Governor Laura Kelly accepted KDOL Secretary Delía García’s resignation and the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Ryan Wright will serve as acting Secretary of Labor until a permanent candidate is nominated for appointment. Governor Kelly will also bring in specialists to look for ways to improve response times for Kansans applying for UI, implement new processes to manage the caseload, and mitigate future backlogs and errors that have occurred while attempting to deliver payments.

 

“As Governor, I’m responsible for KDOL’s handling of unemployment claims. I am taking immediate action to ensure Kansans who are out of work, through no fault of their own, are getting the assistance they need,” Governor Kelly said. “I want to thank Secretary García for her service to Kansas. While states around the country have struggled to manage unemployment claims during the worst public health crisis in a century, Secretary García inherited an agency that had its funding, its technology, and its staff gutted by the previous administration.”

 

On June 10th, duplicate payments were made to more than 4500 claimants of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and some Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) claimants for a total of about $7 million. Without consulting Governor Kelly, on June 18th, KDOL began attempting to reverse the duplicate payments in a process known as a “clawback.” The clawback caused some PUA and FPUC recipients’ bank accounts to be overdrawn.

 

KDOL is working with its partner banks to identify and reimburse any PUA or FPUC recipient whose account was overdrawn because of the clawback. KDOL will also create a special hotline and an email for Kansans who have been impacted.

 

“These last few months have been unusually stressful on everyone. State government employees in Kansas and around the country have been asked to deal with an unusually high volume of activity. We have a responsibility to the people we represent to get it right. And when we don’t, we’ll make the changes needed to fix the problem,” Governor Kelly said. “I will use every resource at my disposal to ensure that we improve our response time to Kansans and build an infrastructure at KDOL that will be prepared in the event of further economic impacts from COVID-19.”

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has New COVID 19 Cases

Leave a comment

SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

June 22, 2020

Allen County

Current Positive Cases 0
Current Recovered Cases 2
Total Positives Since Testing 2
Deaths 0

Anderson County

Current Positive Cases 2
Current Recovered Cases 1
Total Positives Since Testing 3
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 2
Presumptive Cases 1-listed on KDHE website, tested negative
Current Recovered Cases 10-includes presumptive case
Total Positives Since Testing 11
Deaths 1

Woodson County

Current Positive Cases 0
Current Recovered Cases 6
Total Positives Since Testing 6
Deaths 0

Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.

Business, COVID-19

COVID-19 Ventilator Production in Kansas

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly Praises Spirit AeroSystems and their Workers for COVID-19 Ventilator Production

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today visited and toured Spirit AeroSystems’ new assembly line making ventilators for the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

As the public health crisis progressed, Spirit shifted their production to making ventilators to ensure hospitals would have the necessary lifesaving equipment to treat COVID-19 patients. The ventilators are portable and suitable for long-term care, ambulatory settings, and ICUs. They are providing the ventilators to local units, FEMA’s strategic stockpile, other states, and countries around the world.

 

“I applaud Spirit’s quick action to pivot their manufacturing capabilities to produce ventilators, the men and women I met today exemplify what it means to be a Kansan – innovative, courageous, and selfless,” said Governor Kelly. “This crisis has produced many challenges for our families, businesses, and communities. The staff at Spirit are working hard in anticipation of a possible second wave, and we appreciate them for helping not just Kansans, but people across the world.”

 

Vyaire Medical Inc and Spirit AeroSystems are collaborating to build ventilators at this facility in Wichita in response to COVID-19. Vyaire is the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care. This partnership will increase production of ventilators and other related respiratory equipment for COVID-19 patients who need it the most.

 

In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles.

 

Below are photos available for media use:

 

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0325.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0306.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0299.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0292.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0287.jpg

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Quarantine List Changes

Leave a comment

KDHE adds states to travel quarantine list, removes others

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has added three states to the quarantine list: Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas, and removed six states from the list: Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. This is effective for persons returning today, June 17, and moving forward. The state will review/update this list on July 1.

 

A comprehensive list of those individuals in Kansas needing to quarantine for 14 days includes those who have:

 

Traveled to:

  • Maryland on or after May 12.
  • Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas on or after June 17.
  • Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.
  • International travel on or after March 15.

 

Others needing to continue quarantining:

  • Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.

 

Please note these quarantine orders do not apply to critical infrastructure sectors needed to continue operations during this pandemic. Public health, including hospitals, clinics, law enforcement, meatpacking supply, etc. need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans. While KDHE strongly recommends these quarantine restrictions for everyone, we do recognize that services need to continue. KDHE encourages facilities to ensure they have updated their Emergency Preparedness Plans and implement protocols to ensure that no employee comes to work symptomatic.

 

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the KDHE website at www.kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.