Governor Kelly announces executive orders to assist Kansans amid COVID-19 pandemic

Governor Laura Kelly announced Executive Order #20-08 and Executive Order #20-09 as part of her administration’s ongoing efforts to protect Kansans’ health and safety during the current COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic.

“Kansans elected me to serve as Governor and their health and safety is my number one priority, I am committed to leading the state forward during what are truly unprecedented times,” Governor Kelly said. “While each of these orders has a specific purpose, together they will make sure Kansas families can access needed care and supplies until we have weathered this storm.”

To help prepare our healthcare system for an influx of patients caused by the COVID-19 virus and to ensure that Kansans continue to have access to the healthcare they need, Kelly signed E.O. #20-08. The order temporarily expands capacity in the healthcare system by:

• Allowing doctors to prescribe medication after an appropriate telemedicine consultation.
• Authorizing out-of-state doctors to provide telemedicine services to Kansans, provided they are licensed in another state.
• Permitting temporary emergency licenses for healthcare professionals regulated by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts.

“By allowing more doctors to practice in Kansas – and more patients to be seen remotely – we can alleviate the increasing burden on our healthcare system,” Governor Kelly said. “Expanding the use of telemedicine for nonemergency-related assessments like routine checkups and prescribing medication frees up additional time, resources and physical space in our hospitals and clinics.”

In addition, Kelly signed E.O. #20-09, which provides conditional and temporary relief from certain motor carrier rules and regulations to allow for quick and efficient delivery of resources needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

 “Expediting the transport of resources into the state will enable us to meet the increasing demand for medical supplies, groceries – and yes, even toilet paper.” Kelly said.

The order specifically lifts certain weight restrictions and permitting requirements to allow needed supplies to get to Kansas or move through Kansas as quickly as possible. These exceptions apply only to motor carriers actively participating in COVID-19 response efforts.

To view the executive orders, click below:

E.O. 20-08

E.O. 20-09

KDADS Announces Restrictions for Visitors to State Hospitals in Response to COVID-19
Many State Hospital Activities Also Suspended or Restricted

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard today announced that visitation at all four state hospitals has been restricted effective immediately as a measure of precaution to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to residents and staff.

“Restrictions on visitors at state hospitals are a difficult but necessary step in our mission to encourage social distancing and limit exposure to the virus not only for our residents, who are some of the most vulnerable Kansans we serve, but our staff as well,” Secretary Howard said. “To date, there have been no cases of COVID-19 in any of our state hospital facilities and we are making vigilant efforts to continue to provide a safe, healthy environment.”

Consistent with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ guidance recently released for nursing facilities, new restrictions on visitors and non-essential individuals entering the Kansas Neurological Institute, Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, Osawatomie State Hospital and Larned State Hospital are in place:

• Restricts all visitors, effective immediately, with exceptions for compassionate care, such as end-of-life situations;
  • No one showing signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat is allowed on campus.
  • No one having been in contact with a person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 is allowed on campus.
  • No one having traveled to countries with sustained community transmission within the last 14 days is allowed on campus. Currently those countries include Italy, Iran, China and South Korea. An updated listing of these countries can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html.
• Restricts all volunteers and nonessential health care personnel and other personnel (i.e. barbers);
• Restricts internal and public group activities or appointments;
• Implements active screening of residents and health care personnel for fever and respiratory symptoms;
• Suspends the Foster Grandparent Program (unique to KNI) and volunteer programs;
• Redirects vendors and deliveries to alternate sites on campuses; and
• Closes facilities on state hospital campuses to the public.

Parents and guardians of residents at state hospitals are being asked not to come to campuses and instead check with hospital administration about alternative ways to communicate with their loved ones. Each hospital will work to accommodate visitors via telephone or video if possible.

In end-of-life cases, visitors will be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, and the visit will be limited to a specific room only.

“The populations we serve in our state hospitals are in many cases more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others. That, coupled with the rapid spread of COVID-19 in people who are in close proximity to each other on an ongoing basis, make it necessary to restrict, or in some cases suspend, normal day-today activities,” Deputy Secretary of Hospitals and Facilities Scott Brunner said.

For more information on COVID-19 visit the Kansas Department for Health and Environment’s Resource Center at: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

You also can call 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF).

New Federal Guidelines Increase Restrictions for Visitors to Nursing Homes

KDADS working quickly to ensure Kansas facilities following enhanced CMS guidelines

Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas Department for Health and Environment (KDHE) Secretary Dr. Lee Norman and Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard today announced enhanced measures for state nursing facilities to protect residents from the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Over the weekend the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced aggressive new guidelines for nursing home safety,” Governor Kelly said. “Secretary Howard and her KDADS team are moving quickly to make sure Kansas facilities are strictly adhering to the guidelines.”

“Unfortunately, we’ve already had one fatality in a Kansas nursing home,” KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said. “We need to take quick action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through our nursing facilities. Other state licensed residential facilities also are encouraged to revisit their screening, visitation and activity protocols in light of this nursing facility guidance.”

The new guidance:

• Restricts all visitors, effective immediately, with exceptions for compassionate care, such as end-of-life situations;
• Restricts all volunteers and nonessential health care personnel and other personnel (i.e. barbers);
• Cancels all group activities and communal dining; and
• Implements active screening of residents and health care personnel for fever and respiratory symptoms

In end of life cases, visitors will be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, and the visit will be limited to a specific room only.

“I understand the vital importance of keeping nursing home residents connected with their loved ones,” Howard said. “However, the rapid spread of COVID-19 through visitors and health care workers – as well as nursing home residents’ high risk – has made it necessary to restrict nonessential visitation in order to protect the health and safety of residents.”

KDADS, along with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is encouraging facilities to increase virtual communication between residents and families. Facilities should also keep residents’ loved ones informed about their care. Nursing homes also are expected to notify potential visitors to stop visitation until further notice through signage and other outreach like email and phone calls.

Anyone visiting a nursing home should be prepared to be screened for potential disease that would include questions about travel, potential exposure and taking temperatures.

Other recommendations for nursing homes include:

• Putting hand sanitizer with 60 -95 percent alcohol in every resident room, both inside and outside;
• Sinks should be well-stocked with soap and paper towels for hand washing;
• Tissues and facemasks should be available for people who are coughing; and
• Make necessary PPE available in areas where resident care is provided.

A full list of the guidance can be found here.

For more information on COVID-19 visit: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

You also can call 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF).

March 14, 2020 Public Update
COVID-19
Situation Overview

KDHE continues to closely monitor an outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been identified around the world including in the United States. The first case in the United States was announced January 21, 2020. Two positives, one in a Johnson County woman and one in a Franklin County man, are announced today.

KDHE Response Activities
• Other labs in the state are beginning to test for COVID-19. These labs are asked to send all results to KDHE. KDHE will continue reporting/announcing results from these labs for Kansas cases.
• KDHE will update its website with the case information daily, Monday — Friday by 5 p.m.
• KDHE has created a toolkit of Kansas-specific guidance to help local public health departments engage with their community partners on COVID-19 planning. It can be found on the KDHE website: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus. New information is added daily.
• KDHE has a phone-bank operation that is staffed during regular business hours. The phone number is 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, [email protected]. Please note these contact numbers are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.
For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 3/14/20 at noon.

Positive (confirmed)
8

Negative
135

Positive Case Information
County
Number

Johnson County
5

Wyandotte County
1

Butler County
1

Franklin County
1

March 13, 2020 Public Update
COVID-19
Situation Overview

KDHE continues to closely monitor an outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been
identified around the world including in the United States. The first case in the United States was announced January 21, 2020.

KDHE Response Activities
• Other labs in the state are beginning to test for COVID-19. These labs are asked to send all results to KDHE. KDHE will continue  reporting/announcing results from these labs for Kansas cases.
• KDHE will update its website with the case information daily, Monday — Friday by 5 p.m.
• KDHE has created a toolkit of Kansas-specific guidance to help local public health departments engage with their community partners on COVID-19 planning. It can be found on the KDHE website:

www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus. New information is added daily.

• KDHE has a phone-bank operation that is staffed during regular business hours through March 13.

The phone number is 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, [email protected]. Please note this line cannot provide you medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 3/13/20 at 10 a.m.

Positive (confirmed) 6
Negative 93

Positive Case Information
County Number
Johnson County 4
Wyandotte County 1
Butler County 1

Governor Laura Kelly has issued an emergency declaration for the State of Kansas in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).  The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.

“The safety and well-being of Kansans is our priority, first and foremost,” Kelly said. “The landscape of COVID-19 is fast-changing. Today is evidence of that.”

Tonight, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the first COVID-19 related death in Kansas.

A man in his 70s was brought to the hospital and died shortly after arrival. Testing done post-mortem came back positive for COVID-19. He was living in a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County.

“We are working on identifying contacts right now,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “We understand the concern and encourage Kansans to remain vigilant.”

“To prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population, it’s important to follow the recommended guidelines of screening and restricting visitors to our long-term care facilities,” Department for Children and Families and Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard said. 

The Governor issued the emergency declaration Thursday afternoon.  

“Our state is well prepared,” Kelly said. “With this emergency declaration, we can activate our response and coordinate fully. This is part of the process and will make access to important resources more accessible. We continue to work closely with our local, state and federal partners to respond to the potential spread of the virus – or any situation that may arise.”

COVID-19 can be found at the following sources:

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization

If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/ and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Three New Presumptive-Positive COVID-19 Cases Identified in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is confirming three presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. The possible cases were identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). KHEL, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.

The cases are in Johnson County and involve three people who attended the same conference in Florida. It is believed they contracted COVID-19 in Florida.  They were not symptomatic when traveling home and sought care once they began feeling ill. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patients are all males and in isolation. These cases are not connected to the earlier case in Johnson County. No other information will be provided about the patients.

“Right now, there is no community spread,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “The cases in Kansas are here because of transmission elsewhere. However, Kansans should remain vigilant. It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”

“Kansas is working alongside local and federal public health partners in addressing presumptive positive cases in our state, and the potential spread of the virus,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is our highest priority to keep all Kansans healthy and safe. Everyone should continue to practice safe habits such as hand washing and staying home when sick. The KDHE website, www.kdheks.gov, has daily updates and other resources to keep Kansans educated on COVID-19.”

People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s website, www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/ and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.