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Category Archives: Kansas
KDHE, KU Study COVID-19 Detection in Wastewater
TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently teamed up with the University of Kansas School of Engineering (KU) to determine if genetic remnants of COVID-19 can be detected in wastewater.
The concept originally tested in Massachusetts and the Netherlands, and now throughout the United States, is that people infected with the virus shed it through their urine and feces. The genetic material can be extracted from wastewater and matched against genetic markers keyed to COVID-19. The virus itself does not survive in wastewater, and therefore wastewater is not a significant means of disease transmission.
Detecting the genetic material in wastewater is indicative of COVID-19 being present and may give local health officials knowledge of how widespread it is in their community, allowing them to take proactive measures to mitigate its spread. While drinking water is not part of this ongoing study, it’s important to note disinfection by all Kansas public water suppliers inactivates the virus and drinking water remains safe for consumption.
The Kansas project is still in its preliminary stages. KU collected samples from 12 wastewater plants in Kansas in late April. Some indication of the genetic material was found in the wastewater in 10 of those plants. Results are too variable and uncertain to make actual estimates of the extent of infection in those communities. The results were communicated to officials in cities that participated in the study.
“The initial results do show genetic indications from COVID-19 in wastewater; however, at best, we are at the presence/absence stage of evaluation process,” Tom Stiles, KDHE’s Bureau of Water director, said. “There is much more we need to refine in the methodology to assure quality control and that will start with further testing of samples. We don’t know how quantitative this approach can be, but we are hoping it gives us a means to corroborate our COVID testing of individuals, particularly in counties where positive cases have been low. Additionally, we may employ it as early warning surveillance should the virus come back in the fall or winter to give us a chance to get ahead of it.”
Samples were taken from a large city and a small town, each in five northeast Kansas counties with multiple wastewater facilities and sampled in Lawrence and Topeka. KDHE and KU are still evaluating the results and formulating plans for next steps in using the detection techniques.
Kansas COVID 19 Update May 7
Flags At Half-Staff For Fallen Officer Mosher
Governor Laura Kelly to order flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Overland Park Officer Mike Mosher
Governor Laura Kelly today announced she will order flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff in honor of Mike Mosher, Overland Park Police Officer who lost his life while on duty Sunday.
Flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of Officer Mosher’s memorial service. The flag order will be distributed once the date is announced.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of Officer Mike Mosher’s death,” Kelly said. “When our officers sign up to protect and serve our communities, they are putting their lives on the line for us. The sacrifices he and his family have made will certainly not be forgotten. Officer Mosher was an outstanding officer, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
Overland Park Police Department: Officer Mosher was a 14-year veteran of the department, a field training officer and a community policing officer. Officer Mosher was involved in an ambush shooting in 2018 and received a Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association Officer of the Year award for his actions during that incident. He was also the president of the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police.
In addition to ordering the flags to be flown at half-staff for Officer Mosher, Governor Kelly today signed Executive Order #20-30, which amends a previous order to add first responders to the list of those who are to be officially recognized through this posthumous honor. The new Executive Order replaces Executive Order #10-12, which was originally signed under Governor Mark Parkinson. The original order did not provide guidance for first responders who are killed in the line of duty. The new order covers members of the law enforcement, fire and emergency response communities.
To view EO #20-30, click here.
To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.
Governor Kelly announces recovery team leadership
As part of her continued commitment to protecting the health and safety of Kansans and the state’s economy, Governor Laura Kelly today announced the appointment of two individuals who will head the team charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19.
Kelly selected Cheryl Harrison-Lee as the Recovery Office’s executive director and Lyle Butler as the chair.
Harrison-Lee has more than 30 years of experience in strategic leadership positions in a variety of corporate, entrepreneurial, private and public environments. Previously, she served in leadership roles for several cities to include Gardner, Kansas and Orlando and Daytona Beach, Florida.
Last year, Governor Kelly appointed Harrison-Lee to serve on the Kansas Board of Regents.
“Cheryl has a robust, national reputation as an extraordinary manager,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “She made an instant positive impact in her new role on the Kansas Board of Regents, and I have every confidence that she will provide big-picture insight during the recovery effort, while also paying necessary attention to detail.”
“I am honored to support Governor Kelly and the citizens of Kansas as we recover from unprecedented challenging times,” Harrison-Lee said. “I look forward to developing a strategy to help us regain and enhance our future and long-term economic sustainability.”
Butler recently retired from his position as the President and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, a position he held since July 2000. He has also served as the Chamber President and CEO in Dodge City, Kansas, and Greeley, Colorado.
“Lyle is a proven coalition builder who will be a strong contributor as we move forward in the recovery from COVID-19,” Kelly said. “He brings years of experience working with the business community and in economic development. We are going to need Lyle’s expertise as we move into the recovery phase of the pandemic.
“In these unprecedented times with numerous challenges facing the citizens of Kansas, I look forward to working with Governor Kelly and her leadership team to provide assistance and guidance to help get Kansas moving forward,” Butler said.
“Both Lyle and Cheryl have a keen understanding of the needs of local communities in Kansas, which will be paramount during the recovery effort and in the statewide distribution of CARES Act funding,” the Governor said.
Kelly will soon announce the remaining members of the recovery team, which will include involvement from members of the Kansas Legislature.
Kansas COVID 19 Update
Kansas Farmer Honored For Mask to New York Disaster
Governor Kelly, K-State President Myers confer degree upon Kansas farmer who sent N95 mask to New York
Ruhnke shows the best in humanity, encapsulates what it means to be Kansan
Editor’s note: Please take time to view the video from the presentation. I think you will find it inspiring.
A video of the presentation can be found here.
Governor Laura Kelly today joined Kansas State University President Richard Myers to confer a bachelor’s degree upon Dennis Ruhnke, of Troy, Kansas.
Ruhnke recently garnered national attention when he sent a letter to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in which he enclosed an N-95 mask to give to a nurse or doctor in New York.
Ruhnke wrote to Governor Cuomo: “I am a retired farmer hunkered down in Northeast Kansas with my wife who has but one lung and occasional problems with her remaining lung. She also has diabetes. We are in our 70s now and frankly, I am afraid for her.
“Enclosed find a solitary N-95 mask left over from my farming days. It has never been used. If you could, would you please give this mask to a nurse or doctor in your city. I have kept four masks for my immediate family. Please keep on doing what you do so well, which is to lead.”
“Dennis’ donation, at the height of our country’s protective gear shortage, showed us the best in humanity when we needed it the most,” Governor Kelly said. “I would like to thank Dennis for the example he’s set on how to serve – and how to be thoughtful and generous in an extraordinary way.”
In 1971, Ruhnke was studying agriculture at Kansas State University when his father passed away. At that time, he was two credits away from earning his degree, but chose to leave school to take care of his mother and the family farm.
“After speaking with President Myers, we both agreed that Dennis perfectly encapsulates K-State’s democratic mandate to be of service to people,” Governor Kelly said. “Which is why I am very honored that I was able to help present Dennis with his well-deserved bachelor’s degree in agriculture.”
“Along with his fantastic demonstration of kindness and generosity, Mr. Ruhnke’s academic work at K-State in his chosen field of agriculture qualifies him to receive his degree,” President Richard Myers said. “Kansas State University is proud to officially recognize Mr. Ruhnke as an alumus and valued member of the Wildcat family.”
. A video of the presentation can be found here.
Utility Disconnects Suspended Until May 31
KCC extends emergency order suspending utility disconnects until May 31
This morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission approved extending its emergency order suspending utility disconnects for nonpayment until May 31. The action, taken during a Commission business meeting, will offer continued relief to those experiencing hardship from the COVID-19 virus. The directive covers all electrical, natural gas, water and telecommunications utilities under the KCC’s jurisdiction.
The Commission’s original suspension order was issued on March 16 to expire on April 15. On April 14, Commissioners extended the order to May 15. Today’s order runs concurrently with Executive Order 20-28 issued last week by Governor Laura Kelly. The Governor’s order prohibits utilities, not under the jurisdiction of the KCC, from disconnecting customers until May 31.
“Even as the state begins the phased reopening process, Kansans continue to deal with the financial challenges brought about by COVID-19. Maintaining utility services is critical to ensure public health and safety as the state works toward recovery,” said Commission Chair Susan Duffy.
The Commission may elect to extend the suspension order in a subsequent order if conditions warrant.
Today’s order can be viewed at: http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=b6d84c9c-e3f3-487a-bbd2-95eec6d895fe
Aging and Disability Services Implements Steps For COVID 19
KDADS Implements New Steps to Safely Maintain State’s Psychiatric Hospital Services
TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced proactive steps to keep the state’s two psychiatric hospitals operating while keeping patients and staff safe during this pandemic. The principle behind these steps is to manage the state’s critical mental health infrastructure while creating capacity to quarantine any new patients in a single room for symptoms monitoring for up to 14 days after admission. Additionally, the hospitals have planned for isolation of any symptomatic or COVID-19 positive patients.
To implement this plan at Larned State Hospital (LSH), KDADS will work with the courts and providers to temporarily adjust hospital occupancy and actively manage a waiting list in response to COVID-19 as part of the hospital’s Pandemic Response Plan. Voluntary patients to Larned’s psychiatric services program will be diverted to community hospital resources under a diversion plan. Involuntary admissions will be accepted. Should the reduced occupancy require it, a waiting list will be established and those admissions will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Because this plan involves a reduction in the number of state hospital beds available at Larned, resulting in a possible delay in the ability to admit people, we are making a formal notification to the court of our plan to establish a managed moratorium,” Secretary Laura Howard said. “To help alleviate the effects of this reduction, we are tapping into the strong partnerships we’ve established with community partners like community mental health centers, private hospitals and law enforcement to identify community-based resources for voluntary admissions and beds.”
Pursuant to KSA 59-2968, the Secretary of KDADS is authorized to declare a moratorium on admissions to a state psychiatric hospital and must make a formal notification to the Chief Justice.
Osawatomie State Hospital (OSH) is also taking steps to safely manage patients through a shift to single patient rooms, the creation of a triage unit and the creation of isolation units to quarantine admissions and safely isolate COVID-19 positive or suspected positive patients. This results in a small census reduction that may have a slight impact on the hospital’s current waiting list.
The goal is to keep the state’s behavioral health hospitals open to receive patients referred for treatment in a way that protects staff and other patients from exposure to COVID-19. The principle is to manage the state’s critical mental health infrastructure while creating capacity to quarantine a new patient or offender in a single room where they can be monitored for symptoms for up to 14 days after admission to determine his/her risk of COVID-19 infection. For forensic cases ordered to the State Security Hospital at LSH, during the pandemic, very limited evaluations are being conducted to minimize opportunity for exposure to possible COVID-19, especially from jail settings. KDADS has used mobile competency with success over the last several months and will request that courts consider allowing mobile competency evaluations and treatment orders as a viable alternative to inpatient evaluation when the pandemic subsides.
The proposed shift to single rooms and active quarantine of new patients in the intake and treatment units reduces each hospitals’ capacity to admit referred patients at the same pace, resulting in longer waiting times for admissions but will improve their ability to manage the inflow of patients that could potentially be infected with COVID-19 and assess impact on other patients and staff. The impact of the capacity changes at LSH reduce available psychiatric services beds from 90 to 72 for patients and at OSH from 60 to 58.
The ability to create quarantine rooms at Larned and Osawatomie involves arranging what are now most often double-occupancy rooms into single rooms in units that receive new patients or adding bed space on campus to house incoming patients during the 14-day quarantine period.
“Both hospitals are actively screening admissions for COVID-19 symptoms,” Deputy Secretary of Hospitals and Facilities Scott Brunner said. “Implementing this temporary census management protocol allows us to effectively isolate new admissions to improve the ability of the medical staff to monitor and manage health conditions while reducing the chance of exposure of hospital staff and other patients.”
LSH began actively screening staff, including taking temperatures, on March 27, 2020. At OSH, these safety measures for staff were implemented March 24th.
Throughout the period that a moratorium is in effect, a district court or Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) may request that an individual be placed on a waiting list for involuntary admission. When the census drops below the new occupancy level, an admission will be arranged with a court or CMHC according to the chronological order in which individuals were entered on the waiting list maintained by the respective hospital. If there is no waiting list, the hospitals may admit the next individual who meets admission criteria
COVID-19 has also reduced the options for patients ready for discharge. Many of the programs, shelters and nursing facilities that prior to the COVID-19 outbreak would have accepted state hospital patients on discharge are closed to new admissions. KDADS is working with partners to create discharge paths to ensure the adult mental health system can function across the continuum of care.
KDADS plans to engage help from HealthSource Integrated Solutions (HIS) to identify regional diversion beds for patients that could be referred to LSH. HIS currently does this for OSH. The Larned staff will continue to move patients through treatment and moving them back into community services.
Kansas COVID 19 Update May 4
Kansas Consumers’ Shopping Survey
Survey to Evaluate Kansas Consumers’ Shopping Practices
and Awareness of From the Land of Kansas Program
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s state trademark program From the Land of Kansas has released a public survey asking consumers about their shopping practices and preferences. Recent events have reminded all of us about the importance of local foods. This survey is seeking feedback from Kansas consumers on what they are looking for and how we can help them find local foods. The survey, which takes less than five minutes to complete, will inform the program’s efforts to better promote and celebrate agricultural experiences and products grown, raised or produced in the state of Kansas.
Participants who complete the survey will be entered in a gift basket drawing. The gift baskets contain a variety of Kansas grown or made products, valuing over $100. Three winners will be selected and notified in early June via the contact information they provide at the end of the survey.
Any Kansas resident is eligible and encouraged to take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/KS-consumers.
From the Land of Kansas is designed to promote and celebrate agricultural experiences and products grown, raised or produced in Kansas. The program offers an array of incentives to Kansas companies — big and small — who grow, raise or produce products in the state. For questions about the survey, please contact Janelle Dobbins, marketing manager of the From the Land of Kansas program, at 785-564-6759 or [email protected].
DCF Service Centers Remain Closed to Public
Agency opens new channels for customer communication
Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard announced today that DCF service centers will remain closed to the public until further notice. The offices have been closed since March 23.
“My first priority is the health and safety of both our clients and employees,” Howard said. “I am committed to implementing a reopening plan that ensures social distancing and other safety requirements set forward by Governor Kelly. We’ll reopen when we can ensure these requirements can be met.”
To help ensure clients have access to services, the agency has implemented a series of new public facing communication channels.
On April 29, the agency opened a virtual call center to answer client questions about agency assistance programs including cash, food and child care assistance. Kansans can call 1-888-369-4777 from anywhere in the state to speak with a DCF representative or connect with their local service center.
DCF also added a chat function to its public website. Visitors can use the chat to get basic information about programs and application processes. DCF encourages Kansans to visit www.dcf.ks.gov for information about programs and to apply for services. Paper applications also are available outside each DCF service center across the state. Completed applications can be left in drop boxes outside each service center.
Additionally, visitors to the DCF website can review guidance from the agency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit http://www.dcf.ks.gov/COVID19/Pages/default.aspx for all DCF program information.
If someone suspects abuse or neglect, they should call the KPRC at 1-800-922-5330. They also can report allegations online at http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/PPS/Pages/KIPS/KIPSWebIntake.aspx.
DCF encourages Kansans to monitor the agency’s Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest information about office access and services.
For more information on COVID-19 visit: www.covid.ks.gov.