Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.

●3 deaths due to COVID-19 since Friday.

●19 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.

●35 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday.

●166 variants were identified in the 290 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.

COVID-19 has taken the lives of three additional members of our community since our last update on Friday, bringing the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths to 131.

Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 19 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19.

There have been 35 new COVID-19 cases identified and reported to the health department since our last update on Friday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 530 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7126 confirmed cases, and at least 6465 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-PlmL9rXM6HbXvABkXCHLGy4ndHZHrScxEx5ArFfYF5NDbMLBf5T7Xyhicbn_dJOS0alwLdvtRDlsWhqUCFS168Biq14l67wxaUilO8HKhqp98PBFizTMrcmwsMFjJ1N2FuPk3ob4UZr&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">variants</a>&nbsp;in 166 of the 290 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing.

Vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-KPiAY2nkaQ1UNLasf-votpyVU3RWw9n4isYnsu6Yr8G_coLIaaipiDidTiFMHp1Kam6GluxwfZz657tZ5uV6hdwg5KJF534fxPPw_U-TliC&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-PlmL9rXM6HbXvABkXCHLGy4ndHZHrScxEx5ArFfYF5NDbMLBf5T7Xyhicbn_dJOS0alwLdvtRDlsWhqUCFS168Biq14l67wxaUilO8HKhqp98PBFizTMrcmwsMFjJ1N2FuPk3ob4UZr&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-FZb01RyAoGPPl7mR69tBLpKmciVSNRqMFSN_FGYaph5Y5QDq0Y9NmzIB-U-NoNHlk5_KkC4oiJs5GMlPP6OgecnXPH2QoSC6pF1Bor7h5Tmo3Um7f3sdemYErAZIvKt_r-HfY-iNb4a&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:

●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.

●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID. You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-IBdcIKVXme42HUz_Bby73BeffS1NlYfAXLZF2HsOZ37hmEo8NX1IESAMNokOk-KwjirfMWSHbuF9lQu0-AJrzI_42XVw0H0-w==&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Get vaccinated. You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-CWGsaHVt6AoivfFI7rZTMA1oyls9iqcKeXhMEz-G4O_A_FfQZmylxz4C3-SvYwnzA9U1XtUAC2bbdHfw9SDICfdr-_Sa4bNYQ==&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.

●Maintain at least6 feet of distance between yourself and those with whom you do not live.

●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-CWGsaHVt6AoVA-0qzOkvAMaUh6qLgyWg38r2tJGZVxOTB1hw_yl3CbXb5rk3_apZGHqKIiAkF0yTieXwPIIsMxRxPBF8l12lmtx1f8BpTa9DW700X3kK9eQ3QwhXrAXy54vyJxUOhbbdIb1vlC6lqQBWewhvGYyAV3mtWvypI_u&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>

●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.●3 deaths due to COVID-19 since Friday.●19 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.●35 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday.●166 variants were identified in the 290 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.COVID-19 has taken the lives of three additional members of our community since our last update on Friday, bringing the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths to 131. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 19 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19. There have been 35 new COVID-19 cases identified and reported to the health department since our last update on Friday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 530 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7126 confirmed cases, and at least 6465 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-PlmL9rXM6HbXvABkXCHLGy4ndHZHrScxEx5ArFfYF5NDbMLBf5T7Xyhicbn_dJOS0alwLdvtRDlsWhqUCFS168Biq14l67wxaUilO8HKhqp98PBFizTMrcmwsMFjJ1N2FuPk3ob4UZr&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">variants</a>&nbsp;in 166 of the 290 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. Vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-KPiAY2nkaQ1UNLasf-votpyVU3RWw9n4isYnsu6Yr8G_coLIaaipiDidTiFMHp1Kam6GluxwfZz657tZ5uV6hdwg5KJF534fxPPw_U-TliC&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-PlmL9rXM6HbXvABkXCHLGy4ndHZHrScxEx5ArFfYF5NDbMLBf5T7Xyhicbn_dJOS0alwLdvtRDlsWhqUCFS168Biq14l67wxaUilO8HKhqp98PBFizTMrcmwsMFjJ1N2FuPk3ob4UZr&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-FZb01RyAoGPPl7mR69tBLpKmciVSNRqMFSN_FGYaph5Y5QDq0Y9NmzIB-U-NoNHlk5_KkC4oiJs5GMlPP6OgecnXPH2QoSC6pF1Bor7h5Tmo3Um7f3sdemYErAZIvKt_r-HfY-iNb4a&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID. You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-IBdcIKVXme42HUz_Bby73BeffS1NlYfAXLZF2HsOZ37hmEo8NX1IESAMNokOk-KwjirfMWSHbuF9lQu0-AJrzI_42XVw0H0-w==&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Get vaccinated. You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-CWGsaHVt6AoivfFI7rZTMA1oyls9iqcKeXhMEz-G4O_A_FfQZmylxz4C3-SvYwnzA9U1XtUAC2bbdHfw9SDICfdr-_Sa4bNYQ==&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.●Maintain at least6 feet of distance between yourself and those with whom you do not live.●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001knGaewuzzSlCaarYQL4Dru_7onc5ZSRw3nX_SuKPAimn3xrtFRWH-CWGsaHVt6AoVA-0qzOkvAMaUh6qLgyWg38r2tJGZVxOTB1hw_yl3CbXb5rk3_apZGHqKIiAkF0yTieXwPIIsMxRxPBF8l12lmtx1f8BpTa9DW700X3kK9eQ3QwhXrAXy54vyJxUOhbbdIb1vlC6lqQBWewhvGYyAV3mtWvypI_u&amp;c=tbwnaVzgRcBtDgabeN7tpBukXjy-qgWXbEWROtZ7pTv9ngkgG05XKg==&amp;ch=HM0jWTEuIBZRebmuYFFv9ofk8Z5JD2kcNDhD3_UWYDeodmJvXgIqqA==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Saline County: 3 new deaths, 35 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday

ABILENE - Because of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the community and the desire to reduce the risk to patients and staff, Memorial Hospital will be reducing visitation.

Memorial Health System announced this afternoon that beginning Tuesday, Memorial Hospital will reduce visitation to:

●Two designated visitors (throughout patient’s stay) per patient on the Inpatient Unit and ROSE Unit.

●Two designated visitors for mother/baby unit on OB.

●One designated visitor for Emergency Department patient.

●One designated visitor for patient going to clinic/outpatient services.

End of life situations will be assessed on a case by case basis.

In all cases, masks are required upon entry.

ABILENE - Because of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the community and the desire to reduce the risk to patients and staff, Memorial Hospital will be reducing visitation.Memorial Health System announced this afternoon that beginning Tuesday, Memorial Hospital will reduce visitation to:●Two designated visitors (throughout patient’s stay) per patient on the Inpatient Unit and ROSE Unit.●Two designated visitors for mother/baby unit on OB.●One designated visitor for Emergency Department patient.●One designated visitor for patient going to clinic/outpatient services.End of life situations will be assessed on a case by case basis.In all cases, masks are required upon entry.

Abilene's Memorial Hospital reducing visitation due to COVID-19

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet.

The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shot’s safety. More than 200 million Pfizer doses already have been administered in the U.S. — and hundreds of millions more worldwide — since emergency use began in December.

“The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock. “Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.”

The U.S. becomes the first country to fully approve the shot, according to Pfizer, and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement he hoped the decision “will help increase confidence in our vaccine, as vaccination remains the best tool we have to help protect lives.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet.The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shot’s safety. More than 200 million Pfizer doses already have been administered in the U.S. — and hundreds of millions more worldwide — since emergency use began in December.“The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock. “Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.”The U.S. becomes the first country to fully approve the shot, according to Pfizer, and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement he hoped the decision “will help increase confidence in our vaccine, as vaccination remains the best tool we have to help protect lives.”

FDA gives full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine

LINDSBORG - Bethany College has updated its spectator policy. The following is a statement concerning spectators from&nbsp;Laura Moreno, dean of athletics

Effective immediately and until further notice, Bethany College has announced new spectator policies. Based on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is in the best interest of the safety of our students, faculty, and staff to have a reduced number of spectators at this time. Ticketing limits have been set based on practices suggested by the McPherson County Health Department (MCHD), the McPherson County Board of County Commissioners/Board of Health, and the Kansas Department of Health.&nbsp;

Tickets for all home events for Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, and Wrestling are available at <a href="https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing">https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing</a>. General admission tickets need to be pre-purchased online at the aforementioned website, as well as student/faculty/staff tickets need to be pre-reserved online at that same website. Tickets are available for purchase/reservation online until the conclusion of the contest; however, it is strongly encouraged that fans pre-purchase tickets in order to ensure availability.

For Volleyball, Basketball, and Wrestling events in Hahn Gym at Bethany College: Due to suggested guidelines 500 tickets will currently be available for these events. Tickets can be purchased at <a href="https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing">https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing</a>. Currently 350 tickets will be available for general admission while 150 tickets will only be made available to Bethany College students, faculty, and staff. All Bethany students, faculty, and staff must provide a current Bethany ID along with their reserved ticket at the gate. Masks and proper social distancing are required inside of Hahn Gym.&nbsp;

For Football and Soccer events held at Anderson Stadium at Bethany College: 350 General Admission tickets and 150 student/faculty/staff tickets will be available on <a href="https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing">https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing</a>. Masks are strongly encouraged within the Stadium while proper social distancing is required.

For Baseball/Softball/Tennis events at Bethany College: Spectators are allowed at the Tennis Complex, Baseball field and Softball field. Bethany College encourages spectators to bring their own seating in order to practice social distancing. Masks and proper social distancing are required.

Bethany College understands that immediate family members, or "pods," represent a significant portion of the spectators attending athletic events. As there is typically no social distancing among members of a pod, all spectators are asked to be vigilant of social distancing and maintain at least six feet between themselves and other individuals or those outside of their pod. The College would also like to remind those sitting together in a pod to limit close interactions with individuals outside of their immediate family members.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Home athletic events are available to watch online at no cost at <a href="https://www.kcacnetwork.com/bethanyks/">https://www.kcacnetwork.com/bethanyks/</a>. Most visiting athletic events also have live video available. Links for those events will be posted on <a href="http://bethanyswedes.com">bethanyswedes.com</a>.

If you have any questions, please contact Laura Moreno, Dean of Athletics, at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8369, or Brad Yoder, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications, at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8178.

As more information becomes available and circumstances regarding COVID-19 in McPherson County change, Bethany College will continually re-evaluate the spectator policy. Continue to check <a href="http://www.bethanyswedes.com">www.bethanyswedes.com</a> regularly for further updates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

LINDSBORG - Bethany College has updated its spectator policy. The following is a statement concerning spectators from&nbsp;Laura Moreno, dean of athleticsEffective immediately and until further notice, Bethany College has announced new spectator policies. Based on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is in the best interest of the safety of our students, faculty, and staff to have a reduced number of spectators at this time. Ticketing limits have been set based on practices suggested by the McPherson County Health Department (MCHD), the McPherson County Board of County Commissioners/Board of Health, and the Kansas Department of Health.&nbsp; Tickets for all home events for Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, and Wrestling are available at <a href="https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing">https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing</a>. General admission tickets need to be pre-purchased online at the aforementioned website, as well as student/faculty/staff tickets need to be pre-reserved online at that same website. Tickets are available for purchase/reservation online until the conclusion of the contest; however, it is strongly encouraged that fans pre-purchase tickets in order to ensure availability. For Volleyball, Basketball, and Wrestling events in Hahn Gym at Bethany College: Due to suggested guidelines 500 tickets will currently be available for these events. Tickets can be purchased at <a href="https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing">https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing</a>. Currently 350 tickets will be available for general admission while 150 tickets will only be made available to Bethany College students, faculty, and staff. All Bethany students, faculty, and staff must provide a current Bethany ID along with their reserved ticket at the gate. Masks and proper social distancing are required inside of Hahn Gym.&nbsp; For Football and Soccer events held at Anderson Stadium at Bethany College: 350 General Admission tickets and 150 student/faculty/staff tickets will be available on <a href="https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing">https://www.bethanyswedes.com/ticketing</a>. Masks are strongly encouraged within the Stadium while proper social distancing is required. For Baseball/Softball/Tennis events at Bethany College: Spectators are allowed at the Tennis Complex, Baseball field and Softball field. Bethany College encourages spectators to bring their own seating in order to practice social distancing. Masks and proper social distancing are required. Bethany College understands that immediate family members, or "pods," represent a significant portion of the spectators attending athletic events. As there is typically no social distancing among members of a pod, all spectators are asked to be vigilant of social distancing and maintain at least six feet between themselves and other individuals or those outside of their pod. The College would also like to remind those sitting together in a pod to limit close interactions with individuals outside of their immediate family members.&nbsp; &nbsp; Home athletic events are available to watch online at no cost at <a href="https://www.kcacnetwork.com/bethanyks/">https://www.kcacnetwork.com/bethanyks/</a>. Most visiting athletic events also have live video available. Links for those events will be posted on <a href="http://bethanyswedes.com">bethanyswedes.com</a>. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Moreno, Dean of Athletics, at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8369, or Brad Yoder, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications, at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8178. As more information becomes available and circumstances regarding COVID-19 in McPherson County change, Bethany College will continually re-evaluate the spectator policy. Continue to check <a href="http://www.bethanyswedes.com">www.bethanyswedes.com</a> regularly for further updates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bethany College announces spectator policy update

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday.

●One new death from COVID-19 since Wednesday.

●Variants have been identified in the 165 of 289 samples sent for sequencing.

●35 new cases of COVID-19, since Wednesday.

Saline County has lost another member of the community to COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the county to 128, an additional two this week. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 20 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19.

There have been 35 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Wednesday, making 117 new cases in the last seven days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 498 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7091 confirmed cases, and at least 6465 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified variants in 165 of the 289 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. At least 23,802 people or 43.9 percent of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcH2EXa1LCGoKs1tp_FLb0cmwYnRa_OQxKbKPIIDNcsPoRgBjz_e9C1lxMsRzH1v-NyfKodNyT8OlHuWS3uySIXisvkZHXnTOBEj_17jLbhq_&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcLp9M2VHxiYy9LL53BFZeRdUHuNumVJJ98g601GHy20fUk_vWpPWR6GLIbXuRH4bBs-IXQ_NyH4yNERjzYMBWOPpQMYp99qzgWEZGu9mlabXqZ1ZUYfW58AGS6jsoQ8uXJP3ImCxvsSo&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcDuj0KwWiPVorinaQV0KnQCFzu5i7IhiWyu7XdiwQ8Lu2FSpOyBqMo0Beo0aa_bQRNyAZffpgosKRuVe6duMqitwPKIZhuVG2JigpVYPe-0Fo6IIjeJ7IMVqlTL2ko1Q1Fc3zUwcyMXL&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629499149740.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday.●One new death from COVID-19 since Wednesday.●Variants have been identified in the 165 of 289 samples sent for sequencing.●35 new cases of COVID-19, since Wednesday.Saline County has lost another member of the community to COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the county to 128, an additional two this week. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 20 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19. There have been 35 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Wednesday, making 117 new cases in the last seven days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 498 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7091 confirmed cases, and at least 6465 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified variants in 165 of the 289 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. At least 23,802 people or 43.9 percent of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcH2EXa1LCGoKs1tp_FLb0cmwYnRa_OQxKbKPIIDNcsPoRgBjz_e9C1lxMsRzH1v-NyfKodNyT8OlHuWS3uySIXisvkZHXnTOBEj_17jLbhq_&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcLp9M2VHxiYy9LL53BFZeRdUHuNumVJJ98g601GHy20fUk_vWpPWR6GLIbXuRH4bBs-IXQ_NyH4yNERjzYMBWOPpQMYp99qzgWEZGu9mlabXqZ1ZUYfW58AGS6jsoQ8uXJP3ImCxvsSo&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcDuj0KwWiPVorinaQV0KnQCFzu5i7IhiWyu7XdiwQ8Lu2FSpOyBqMo0Beo0aa_bQRNyAZffpgosKRuVe6duMqitwPKIZhuVG2JigpVYPe-0Fo6IIjeJ7IMVqlTL2ko1Q1Fc3zUwcyMXL&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

Saline County: 1 new death, 35 new cases of COVID-19

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Wednesday.

●64 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday.

●165 variants were identified in the 289 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.

There have been 64 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Monday making 82 cases in the last five days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 530 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7056 confirmed cases, and at least 6399 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified variants in 162 of the 289 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing.

An additional 430 people have been vaccinated in Saline County this week. This brings the total number of vaccinated people to 23,802 or 43.9 percent of the population- an increase of .8 percent over last week.

Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanh96V4qcKupotC9Ou7WzFOFfKJChieVlOwZFOg0VqMbxUQqor3Yz1BBnVJ404L5JQEk4vFI1TWzMzok1J-Piqi-YGtca5aG6wSfr1bJ1iFcE&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanjtEA9fZOr1mMS66FvhP4JYBe2Rl_v45js658iQfXdp1dwU9N2mizlWS7pZGiA6JyMUVoGPVGzEdcUAVgzyzBPnRiMy1nLeCld3m8SNDuX73hTfPwJFLgsoikvWMBi_MAo97GobcsnnF&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTano5CjPvENURcqi2hG2nQy_8AqBbBX6BebFA7dRQ-frK1X9b30hgrFc2UaoniE28xR2kqCZmNOaNVBvigTwnqlkyn2lXolhWggj35qMY3C-Z8FdN7WSddkEjRqaw01odywokvx6_xEu7o&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTansxNnxenGSeur-w8yZ10b0tfee0wZlnuUxbwXLHk0VS2y4crdNKfBGAbofj0tbz2fvz1ia0m08X2ROAV84YAtCMqoZhwEuPNDA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n94RVNgQ26-4PTU46SiE6GM-UTaoADUUTu9g-1PJs10UH4XcudyqcrHzaN2jX6TTdyD31qleQO_GnYcEWcB_sflKA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Maintain at least6 feet of distancebetween yourself and those with whom you do not live.

●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n9402k6JgMVVjCkC8Ot_IMJk_Q0JMF4LqSGd9531SMTZrqFVqmlXBbCKNUt0x86gm3fE7MLrjYVac--p4-FprDsXuR0BzBsrUP54-QkU-q8B9zKNvjA7edab0dDGZkYHm258jRWBbiF8wk6xSDATvkCaXT2NspGgld2&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>

●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629323453925.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Wednesday.●19 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.●64 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday.●165 variants were identified in the 289 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 19 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19. There have been 64 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Monday making 82 cases in the last five days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 530 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7056 confirmed cases, and at least 6399 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified variants in 162 of the 289 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. An additional 430 people have been vaccinated in Saline County this week. This brings the total number of vaccinated people to 23,802 or 43.9 percent of the population- an increase of .8 percent over last week. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanh96V4qcKupotC9Ou7WzFOFfKJChieVlOwZFOg0VqMbxUQqor3Yz1BBnVJ404L5JQEk4vFI1TWzMzok1J-Piqi-YGtca5aG6wSfr1bJ1iFcE&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanjtEA9fZOr1mMS66FvhP4JYBe2Rl_v45js658iQfXdp1dwU9N2mizlWS7pZGiA6JyMUVoGPVGzEdcUAVgzyzBPnRiMy1nLeCld3m8SNDuX73hTfPwJFLgsoikvWMBi_MAo97GobcsnnF&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTano5CjPvENURcqi2hG2nQy_8AqBbBX6BebFA7dRQ-frK1X9b30hgrFc2UaoniE28xR2kqCZmNOaNVBvigTwnqlkyn2lXolhWggj35qMY3C-Z8FdN7WSddkEjRqaw01odywokvx6_xEu7o&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTansxNnxenGSeur-w8yZ10b0tfee0wZlnuUxbwXLHk0VS2y4crdNKfBGAbofj0tbz2fvz1ia0m08X2ROAV84YAtCMqoZhwEuPNDA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n94RVNgQ26-4PTU46SiE6GM-UTaoADUUTu9g-1PJs10UH4XcudyqcrHzaN2jX6TTdyD31qleQO_GnYcEWcB_sflKA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.●Maintain at least6 feet of distancebetween yourself and those with whom you do not live.●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n9402k6JgMVVjCkC8Ot_IMJk_Q0JMF4LqSGd9531SMTZrqFVqmlXBbCKNUt0x86gm3fE7MLrjYVac--p4-FprDsXuR0BzBsrUP54-QkU-q8B9zKNvjA7edab0dDGZkYHm258jRWBbiF8wk6xSDATvkCaXT2NspGgld2&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Saline County: 64 new cases of COVID-19; 6,399 of 7,056 recovered

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-08-18/a-kansas-doctor-tells-the-story-of-sending-her-critically-ill-covid-patient-570-miles-away">Kansas News Service</a>

Last Thursday, the 25-bed hospital in Abilene sent a patient 570 miles away by air ambulance to Wisconsin.

Like many rural hospitals, Memorial Health System does a bit of everything. But it doesn’t have an intensive care unit.

In a pre-pandemic world, anyone needing critical care got transferred to Salina Regional Health Center, 30 miles away. Occasionally, a patient might get sent to Topeka or Wichita.

The Kansas News Service talked with Abilene physician Megan Brown about how she finally found an ICU bed for her gravely ill patient last week. Her interview has been edited for length and clarity.

We had a patient who did happen to be a COVID patient. …&nbsp; But, I mean, it would have been the same really probably for any patient needing an ICU.

His condition was getting worse to the point where we weren’t able to continue taking care of him here. He really needed to be on a ventilator — which typically we don’t keep ventilated patients here, because those patients should be in an ICU.

Talking with him and his family … we gave them the option of keeping him here and keeping him comfortable, knowing that he may or may not survive. Versus, transferring him out to a bigger hospital.

So, the KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) has set up what they’re calling mission control — where you can call and they’ll help make those phone calls (to other hospitals) to find a bed for the patient.

So I called them and they said, “Well, I have four patients needing an ICU bed in front of you. We’ve already called (hospitals across) Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. And there are no beds available.”

They said, “The last patient we were able to place was in Des Moines, Iowa. We think maybe there’s some beds available in Minneapolis. Do you want us to add you to the list?”

And I said, “Well, yes.” But knowing that there were four patients ahead of us, we ended up making phone calls as well.

So I had to cancel an entire afternoon of clinic (hours) and spent three-and-a-half hours on the phone calling hospitals further and further away, trying to find a bed for this patient.

I had a medical student that was helping me, and she’d called South Dakota. And they said, “We’re getting calls from as far away as Louisiana.”

So at that point, we said, “You know, everyone else who’s looking for a hospital is calling the biggest cities in the states.” And so we kind of thought we needed to shift our focus and try to call some smaller hospitals.

And we were already kind of calling around in Wisconsin. And I had gone to college as an undergrad in Appleton, Wisconsin, and I knew they had some ICU beds. Whether they were available or not, I didn’t know.

So I called them. And they finally were like, “We don’t have any beds — but have you called this hospital in Oshkosh?” And (they) gave me the number.

And then we finally found a bed there.

But that took three-and-a-half hours of phone calls. And then we had another hour waiting for transport to get here.

(An air ambulance) plane flew into Dickinson County Airport. EMS brought (the air ambulance crew) to the hospital, picked up the patient. Once they were ready to go, took them back to the airport.

And they flew into Oshkosh, and then an ambulance on that end had to pick him up to take him to the hospital.

It was frustrating with the amount of time it was taking. (And) it made me more concerned for patients. You know, I think patients are going to die needlessly, because there’s nowhere to go.

It’s been a real mess and very difficult — not just for COVID patients.

Now we have to do the same thing for any patient that needs a higher level of care than what we can provide. Like I said, we don’t have any specialists here.

I was having a conversation with somebody, and they said, “You know, the real problem is the shortage of nurses.”

And I said, “I’m not gonna argue that the shortage of nurses isn’t part of the problem.”

But the issue is — say you have a 20-bed ICU, but you only have enough nurses for 10 beds. If you have 10 COVID patients in those beds — something that’s now preventable by vaccines — then you don’t have any beds to take anyone else. But if those patients had been vaccinated, then you might still have nine beds for other things.

Twice in the last two weeks we’ve had to go on diversion for admissions because somebody called in sick. I mean, we’re at a point where our hospital is full enough right now that if one nurse on a shift calls in (sick), we can’t add any more patients to the hospital.

Then (patients are) stuck with — there’s nowhere else to go.

If a patient came to the ER and they needed to move to (an inpatient bed in) the hospital … we didn’t have the staff or a bed for them. So then our ER is tied up trying to find a bed (at a different hospital).

Our ER is staffed with a nurse practitioner and a nurse and a tech, usually. So we have three people to take care of anything that comes into the ER. So they don’t really have time to be spending hours on the phone.

(Reporter: What are families supposed to do if their loved one is transferred far away?)

If you have the resources (so) you can take off and get a hotel room and drive several states away to be with a family member, great. But most people don’t have those resources. And then depending on what happens while (the patient is) there, you’ve got to get that patient back. So either they’re alive and you’ve got to get them back, or they pass away and you’ve got to get that body back. And so it just adds extra layers of complications.

The vaccines are safe … they’re effective.

We’ve got to keep doing the things we can to prevent spread, because there’s nowhere to go if you get sick.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:celia@kcur.org">celia@kcur.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629310297611.png" alt="Photo by David Condos courtesy Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo by David Condos courtesy Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-08-18/a-kansas-doctor-tells-the-story-of-sending-her-critically-ill-covid-patient-570-miles-away">Kansas News Service</a>Last Thursday, the 25-bed hospital in Abilene sent a patient 570 miles away by air ambulance to Wisconsin.Like many rural hospitals, Memorial Health System does a bit of everything. But it doesn’t have an intensive care unit.In a pre-pandemic world, anyone needing critical care got transferred to Salina Regional Health Center, 30 miles away. Occasionally, a patient might get sent to Topeka or Wichita.The Kansas News Service talked with Abilene physician Megan Brown about how she finally found an ICU bed for her gravely ill patient last week. Her interview has been edited for length and clarity.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629310385037.png" alt="Megan Brown is a family doctor in Abilene. Submitted" />
 <figcaption>Megan Brown is a family doctor in Abilene. Submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Megan Brown's storyWe had a patient who did happen to be a COVID patient. …&nbsp; But, I mean, it would have been the same really probably for any patient needing an ICU.His condition was getting worse to the point where we weren’t able to continue taking care of him here. He really needed to be on a ventilator — which typically we don’t keep ventilated patients here, because those patients should be in an ICU.Talking with him and his family … we gave them the option of keeping him here and keeping him comfortable, knowing that he may or may not survive. Versus, transferring him out to a bigger hospital.And they elected to transfer.So, the KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) has set up what they’re calling mission control — where you can call and they’ll help make those phone calls (to other hospitals) to find a bed for the patient.So I called them and they said, “Well, I have four patients needing an ICU bed in front of you. We’ve already called (hospitals across) Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. And there are no beds available.”They said, “The last patient we were able to place was in Des Moines, Iowa. We think maybe there’s some beds available in Minneapolis. Do you want us to add you to the list?”And I said, “Well, yes.” But knowing that there were four patients ahead of us, we ended up making phone calls as well.So I had to cancel an entire afternoon of clinic (hours) and spent three-and-a-half hours on the phone calling hospitals further and further away, trying to find a bed for this patient.I had a medical student that was helping me, and she’d called South Dakota. And they said, “We’re getting calls from as far away as Louisiana.”So at that point, we said, “You know, everyone else who’s looking for a hospital is calling the biggest cities in the states.” And so we kind of thought we needed to shift our focus and try to call some smaller hospitals.And we were already kind of calling around in Wisconsin. And I had gone to college as an undergrad in Appleton, Wisconsin, and I knew they had some ICU beds. Whether they were available or not, I didn’t know.So I called them. And they finally were like, “We don’t have any beds — but have you called this hospital in Oshkosh?” And (they) gave me the number.And then we finally found a bed there.But that took three-and-a-half hours of phone calls. And then we had another hour waiting for transport to get here.(An air ambulance) plane flew into Dickinson County Airport. EMS brought (the air ambulance crew) to the hospital, picked up the patient. Once they were ready to go, took them back to the airport.And they flew into Oshkosh, and then an ambulance on that end had to pick him up to take him to the hospital.It was frustrating with the amount of time it was taking. (And) it made me more concerned for patients. You know, I think patients are going to die needlessly, because there’s nowhere to go.It’s been a real mess and very difficult — not just for COVID patients.Now we have to do the same thing for any patient that needs a higher level of care than what we can provide. Like I said, we don’t have any specialists here.I was having a conversation with somebody, and they said, “You know, the real problem is the shortage of nurses.”And I said, “I’m not gonna argue that the shortage of nurses isn’t part of the problem.”But the issue is — say you have a 20-bed ICU, but you only have enough nurses for 10 beds. If you have 10 COVID patients in those beds — something that’s now preventable by vaccines — then you don’t have any beds to take anyone else. But if those patients had been vaccinated, then you might still have nine beds for other things.Twice in the last two weeks we’ve had to go on diversion for admissions because somebody called in sick. I mean, we’re at a point where our hospital is full enough right now that if one nurse on a shift calls in (sick), we can’t add any more patients to the hospital.Then (patients are) stuck with — there’s nowhere else to go.If a patient came to the ER and they needed to move to (an inpatient bed in) the hospital … we didn’t have the staff or a bed for them. So then our ER is tied up trying to find a bed (at a different hospital).Our ER is staffed with a nurse practitioner and a nurse and a tech, usually. So we have three people to take care of anything that comes into the ER. So they don’t really have time to be spending hours on the phone.(Reporter: What are families supposed to do if their loved one is transferred far away?)If you have the resources (so) you can take off and get a hotel room and drive several states away to be with a family member, great. But most people don’t have those resources. And then depending on what happens while (the patient is) there, you’ve got to get that patient back. So either they’re alive and you’ve got to get them back, or they pass away and you’ve got to get that body back. And so it just adds extra layers of complications.The vaccines are safe … they’re effective.We’ve got to keep doing the things we can to prevent spread, because there’s nowhere to go if you get sick.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:celia@kcur.org">celia@kcur.org</a>.

Area doctor tells story of sending critically ill COVID patient 570 miles away

Following is a statement from the Saline County Health Department.

Today, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012FlXc78pmTDQ2OnB_EjK1Le2tDGV3-J0MAfJq_bUb8xk9OOITld73tRB1c7bPn-xAD7_1ZNpJmiUj2bOMLAIFAGD4QlYaFk5jUnqnJAm5cu4TFC3b3cFmoCBm_QJetXBOVOfQtptY5to0d1noXYshUpiP2OtmF02DRB1ZqZTpv6LLYJmqk8HxN8lGzHXccI6f5R-btztaQHH8yPJRGwFLZXnCLbI1rPn&amp;c=qlNSEhKmlRrCkwQGPFV7NORlSTKMjWKe5Ro1GSa5zIDfqPQqzWlmQA==&amp;ch=l_rAh5-2MlhETUBOoDYr3vrVbDA05ihF-PRVAadcT9OEneSF50dCiA==" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;on the Administration’s plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people.

The Saline County Vaccine Collaborative partners are in the beginning stages of planning a local response to this new information.

As always, please contact your primary medical provider if you have questions or concerns about receiving a third vaccination for COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Following is a statement from the Saline County Health Department.Today, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012FlXc78pmTDQ2OnB_EjK1Le2tDGV3-J0MAfJq_bUb8xk9OOITld73tRB1c7bPn-xAD7_1ZNpJmiUj2bOMLAIFAGD4QlYaFk5jUnqnJAm5cu4TFC3b3cFmoCBm_QJetXBOVOfQtptY5to0d1noXYshUpiP2OtmF02DRB1ZqZTpv6LLYJmqk8HxN8lGzHXccI6f5R-btztaQHH8yPJRGwFLZXnCLbI1rPn&amp;c=qlNSEhKmlRrCkwQGPFV7NORlSTKMjWKe5Ro1GSa5zIDfqPQqzWlmQA==&amp;ch=l_rAh5-2MlhETUBOoDYr3vrVbDA05ihF-PRVAadcT9OEneSF50dCiA==" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;on the Administration’s plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people. The Saline County Vaccine Collaborative partners are in the beginning stages of planning a local response to this new information. As always, please contact your primary medical provider if you have questions or concerns about receiving a third vaccination for COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Local vaccine collaborative planning for booster shots

The University of Kansas Health System

The number of COVID patients at The 
University of Kansas Health System is steady today. 62 people with the 
active virus are being treated, down from 63 yesterday. Only 14 of those
 active patients are vaccinated, and all of them have underlying 
conditions such as solid organ transplants, immunosuppression, cancer, 
lung and heart disease and diabetes. They range in age from 19 to 99 
with the average age in the mid 50’s. 21 of the active patients are in 
the ICU, the same as yesterday. 14 patients are on ventilators, down 
from 16 yesterday. 23 other patients are still hospitalized because of 
COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 22 yesterday. 
That’s a total of 85 patients, the same as yesterday. HaysMed has 10&nbsp; total patients, up from nine yesterday. 

On today’s 
Morning Medical Update, we heard more about the risk to immune 
compromised patients, plus when and how to get a booster 
vaccine.&nbsp;Joining the panel were Peter Jouras who is a bone marrow 
recipient, and Dr. Joseph McGuirk, Division Director, Hematologic 
Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics and Medical Director, Blood and 
Marrow Transplant.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 

Dr. McGuirk discussed new CDC 
guidelines allowing a booster shot for immunocompromised patients. He 
says it really should not be considered a booster but a primary attempt 
at protecting that patient population, and he described the various 
conditions that make someone eligible. He warns that even a third dose 
might not be adequate for some of these patients, and they need to 
continue wearing a mask and avoiding crowds, something they did long 
before COVID. To show the level of vaccine resistance, he recounted what
 he calls a “deeply troubling” story of a 32-year-old nurse who 
contracted leukemia a year and a half ago. She underwent treatment and 
recovered, after almost dying in the ICU. She then had a bone marrow 
transplant and is in complete remission. She has been vaccinated, but 
her husband did not believe in the vaccine for himself or their four 
children. Now because of her low immunity, she’s now got COVID pneumonia
 and her husband is very ill with the virus. In Dr. McGuirk’s words, 
“It’s completely unacceptable and I’ll just be frank, it’s 
irresponsible.” He explained his staff is actively contacting patients 
to coordinate the third shot and suggests any immunocompromised patient 
get one at a pharmacy, even if they have not heard from their doctor. He
 implores everyone to get vaccinated and wear a mask, especially in a 
grocery store, both for themselves and those around them who may be 
immunocompromised. 

Peter Jouras is a bone marrow 
transplant recipient and Dr. McGuirk’s patient. He has no immunity, even
 with two doses of the COVID vaccine, but will be getting his third shot
 next week, in the hopes of mounting some response. He has three 
children in the house between 9 and 13 who spent last year doing online 
classes from home. This year they are all going back to the classrooms. 
He’s glad his children are in the Shawnee Mission School District, which
 requires masks, which should help, but Peter worries about what they 
might bring home. Right now, all of the kids hit the shower as soon as 
they come home, and their clothes go straight to the laundry. He says 
they don’t wear masks in the house, but thinks if the Delta variant 
continues to spread, he may become more isolated into a bedroom. He says
 very bluntly, “If we all tell the truth, it’s not vaccine that’s the 
problem. It’s not Delta that’s the problem. It’s not COVID that’s the 
problem. It’s disinformation that’s the problem.” He begs everyone to 
get vaccinated, saying, “Each day is very precious. And so everybody who
 gets vaccinated, basically I think about that adding one day to my 
life. And I’m very thankful for every single person I see who gets 
vaccinated.”

Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical 
director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas
 Health System, thinks temperature screenings at building entrances 
offer little benefit for the amount of disease they detect because 
people can spread the virus without having any symptoms. The exception 
is healthcare settings, which still required them under federal 
regulations. He also discussed word that the Biden administration may 
announce additional dosing for the general population. In response to a 
question about how much our body can take of “all these preservatives 
and things” in the vaccine, he says there are no preservatives of any 
kind in them. He also says any boosters will not need to have their 
ingredients “tweaked” to cover the new variants as they still offer good
 protection. He adds that no one vaccine is better than another in 
offering protection for the virus. To those who want to believe the 
vaccine doesn’t work because a third dose may be needed, he reminds us 
we already have additional dosing for things like the flu and tetanus.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qT7iRrMylaQ"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The University of Kansas Health SystemThe number of COVID patients at The 
University of Kansas Health System is steady today. 62 people with the 
active virus are being treated, down from 63 yesterday. Only 14 of those
 active patients are vaccinated, and all of them have underlying 
conditions such as solid organ transplants, immunosuppression, cancer, 
lung and heart disease and diabetes. They range in age from 19 to 99 
with the average age in the mid 50’s. 21 of the active patients are in 
the ICU, the same as yesterday. 14 patients are on ventilators, down 
from 16 yesterday. 23 other patients are still hospitalized because of 
COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 22 yesterday. 
That’s a total of 85 patients, the same as yesterday. HaysMed has 10&nbsp; total patients, up from nine yesterday. On today’s 
Morning Medical Update, we heard more about the risk to immune 
compromised patients, plus when and how to get a booster 
vaccine.&nbsp;Joining the panel were Peter Jouras who is a bone marrow 
recipient, and Dr. Joseph McGuirk, Division Director, Hematologic 
Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics and Medical Director, Blood and 
Marrow Transplant.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629227215027.png" alt="Peter Jouras, bone marrow recipient" />
 <figcaption>Peter Jouras, bone marrow recipient</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. McGuirk discussed new CDC 
guidelines allowing a booster shot for immunocompromised patients. He 
says it really should not be considered a booster but a primary attempt 
at protecting that patient population, and he described the various 
conditions that make someone eligible. He warns that even a third dose 
might not be adequate for some of these patients, and they need to 
continue wearing a mask and avoiding crowds, something they did long 
before COVID. To show the level of vaccine resistance, he recounted what
 he calls a “deeply troubling” story of a 32-year-old nurse who 
contracted leukemia a year and a half ago. She underwent treatment and 
recovered, after almost dying in the ICU. She then had a bone marrow 
transplant and is in complete remission. She has been vaccinated, but 
her husband did not believe in the vaccine for himself or their four 
children. Now because of her low immunity, she’s now got COVID pneumonia
 and her husband is very ill with the virus. In Dr. McGuirk’s words, 
“It’s completely unacceptable and I’ll just be frank, it’s 
irresponsible.” He explained his staff is actively contacting patients 
to coordinate the third shot and suggests any immunocompromised patient 
get one at a pharmacy, even if they have not heard from their doctor. He
 implores everyone to get vaccinated and wear a mask, especially in a 
grocery store, both for themselves and those around them who may be 
immunocompromised. Peter Jouras is a bone marrow 
transplant recipient and Dr. McGuirk’s patient. He has no immunity, even
 with two doses of the COVID vaccine, but will be getting his third shot
 next week, in the hopes of mounting some response. He has three 
children in the house between 9 and 13 who spent last year doing online 
classes from home. This year they are all going back to the classrooms. 
He’s glad his children are in the Shawnee Mission School District, which
 requires masks, which should help, but Peter worries about what they 
might bring home. Right now, all of the kids hit the shower as soon as 
they come home, and their clothes go straight to the laundry. He says 
they don’t wear masks in the house, but thinks if the Delta variant 
continues to spread, he may become more isolated into a bedroom. He says
 very bluntly, “If we all tell the truth, it’s not vaccine that’s the 
problem. It’s not Delta that’s the problem. It’s not COVID that’s the 
problem. It’s disinformation that’s the problem.” He begs everyone to 
get vaccinated, saying, “Each day is very precious. And so everybody who
 gets vaccinated, basically I think about that adding one day to my 
life. And I’m very thankful for every single person I see who gets 
vaccinated.”Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical 
director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas
 Health System, thinks temperature screenings at building entrances 
offer little benefit for the amount of disease they detect because 
people can spread the virus without having any symptoms. The exception 
is healthcare settings, which still required them under federal 
regulations. He also discussed word that the Biden administration may 
announce additional dosing for the general population. In response to a 
question about how much our body can take of “all these preservatives 
and things” in the vaccine, he says there are no preservatives of any 
kind in them. He also says any boosters will not need to have their 
ingredients “tweaked” to cover the new variants as they still offer good
 protection. He adds that no one vaccine is better than another in 
offering protection for the virus. To those who want to believe the 
vaccine doesn’t work because a third dose may be needed, he reminds us 
we already have additional dosing for things like the flu and tetanus.

🎥 Doctors talk COVID boosters and the immune-compromised

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. experts are expected to recommend COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after they received their second dose of the shot, to ensure lasting protection against the coronavirus as the delta variant spreads across the country.

Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated would be needed as early as this fall, reviewing case numbers in the U.S. as well as the situation in other countries such as Israel, where preliminary studies suggest the vaccine’s protection against serious illness dropped among those vaccinated in January.

An announcement on the U.S. booster recommendation was expected as soon as this week, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Doses would only begin to be administered widely once the Food and Drug Administration formally approves the vaccines. That action is expected for the Pfizer shot in the coming weeks.

Last week, U.S. health officials recommended boosters for some with weakened immune systems, citing their higher risk of catching the virus and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness waned over time.

The director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, said Sunday the U.S. could decide in the next couple weeks whether to offer coronavirus booster shots to Americans this fall.

Among the first to receive them could be health care workers, nursing home residents and other older Americans, who were some of the first Americans to be vaccinated once the shots received emergency use authorization last December.

Since then, more than 198 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 168 million fully vaccinated. Still, the country is experiencing a fourth surge of virus cases due to the more transmissible delta variant, which is spreading aggressively through unvaccinated communities but is also responsible for an increasing number of so-called “breakthrough infections” of fully vaccinated people.

Israel, which exclusively administered the Pfizer shot, has been offering a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who were already vaccinated more than five months ago in an effort to control its own surge in cases from the delta variant.

For months, officials had said data still indicated that people remain highly protected from COVID-19, including the delta variant, after receiving the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen or the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. But U.S. health officials made clear Sunday they are preparing for the possibility that the time for boosters may come sooner than later.

“There is a concern that the vaccine may start to wane in its effectiveness,” Collins said. “And delta is a nasty one for us to try to deal with. The combination of those two means we may need boosters, maybe beginning first with health care providers, as well as people in nursing homes, and then gradually moving forward” with others, such as older Americans who were among the first to get vaccinations.

He said because the delta variant only started hitting the U.S. hard in July, the “next couple of weeks” of case data will help the U.S. make a decision.

Officials were continuing to collect information as well about the J&amp;J vaccine, which was only approved in the U.S. in late February, to determine when to recommend boosters, one of the officials said.

The White House has said that even though the U.S. has begun sharing more than 110 million vaccine doses with the world, the nation has enough domestic supply to deliver boosters to Americans should they be recommended by health officials.

Global health officials, including the World Health Organization, have called on wealthier and more-vaccinated countries to hold off on booster shots to ensure the supply of first doses for people in the developing world.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. experts are expected to recommend COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after they received their second dose of the shot, to ensure lasting protection against the coronavirus as the delta variant spreads across the country.Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated would be needed as early as this fall, reviewing case numbers in the U.S. as well as the situation in other countries such as Israel, where preliminary studies suggest the vaccine’s protection against serious illness dropped among those vaccinated in January.An announcement on the U.S. booster recommendation was expected as soon as this week, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.Doses would only begin to be administered widely once the Food and Drug Administration formally approves the vaccines. That action is expected for the Pfizer shot in the coming weeks.Last week, U.S. health officials recommended boosters for some with weakened immune systems, citing their higher risk of catching the virus and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness waned over time.The director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, said Sunday the U.S. could decide in the next couple weeks whether to offer coronavirus booster shots to Americans this fall.Among the first to receive them could be health care workers, nursing home residents and other older Americans, who were some of the first Americans to be vaccinated once the shots received emergency use authorization last December.Since then, more than 198 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 168 million fully vaccinated. Still, the country is experiencing a fourth surge of virus cases due to the more transmissible delta variant, which is spreading aggressively through unvaccinated communities but is also responsible for an increasing number of so-called “breakthrough infections” of fully vaccinated people.Israel, which exclusively administered the Pfizer shot, has been offering a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who were already vaccinated more than five months ago in an effort to control its own surge in cases from the delta variant.For months, officials had said data still indicated that people remain highly protected from COVID-19, including the delta variant, after receiving the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen or the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. But U.S. health officials made clear Sunday they are preparing for the possibility that the time for boosters may come sooner than later.“There is a concern that the vaccine may start to wane in its effectiveness,” Collins said. “And delta is a nasty one for us to try to deal with. The combination of those two means we may need boosters, maybe beginning first with health care providers, as well as people in nursing homes, and then gradually moving forward” with others, such as older Americans who were among the first to get vaccinations.He said because the delta variant only started hitting the U.S. hard in July, the “next couple of weeks” of case data will help the U.S. make a decision.Officials were continuing to collect information as well about the J&amp;J vaccine, which was only approved in the U.S. in late February, to determine when to recommend boosters, one of the officials said.The White House has said that even though the U.S. has begun sharing more than 110 million vaccine doses with the world, the nation has enough domestic supply to deliver boosters to Americans should they be recommended by health officials.Global health officials, including the World Health Organization, have called on wealthier and more-vaccinated countries to hold off on booster shots to ensure the supply of first doses for people in the developing world.

US to recommend COVID vaccine boosters for all 

●Another person has died due to COVID-19 since Friday.

●16 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.

●18 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday.

●147 variants were identified in the 272 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.

Another person has died due to COVID-19 since our last update on Friday. This brings the total number of deaths in Saline County to 127.

Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 16 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19.

There have been 18 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Friday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 495 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6992 confirmed cases, and at least 6370 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified variants in 147 of the 272 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing.

At least 23,372 people (43.1 percent of the population) have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County.

Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGtAwYhwLsXGJW_tagvwPzSBm5ooVA0c6iGgUeoec4cMkvRLpU9_n6OSOFLErVtssa5btpcEvjPgkUYCiS4BJF_-mfHbwPAax4vFgsR2aYbQq&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGiSP4-dlDD7TgOjuhR3ii1N8Hl_ZfSnplcko_5DI1Qv2k3fqFHwwgQB-vwhUqRHX1ZkASaH6u0oEu_p3OuD6XEL2Y3M2isqUc1Dv0wC0fuzdQ7Qzu1dSqULddvqiQHTjq0nPu7dbd78t&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGgVWWy4dF2cOPuFMeFy1c12cNfsx_MHDZAVp0bKnWPeGA8zs_q5Hd-s5Y9T2prGUySuoQd4GDrr0AiV7KDsSnVXsqpO760uqcinOr9yhkla6m0FhC6dqka9f2KfmJfT6D4QZ7qg9pwpc&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:

●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGni9GdaEXs02rCsjyz_mq_7N5OMZlO9zvcA9y1XDYkUoFJzjrosw5y_lV-cNkYgiE48XU_ESAXVphgYzDqgVANkbolalTulIrLk_2G88yUoT6cfl7Z_dhXUUxYPusZ0gomfc6xSK-hnH&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">HERE</a>or contact your local medical provider.

●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGpwO4MyFRiL30EQwgAz-9EzvlMPwz3YGcvxDl818zA0pbAZEX2QE7yhVgCvj8GmBDkSGj9cBe-CH5mGRs2DDrNgiqJ4gBaJhnQ==&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">vaccines.g</a><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGpwO4MyFRiL30EQwgAz-9EzvlMPwz3YGcvxDl818zA0pbAZEX2QE7yhVgCvj8GmBDkSGj9cBe-CH5mGRs2DDrNgiqJ4gBaJhnQ==&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">ov</a>or contact your local medical provider.

●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated.If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.

●Maintain at least6 feet of distancebetween yourself and those with whom you do not live.

●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGpwO4MyFRiL36_f4idsQpVZQA4CygXOSC4xi4a-qdkUAIbxm5Tc2NaX0RBAURp0LDDbjXsOXXyyzN9vIyCwFTJRBfh5eShZx65Zcq84SOofHPjYyINpC_rVbfKRUxc3O8mC65z4WEJvF4p3t88c20KcwNT4K_Im04AZ2zjxXJmHs&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>

●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629150216457.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.●Another person has died due to COVID-19 since Friday.●16 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.●18 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday.●147 variants were identified in the 272 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.Another person has died due to COVID-19 since our last update on Friday. This brings the total number of deaths in Saline County to 127. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 16 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19. There have been 18 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Friday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 495 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6992 confirmed cases, and at least 6370 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified variants in 147 of the 272 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. At least 23,372 people (43.1 percent of the population) have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGtAwYhwLsXGJW_tagvwPzSBm5ooVA0c6iGgUeoec4cMkvRLpU9_n6OSOFLErVtssa5btpcEvjPgkUYCiS4BJF_-mfHbwPAax4vFgsR2aYbQq&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGiSP4-dlDD7TgOjuhR3ii1N8Hl_ZfSnplcko_5DI1Qv2k3fqFHwwgQB-vwhUqRHX1ZkASaH6u0oEu_p3OuD6XEL2Y3M2isqUc1Dv0wC0fuzdQ7Qzu1dSqULddvqiQHTjq0nPu7dbd78t&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGgVWWy4dF2cOPuFMeFy1c12cNfsx_MHDZAVp0bKnWPeGA8zs_q5Hd-s5Y9T2prGUySuoQd4GDrr0AiV7KDsSnVXsqpO760uqcinOr9yhkla6m0FhC6dqka9f2KfmJfT6D4QZ7qg9pwpc&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGni9GdaEXs02rCsjyz_mq_7N5OMZlO9zvcA9y1XDYkUoFJzjrosw5y_lV-cNkYgiE48XU_ESAXVphgYzDqgVANkbolalTulIrLk_2G88yUoT6cfl7Z_dhXUUxYPusZ0gomfc6xSK-hnH&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">HERE</a>or contact your local medical provider.●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGpwO4MyFRiL30EQwgAz-9EzvlMPwz3YGcvxDl818zA0pbAZEX2QE7yhVgCvj8GmBDkSGj9cBe-CH5mGRs2DDrNgiqJ4gBaJhnQ==&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">vaccines.g</a><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGpwO4MyFRiL30EQwgAz-9EzvlMPwz3YGcvxDl818zA0pbAZEX2QE7yhVgCvj8GmBDkSGj9cBe-CH5mGRs2DDrNgiqJ4gBaJhnQ==&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">ov</a>or contact your local medical provider.●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated.If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.●Maintain at least6 feet of distancebetween yourself and those with whom you do not live.●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-CU4rv0jg2UNKjP5ITG9drRjL7pYz9ftL9Kn0KgKXrof2i_ulZPZGpwO4MyFRiL36_f4idsQpVZQA4CygXOSC4xi4a-qdkUAIbxm5Tc2NaX0RBAURp0LDDbjXsOXXyyzN9vIyCwFTJRBfh5eShZx65Zcq84SOofHPjYyINpC_rVbfKRUxc3O8mC65z4WEJvF4p3t88c20KcwNT4K_Im04AZ2zjxXJmHs&amp;c=EakzPfjC05fJdvWpFTyDAGg09udxp9w-ICdlEPvVczjHzWtt_yDykw==&amp;ch=iTKm8X3-arIEnqBxeQD9Foqilp_jrLHwfAkncgi0Ryum29lxVBnUeA==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Saline County: 18 new cases of COVID-19; one new death 

●One new death from COVID-19 since Wednesday, three since last Friday.

●Variants have been identified in the 146 of 270 samples sent for sequencing.

●45 new cases of COVID-19, since Wednesday, 119 since last Friday.

Saline County has lost another member of the community to COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the county to 126, an additional three this week. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 16 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19.

There have been 45 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Wednesday, making 119 new cases in the last seven days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 478 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6974 confirmed cases, and at least 6370 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified variants in 146 of the 270 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. At least 23,372 people or 43.1 percent of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. This is an increase of 441 people or .8 percent over last week.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcH2EXa1LCGoKs1tp_FLb0cmwYnRa_OQxKbKPIIDNcsPoRgBjz_e9C1lxMsRzH1v-NyfKodNyT8OlHuWS3uySIXisvkZHXnTOBEj_17jLbhq_&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcLp9M2VHxiYy9LL53BFZeRdUHuNumVJJ98g601GHy20fUk_vWpPWR6GLIbXuRH4bBs-IXQ_NyH4yNERjzYMBWOPpQMYp99qzgWEZGu9mlabXqZ1ZUYfW58AGS6jsoQ8uXJP3ImCxvsSo&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcDuj0KwWiPVorinaQV0KnQCFzu5i7IhiWyu7XdiwQ8Lu2FSpOyBqMo0Beo0aa_bQRNyAZffpgosKRuVe6duMqitwPKIZhuVG2JigpVYPe-0Fo6IIjeJ7IMVqlTL2ko1Q1Fc3zUwcyMXL&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628891009879.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday.●One new death from COVID-19 since Wednesday, three since last Friday.●Variants have been identified in the 146 of 270 samples sent for sequencing.●45 new cases of COVID-19, since Wednesday, 119 since last Friday.Saline County has lost another member of the community to COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the county to 126, an additional three this week. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 16 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19. There have been 45 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Wednesday, making 119 new cases in the last seven days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 478 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6974 confirmed cases, and at least 6370 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified variants in 146 of the 270 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. At least 23,372 people or 43.1 percent of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. This is an increase of 441 people or .8 percent over last week. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcH2EXa1LCGoKs1tp_FLb0cmwYnRa_OQxKbKPIIDNcsPoRgBjz_e9C1lxMsRzH1v-NyfKodNyT8OlHuWS3uySIXisvkZHXnTOBEj_17jLbhq_&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcLp9M2VHxiYy9LL53BFZeRdUHuNumVJJ98g601GHy20fUk_vWpPWR6GLIbXuRH4bBs-IXQ_NyH4yNERjzYMBWOPpQMYp99qzgWEZGu9mlabXqZ1ZUYfW58AGS6jsoQ8uXJP3ImCxvsSo&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcDuj0KwWiPVorinaQV0KnQCFzu5i7IhiWyu7XdiwQ8Lu2FSpOyBqMo0Beo0aa_bQRNyAZffpgosKRuVe6duMqitwPKIZhuVG2JigpVYPe-0Fo6IIjeJ7IMVqlTL2ko1Q1Fc3zUwcyMXL&amp;c=&amp;ch=" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

Saline County: 45 new cases of COVID-19; 1 new death

●14 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.

●32 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday.

●138 variants were identified in the 262 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.

Two additional members of our community have lost their lives to COVID-19 since our last update on Monday. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 14 patients who require hospitalization for the virus.

There have been 32 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Monday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 440 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6929 confirmed cases, and at least 6364 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified variants in 138 of the 262 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing.

At least 23,372 people or 43.1 percent of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. This is an increase of 441 people or .8 percent over last week.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcH2EXa1LCGoKs1tp_FLb0cmwYnRa_OQxKbKPIIDNcsPoRgBjz_e9C1lxMsRzH1v-NyfKodNyT8OlHuWS3uySIXisvkZHXnTOBEj_17jLbhq_&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcLp9M2VHxiYy9LL53BFZeRdUHuNumVJJ98g601GHy20fUk_vWpPWR6GLIbXuRH4bBs-IXQ_NyH4yNERjzYMBWOPpQMYp99qzgWEZGu9mlabXqZ1ZUYfW58AGS6jsoQ8uXJP3ImCxvsSo&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcDuj0KwWiPVorinaQV0KnQCFzu5i7IhiWyu7XdiwQ8Lu2FSpOyBqMo0Beo0aa_bQRNyAZffpgosKRuVe6duMqitwPKIZhuVG2JigpVYPe-0Fo6IIjeJ7IMVqlTL2ko1Q1Fc3zUwcyMXL&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.

●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcCQUtQ736j9qM7IFpsQxbjn17uTZOjsjk1xOdA8UuGGMnKtBxwNFTRocZ1OU7c6w-ANuH7V1BmiznintNmQBYrT7oMTrOPGARw==&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Get vaccinated. You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcIrmCOchKNs1qoYgTjAsTPo9HoNhWvkcmmnqVcLYPwREhZcJBB4017aL0_PE1uPGDJzg_DNMKOm285jxtStjIkko68A1Pea6KA==&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>or contact your local medical provider.

●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.

●Maintain at least 6 feet of distance&nbsp;between yourself and those with whom you do not live.

●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcIrmCOchKNs1VKoeg0jDmIH8M3XeiJBuW1E58qrQ9WMMx1NNuIS2kA-OdeelpPpWe9iN2x8AMB_LjI9m5hAjfmPtauw446UrEO-OqXkWeLZ9NeKDH8IdXxT4Ecz5-4iVKZGrqZiRr_xkG_5Z3e5NBE8x5DoQ3ixXYCHGB0NRorsL&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>

●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628719605425.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Wednesday.●2 new deaths due to COVID-19.●14 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.●32 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday.●138 variants were identified in the 262 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.Two additional members of our community have lost their lives to COVID-19 since our last update on Monday. Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 14 patients who require hospitalization for the virus. There have been 32 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Monday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 440 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6929 confirmed cases, and at least 6364 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified variants in 138 of the 262 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. At least 23,372 people or 43.1 percent of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. This is an increase of 441 people or .8 percent over last week. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcH2EXa1LCGoKs1tp_FLb0cmwYnRa_OQxKbKPIIDNcsPoRgBjz_e9C1lxMsRzH1v-NyfKodNyT8OlHuWS3uySIXisvkZHXnTOBEj_17jLbhq_&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcLp9M2VHxiYy9LL53BFZeRdUHuNumVJJ98g601GHy20fUk_vWpPWR6GLIbXuRH4bBs-IXQ_NyH4yNERjzYMBWOPpQMYp99qzgWEZGu9mlabXqZ1ZUYfW58AGS6jsoQ8uXJP3ImCxvsSo&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcDuj0KwWiPVorinaQV0KnQCFzu5i7IhiWyu7XdiwQ8Lu2FSpOyBqMo0Beo0aa_bQRNyAZffpgosKRuVe6duMqitwPKIZhuVG2JigpVYPe-0Fo6IIjeJ7IMVqlTL2ko1Q1Fc3zUwcyMXL&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcCQUtQ736j9qM7IFpsQxbjn17uTZOjsjk1xOdA8UuGGMnKtBxwNFTRocZ1OU7c6w-ANuH7V1BmiznintNmQBYrT7oMTrOPGARw==&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Get vaccinated. You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcIrmCOchKNs1qoYgTjAsTPo9HoNhWvkcmmnqVcLYPwREhZcJBB4017aL0_PE1uPGDJzg_DNMKOm285jxtStjIkko68A1Pea6KA==&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>or contact your local medical provider.●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.●Maintain at least 6 feet of distance&nbsp;between yourself and those with whom you do not live.●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f_M444ezNhbtvfVRB53gHctWKlsBn7wbz4lwfcLO9r-MnSPgUgsVcIrmCOchKNs1VKoeg0jDmIH8M3XeiJBuW1E58qrQ9WMMx1NNuIS2kA-OdeelpPpWe9iN2x8AMB_LjI9m5hAjfmPtauw446UrEO-OqXkWeLZ9NeKDH8IdXxT4Ecz5-4iVKZGrqZiRr_xkG_5Z3e5NBE8x5DoQ3ixXYCHGB0NRorsL&amp;c=kkBQuA-tql707ADLVqiaoKk0f9AWQE_BiOubRXrAZw-WfVaBLJYq_g==&amp;ch=9C5TnJw_6fUxKO9cC_j4Mlst6y8F3vXLpdJDONYhGSbTgmvKmUdscQ==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a> ●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Saline County: 2 new deaths, 32 new cases of COVID-19

●22 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19

●42 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday

●133 variants were identified in the 257 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing

Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 22 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19.

There have been 42 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Friday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 433 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6897 confirmed cases, and at least 6341 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified variants in 133 of the 257 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing.

At least 22,931 people (42.3 percent of the population) have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx9_-PhPKQvW5moC2_Qnng6R8OPtM5UWXyQEydiPDxwXl9XbmnBbjzR-LqHHNEukl7NEAyhIVOy3h98POTUSRkgnU-haBtd2_LrNkOJTV9fJzZ&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx93J3YLnwPU2m9Yt1tUrMDymco-1BrlNoiJdTSqadwEUHi4hTyLlWCriV3PvPCJ10XUul3UomLz3ql4MCtic_0cQ4x7DNIQpWwmF2hpJuEKhZUht0vyHrG3luGGo5TN3EeQDwNFlJ0J2k&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx9-KkWX_QNnDfmU3lsqj1BvsodUGGIVQynmY04tLkPc7h9OBpAafIMGCvfw1_eHXQIeajxUUNt_-a0cQsei5k0wDm3or9GyDqjnjZFb7G6LsbqA-XNddLKCr41YCSiuLnwghAU8Eu-eEu&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.•Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx900iF5snr2BzGNJ3OhtI2ZuPFUckMHArHB_ZpIS-QW-SkrLGRueUOchhgf56P2WxI_Xbb4wPSH84p8PJiM2zpUEAD3RD8KeemQ==&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx99TvC9GKQO7Td7IzpR1ieTArhBd2OT7FxklKwa9DiDa1OCPi675zAveit_1XvUCBeQW4bRbchiYzCGxNmpru2FuDWD5Ff46jkw==&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated.If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.

●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx99TvC9GKQO7TsaKlUgmpBg6k0ktzlW7GS4rf3isP6k6ekv0NlELnrIJSCpA0vevt-VDrxpviIqw6TX_XGHOVzDRprwl_e4DcQAh5NzxLdhlMgI7Vy3hgF74PvEoAAA0ah45exwVD5wX6otKtCd8Lb8g7NzdOOwWe7Vl3lyDTQaj-&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628548205014.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.●22 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19●42 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday●133 variants were identified in the 257 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencingSalina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 22 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19. There have been 42 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Friday. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 433 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 6897 confirmed cases, and at least 6341 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified variants in 133 of the 257 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. At least 22,931 people (42.3 percent of the population) have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saline County. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx9_-PhPKQvW5moC2_Qnng6R8OPtM5UWXyQEydiPDxwXl9XbmnBbjzR-LqHHNEukl7NEAyhIVOy3h98POTUSRkgnU-haBtd2_LrNkOJTV9fJzZ&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx93J3YLnwPU2m9Yt1tUrMDymco-1BrlNoiJdTSqadwEUHi4hTyLlWCriV3PvPCJ10XUul3UomLz3ql4MCtic_0cQ4x7DNIQpWwmF2hpJuEKhZUht0vyHrG3luGGo5TN3EeQDwNFlJ0J2k&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx9-KkWX_QNnDfmU3lsqj1BvsodUGGIVQynmY04tLkPc7h9OBpAafIMGCvfw1_eHXQIeajxUUNt_-a0cQsei5k0wDm3or9GyDqjnjZFb7G6LsbqA-XNddLKCr41YCSiuLnwghAU8Eu-eEu&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.•Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx900iF5snr2BzGNJ3OhtI2ZuPFUckMHArHB_ZpIS-QW-SkrLGRueUOchhgf56P2WxI_Xbb4wPSH84p8PJiM2zpUEAD3RD8KeemQ==&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx99TvC9GKQO7Td7IzpR1ieTArhBd2OT7FxklKwa9DiDa1OCPi675zAveit_1XvUCBeQW4bRbchiYzCGxNmpru2FuDWD5Ff46jkw==&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated.If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.●Maintain at least6 feet of distancebetween yourself and those with whom you do not live.●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Qv8XPDvm2lISbiRi-nvvH-w_80I-W8MRILa5W4BPL7rFi5CoWOLx99TvC9GKQO7TsaKlUgmpBg6k0ktzlW7GS4rf3isP6k6ekv0NlELnrIJSCpA0vevt-VDrxpviIqw6TX_XGHOVzDRprwl_e4DcQAh5NzxLdhlMgI7Vy3hgF74PvEoAAA0ah45exwVD5wX6otKtCd8Lb8g7NzdOOwWe7Vl3lyDTQaj-&amp;c=fvabQnKRtito1ZXZ4OSTclSHJBuqXfcHAhfYfHQcujiEfaccuVmmKw==&amp;ch=VZ1Yhq0bnUfn_BiC_wHgVe6P8Z6VsWPThdFQXVj50GLvHygyzSVZaw==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Coronavirus Update