Following is Wednesday's Saline County COVID-19 update:
Sadly, we have been notified of eight additional deaths related to COVID-19, which brings the total number of deaths in Saline County to 42. There are 166 new positive COVID-19 cases in Saline County since our last update on December 7. The total number of positive cases for Saline County is now 3087 with 1115 cases that are actively being monitored by the Health Department, 1,930 that have recovered. Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 31 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:
●Mobile Device Users: https://arcg.is/yjPT1
●Desktop Users: https://arcg.is/1qHnb0?
This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible.
If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless at least five days have passed and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence.
However, Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.
According to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment, there are now 179,803 cases and 1,941 deaths statewide. This information can be found at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.
Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:
1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.
2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.
3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.
4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).
5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.
6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.
Only follow official sources to obtain information: www.saline.org/coronavirus or www.kdheks.gov.