Governor Laura Kelly’s Executive Orders

Riley County Order NO.4 Regarding Child Care Facilities Effective March 30 - April 19

Statewide Stay Home Order O20-16.pdf Effective March 30 - April 19

How Can I Prepare? 

There are many steps you can take to prepare yourself, your family, and your neighbors! Click here for more information on What You Can Do to Prepare! Make sure you know the Facts about COVID-19 (pdf). 

You can help stop the spread of germs (pdf) that lead to illness by: 

• Washing your hands 
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick 
• Covering your coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands 
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces 
• Stay home when sick

What do I do if I get sick?

• How to care for someone who is sick
• What to do if you are sick

What Is Riley County Health Department Doing?

RCHD is working closely with partners on the local, regional, and state level to ensure we are prepared in the event nCoV cases present in Riley County.

There are many ways to prevent the spread of illness in the community, including COVID-19. To learn more, download the Preventing Spread of Disease in the Community fact sheet (pdf). 

KDHE has developed a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that is updated regularly. To view that list, please visit: http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/Novel_coronavirus_FAQ.pdf

What Are Coronaviruses? 

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can lead to illness in humans and animals. Human coronaviruses are common throughout the world, and can cause mild to moderate illness, like the common cold. Symptoms of infection by a coronavirus include: 

• Runny Nose
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Fever

Disease Transmission 

Coronaviruses are most commonly spread from an infected person through cough and sneezing, closer personal contact, such as shaking hands, touching objects or surfaces that have the virus on it, and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing hands. 

Coronaviruses are common and many laboratory test results doctors order may show a positive coronavirus infection. That infection is not the same as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

This information is for healthcare providers in Riley County regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Kansas Department of Health & Environment has a dedicated COVID-19 webpage, with resources (some of which are linked above) related to novel coronavirus, and links to press releases, including daily updates on tests performed. RCHD will not be publishing numbers of tests performed in Riley County. 

If you have a medical background, and are able to volunteer to staff a phone screening line, please sign up here. 

COVID-19 Patient Screening & Evaluation Guidelines (pdf) 

COVID-19 Laboratory Guidelines 

COVID-19 Testing Approval Form (fillable pdf) 

Strategies for alternate infection prevention and control guidance (pdf)

COVID-19 Risk Assessment (pdf) contains tables to determine risk level of both symptomatic and asymptomatic persons, and a separate table for asymptomatic healthcare providers who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

A list of approved disinfectants has been produced and published by the EPA. It can be viewed on the EPA Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 webpage. 

Kansas Essential Functions Request Site

The Governor’s Office has established a website for businesses to request Essential Function exemptions. Please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/  and fill out the form online.

Best Practices for Construction Sites - download PDF

Best Practices for Riley County Businesses & Employers Open to the Public - download PDF

Outside the store: 

• If there is crowding, limit the number of customers allowed to enter the store. Staff an employee at the front door and, as one (1) customer leaves, allow another customer in.
• Post signs at the front door informing customers of occupancy limits.
• Cue customers on the sidewalk in front of the store and post signs along the line urging customers to encourage a social distancing of six (6) feet.
• Place carts and hand baskets at the front of the store and clean handles before bringing them into the store or providing them to a customer.
• Maximize curbside pickup of walk-up customers and online orders.

Inside the store:

• At point-of-sale registers, limit the lines and post signs at each register urging customers to maintain a social distancing of six (6) feet.
• Post social distancing signs and floor markings in key areas throughout the store.
• Place hand sanitizer available at every open register.
• Routinely clean the store and have soap and water available in restrooms.
• Keep meeting rooms and offices doors open and eliminate closed room meetings.

Action Items:

• Make alcohol-based hand sanitizer available for customers and other visitors.
• Encourage employees to stay home if they are sick. If possible, extend time off policy to make sure team members have every opportunity to seek medical attention, if needed.
• Encourage visitors at increased risk of severe illness to stay at home or otherwise avoid facilities.
• Suspend non-essential visits to facilities.
• Observe and encourage social distancing measures.
• Routinely clean stores and increase spot cleaning of high traffic areas and restrooms, using CDC approved disinfectants.
• Limit large meetings and gatherings and hold meetings in open, well-ventilated, well-spaced areas. Use teleconferencing for meetings, when practical.
• Constantly monitor and meet regularly to review the situations in facilities.

Employees: 

Advise employees to use preventive measures similar to those that help prevent the spread of the flu, as recommended by the CDC:

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds frequently.  Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is unavailable.
• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when the cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when they are sick, except to receive medical care.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Make sure to get proper rest.

Questions

Riley County Health Department

Email rileycountycovid19@gmail.com