(RILEY COUNTY, KS – April 3, 2020) There are currently 9 positive cases of coronavirus in Riley County. Two of those positive cases are being treated at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. There are 13 tests pending and over 20 people who are being monitored by the Riley County Health Department (RCHD). There have been 75 negative tests in the county so far.
The most recent positive cases are all travel associated. They are linked to travel outside the community or close contact to other people who have traveled and tested positive for COVID-19.
“As the number of positive cases in Riley County continues to rise, we need everyone to stay vigilant to help stop the spread of this virus in our community," Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs said. "Your actions directly impact others. Stay home, stay safe, and save lives."
A new mapping feature available through the Riley County Response Hub at www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus assigns a score on the Social Distancing Index to let residents know how well they are following guidelines. The data is compiled using travel data for each county. Riley County is currently scored as a B, indicating the community has reduced travel by 30-40%.
The 4:15 p.m. daily video updates will now be held virtually, and will continue to be broadcast on Facebook Live.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, should call a medical professional immediately. A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.
The Q&A hotline at 785-587-4526 will remain active for voicemail only. Please email general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County to [email protected].
Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/.
For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, visit the Riley County website at https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19, follow RCHD on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.
