(RILEY COUNTY, KS – August 31, 2020) Riley County has 112 new positive cases and no (0) recoveries since Friday’s report. There are now 523 active cases, and 394 recovered. A total of 106, or 95%, of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age group.
Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 2 positive patients, and 1 Person Under Investigation (PUI)* at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.
“The more interaction you have with others, the greater your risk of catching the virus,” said Local Health Officer, Julie Gibbs. “Take steps to slow the spread, and when you do have to be around others, make sure to keep your distance and exercise caution.”
The Riley County Health Department (RCHD) also has identified four additional areas of outbreak. The new outbreaks are associated with K-State Football (10), Delta Sigma Phi (8) and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (5) fraternities, and Pi Beta Phi (5) sorority. A COVID-19 outbreak indicates potentially extensive transmission within a setting or organization. An outbreak investigation involves several overlapping epidemiologic, case, and contact investigations, with a surge in the need for public health resources.
Active Outbreaks in Riley County:
- Alpha Delta Pi: 6
- Alpha Xi Delta: 6
- Chi Omega: 5
- Kappa Delta: 7
- K-State Football: 10
- Pi Beta Phi: 5
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon: 5
- Delta Sigma Phi: 8
- Phi Delta Theta: 21
- USD 384 School District Office: 7
“Many of the positive patients and close contacts associated with Greek housing are choosing to complete their isolation and quarantine periods at their permanent residence,” said Gibbs. “We have met with leaders of these organizations, and will continue to encourage communication.”
Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The percentage of positive tests to total test results is an important indicator of how the virus is spreading locally. Last week’s percent positive was 31.18%. Of the 914 tests administered, 285 were positive.
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 uses the percent positive over the last 14 days to assist in making decisions concerning movement between instructional delivery methods. That number calculated for the previous period is 23.05%.
Percent positive:
- August 23-29, WEEK 2020-35
- 31.18%
- 285 positive from 914 tests
- August 16-22, WEEK 2020-34
- 14.50%
- 126 positive results from 869 tests
Percent positive information is updated each Monday and is also posted online in the Data & Info section of the Riley County Coronavirus web page at http://rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus.
Case counts are preliminary and subject to verification.
Riley County Statistics for Monday, August 31, 2020:
- Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 922
- Total active: 523
- Total recovered: 394
- Total deaths: 5
- Pending test results: 165
- Negative test results: 6,824
- Average age: 27.6 years old
- Gender: Female: 48.9% (451), Male 51.1% (471)
- Average age: 27.6 years
- By Gender:
- Female: 48.9% (451)
- Male: 51.1% (471)
The next video update will be Wednesday, September 2 at 4:15 p.m. on the Riley County Health Department’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/.
*Note: A PUI is someone who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.
For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit the Riley County website at www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus, follow RCHD on Facebook at /Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.