(RILEY COUNTY, KS – March 2, 2022) Riley County has identified 188 new positive COVID-19 cases and 386 additional recoveries since the last report on February 16. A total of 132 of those cases were reported in the last 2 weeks, the remainder represent delayed reporting from previous weeks. There are currently 46 active COVID-19 cases in Riley County.
Five additional deaths have been reported for COVID-positive patients who passed in December, January, and February. Four of the deceased patients were unvaccinated. Most recently, a 60 year-old vaccinated male passed away February 24 after testing positive January 20. His passing represents the 79th COVID-related death in the county.
At the height of the omicron surge in January, hundreds of new positive patients were being identified each day and Ascension Via Christi Hospital was caring for 23 COVID-positive patients. The hospitalization rate has dropped by 83% since early January and Via Christi is currently caring for 4 COVID-positive patients.
The two-week rolling percent positivity rate fell to 6.85% for the current period. The positivity rate was 16.64% for the previous two-week period.
“Over the past two years we’ve learned to respond quickly to change, ramping up the COVID response to help keep people safe and then easing restrictions as the threat decreased,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Thankfully, the community is now in a position to resume more of the social activities we all love. The health department will remain alert and active, and we will let you know if a new variant poses concerns locally. We’ll also continue to provide COVID testing, vaccinations, and information to the public. COVID will continue to be part of our lives, but it is not currently an emergency situation for Riley County. ”
Last Friday, the CDC released a new Community Level tool to help counties decide what prevention steps to take based on local data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by the number of hospital beds being used for COVID patients, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Riley County currently has a community risk level of MEDIUM.
Riley County COVID-19 Statistics for March 2, 2022
- Total positive cases in Riley County residents: 13,400
- Total active: 46
- Total recovered: 13,275
- Total deaths: 79
Percent Positive
Two-Week Rolling Percent Positivity Rate: 6.85%
- Tested Positive: 132
- Tested Negative: 1,795
- Total Tested: 1,927
Week 7 (February 13 - 20): 8.39%
- Total Positives: 97
- Total Tested: 1,156
Week 8 (February 14 - 26): 4.54%
- Total Positives: 35
- Total Tested: 771
Contact Riley County Health Department
- COVID-19 Test (785) 323-6400
- COVID-19 Vaccine (785) 565-6560
KDHE will continue to offer free COVID-19 PCR tests at 3019 Anderson Avenue, Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through March 31. The KDHE test site is also distributing free N95 masks to the public. Each person may have up to three N95 masks.
The Riley County Health Department continues to provide rapid testing for symptomatic patients by appointment Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Please call (785) 323-6400 Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon to schedule an appointment. Free take home tests are also available at the health department while supplies last.
“Staying home if you are sick is one cultural change that I hope will last well beyond COVID-19,” said Gibbs. “No one wants to spread COVID, flu, or even colds to their friends, classmates, or coworkers. Please continue to stay home if you are sick. You will find that you will recover from mild illness faster if you rest, drink plenty of fluids, and follow the advice of your doctor.”
COVID-19 updates will be posted every other week. The next written update will be published Wednesday, March 16, 2022. However, data for test results in Riley County is reported directly to KDHE and CDC on a daily basis through internal systems using information from state and private labs, doctors’ offices, and testing facilities.
Find statistics for Riley County and learn more about the local COVID-19 response at https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1857/Novel-Coronavirus-2019-nCoV.
CDC Community Level Tool https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
