COVID-19

Updated Daily: What We Know So Far About COVID-19 In Kansas

By KMUW News • 9 hours ago

With the situation regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak changing rapidly, we’re compiling news and information here about COVID-19. For more community updates, including reopenings, check out our COVID-19 Resource Center.

How many known cases are in Kansas?

As of July 3, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has confirmed 15,919 cases of COVID-19 (+929 since last report), and 277 deaths (+5). KDHE gives a live update on its Facebook page every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m.

More than 175,000 other people have tested negative for COVID-19.

Sedgwick County, which includes confirmed cases not finalized in KDHE's count, says as of July 4 there have been 1,499 confirmed cases (+67 since last report) and 28 deaths (no change).

The U.S. has had more than 2.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 129,000 deaths.

Wichita Imposes Mask Mandate As Kansas Sees COVID-19 Spike

By Associated Press • 22 hours ago

Kansas reported another big increase in confirmed coronavirus cases Friday, capping its worst two-week spike since the pandemic began and coming as a statewide mask mandate from the governor took effect.

The state Department of Health and Environment reported that Kansas has had 15,919 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, up 929, or 6.2% since only Wednesday. Kansas also has reported 277 COVID-19-related deaths, up five in two days.

The Range | July 3, 2020

By KMUW News • Jul 3, 2020

A new Black Lives Matter mural is underway near 13th and Hillside. This week on The Range, we hear from one of the artists contributing to the piece about how it can help the community pause and reflect.

We also talk to some local theaters raising the curtains once again — and struggling to make money while doing it.

Local Theaters In Kansas Ready To Reopen But Don't Expect A Profit

By Stephan Bisaha • Jul 3, 2020

Curtains have been allowed to lift since Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order ended in late May.

But local theaters are still figuring out how to do so safely. And the ones that have opened are struggling to convince audiences to take a seat.

"People are not buying tickets," said J Basham, owner of The Crown Uptown Theatre in Wichita.

The Crown reopened in early June. To keep the audience safe, the theater cut its capacity in half. But even with fewer seats, Basham says he’s not filling them.

Sedgwick County Commissioners Recommend, But Don't Mandate, Masks

By Hafsa N. Quraishi & Nadya Faulx • Jul 2, 2020

Sedgwick County commissioners voted Thursday not to adopt Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order on masks as a mandate, but instead are recommending that residents mask up when they're out in public.

Some commissioners said they support the order’s intent, but questioned its enforceability.

"We really and truly need to wear our masks when we’re going out," Commissioner David Dennis said, "but the problem is enforcement."

Kansas Doctors Say Wear A Mask Or Brace For Coronavirus Numbers To Keep Going Up

By Brian Grimmett • Jul 2, 2020

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WICHITA, Kansas — A month ago, the University of Kansas Hospital had as few as nine of its beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. Now, it’s about twice that.

When the coronavirus-driven statewide shutdown began to go away in mid-May, clinicians in Kansas were confirming about 100 new infections a day. Now, that number has tripled.

Here's What You Need To Know About The New Mask Mandate In Kansas

By Kansas News Service • Jul 2, 2020

Virtually everyone in Kansas is under an order to wear masks when they’re in public starting Friday.

Yet the executive order, officially issued by Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday, comes with exceptions.

Official Suggests Kansas Blew Chance For Coronavirus Respite

By Associated Press • Jul 2, 2020

Jim McLean / Kansas News Service/File photo

Kansas’ top public health official predicted Wednesday that the state will face steeper increases in coronavirus cases and suggested that it blew its chance for a summer respite from the pandemic by reopening its economy too quickly.

Pandemic Throws Wind Surge A Curve

By Tom Shine • Jul 1, 2020

Even though it was obvious what the outcome would be, that didn’t make the news any easier to take.

Minor League Baseball — and with it, the Wichita Wind Surge — canceled its 2020 season on Tuesday.

KU Reverses Course And Gives Faculty Choice Of Whether To Teach In-Person Classes In The Fall

By editor • Jul 1, 2020

The University of Kansas has reversed course and decided to leave it up to department chairs and directors whether to hold in-person classes this fall.

Faculty members had revolted last week after they were told to return to campus beginning Aug. 24, unless they could invoke an exemption under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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