Kansas coronavirus death toll rises to 4, with 202 cases
Margaret Stafford | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 7 months AGO
Lawrence Memorial Hospital personnel work at a drive-thru virus testing facility In Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, March 26, 2020. Tests are by appointment only. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Lawrence Memorial Hospital personnel wait for the next patient to arrive for a drive-thru virus test In Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, March 26, 2020. Tests are by appointment only. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
A Lawrence Memorial Hospital nurse works at a drive-thru virus testing facility In Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, March 26, 2020. Tests are by appointment only. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
A shopper is separated from a clerk by a plexiglass panel as she checks out at a Hy-Vee grocery store Thursday, March 26, 2020 in Overland Park, Kan. Stores have begun installing the shields in checkout aisles as a precaution to protect clerks and help stop the spread the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A man gathers his groceries after checking out at a Hy-Vee grocery store Thursday, March 26, 2020 in Overland Park, Kan. Stores have begun installing plexiglass shields in checkout aisles as a precaution to protect clerks and help stop the spread the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas health officials reported more than 200 confirmed coronavirus cases and a fourth death Friday, and the state's health director said he doesn't expect the spread of the virus to peak until mid- to late April.
All four of the state's deaths occurred in the Kansas City area, with the latest a man in his 80s with underlying health conditions who died Thursday, health officials said.
The state reported at least 202 confirmed cases of the virus, an increase of 34 from Thursday.
WHEN WILL THE VIRUS PEAK?
Dr. Lee Norman, the state's health secretary, said at a news briefing Friday that data suggests the state's coronavirus spread will peak in mid- to late April and he forecast that Kansas could record at least 900 cases.
Norman acknowledged that the forecast supposes that people in the state will follow health officials' advice to stay home as much as possible. He said he was concerned that many still don't seem to be taking the pandemic seriously.
If the data is accurate, Norman is optimistic the state's health care system will have the capacity to treat all the patients without resorting to commandeering hotels or building temporary facilities, as some other states have done.
The state's testing laboratory is getting new equipment that will help increase testing from the current 175 tests per day to as many as 1,000 per day. Private labs in Kansas also are increasing the number of tests they are running, which helps the state's response to the virus, he said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
Coronavirus-related developments in Kansas:
KANSAS EXTENDS TRAVEL QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS
State health officials said residents who travel to Colorado and Louisiana on Friday or later must self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to Kansas.
Previously, the state had required quarantines for four specific counties in Colorado but said Friday that will be expanded to the entire state of Colorado.
Kansas already requires self-quarantines for anyone who traveled to California, Florida, New York and Washington state on or after March 15; traveled to Illinois or New Jersey on or after March 23; took boat cruise or river cruise on or after March 15, or traveled internationally on or after March 15.
The restrictions do not apply to anyone needed for critical jobs during the pandemic.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM
The University of Kansas Health System says it is caring for 18 COVID-19 patients.
Hospital officials said in a news briefing Friday that two more people were admitted with the virus on Thursday. Ten of the 18 are in the intensive care unit and six are on ventilators. The other patients are in a unit dedicated to COVID-19 patients
KANSAS STATE GRADUATION CHANGES
Kansas State University says students whose spring graduation ceremony has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic will be honored during the fall 2020 commencement in December.
Kansas State has moved to remote classes for the rest of the semester, as have most other universities and colleges in the state.