With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in and around Ellis County, Dr. Heather Harris, chief medical officer at HaysMed, said increasing the local vaccination rate remains the best way to curb another virus outbreak.

"The vaccine is very safe. Over 1 billion people in the world have received it, and there is no data that shows there is any major concern for safety," she said. "People are dying from COVID. They're not dying from the COVID vaccine."

With numbers increasing at a pace not seen since February, Harris said the influx of patients has put a strain on HaysMed's patient capacity. As of Friday, there were 17 COVID inpatients in the hospital — seven in the intensive care unit.

The average age of COVID inpatients since the delta variant began affecting Ellis County has dropped to age 53.

"It's younger people being affected, for the most part healthy," she said. "These are not sick people ... and they're becoming very ill."

Of the 17 patients at HaysMed on Friday, only two were vaccinated — and those patients have an underlying health condition that makes the vaccine less effective.

"We want people to be healthy. So to see younger and younger people becoming hospitalized, becoming very sick is disheartening — especially now that there's a vaccine," Harris said.

According to the Kansas Hospital Association's Aug. 18 update, 42 percent of Ellis County residents have been partially or fully vaccinated, just less than the statewide average of 43.8 percent. Several northwest Kansas counties have vaccination rates below the state average, with Sheridan County's 30 percent rate being among the lowest in the state.

Harris expected those numbers to improve.

"We're seeing a lot of people get vaccinated right now. There has been an uptick," she said.

There have been a handful of "breakthrough" COVID cases in vaccinated individuals locally but Harris said the vaccine still positively affects those patients.

"No healthy adults with healthy immune systems have been hospitalized who've had the vaccine," she said.

HaysMed assumes all COVID cases are likely caused by the more contagious delta variant, noting it takes three weeks to have test samples returned to reach that determination.

"We're no different than the rest of the country —&nbsp;95 percent of the new cases are delta," Harris said. 

The symptoms of delta have been different, she noted. 

"Very high fevers — we didn't see high fevers last time. It's very variable (for each individual), but it looks like a terrible cold, nasal congestion, headaches, cough ... shortness of breath, low on oxygen. We're starting to see ... diarrhea, which we've only seen in the last few weeks."

With allergy season also here, Harris offered advice familiar throughout the pandemic.

"If you don't feel good, stop. Don't go to work. Don't go to school. Stay home, and go get tested," she said, noting current testing offers a one-day turnaround on results. "That way, we can triage the right people and limit the spread.

"People are doing a better job this time. We're starting to see people respond quicker," she added. "Instead of not feeling good for a week and then coming in, people are coming in after a couple of days."

The influx of COVID patients has put a strain on HaysMed's ICU capacity. As of Friday morning, the hospital was not accepting out-of-county transfers.

"This has caused the hospital to be very busy with very sick people," she said. "If you have a bad car wreck ... you're not coming."

Updated 4:30 p.m. Friday to clarify quote.

Harris noted hospital stays for recent COVID inpatients have been lengthy.

"This is not a quick illness. They're being hospitalized for weeks," she said.

Vaccinations come into play with hospital capacity, as well. Noting the 15 unvaccinated COVID inpatients at HaysMed, Harris said, "if everyone would have been vaccinated, we should only have two (of those) people in the hospital right now."

With individuals as young as 12 eligible to be vaccinated, Harris said she "100 percent" believes those younger individuals should receive the shot.

"The risk of them getting sick with COVID outweighs anything the vaccine could cause. One hundred percent on the 12 and up," she said, noting a COVID diagnosis would mean missing school, school activities and other social opportunities. "It takes several weeks to recover from COVID, to quarantine. We want them to stay healthy."

She appreciated Hays USD 489 had put a plan in place that would closely monitor students, staff and teachers, as well as providing for contingencies like a mask requirement should cases spike among the school population.

"They're on it. They're really watching. They did a great job last year, so kudos to them," Harris said. "Our school nurses are working their buns off."

Students — even the youngest —&nbsp;"did amazing" with masks last school year, she said, noting that should it reach that point, she expected the same behavior from students in the future.

With a flurry of misinformation on social media, Harris quickly pointed out two myths she wanted the public to understand clearly.

"This vaccine is safe — really safe," she said, noting the speed of release of the vaccine was aided by years of prior research. "The technology they used to create the vaccine has been out for many years. Because the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html">mRNA technology</a> was there, they were able to match it to the spike protein of this particular virus."

She also pointed out the misconception the vaccine would have an impact on fertility in women.

"It has zero effect on fertility," Harris said. "This new variant is really affecting pregnant women and newborns more than the first. The risk of someone pregnant getting sick is very high."

Another recent development has been a surge in the number of cases of the respiratory disease RSV.

Harris said doctors remain unsure if there is any connection between COVID and the RSV upswing. 

"We're perplexed because there was not a lot of RSV in the winter when we normally see it," she said. "(COVID) has changed the landscape of illness, but RSV is definitely affecting the younger kids .. and some adults."

With the return of students to Fort Hays State University and the beginning of school and school events,  Harris expected Ellis County cases to spike again — almost exactly a year from when the initial spike started.

"Rates will go up the next several weeks," she said. "There's a fix for that. It's called a vaccine."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586876732526.png" alt="Dr. Heather Harris" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Heather Harris</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post"Get a vaccine and don't get sick."With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in and around Ellis County, Dr. Heather Harris, chief medical officer at HaysMed, said increasing the local vaccination rate remains the best way to curb another virus outbreak."The vaccine is very safe. Over 1 billion people in the world have received it, and there is no data that shows there is any major concern for safety," she said. "People are dying from COVID. They're not dying from the COVID vaccine."With numbers increasing at a pace not seen since February, Harris said the influx of patients has put a strain on HaysMed's patient capacity. As of Friday, there were 17 COVID inpatients in the hospital — seven in the intensive care unit.The average age of COVID inpatients since the delta variant began affecting Ellis County has dropped to age 53."It's younger people being affected, for the most part healthy," she said. "These are not sick people ... and they're becoming very ill."<h2>Vaccinated vs. unvaccinated</h2>Of the 17 patients at HaysMed on Friday, only two were vaccinated — and those patients have an underlying health condition that makes the vaccine less effective."We want people to be healthy. So to see younger and younger people becoming hospitalized, becoming very sick is disheartening — especially now that there's a vaccine," Harris said.According to the Kansas Hospital Association's Aug. 18 update, 42 percent of Ellis County residents have been partially or fully vaccinated, just less than the statewide average of 43.8 percent. Several northwest Kansas counties have vaccination rates below the state average, with Sheridan County's 30 percent rate being among the lowest in the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629486759918.png" alt="Kansas Hospital Association" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Hospital Association</figcaption>
 </figure>Harris expected those numbers to improve."We're seeing a lot of people get vaccinated right now. There has been an uptick," she said.There have been a handful of "breakthrough" COVID cases in vaccinated individuals locally but Harris said the vaccine still positively affects those patients."No healthy adults with healthy immune systems have been hospitalized who've had the vaccine," she said.<h2>Delta=COVID</h2>HaysMed assumes all COVID cases are likely caused by the more contagious delta variant, noting it takes three weeks to have test samples returned to reach that determination."We're no different than the rest of the country —&nbsp;95 percent of the new cases are delta," Harris said. The symptoms of delta have been different, she noted. "Very high fevers — we didn't see high fevers last time. It's very variable (for each individual), but it looks like a terrible cold, nasal congestion, headaches, cough ... shortness of breath, low on oxygen. We're starting to see ... diarrhea, which we've only seen in the last few weeks."With allergy season also here, Harris offered advice familiar throughout the pandemic."If you don't feel good, stop. Don't go to work. Don't go to school. Stay home, and go get tested," she said, noting current testing offers a one-day turnaround on results. "That way, we can triage the right people and limit the spread."People are doing a better job this time. We're starting to see people respond quicker," she added. "Instead of not feeling good for a week and then coming in, people are coming in after a couple of days."<h2>Transfers</h2>The influx of COVID patients has put a strain on HaysMed's ICU capacity. As of Friday morning, the hospital was not accepting out-of-county transfers."This has caused the hospital to be very busy with very sick people," she said. "If you have a bad car wreck ... you're not coming."Updated 4:30 p.m. Friday to clarify quote.Harris noted hospital stays for recent COVID inpatients have been lengthy."This is not a quick illness. They're being hospitalized for weeks," she said.Vaccinations come into play with hospital capacity, as well. Noting the 15 unvaccinated COVID inpatients at HaysMed, Harris said, "if everyone would have been vaccinated, we should only have two (of those) people in the hospital right now."<h2>Vaccines for youth</h2>With individuals as young as 12 eligible to be vaccinated, Harris said she "100 percent" believes those younger individuals should receive the shot."The risk of them getting sick with COVID outweighs anything the vaccine could cause. One hundred percent on the 12 and up," she said, noting a COVID diagnosis would mean missing school, school activities and other social opportunities. "It takes several weeks to recover from COVID, to quarantine. We want them to stay healthy."She appreciated Hays USD 489 had put a plan in place that would closely monitor students, staff and teachers, as well as providing for contingencies like a mask requirement should cases spike among the school population."They're on it. They're really watching. They did a great job last year, so kudos to them," Harris said. "Our school nurses are working their buns off."Students — even the youngest —&nbsp;"did amazing" with masks last school year, she said, noting that should it reach that point, she expected the same behavior from students in the future.<h2>Misconceptions</h2>With a flurry of misinformation on social media, Harris quickly pointed out two myths she wanted the public to understand clearly."This vaccine is safe — really safe," she said, noting the speed of release of the vaccine was aided by years of prior research. "The technology they used to create the vaccine has been out for many years. Because the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html">mRNA technology</a> was there, they were able to match it to the spike protein of this particular virus."She also pointed out the misconception the vaccine would have an impact on fertility in women."It has zero effect on fertility," Harris said. "This new variant is really affecting pregnant women and newborns more than the first. The risk of someone pregnant getting sick is very high."<h2>RSV</h2>Another recent development has been a surge in the number of cases of the respiratory disease RSV.Harris said doctors remain unsure if there is any connection between COVID and the RSV upswing. "We're perplexed because there was not a lot of RSV in the winter when we normally see it," she said. "(COVID) has changed the landscape of illness, but RSV is definitely affecting the younger kids .. and some adults."<h2>Around the corner</h2>With the return of students to Fort Hays State University and the beginning of school and school events, Harris expected Ellis County cases to spike again — almost exactly a year from when the initial spike started."Rates will go up the next several weeks," she said. "There's a fix for that. It's called a vaccine."<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AM3gSgvN2Fw"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

HaysMed chief medical officer discusses state of COVID spike

Ellis County has experienced an exponential increase in cases over the last week. This increase in cases
is due to the delta variant. Locally, the vaccine has proven to be highly effective and safe. HMC reports
that almost every patient that has been hospitalized is unvaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, you are
personally accepting an increased risk of hospitalization and death. All three COVID vaccines are safe
and highly effective. The ECHD has an ample supply of vaccines. If you have not registered, please do so
at www.ellisco.net. If you are unable to access the website, you may call 785-628-9440 for assistance
with registration.


Vaccines remain the most effective way to reduce your risk of hospitalization and death if you contract
COVID. The vaccine will not remove all risks of contracting the virus. However, it significantly reduces
your risk of hospitalization and death. Everyone over the age of 12 is eligible and should be vaccinated.
The vaccine will not stamp out this virus. The vaccine will reduce your risk of severe complications from
COVID-19.


An additional dose (i.e. third dose) of mRNA vaccine may be indicated for moderate to severely
immunocompromised persons 12 years and older. Third-dose mRNA vaccines may be interchangeable
for those 18 years and older, with the original manufacturer being recommended. Sign up at
www.ellisco.net.


Due to the reliability and depth of information available on the KDHE dashboard beginning April 1, 2021,
the Ellis County Health Department no longer maintains a separate dashboard. A link to the KDHE
Dashboard is on our website. We encourage everyone to access this information on the KDHE
Dashboard at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas.


<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593005366466.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County Health DepartmentEllis County has experienced an exponential increase in cases over the last week. This increase in cases
is due to the delta variant. Locally, the vaccine has proven to be highly effective and safe. HMC reports
that almost every patient that has been hospitalized is unvaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, you are
personally accepting an increased risk of hospitalization and death. All three COVID vaccines are safe
and highly effective. The ECHD has an ample supply of vaccines. If you have not registered, please do so
at www.ellisco.net. If you are unable to access the website, you may call 785-628-9440 for assistance
with registration.
<h2>What can I do to protect myself</h2>Vaccines remain the most effective way to reduce your risk of hospitalization and death if you contract
COVID. The vaccine will not remove all risks of contracting the virus. However, it significantly reduces
your risk of hospitalization and death. Everyone over the age of 12 is eligible and should be vaccinated.
The vaccine will not stamp out this virus. The vaccine will reduce your risk of severe complications from
COVID-19.
<h2>Third Dose</h2>An additional dose (i.e. third dose) of mRNA vaccine may be indicated for moderate to severely
immunocompromised persons 12 years and older. Third-dose mRNA vaccines may be interchangeable
for those 18 years and older, with the original manufacturer being recommended. Sign up at
www.ellisco.net.
<h2>Data Reporting</h2>Due to the reliability and depth of information available on the KDHE dashboard beginning April 1, 2021,
the Ellis County Health Department no longer maintains a separate dashboard. A link to the KDHE
Dashboard is on our website. We encourage everyone to access this information on the KDHE
Dashboard at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas.

Ellis Co. Health Dept. updates on current COVID uptick

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 24 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;

It was the largest increase between reports since February for Ellis County. The KDHE updates case numbers each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 17 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,914 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 74 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629478701167.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 24 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;It was the largest increase between reports since February for Ellis County. The KDHE updates case numbers each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 17 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,914 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 74 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 24 new COVID cases in Ellis County since Wednesday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 17 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;

The state health department also reported an additional coronavirus-related death, bringing the total to 74.

As of Wednesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 14 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, up from 10 Tuesday.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,890 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 74 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629308799015.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 17 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;The state health department also reported an additional coronavirus-related death, bringing the total to 74.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Wednesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 14 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, up from 10 Tuesday.Since reporting began, there have been 3,890 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 74 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 17 new virus cases, additional death in Ellis Co. since Monday

The University of Kansas Health System

The number of COVID patients at The 
University of Kansas Health System is steady today. 62 people with the 
active virus are being treated, down from 63 yesterday. Only 14 of those
 active patients are vaccinated, and all of them have underlying 
conditions such as solid organ transplants, immunosuppression, cancer, 
lung and heart disease and diabetes. They range in age from 19 to 99 
with the average age in the mid 50’s. 21 of the active patients are in 
the ICU, the same as yesterday. 14 patients are on ventilators, down 
from 16 yesterday. 23 other patients are still hospitalized because of 
COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 22 yesterday. 
That’s a total of 85 patients, the same as yesterday. HaysMed has 10&nbsp; total patients, up from nine yesterday. 

On today’s 
Morning Medical Update, we heard more about the risk to immune 
compromised patients, plus when and how to get a booster 
vaccine.&nbsp;Joining the panel were Peter Jouras who is a bone marrow 
recipient, and Dr. Joseph McGuirk, Division Director, Hematologic 
Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics and Medical Director, Blood and 
Marrow Transplant.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 

Dr. McGuirk discussed new CDC 
guidelines allowing a booster shot for immunocompromised patients. He 
says it really should not be considered a booster but a primary attempt 
at protecting that patient population, and he described the various 
conditions that make someone eligible. He warns that even a third dose 
might not be adequate for some of these patients, and they need to 
continue wearing a mask and avoiding crowds, something they did long 
before COVID. To show the level of vaccine resistance, he recounted what
 he calls a “deeply troubling” story of a 32-year-old nurse who 
contracted leukemia a year and a half ago. She underwent treatment and 
recovered, after almost dying in the ICU. She then had a bone marrow 
transplant and is in complete remission. She has been vaccinated, but 
her husband did not believe in the vaccine for himself or their four 
children. Now because of her low immunity, she’s now got COVID pneumonia
 and her husband is very ill with the virus. In Dr. McGuirk’s words, 
“It’s completely unacceptable and I’ll just be frank, it’s 
irresponsible.” He explained his staff is actively contacting patients 
to coordinate the third shot and suggests any immunocompromised patient 
get one at a pharmacy, even if they have not heard from their doctor. He
 implores everyone to get vaccinated and wear a mask, especially in a 
grocery store, both for themselves and those around them who may be 
immunocompromised. 

Peter Jouras is a bone marrow 
transplant recipient and Dr. McGuirk’s patient. He has no immunity, even
 with two doses of the COVID vaccine, but will be getting his third shot
 next week, in the hopes of mounting some response. He has three 
children in the house between 9 and 13 who spent last year doing online 
classes from home. This year they are all going back to the classrooms. 
He’s glad his children are in the Shawnee Mission School District, which
 requires masks, which should help, but Peter worries about what they 
might bring home. Right now, all of the kids hit the shower as soon as 
they come home, and their clothes go straight to the laundry. He says 
they don’t wear masks in the house, but thinks if the Delta variant 
continues to spread, he may become more isolated into a bedroom. He says
 very bluntly, “If we all tell the truth, it’s not vaccine that’s the 
problem. It’s not Delta that’s the problem. It’s not COVID that’s the 
problem. It’s disinformation that’s the problem.” He begs everyone to 
get vaccinated, saying, “Each day is very precious. And so everybody who
 gets vaccinated, basically I think about that adding one day to my 
life. And I’m very thankful for every single person I see who gets 
vaccinated.”

Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical 
director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas
 Health System, thinks temperature screenings at building entrances 
offer little benefit for the amount of disease they detect because 
people can spread the virus without having any symptoms. The exception 
is healthcare settings, which still required them under federal 
regulations. He also discussed word that the Biden administration may 
announce additional dosing for the general population. In response to a 
question about how much our body can take of “all these preservatives 
and things” in the vaccine, he says there are no preservatives of any 
kind in them. He also says any boosters will not need to have their 
ingredients “tweaked” to cover the new variants as they still offer good
 protection. He adds that no one vaccine is better than another in 
offering protection for the virus. To those who want to believe the 
vaccine doesn’t work because a third dose may be needed, he reminds us 
we already have additional dosing for things like the flu and tetanus.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qT7iRrMylaQ"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The University of Kansas Health SystemThe number of COVID patients at The 
University of Kansas Health System is steady today. 62 people with the 
active virus are being treated, down from 63 yesterday. Only 14 of those
 active patients are vaccinated, and all of them have underlying 
conditions such as solid organ transplants, immunosuppression, cancer, 
lung and heart disease and diabetes. They range in age from 19 to 99 
with the average age in the mid 50’s. 21 of the active patients are in 
the ICU, the same as yesterday. 14 patients are on ventilators, down 
from 16 yesterday. 23 other patients are still hospitalized because of 
COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 22 yesterday. 
That’s a total of 85 patients, the same as yesterday. HaysMed has 10&nbsp; total patients, up from nine yesterday. On today’s 
Morning Medical Update, we heard more about the risk to immune 
compromised patients, plus when and how to get a booster 
vaccine.&nbsp;Joining the panel were Peter Jouras who is a bone marrow 
recipient, and Dr. Joseph McGuirk, Division Director, Hematologic 
Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics and Medical Director, Blood and 
Marrow Transplant.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629227215027.png" alt="Peter Jouras, bone marrow recipient" />
 <figcaption>Peter Jouras, bone marrow recipient</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. McGuirk discussed new CDC 
guidelines allowing a booster shot for immunocompromised patients. He 
says it really should not be considered a booster but a primary attempt 
at protecting that patient population, and he described the various 
conditions that make someone eligible. He warns that even a third dose 
might not be adequate for some of these patients, and they need to 
continue wearing a mask and avoiding crowds, something they did long 
before COVID. To show the level of vaccine resistance, he recounted what
 he calls a “deeply troubling” story of a 32-year-old nurse who 
contracted leukemia a year and a half ago. She underwent treatment and 
recovered, after almost dying in the ICU. She then had a bone marrow 
transplant and is in complete remission. She has been vaccinated, but 
her husband did not believe in the vaccine for himself or their four 
children. Now because of her low immunity, she’s now got COVID pneumonia
 and her husband is very ill with the virus. In Dr. McGuirk’s words, 
“It’s completely unacceptable and I’ll just be frank, it’s 
irresponsible.” He explained his staff is actively contacting patients 
to coordinate the third shot and suggests any immunocompromised patient 
get one at a pharmacy, even if they have not heard from their doctor. He
 implores everyone to get vaccinated and wear a mask, especially in a 
grocery store, both for themselves and those around them who may be 
immunocompromised. Peter Jouras is a bone marrow 
transplant recipient and Dr. McGuirk’s patient. He has no immunity, even
 with two doses of the COVID vaccine, but will be getting his third shot
 next week, in the hopes of mounting some response. He has three 
children in the house between 9 and 13 who spent last year doing online 
classes from home. This year they are all going back to the classrooms. 
He’s glad his children are in the Shawnee Mission School District, which
 requires masks, which should help, but Peter worries about what they 
might bring home. Right now, all of the kids hit the shower as soon as 
they come home, and their clothes go straight to the laundry. He says 
they don’t wear masks in the house, but thinks if the Delta variant 
continues to spread, he may become more isolated into a bedroom. He says
 very bluntly, “If we all tell the truth, it’s not vaccine that’s the 
problem. It’s not Delta that’s the problem. It’s not COVID that’s the 
problem. It’s disinformation that’s the problem.” He begs everyone to 
get vaccinated, saying, “Each day is very precious. And so everybody who
 gets vaccinated, basically I think about that adding one day to my 
life. And I’m very thankful for every single person I see who gets 
vaccinated.”Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical 
director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas
 Health System, thinks temperature screenings at building entrances 
offer little benefit for the amount of disease they detect because 
people can spread the virus without having any symptoms. The exception 
is healthcare settings, which still required them under federal 
regulations. He also discussed word that the Biden administration may 
announce additional dosing for the general population. In response to a 
question about how much our body can take of “all these preservatives 
and things” in the vaccine, he says there are no preservatives of any 
kind in them. He also says any boosters will not need to have their 
ingredients “tweaked” to cover the new variants as they still offer good
 protection. He adds that no one vaccine is better than another in 
offering protection for the virus. To those who want to believe the 
vaccine doesn’t work because a third dose may be needed, he reminds us 
we already have additional dosing for things like the flu and tetanus.

🎥 Doctors talk COVID boosters and the immune-compromised

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. experts are expected to recommend COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after they received their second dose of the shot, to ensure lasting protection against the coronavirus as the delta variant spreads across the country.

Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated would be needed as early as this fall, reviewing case numbers in the U.S. as well as the situation in other countries such as Israel, where preliminary studies suggest the vaccine’s protection against serious illness dropped among those vaccinated in January.

An announcement on the U.S. booster recommendation was expected as soon as this week, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Doses would only begin to be administered widely once the Food and Drug Administration formally approves the vaccines. That action is expected for the Pfizer shot in the coming weeks.

Last week, U.S. health officials recommended boosters for some with weakened immune systems, citing their higher risk of catching the virus and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness waned over time.

The director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, said Sunday the U.S. could decide in the next couple weeks whether to offer coronavirus booster shots to Americans this fall.

Among the first to receive them could be health care workers, nursing home residents and other older Americans, who were some of the first Americans to be vaccinated once the shots received emergency use authorization last December.

Since then, more than 198 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 168 million fully vaccinated. Still, the country is experiencing a fourth surge of virus cases due to the more transmissible delta variant, which is spreading aggressively through unvaccinated communities but is also responsible for an increasing number of so-called “breakthrough infections” of fully vaccinated people.

Israel, which exclusively administered the Pfizer shot, has been offering a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who were already vaccinated more than five months ago in an effort to control its own surge in cases from the delta variant.

For months, officials had said data still indicated that people remain highly protected from COVID-19, including the delta variant, after receiving the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen or the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. But U.S. health officials made clear Sunday they are preparing for the possibility that the time for boosters may come sooner than later.

“There is a concern that the vaccine may start to wane in its effectiveness,” Collins said. “And delta is a nasty one for us to try to deal with. The combination of those two means we may need boosters, maybe beginning first with health care providers, as well as people in nursing homes, and then gradually moving forward” with others, such as older Americans who were among the first to get vaccinations.

He said because the delta variant only started hitting the U.S. hard in July, the “next couple of weeks” of case data will help the U.S. make a decision.

Officials were continuing to collect information as well about the J&amp;J vaccine, which was only approved in the U.S. in late February, to determine when to recommend boosters, one of the officials said.

The White House has said that even though the U.S. has begun sharing more than 110 million vaccine doses with the world, the nation has enough domestic supply to deliver boosters to Americans should they be recommended by health officials.

Global health officials, including the World Health Organization, have called on wealthier and more-vaccinated countries to hold off on booster shots to ensure the supply of first doses for people in the developing world.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. experts are expected to recommend COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after they received their second dose of the shot, to ensure lasting protection against the coronavirus as the delta variant spreads across the country.Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated would be needed as early as this fall, reviewing case numbers in the U.S. as well as the situation in other countries such as Israel, where preliminary studies suggest the vaccine’s protection against serious illness dropped among those vaccinated in January.An announcement on the U.S. booster recommendation was expected as soon as this week, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.Doses would only begin to be administered widely once the Food and Drug Administration formally approves the vaccines. That action is expected for the Pfizer shot in the coming weeks.Last week, U.S. health officials recommended boosters for some with weakened immune systems, citing their higher risk of catching the virus and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness waned over time.The director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, said Sunday the U.S. could decide in the next couple weeks whether to offer coronavirus booster shots to Americans this fall.Among the first to receive them could be health care workers, nursing home residents and other older Americans, who were some of the first Americans to be vaccinated once the shots received emergency use authorization last December.Since then, more than 198 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 168 million fully vaccinated. Still, the country is experiencing a fourth surge of virus cases due to the more transmissible delta variant, which is spreading aggressively through unvaccinated communities but is also responsible for an increasing number of so-called “breakthrough infections” of fully vaccinated people.Israel, which exclusively administered the Pfizer shot, has been offering a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who were already vaccinated more than five months ago in an effort to control its own surge in cases from the delta variant.For months, officials had said data still indicated that people remain highly protected from COVID-19, including the delta variant, after receiving the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen or the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. But U.S. health officials made clear Sunday they are preparing for the possibility that the time for boosters may come sooner than later.“There is a concern that the vaccine may start to wane in its effectiveness,” Collins said. “And delta is a nasty one for us to try to deal with. The combination of those two means we may need boosters, maybe beginning first with health care providers, as well as people in nursing homes, and then gradually moving forward” with others, such as older Americans who were among the first to get vaccinations.He said because the delta variant only started hitting the U.S. hard in July, the “next couple of weeks” of case data will help the U.S. make a decision.Officials were continuing to collect information as well about the J&amp;J vaccine, which was only approved in the U.S. in late February, to determine when to recommend boosters, one of the officials said.The White House has said that even though the U.S. has begun sharing more than 110 million vaccine doses with the world, the nation has enough domestic supply to deliver boosters to Americans should they be recommended by health officials.Global health officials, including the World Health Organization, have called on wealthier and more-vaccinated countries to hold off on booster shots to ensure the supply of first doses for people in the developing world.

US to recommend COVID vaccine boosters for all 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 13 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;

As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported nine COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,873 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629134394286.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 13 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported nine COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,873 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 13 new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;

As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 10 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,860 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628877370183.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="ECHS COVID-19 Update: Aug. 13, 2021" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=6rd2f-10b3bda-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 10 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,860 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

🎙12 new COVID cases in Ellis Co.; Kennedy discusses online misinformation

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 15 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;

As of Tuesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 12 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,848 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628700839344.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 15 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Tuesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 12 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,848 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 15 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. since Monday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 11 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 3,833 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628530780655.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 11 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported nine COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,833 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 11 new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 11 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;

As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported eight COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,822 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628276081016.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 11 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported eight COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,822 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 11 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported seven new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 3,811 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

As of Wednesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported eight COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628104986317.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported seven new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 3,811 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.As of Wednesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported eight COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

KDHE: Seven new virus cases in Ellis County since Monday

Ellis County Health Department has Pfizer, Moderna and J&amp;J COVID-19 vaccine available for anyone that desires to be vaccinated.

If you do not have access to internet, call 785-628-9440 to have the form
completed for you.


<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593005366466.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County Health Department has Pfizer, Moderna and J&amp;J COVID-19 vaccine available for anyone that desires to be vaccinated.<ol>
 <li>Pfizer is available for individuals 12 years of age and older. o Individuals under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
 o Following state guidance individuals under 18 will need to provide one form of
identification at the time of administration. Acceptable forms of ID include.

							-Driver’s License

								-Birth Certificate issued by a state or local government.

								-Current U.S. Passport

								-Permanent resident card

								-Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship

								-Life insurance policy with birthdate</li><li>Individuals who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine must complete the online registration
located at www.ellisco.net. Click on the Vaccine Registration Form on the main page.

						</li>
 </ol>If you do not have access to internet, call 785-628-9440 to have the form
completed for you.
<ul>
 <li>You will be able to self-schedule a time that is convenient for you.</li><li>Upon successful completion of online scheduling, you will receive a confirmation email. You will
also receive a reminder 24 hours prior to your appointment time. You can utilize this message
to cancel or reschedule your appointment, if necessary. You do not need to call our office to
cancel or change appointment.

						</li><li>You will need to arrive at the Ellis County Health Department at the time of your appointment.

						</li><li>Second doses will be scheduled at the time of your first vaccination.

						</li><li>All vaccines will be given at the Ellis County Health Department at 2507 Canterbury, Hays, KS
67601 
Register for your opportunity to receive COVID-19 Vaccine at www.ellisco.net.

						</li>
 </ul>

Ellis Co. Health Dept. reminds residents vaccines are available

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported eight new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 3,804 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported eight new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 3,804 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported nine COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

KDHE: Eight new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported two new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 3,796 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.

Due to an ongoing system upgrade at the KDHE, the latest number of deaths in Ellis County were unavailable.

<div><iframe title="ECHS COVID-19 Update: July 30, 2021" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=qs4dt-10a1679-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported two new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 3,796 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported eight COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Due to an ongoing system upgrade at the KDHE, the latest number of deaths in Ellis County were unavailable.

🎙KDHE: Two new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported nine new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 3,794 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.

As of Wednesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported six COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627499447009.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported nine new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 3,794 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.As of Wednesday, the University of Kansas Health System reported six COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Due to an ongoing system upgrade at the KDHE, the latest number of deaths in Ellis County were unavailable.

KDHE: Nine new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Monday

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-07-26/kansas-coronavirus-cases-skyrocket-from-hundreds-to-thousands-per-week">Kansas News Service</a>

Kansas has managed to travel backward in pandemic time. Suddenly it’s February again.

Except this time, the state faces a version of COVID-19 that’s twice as contagious.

The
 delta variant is plowing through a lightly vaccinated population, and 
multiplying fast. In mid-June, Kansas saw hundreds of new cases a week. 
Now, there are thousands of new cases per week.

Say
 you get a shot of Pfizer tomorrow, then the second dose three weeks 
later. A couple more weeks must pass before your body has built up its 
arsenal of antibodies to guard you against hospitalization and death.

“Five
 weeks is a long time,” deputy state health officer Joan Duwve said. 
“That’s just a prime opportunity for this virus to find you, to make you
 sick and to spread to other members of your family.”

Yes, you can
 still catch COVID-19 after getting a vaccine, but misinformation about 
what that means deflects from this simple fact: For the vast majority of
 people, your vaccinated body will be ready for it.

“These are 
just heroic vaccines,” said Vaughn Cooper, who heads the Center for 
Evolutionary Biology and Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. “The 
chief scientific achievements of my lifetime.”

Around 99% of recent coronavirus deaths in the U.S. and 97% of the hospitalizations involved people who were <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/07/16/1017002907/u-s-covid-deaths-are-rising-again-experts-call-it-a-pandemic-of-the-unvaccinated" target="_blank">unvaccinated</a>.

Each day, a few thousand Kansans get a shot of the vaccine that scientists say can stop this pandemic.

Meantime, Kansas hospitals are filling beds fast, and some are <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-07-22/kansas-city-hospitals-at-tipping-point-as-beds-fill-up-with-more-than-just-covid-patients" target="_blank">turning away seriously ill COVID patients from other areas</a> and asking nurses to sign up for extra shifts.

In late April, Kansas identified its first case of the delta variant. Now <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">almost all</a> the COVID cases here are this flavor.

Kansas sits smack dab in the delta zone, wedged between <a href="https://fortune.com/2021/07/21/delta-variant-covid-cases-states-where-its-most-prevalent/" target="_blank">other states</a> with the same problem — most notably, Missouri, where preventable infections are overwhelming hospitals in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/07/delta-missouri-pandemic-surge/619456/" target="_blank">Springfield</a>.

And
 so delta is doing what delta does best: spreading. The Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention lists Kansas as one of 17 states with <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_community" target="_blank">high transmission levels</a> right now.

Not satisfied with hugging the Missouri border, the variant has 
crisscrossed the state, fueling upticks around Junction City, Wichita 
and other areas.

On the past three Mondays, Ascension Via Christi’s St. Francis Hospital in Wichita went from 13 patients to 20 to 46.

Dr. Sam Antonios, Via Christi’s chief clinical officer, described the health system’s staff as “disheartened.”

“They obviously don't want to have to go back to the same level of severity of illness,” he said.

Ascension built up significant stores of protective garb, testing gear and other supplies in the wake of last year’s shortages.

“What
 will continue to be the challenge is getting all the right staff in the
 right places,” he said. “We’re bringing in extra staff where we can and
 where we need to. However, it would be better for us to not have to do 
any of that.”

And that’s possible, scientists say, if people lean on the same tools that helped combat other varieties of COVID-19.

You’ve heard it before. It matters again. Wearing masks. Social distancing. Limiting gatherings to outdoors or <a href="https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/pubs_archive/pubs-pdfs/2021/20210526-school-ventilation.pdf" target="_blank">well-ventilated</a> spaces. Getting the vaccine. Going for a <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/280/COVID-19-Testing" target="_blank">free coronavirus test</a> if you have so much as the sniffles.

Could
 it get as bad as last December, when daily COVID inpatients topped 
1,000 and desperate hospitals spent hours calling each other in search 
of a free bed, only to send critically ill patients hours by ambulance 
out of state to Omaha or whatever other Midwest city had a free spot 
that day?

Experts lean toward “no,” but with significant caveats.

The
 good news: 80% of the state’s residents 65 years and older got 
vaccinated. That group faced the biggest risks from COVID-19. So with 
far fewer older people landing in the hospital, the hope is to avoid 
running out of beds like last winter.

But the other 20% of people over the age of 65 who didn’t get vaccinated are still a lot of people.

And on the whole, less than half the state’s population got the shots. In many counties, less than a third.

That’s not enough to keep such a swift moving variant in check, as Springfield shows.

“We
 don’t, unfortunately, have high enough vaccination in Kansas or 
Missouri” to slow the spread, said Amber D’Souza, a professor of 
epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 
“It’s going to have to be preventive measures — distancing and 
behavioral changes.”

Delta “is just a harder battle,” she said. “Because it is spreading to more people each time someone is infected.”

The new variant generates <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01986-w" target="_blank">far more copies</a>
 of itself in a person, which helps it reach the next one. Even a 
vaccinated person with little in the way of symptoms could pass the 
germs along to an unvaccinated friend, who then gets very ill.

So 
while the U.S. as a whole shouldn’t see inpatient numbers and deaths 
spike as high as last winter, experts like D’Souza warn that some parts of the country could get clobbered just as bad this fall.

Last winter, the U.S. was racking up more than <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases" target="_blank">200,000 new confirmed infections a day</a>,
 which fell to around 10,000 earlier this summer. With the advent of 
delta, the country is back to reporting more than 60,000 a day.

Kansas confirmed nearly 4,000 new cases last week and daily inpatient
 numbers have climbed back to nearly 400. The state hasn’t seen figures 
like that since February.

“It is scary,” said Duwve, from the state health department.

“That
 story has yet to be written,” she said. “Because we as individuals have
 a lot of control over our behavior, and we know that there are things 
we can do to prevent the ongoing spread.”

Schools face a tough decision for that reason: whether to make students mask up when classes restart in a few weeks.

“The
 safest thing to do is to wear masks all the time,” D’Souza said. “But 
there's a cost for that. For everyone's comfort, right?”

The 
ideal, she said, is for school districts to set a threshold. When the 
case rate in their area hits that number, it’s time to put on the masks.

But some school districts might find it difficult to communicate that plan to the public, she said.

So if superintendents have to make a call in August and stick with it, then they’ve got to look at the outlook now.

Apparently, Kansas City doctors think the situation is bad enough to warrant masking up.

Last week, 100 of them signed <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-07-22/despite-covid-surge-and-advice-from-health-experts-most-kansas-schoolkids-wont-have-to-wear-masks" target="_blank">an open letter</a> begging schools to have unvaccinated students and teachers wear masks this fall.

So far just one major Kansas school district — Kansas City, Kansas — has agreed.

Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. 
You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627330587128.png" alt="Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-07-26/kansas-coronavirus-cases-skyrocket-from-hundreds-to-thousands-per-week">Kansas News Service</a>Kansas has managed to travel backward in pandemic time. Suddenly it’s February again.Except this time, the state faces a version of COVID-19 that’s twice as contagious.The
 delta variant is plowing through a lightly vaccinated population, and 
multiplying fast. In mid-June, Kansas saw hundreds of new cases a week. 
Now, there are thousands of new cases per week.That’s why time really matters.Say
 you get a shot of Pfizer tomorrow, then the second dose three weeks 
later. A couple more weeks must pass before your body has built up its 
arsenal of antibodies to guard you against hospitalization and death.“Five
 weeks is a long time,” deputy state health officer Joan Duwve said. 
“That’s just a prime opportunity for this virus to find you, to make you
 sick and to spread to other members of your family.”Yes, you can
 still catch COVID-19 after getting a vaccine, but misinformation about 
what that means deflects from this simple fact: For the vast majority of
 people, your vaccinated body will be ready for it.“These are 
just heroic vaccines,” said Vaughn Cooper, who heads the Center for 
Evolutionary Biology and Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. “The 
chief scientific achievements of my lifetime.”Around 99% of recent coronavirus deaths in the U.S. and 97% of the hospitalizations involved people who were <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/07/16/1017002907/u-s-covid-deaths-are-rising-again-experts-call-it-a-pandemic-of-the-unvaccinated" target="_blank">unvaccinated</a>.Each day, a few thousand Kansans get a shot of the vaccine that scientists say can stop this pandemic.Meantime, Kansas hospitals are filling beds fast, and some are <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-07-22/kansas-city-hospitals-at-tipping-point-as-beds-fill-up-with-more-than-just-covid-patients" target="_blank">turning away seriously ill COVID patients from other areas</a> and asking nurses to sign up for extra shifts.<h2>The delta in Kansas</h2>In late April, Kansas identified its first case of the delta variant. Now <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">almost all</a> the COVID cases here are this flavor.Kansas sits smack dab in the delta zone, wedged between <a href="https://fortune.com/2021/07/21/delta-variant-covid-cases-states-where-its-most-prevalent/" target="_blank">other states</a> with the same problem — most notably, Missouri, where preventable infections are overwhelming hospitals in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/07/delta-missouri-pandemic-surge/619456/" target="_blank">Springfield</a>.And
 so delta is doing what delta does best: spreading. The Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention lists Kansas as one of 17 states with <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_community" target="_blank">high transmission levels</a> right now.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627330645256.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Not satisfied with hugging the Missouri border, the variant has 
crisscrossed the state, fueling upticks around Junction City, Wichita 
and other areas.On the past three Mondays, Ascension Via Christi’s St. Francis Hospital in Wichita went from 13 patients to 20 to 46.Dr. Sam Antonios, Via Christi’s chief clinical officer, described the health system’s staff as “disheartened.”“They obviously don't want to have to go back to the same level of severity of illness,” he said.Ascension built up significant stores of protective garb, testing gear and other supplies in the wake of last year’s shortages.“What
 will continue to be the challenge is getting all the right staff in the
 right places,” he said. “We’re bringing in extra staff where we can and
 where we need to. However, it would be better for us to not have to do 
any of that.”And that’s possible, scientists say, if people lean on the same tools that helped combat other varieties of COVID-19.You’ve heard it before. It matters again. Wearing masks. Social distancing. Limiting gatherings to outdoors or <a href="https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/pubs_archive/pubs-pdfs/2021/20210526-school-ventilation.pdf" target="_blank">well-ventilated</a> spaces. Getting the vaccine. Going for a <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/280/COVID-19-Testing" target="_blank">free coronavirus test</a> if you have so much as the sniffles.<h2>The big question</h2>How bad will it get in Kansas?Could
 it get as bad as last December, when daily COVID inpatients topped 
1,000 and desperate hospitals spent hours calling each other in search 
of a free bed, only to send critically ill patients hours by ambulance 
out of state to Omaha or whatever other Midwest city had a free spot 
that day?Experts lean toward “no,” but with significant caveats.The
 good news: 80% of the state’s residents 65 years and older got 
vaccinated. That group faced the biggest risks from COVID-19. So with 
far fewer older people landing in the hospital, the hope is to avoid 
running out of beds like last winter.But the other 20% of people over the age of 65 who didn’t get vaccinated are still a lot of people.And on the whole, less than half the state’s population got the shots. In many counties, less than a third.That’s not enough to keep such a swift moving variant in check, as Springfield shows.“We
 don’t, unfortunately, have high enough vaccination in Kansas or 
Missouri” to slow the spread, said Amber D’Souza, a professor of 
epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 
“It’s going to have to be preventive measures — distancing and 
behavioral changes.”Delta “is just a harder battle,” she said. “Because it is spreading to more people each time someone is infected.”The new variant generates <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01986-w" target="_blank">far more copies</a>
 of itself in a person, which helps it reach the next one. Even a 
vaccinated person with little in the way of symptoms could pass the 
germs along to an unvaccinated friend, who then gets very ill.So 
while the U.S. as a whole shouldn’t see inpatient numbers and deaths 
spike as high as last winter, experts like D’Souza warn that some parts of the country could get clobbered just as bad this fall.Last winter, the U.S. was racking up more than <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases" target="_blank">200,000 new confirmed infections a day</a>,
 which fell to around 10,000 earlier this summer. With the advent of 
delta, the country is back to reporting more than 60,000 a day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627330675834.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas confirmed nearly 4,000 new cases last week and daily inpatient
 numbers have climbed back to nearly 400. The state hasn’t seen figures 
like that since February.“It is scary,” said Duwve, from the state health department.So what happens next?“That
 story has yet to be written,” she said. “Because we as individuals have
 a lot of control over our behavior, and we know that there are things 
we can do to prevent the ongoing spread.”<h2>The school debate</h2>Schools face a tough decision for that reason: whether to make students mask up when classes restart in a few weeks.“The
 safest thing to do is to wear masks all the time,” D’Souza said. “But 
there's a cost for that. For everyone's comfort, right?”The 
ideal, she said, is for school districts to set a threshold. When the 
case rate in their area hits that number, it’s time to put on the masks.But some school districts might find it difficult to communicate that plan to the public, she said.So if superintendents have to make a call in August and stick with it, then they’ve got to look at the outlook now.Apparently, Kansas City doctors think the situation is bad enough to warrant masking up.Last week, 100 of them signed <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-07-22/despite-covid-surge-and-advice-from-health-experts-most-kansas-schoolkids-wont-have-to-wear-masks" target="_blank">an open letter</a> begging schools to have unvaccinated students and teachers wear masks this fall.So far just one major Kansas school district — Kansas City, Kansas — has agreed.Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. 
You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Kan. COVID cases skyrocket from hundreds to thousands per week 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported no new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;

As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,785 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627325923993.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported no new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,785 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;

KDHE: No new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

The Delta variant of COVID-19 has been identified in Ellis County, but with an effective vaccine available Health Services Director Jason Kennedy said there is little cause for local concern.

"Yes, it is in Ellis County," Kennedy said. "We do currently have one case as credited by the state."

But the work needed to identify variants in positive COVID-19 tests occurs in only about one in ten tests, so the number could potentially be higher, he said.

"We do believe that the Delta variant is probably the primary COVID-19 that we have in Ellis County," Kennedy said.

But so far, there has been no impact seen due to the variant.

"It doesn't seem to be leading to any increased hospitalizations over and above what the standard COVID-19 did," Kennedy said. "It doesn't seem to be leading to any increased mortality above and beyond what COVID-19 (did.)

"Actually, what we are seeing is maybe reduced hospitalizations or reduced mortality from the Delta variant, likely due to vaccines."

Three vaccines have been developed and are all readily available in Hays and Kennedy said they are all highly effective against the COVID-19, including the Delta variant.

"It really doesn't matter which of the three vaccines you get," he said. "Some of them are shown to be slightly more effective, some of them are shown to be slightly less effective, but they are all effective.

"And what we are finding, even with the Delta variant - as with COVID-19 - is that the vaccinated people do not seem to be getting hospitalized, and they are not dying, even if they get COVID-19. 

"Ninety-nine point five percent - 99.5, that's a big number - percent of COVID deaths, right now are in the unvaccinated population. There is no way around that number."

He said cases of COVID-19 in vaccinated people are also sporadic, and those cases are typically mild or asymptomatic.

"The vaccine does appear to be effective, and it is working," Kennedy said. "We have a tool. The only tool that is highly effective and will limit the overall impact of this pandemic is vaccination."

With the number of vaccines that have been given out across the globe, Kennedy said there is also overwhelming data showing they are safe.

"There are all kinds of statistics, but what we know about this vaccine is that it is overwhelmingly safe," he said. "The negative incidents with this vaccine are generally less than what we find with any other vaccine."

But the hesitancy remains, and ultimately he said the unvaccinated make up the majority of cases today.

"Right now, we are in a pandemic of the unvaccinated population," Kennedy said. "And that is just a simple fact. If you don't want to get COVID-19, or if you are fearful that you might get COVID-19, or you are fearful you might spread it to someone else, be vaccinated. Go get vaccinated."

<div><iframe title="Kennedy: Delta variant is here, but we have the tool to stop it" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=rwtaz-109866c-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostThe Delta variant of COVID-19 has been identified in Ellis County, but with an effective vaccine available Health Services Director Jason Kennedy said there is little cause for local concern."Yes, it is in Ellis County," Kennedy said. "We do currently have one case as credited by the state."But the work needed to identify variants in positive COVID-19 tests occurs in only about one in ten tests, so the number could potentially be higher, he said."We do believe that the Delta variant is probably the primary COVID-19 that we have in Ellis County," Kennedy said.But so far, there has been no impact seen due to the variant."It doesn't seem to be leading to any increased hospitalizations over and above what the standard COVID-19 did," Kennedy said. "It doesn't seem to be leading to any increased mortality above and beyond what COVID-19 (did.)"Actually, what we are seeing is maybe reduced hospitalizations or reduced mortality from the Delta variant, likely due to vaccines."Three vaccines have been developed and are all readily available in Hays and Kennedy said they are all highly effective against the COVID-19, including the Delta variant."It really doesn't matter which of the three vaccines you get," he said. "Some of them are shown to be slightly more effective, some of them are shown to be slightly less effective, but they are all effective."And what we are finding, even with the Delta variant - as with COVID-19 - is that the vaccinated people do not seem to be getting hospitalized, and they are not dying, even if they get COVID-19. "Ninety-nine point five percent - 99.5, that's a big number - percent of COVID deaths, right now are in the unvaccinated population. There is no way around that number."He said cases of COVID-19 in vaccinated people are also sporadic, and those cases are typically mild or asymptomatic."The vaccine does appear to be effective, and it is working," Kennedy said. "We have a tool. The only tool that is highly effective and will limit the overall impact of this pandemic is vaccination."With the number of vaccines that have been given out across the globe, Kennedy said there is also overwhelming data showing they are safe."There are all kinds of statistics, but what we know about this vaccine is that it is overwhelmingly safe," he said. "The negative incidents with this vaccine are generally less than what we find with any other vaccine."But the hesitancy remains, and ultimately he said the unvaccinated make up the majority of cases today."Right now, we are in a pandemic of the unvaccinated population," Kennedy said. "And that is just a simple fact. If you don't want to get COVID-19, or if you are fearful that you might get COVID-19, or you are fearful you might spread it to someone else, be vaccinated. Go get vaccinated."While he said the vaccines are effective, he does not believe they should be made mandatory."It's a personal choice," Kennedy said. "It's your right to do that. It is your right not to do that."But he hopes those choosing not to receive the vaccine will consider all of the potential impacts."The vast majority of COVID-19 impacts have just been social impacts," Kennedy said, including extend quarantines and lockdowns. "That's been the vast majority."He said limiting those impacts, alongside the medical impacts, requires vaccinations."If you are vaccinated, and you are next to someone that is positive, you won't be quarantined," Kennedy said. "You will be able to go to work; you can continue to live your life. If you're vaccinated, even in an area that has mask mandates, almost all of them, if you are vaccinated, you don't need to wear a mask. Right now, it is the way for us to continue forward."He said that the pandemic would last longer without more vaccinations, and the push for mandates will continue.And with attention toward the new variant and vaccination rates leveling off, stories of returning mandates and full hospitals may be easy to believe, but are untrue, Kennedy said."That, unfortunately, is an overdramatization of the events," he said. "The hospital has plenty of beds. The hospital has a great staff, the hospital has the tools to treat you if you get COVID-19, and you have tools to protect yourself if you don't want to get COVID-19."And the return of restrictions is unlikely."Right now, there is no outlook for shutdowns in Ellis County," Kennedy said. "There is no outlook for any mandates in Ellis County. We will not close businesses. We will not mandate masks. We will not limit gathering sizes. "The government will not fight the pandemic for you. It is your turn to fight your pandemic."

Coronavirus Update