The City-Cowley County Health Department has reported another COVID-19 case, according to a news release Monday.
On Sunday, Cowley County Public Health Officer Thomas Langer was notified of a Cowley County resident that became infected with COVID-19 while working in another Kansas community.
The worker was tested due to a cluster outbreak at the worksite and found to test positive for the virus.
The individual has returned home to Cowley County to recover from the illness and as such the Health Department is monitoring the recovery while the person is under quarantine.
“The Health Department has accepted the case of COVID-19 bringing our total case count to four in Cowley County,” said Thomas Langer, Cowley County Public Health Officer. “The patient is a young adult in otherwise good health with no known pre-existing health issues. This patient has had absolutely no interaction in the community and has just returned home to recover.”
Since a national emergency proclamation was issued by the White House on March 13, the City-Cowley County Health Department has confirmed six positive cases, but two of those cases involved individuals who either live out of the county or have dual-residency in another county. Those records have been transferred to their respective county health departments.
Local cases consist of one woman, an Ark City man who died a week after testing positive, a Creekstone employee and this case.
Monday morning the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 8,340 positive COVID-19 cases across the state, including 740 hospitalizations, 173 deaths and 58,650 negative tests.
Also as of Monday morning, the City-Cowley County Health Department reports 432 tests have been administered in the county with 36 of them pending results.
Kay County, Oklahoma, now has 50 cases. Deaths remain at seven. Kay NewsCow reported a new case at a nursing home facility in Ponca City Monday.
“Cowley County is home to a number of people who work outside of our communities,” stated Langer. “As we have discussed before the mobility of our society and our ability to move about freely comes with added risk for exposure. Whenever you are in another jurisdiction for work, leisure or business you assume the risks of the population you interact with.
“While our COVID-19 case numbers have been low we know that it is not that way in several communities in the state. Please take all the necessary precautions to not bring home more than you bargained for.”
Langer said it is important to maintain precautions.
“The evidence that COVID-19 is present in our community continues to grow,” he said. “Please continue to take all the required precautions to protect your health and if you feel ill; stay home, do not go out or to work, contact your health care professional or the health department and be tested.
“Practice safe social distancing and enhanced personal hygiene. Wear a mask when in crowed areas if you can do so properly, practice frequent handwashing, avoid touching your face and disinfect hard surfaces frequently around your homes and workplaces.
“The battle against COVID-19 is real and will continue, please stay well.”
