3 Virus-Related Deaths Reported Friday; Total County Deaths Rise To 8 Since March

Posted By: Brady Bauman October 4, 2020

The City-Cowley County Health Department reported a spike in COVID-related deaths Friday.

According to the health department, three were reported on Friday alone.

As of Sunday afternoon, eight deaths in Cowley County have been connected to COVID-19 since March and five of those deaths have been reported since an elderly Ark City man died on Sept. 19.

Cowley County Public Health Officer Thomas Langer told KSOK-NewsCow Sunday all three of the individuals who died first became ill in August and were transferred to hospitals outside of Cowley County.

Two women from Winfield and an Ark City man were the deceased.

One woman was in her 80s, the other in her 50s and the Ark City man was in his 50s.

Langer said when patients are treated outside the county, different information protocols are in place.

“When that occurs we (the Health Department) will not be directly informed about the patients care or recovery,” Langer said Sunday. “We will learn of their return to the community when recovered, however if they remain hospitalized and perish, we are not informed directly.

“That information is reported through a registry at the state where doctors input the cause of death and other underlying issues.”

The fifth death, reported by the health department a day after the fourth was posted on Sept. 23, was a man in his 60s who also became ill in August and was hospitalized.

When asked if there were other cases involving county residents in severe or critical condition due to the virus, Langer wouldn’t say, but cautioned how unpredictable the virus can be.

“Not that I can say,” Langer answered. “Any case has the potential to take a turn for the worse.”
 
Langer said experiences with the virus vary, depending on the person infected.
 
“I do know that several people have had long struggles with their illness and then, conversely, many have barely been effected by it,” he said. “That’s of course evidence that not everyone is the same and additionally that this virus can affect people differently even within family units.
 
“I will reiterate what I have said previously, COVID-19 doesn’t seem to be a big deal until it effects you, and then it’s an enormous deal. Stay safe follow all the precautions.”
 
The health department’s website says there are 36 virus cases are active in the county. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported Friday 407 total cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the county since a national emergency proclamation was issued by the White House on March 13. 
 
According to the City-Cowley County Health Department’s online information, 323 people in the county have recovered and 5,194 tests have been administered since March. Cowley County has a population of roughly 35,000.
 
Statewide in Kansas, KDHE reported Friday 61,111 positive tests have been confirmed since March, including 2,983 hospitalizations, 698 deaths and 470,006 negative tests.
 
According to those numbers, 531,117 tests have been administered in Kansas. Kansas’ population is 2.9 million. 
 
KDHE reports 213 total cases so far for Sumner County, 1,012 for Butler County, and 9,276 total cases since March for Sedgewick County.
 
Kay County, Oklahoma, has confirmed 675 total cases and deaths there have risen to 14.
 
The state of Oklahoma has totaled 90,748 positive cases so far and deaths now number 1,051. 
 
The City-Cowley County Health Department issued a press release on its Facebook page with a reminder of proper protocol regarding COVID-19. 
 
It can be read below:

A letter to the Cowley County community from our Public Health Officer.

Posted by City-Cowley County Health Department on Friday, October 2, 2020