Editor’s note: The Osage County Health Department issued the following press release Wednesday evening.

LYNDON, Kan. – The Osage County Health Department would like to make the community aware that there have been positive cases identified in individuals who have recently attended the Osage County Senior Center, in Osage City, Kan. There are currently three active positive cases possibly associated with attendance at the senior center, of which two were hospitalized. We are asking people who have attended the senior center anytime between July 20 and July 27, 2020, to self-quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms.

Osage County Health Department staff are in the process of contacting individuals who had direct contact with any positive cases; however, we recommend anyone in attendance on those days to self-quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days from the date of their last visit. Symptoms include fever, cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, diarrhea, and/or shortness of breath/difficulty breathing. If symptoms develop, please stay home and contact your health care provider or local health department for guidance on testing. In an emergency, please call 911 and notify first responders that you were potentially exposed to COVID-19 and, if possible, wear a cloth face mask before they arrive.

Health Department staff recommends all citizens take precautions to protect themselves and others from contracting the COVID-19 virus. Preventative measures include social distancing, wearing a mask when in public settings, washing hands frequently, and staying home if you are sick or have a weakened immune system. In addition, staying away from large public gatherings, larger cities or travelling to areas that have a high rate of transmission (currently Florida, cruise ships, or international travel) is advised.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt issued a consumer alert today regarding billing for COVID-19 testing. The Department’s Consumer Assistance Division recently became aware of situations in which federal law was not being followed related to COVID-19 testing.

“Providers and health insurers have a responsibility to ensure claims are processed correctly,” Schmidt said. “Kansans should pay special attention to any charges related to COVID-19 testing to ensure they are not improper. If you have been tested for COVID-19 and
have questions about charges, please contact the [insurance department] for assistance.”

Federal law requires COVID-19 testing without cost sharing (including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) requirements or prior authorization or other medical management requirements, meaning most consumers should not be billed a separate provider or facility fee for receiving a COVID-19 diagnostic test.

Consumers are encouraged to closely review explanation of benefit statements from their insurer to make certain they do not have a cost sharing responsibility for a diagnostic COVID-19 test.

The Kansas Insurance Department has a Consumer Assistance Hotline, 785-296-7829 or 800-432-2484 to assist consumers who believe they were subject to an improper charge.

New COVID-19 cases continue to add up at a steady pace in Osage County, as the health department announced today four additional cases confirmed since its July 9, 2020, report. The county has confirmed a total of 29 positive cases since the pandemic began in March.

Osage County Health Department reported July 14, 2020, it is monitoring 11 active cases in the county, with 18 people reported as recovered from the disease. The department reported 49 people currently quarantined, and 1,006 negative tests recorded since testing began.

At least two school districts in the county have temporarily halted summer sports activities this week due to possible student athletes’ exposure to infected individuals.

See related story: USD 456 MdCV announces possible students’ exposure to COVID-19

MELVERN, Kan. – As Osage County enters the second week of  the final phase of its pandemic reopening plan, another school district in the county has temporarily halted summer sports activities after a group of students was possibly exposed to a COVID-19 infected individual.

USD 456 Marais des Cygnes Valley School District announced this afternoon, Saturday, July 11, 2020, administrators had been made aware today that a group of students was exposed to an individual outside the school district who later tested positive for COVID-19.

“Out of an abundance of caution, all summer conditioning/workouts have been postponed until Thursday, July 16, 2020. By that time, county health departments will have had the opportunity to perform contact tracing, fully inform the individuals involved and more conclusive information will be available to make potential further decisions. We appreciate your understanding and will continue to keep you updated as much as possible,” USD 456’s statement in a social media post said.

The district later noted drivers education and primary summer school will continue as scheduled.

Last week, USD 434 Santa Fe Trail announced activities at Santa Fe Trail High School, specifically summer weights and conditioning, would be postponed until Monday, July 13, due to possible exposure of student athletes to a person who was infected. The Osage County Health Department later reported a new positive case might have affected an athletic team in the county.

USD 434 provided guidelines for students who plan to resume activities Monday: Maintain six feet of separation, and masks and diligent handwashing encouraged. USD 434 students will undergo symptom and temperature checks by staff members.

USD 434’s latest update noted: “Your student should not attend if they have someone positive in the household, a pending COVID-19 test, have COVID-19 symptoms or fever in the last 72 hours, have known exposure, or have been quarantined.

“According to the CDC, COVID-19 symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.”

At the time of this post, the health department had not yet publicly confirmed the possible contacts at Marais des Cygnes Valley schools.

OSAGE COUNTY, Kan. – Osage County recorded four more COVID-19 cases overnight after the county health department announced yesterday a student athletic team in the northern part of the county has been affected by an infected individual.

Osage County Health Department announced this morning the county now has 10 active and 15 recovered cases in the county after announcing yesterday 7 active and 14 recovered. As of today, the health department reports 77 people in the county are under ordered quarantine.

The health department did not report personal details of the newly infected individuals.

The increases in the county come after county commissioners implemented the final phase of the county’s COVID-19 reopening plan and rejected Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency restrictions order last week.

LYNDON, Kan. – With yesterday’s online posting of current COVID-19 cases, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported Osage County gained four active cases over the weekend holiday and Monday. KDHE reported new cases were confirmed in the county with two on July 3, one on July 4, and one on July 6, and showed the county’s total cases since the pandemic began at 18.

In a social media post yesterday, the Osage County Health Department reported five active cases in the county, with 12 recovered and 60 people under quarantine. Today OCHD’s COVID-19 counter shows five active cases in the county with 14 recovered and 51 people quarantined.

An OCHD social media post today stated, “All new cases have been in the north end of the county. No community spread as of yet is indicated. There have been rumors of exposure to student athletes at Santa Fe Trail. Our investigation has indicated that there wasn’t any exposure to students during the patient’s contagious period, per KDHE protocol. Anyone who is considered a close contact has been notified on all positive cases.”

The new cases follow the Osage County commissioners’ action last week to reject Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan to mandate mask wearing in public spaces statewide. The Osage County Board of Health cited the few COVID-19 cases in Osage County and little evidence of community spread of the disease, and that enforcement of the governor’s mandate to wear masks would be difficult, as reasons for exempting the county.

Kelly’s order went into effect July 3, and requires most Kansans to wear a mask while in public spaces and in places where individuals are unable to maintain social distancing of six feet. During a special meeting July 2, county commissioners made the order to exempt Osage County from the governor’s order, following recommendations from the county health board.

As of Monday, Kansas had recorded 16,901 cases, 1,235 hospitalizations, and 280 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began.

Osage County recorded its first case on March 26; so far the most cases recorded in a single day were three on June 27.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Supreme Court today issued an administrative order requiring district and appellate courts to comply with the governor’s order requiring people to wear face coverings in public areas to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Administrative Order 2020-PR-090, effective July 3, 2020, requires district and appellate courts to comply with Gov. Laura Kelly’s Executive Order No. 20-52, requiring the use of face coverings in public, even though the governor’s order exempts court proceedings.

The Supreme Court order requires all court employees, judicial officers, and members of the public to wear a face covering in any courtroom, court office, or other facility used for a court proceeding. Face coverings must also be worn in any nonpublic court office unless physical shields are in place.

Courts are required to comply even if local county commissions opt out of the governor’s executive order.

“We must protect the health and safety of court users, staff, and judicial officers during this pandemic,” Chief Justice Marla Luckert said. “The use of face coverings, hygiene practices, protective shielding, and social distancing will allow us to do that as we conduct court proceedings across the state.”

The Supreme Court order allows a judge to waive the face covering requirement under certain circumstances set out in the order.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has added two states to the COVID-19 quarantine list, South Carolina and Florida, and removed Maryland. This is in effect for persons arriving in or returning to Kansas today, June 29, 2020, and moving forward. The state will review/update this list every two weeks.

A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine for 14 days includes visitors and Kansans who have:

• Traveled to South Carolina and Florida on or after June 29.
• Traveled to Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas on or after June 17.
• Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.
• Traveled internationally on or after March 15.

Others who need to continue quarantining include those who have received notification from public health officials, state or local, that they have been in close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.

States added to this list are determined by evaluating new cases in states over a two-week period, then adjusting for population size, giving a case per 100,000 population, which can then be compared to the rate in Kansas. States with significantly higher rates (approximately three times higher) are added to the list.

Travel quarantines do not prohibit travel through Kansas. People from these locations may still travel through Kansas. If this is done, KDHE recommends limited stops, wearing a mask at rest stops or when getting gas and being six feet from others when doing so. If the destination is Kansas, they would be required to quarantine upon arrival to their destination.

Critical infrastructure sector employees who have traveled to these destinations should contact their employers regarding instructions for application of these quarantine orders. Critical infrastructure employees need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans. KDHE strongly recommends these quarantine restrictions for everyone, but recognizes that services need to continue.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that she will sign an executive order requiring that most Kansans in public spaces must wear a mask, beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 3, 2020.

“This is a simple, proactive step we can take to keep Kansans at work, get our kids back to school, and keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy,” Governor Kelly said. “Wearing a mask is not only safe – but it is necessary to avoid another shut down.

“Remember, my mask protects you, and your mask protects me,” Kelly said. “We’re all in this together.”

Under the order, most Kansans must wear masks in stores and shops, restaurants, and in any situation in which social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained, including outside. The executive order will be released on Thursday, and will provide specific guidance regarding under what circumstances masks must be worn.

“I know Kansans will have many questions about this order – and we will answer them when it is released later this week,” Kelly said. “But by announcing the requirement today, people in our state will have the appropriate time to acquire the masks.”

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office will work with officials in Kelly’s administration to ensure that the order complies with Kansas law.

For more information on COVID-19 in Kansas, visit www.covid.ks.gov.

In a social media post Sunday, the Osage County Health Department announced it had confirmed two new positive cases of COVID-19 in the county, making a total of 13 known cases since the pandemic reached Osage County. Ten people are reported as recovered from the disease, and there are three current active cases and 30 reported as in quarantine, as of today, June 29, 2020.

The new cases are reported to be a 48-year-old female who resides in central Osage County, and a 16-year-old male who lives in the northern part of the county.

The social media post said that close contacts of the individuals have been notified. OCHD reported today that 805 tests have had negative results in the county.

Osage County’s new cases come as Kansas is showing a spike in confirmed cases, having recorded 428 cases Friday, and 238 Saturday. Total, as of today, Kansas has 14,443 positive cases, with 270 deaths. More than 162,000 negative test results have been recorded in the state.

As records levels of COVID-19 cases were being set across the U.S. over the last week, two more states have been added to Kansas’ quarantine list, South Carolina and Florida.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced today that she will issue an executive order requiring people to wear masks in all public spaces, effective July 3, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the United States and yesterday Osage County confirmed its 11th positive COVID-19 case since the pandemic began.

The Osage County Health Department reported in a social media post yesterday, June 25, 2020, that the infected person is a 36-year-old male who lives in the northern part of Osage County. He was reported as being in isolation and doing well.

The health department post said it had been in contact with close contacts of the infected person and they are also quarantined. The department’s COVID-19 counter shows nine people are currently under quarantine in the county.

Osage County currently has one positive case and 10 recovered cases, and 760 people tested have had negative results.