Allen and Anderson counties remain among the few counties in eastern Kansas without confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Fingers crossed, officials are hoping this isn’t because of a lower testing rate compared to neighboring counties.
On Friday, local health officials said they were not sure why Allen County shows a lower rate, as clinics continue to test according to state recommendations and facilities have plenty of testing supplies.
No new cases have been reported this week in the four counties served by the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments — Allen, Anderson, Woodson and Bourbon, according to Director Rebecca Johnson.
Allen County has tested 145 people for the virus, a rate of 11.75 per 1,000 residents, according to Friday’s report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Though Allen had consistently had one of the higher testing rates in the region and state, it now lags behind most surrounding counties. Only Bourbon has a lower testing rate, at 10.94.
The testing rate in Anderson County is 17.82; Coffey, 25.92; Crawford, 13.42; Linn, 19.17; Neosho, 12.56; Wilson, 15.37; and Woodson, 15.62.
ALLEN County Regional Hospital has changed its testing procedures this week after Gov. Laura Kelly lifted stay-at-home orders and allowed for elective medical procedures, including surgeries, sleep studies and more.
Those patients are now tested for the virus before receiving medical services, regardless of symptoms, ACRH chief nursing officer Patty McGuffin said.
The hospital and other local health clinics continue to test patients who have symptoms like fever, cough and shortness of breath or if they have traveled to a “hot spot,” such as Kansas City or Lawrence.
The county has plenty of testing supplies and can conduct different types of tests such as nasal or oral, McGuffin said.
The hospital also has changed the way it performs the tests, asking patients to remain in their vehicles and drive around to the back side of the hospital, where they will be met by a lab technician.
It’s likely the county’s testing rate will increase in the coming weeks as the additional tests are counted, she said.
One person is still recovering from the virus in Woodson County, which has seen a total of six cases and no deaths. Bourbon County has reported six total cases, with one death and five who have recovered.
Statewide, 47,638 residents have been tested at a rate of 16.35 per 1,000.
The number of confirmed and probable cases in Kansas climbed by 357 on Friday, to 6,501, though the actual number of cases is thought to be higher because of limited testing and because people can be infected without feeling ill.
Kansas’ COVID-19 death toll rose by five, to 152, according to the state’s count.
