By the Associated Press and KFDI News:
Kansas no longer has any counties free of reported coronavirus cases after another weekend surge pushed its total number for the pandemic past 38,000.
The state Department of Health and Environment said Monday that Kansas saw another 1,545 confirmed and probable cases since Friday, an increase of 4.2%. The total since the pandemic began is 38,401.
The health department said all 105 of the state’s counties have had a confirmed or probable case. Rawlins and Wallace counties in western Kansas had remained the only two without a reported case for more than a month before the department said Monday that they had one case each.
Governor Kelly called it “an alarming trend in the wrong direction” during her news conference Monday afternoon. She is urging people to continue to follow public health practices such as the wearing of masks, social distancing and avoiding mass gatherings. She said parents need to set an example for their children as a new school year begins.
Sedgwick County is now reporting a total of 6,351 cases since the pandemic began, with 48 deaths. The county has tested more than 72,757 people. Hospitals are reporting a total of 59 COVID-19 patients, with 35 patients in the ICU, and there are 19 ICU beds available.
