COVID-19 positivity rates within Finney County have increased and decreased in the past month.
Colleen Dress, Finney County Health Department director, updated the Finney County Commission on the state of COVID-19 within the county at Monday s regular commission meeting.
In the county, from Nov. 22-28 a total of 223 cases for a positivity rate of 48%. The positivity rate increased to 65%, with a total of 297 cases, for the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 5, but decreased to 41%, with 175 positive cases, the week of Dec. 6-12.
The decrease from 65% to 41% is significant, Drees said. There was also a significant decrease in testing in the last several weeks as well.
By The Telegram staff
Finney County added 17 new positive confirmed COVID-19 cases for an overall total of 5,312 as of Friday, with an increase to 577 active positive cases being monitored.
Of the Finney County cases, there are 14 individuals currently hospitalized, and there has been a total of 34 deaths. A total of 8,599 cases have tested negative for COVID-19. There are 58 cases pending as of Friday.
New Monday numbers for Finney County were unavailable by press time.
Local health officials have determined there is evidence of community spread of the disease. The Finney County Health Department defines community spread as “five or more positive cases where the source is unable to be traced.”
Changes made to USD 457 Athletics/Activities District Plan
Garden City Telegram
Changes were approved for the Athletics/Activities District Plan on Dec. 17 at the Garden City Unified School District 457 Board of Education meeting.
The board approved the changes 7-1, with board member Jennifer Standley dissenting.
The changes allow for activities and athletics for grades seven through 12 to follow the District Level baseline for activities and competitions and practices.
Drew Thon, Garden City High School athletic director and assistant principal, said the reasoning behind this was for equity, to allow everybody to be on the same page as far as activities, athletics and practice.
By The Telegram staff
Finney County added 29 new positive confirmed COVID-19 cases for an overall total of 5,295 as of Thursday, with a decrease to 561 active positive cases being monitored.
Of the Finney County cases, there are 17 individuals currently hospitalized, and there has been a total of 34 deaths. A total of 8,564 cases have tested negative for COVID-19. There are 56 cases pending as of Thursday.
Local health officials have determined there is evidence of community spread of the disease. The Finney County Health Department defines community spread as “five or more positive cases where the source is unable to be traced.”
Additional information, including preventative measures, can be found at www.finneycounty.org/Coronavirus .
Garden City’s face covering ordinance has been extended.
The Garden City Commission approved a 30-day extension to its face covering ordinance at its regular commission meeting Tuesday.
The extension was approved by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Manny Ortiz and Roy Cessna dissenting.
Originally, the ordinance approved at the city’s Nov. 17 regular meeting was designed to expire after 30 days unless extended by a majority vote of the commission prior to its expiration.
The commission will review the ordinance again at its Jan. 5 regular meeting.
Callie Dyer, executive director of LiveWell Finney County and a member of the city’s Community Health Advisory Board spoke on behalf of CHAB in favor of the ordinance’s extension.