Lansing offices reopen
The Leavenworth Times
After being closed to the public for more than a month, Lansing city offices will reopen their doors next week.
“We’re reopening Monday,” said Ken Miller, city public information officer.
Public access to Lansing offices has been prohibited since Nov. 23. City buildings were temporarily closed to the public following a spike in COVID-19 cases in Leavenworth County.
While the offices have been closed for walk-ins, city employees could still be contacted by email and telephone.
Miller said the decision to reopen the offices came after city officials reviewed the latest data from the Leavenworth County Health Department regarding COVID-19 infection rates.
Commissioners discuss proposal for Cushing building
Company proposes for-profit psychiatric hospital
The Leavenworth Times
A company is proposing to use a portion of the former Saint Luke’s Cushing Hospital building for a for-profit psychiatric hospital.
Representatives of the Tennessee-based CenterPointe Behavioral Health System met Wednesday with Leavenworth County commissioners.
The county government owns the former hospital building.
Officials with CenterPointe propose leasing the third floor and possibly the fourth floor of the Cushing building to operate a 20-bed adult inpatient psychiatric hospital that also offers outpatient services.
Commission Chairman Doug Smith said the proposal is still preliminary.
Officials with CenterPointe planned to tour the former hospital building Wednesday afternoon after their meeting with the County Commission.
129 new cases of virus reported in county
Cases reported at nursing facilities
The Leavenworth Times
The Leavenworth County Health Department has reported 129 additional positive cases of the coronavirus in the county including 66 cases at two nursing facilities.
The additional cases were reported Friday. The Leavenworth County Health Department releases updates about local COVID-19 cases each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Of the 129 new cases, 47 were reported at the Lansing Care and Rehabilitation Center. Nineteen of the county’s new cases were reported at Country Care in Easton.
The Health Department also reported 62 new community cases and one new case among inmates at the Lansing Correctional Facility.
Vaccine expected to arrive in county this week
The Leavenworth Times
While a new COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed around the country, it was unclear Monday how quickly it will be administered in Leavenworth County.
Stephanie Sloop, a spokeswoman for Leavenworth County’s COVID-19 response team, cited information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment indicating the first round of doses will be delivered this week to hospitals in the state.
On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for a vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The vaccine was developed the Pfizer drug company.
Sam Allred, spokesman for Saint John Hospital, said he does not have a timeline for when the Leavenworth hospital will receive doses of the vaccine, but it is anticipated to occur this week.