Kansas top doctor OKs county-jumping for vaccines; Sedgwick Co. lowers eligibility Chance Swaim, The Wichita Eagle
Jan. 22 As Kansas opened COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 65 or older, Sedgwick County announced it is limiting vaccinations to residents over the age of 83 due to a supply shortage that has forced the county to severely limit who gets an early dose of the vaccine.
Sedgwick County officials expect to receive fewer than 2,000 doses next week from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which gets a limited supply through the federal public-private partnership Operation Warp Speed. With almost 77,000 people in Sedgwick County age 65 or older, the county is vaccinating the oldest residents first.
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Jan. 8 Kansas saw 5,504 new COVID-19 cases, 121 deaths and 144 hospitalizations since Wednesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported Friday. Those numbers bring the weekly total to 14,577 cases, or an average of around 2,082 cases a day during the past week, and 269 deaths, which equates to about 38 deaths a day during that time. The 269 deaths ties for the third-highest .
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A mandatory face mask policy and restrictions on restaurants and bars in Sedgwick County will continue for at least another month.
Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns issued a new health order Wednesday that maintains policies that have been in place since early November.
Capacity limits and the 11 p.m. curfew continue for restaurants, bars and social venues. Businesses such as fitness centers and events that attract large crowds must cap attendance at 100 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less.
Minns says limiting gatherings to fewer than 25 people is still necessary to help reduce the coronavirus infection rate.
“The virus is out there, it’s still circulating, he said. By far, 90% of us are still susceptible to it, and if we relax too much the virus is going to take advantage of that.