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Thursday, March 10, 2022
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“I appreciate the help of every Kansan who worked to mitigate the COVID-19 virus through masking and vaccinations”
- Governor Laura Kelly
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COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in Kansas continue to decline and are now at their lowest since August of last year, both in Kansas and across the country. As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and we learn to live with COVID in what many are calling a “new normal,” the Federal government is creating plans to continue the fight against COVID-19 (see below). Additionally, though COVID rates are declining, we reached the grim milestone of 6M global deaths from COVID-19, providing a reminder that we must learn to live with and protect ourselves and vulnerable members of our community from the virus. As a reminder, anyone who tests positive or suspects they are infected should follow KDHE’s isolation and quarantine guidelines and let their close contacts know about their potential exposure. Please click here to track COVID-19 trends and here to find KDHE’s weekly summary of local vaccine and testing events.
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The Kansas City Star
Last week the White House announced a new COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, outlining a forward-looking roadmap to fight COVID-19. The plan focuses on three main goals for the country:
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Protecting against and treating COVID-19 by continuing vaccination education efforts, increasing vaccine and testing manufacturing capacity, ensuring treatment availability, supporting individuals with long-term COVID-19 impacts such as mental and behavioral health challenges, and launching the "Test to Treat" program (please see below for a deep dive on the "Test to Treat" program)
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Preparing for new variants by improving surveillance capabilities, stockpiling supplies including at-home tests and masks, and supporting new FDA processes to expedite review of variant-specific vaccines and treatments
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Preventing economic and educational shutdowns by providing schools and businesses the tools to operate safely, such as improving ventilation and access to tests
What is the “Test to Treat” program: This is an initiative that will give individuals a new way to access free, lifesaving COVID-19 treatments. In this program, people will be able to get tested and – if they are positive and treatments are appropriate for them – receive a prescription for antiviral pills from a health care provider and have their prescription filled at that same location. These one-stop Test to Treat locations will be available at pharmacy-based clinics, federally-qualified community health centers (FQHCs), and long-term care facilities. On March 7, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) started distributing the antiviral pills to participating “Test to Treat” locations. We will keep all Kansans updated as “Test to Treat” locations are identified throughout the State.
Why the “Test to Treat” program matters: As we move into the “new normal” and as cases of COVID-19 continue to fall and more Kansans take off their masks, the importance of monitoring and preventing the spread of COVID-19 to prevent a surge in cases and hospitalizations is heightened. “Test to Treat” locations provide Kansans with an additional avenue for access to free COVID-19 testing and treatment for those at risk of severe disease.
For Kansans who are not vaccinated or who are immunocompromised who contract COVID-19, the antiviral pills are a potentially life-saving treatment. Bringing “Test to Treat” programs to FQHCs and long-term care facilities will provide hope to some of the hardest-hit and highest-risk communities in Kansas.
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As of March 7, 2022, a new round of COVID-19 tests were made available for Americans to order for home delivery through COVIDtests.gov |
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 The Kansas City Star
As COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to fall, the CDC announced it no longer recommends universal contact tracing. Instead, the Agency encourages health departments to focus contact tracing efforts on high-risk settings such as correctional and long term care facilities. Additionally, last week we discussed the new masking guidance from the CDC, based on COVID-19 community level data. For communities with low or medium COVID-19 community levels, the CDC recommends wearing masks indoors if at potential "increased risk" for COVID-19. For everyone else in these communities, the CDC has deemed it safe to not wear masks indoors, noting however that people can choose to wear a mask if they please.
What the numbers say: For communities with high COVID-19 community levels, the CDC recommends that everyone wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status. Last week Kansas had 28 counties deemed as high COVID-19 community levels and this week that number has decreased to 12 counties. In these counties, Kansans are recommended to mask indoors.
Why this matters: As we continue our transition into the new normal and COVID-19 guidance shifts, we should be mindful of the potential risks still faced by the most vulnerable members of our communities. Those who are immunocompromised are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, meaning they are more likely to be hospitalized, need intensive care, require a ventilator to help them breathe, or die from contracting COVID-19. With the easing of masking guidance and the CDC no longer recommending universal contact tracing, those in our community who are immunocompromised are potentially at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
What this means: Even if in a county with low or medium COVID-19 community levels, we should all continue to take the necessary precautions to protect those in our communities who are most at risk. Additionally for those who are immunocompromised, below are recommendations to continue to protect yourself from the virus:
- Get vaccinated and boosted – it is recommended that patients 5 and older who have a weakened immune system and received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine get a third dose of vaccine at least 4 weeks after the second dose as part of the primary series and those who are 12 and older should get a booster dose 3 months later.
- Ask your healthcare provider if you are eligible to receive Evusheld, an FDA authorized injection to prevent COVID-19 infection in people with moderate to severe immune compromise.
- Ask friends and family to get vaccinated and boosted
- Remember to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and practice social distancing
- Keep track of COVID-19 case counts in your communities
- Do not wait to contact a health care provider if you are exposed to COVID-19
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Thank you for all you do to keep Kansas safe. For more information, check out the COVID-19 County Rankings, KS vaccine data dashboard, and Kansas’s FAQ link. Please share this information with your networks; and again, if I can be of service, please contact me (matthew.lara@ks.gov).
Ad Astra per Aspera,
Matt Lara
Communications Director at Kansas Department of Health and Environment
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