Two New Cases of Coronavirus Identified in Rice County

Rice County is beginning to have an increase of COVID-19 cases, so far, we have had an additional two cases today plus two cases from July 8, 2020. If you are notified by the Health Department of being a contact of someone who is positive for COVID-19, you MUST quarantine at home for 14 days. This means that a negative test will not return an exposed person to work/sports/daycare/etc sooner than 14 days. If you are a contact, decide to be tested, and it comes back negative, you STILL have to finish your 14 day period because you may become contagious anytime during the rest of the 14 days. We do NOT routinely recommend testing contacts unless symptoms arise or a high-risk individual is involved. People who have not had direct exposure to someone with COVID-19 do not need to quarantine and are not excluded from work/sports/daycare/etc.

If you are being tested for COVID-19, you are considered a Person Under Investigation (PUI). The PUI MUST isolate while waiting on results. The PUI should isolate away from anyone in their household. If they are not able to isolate away from household members by staying in their own room, the entire household must quarantine while awaiting results to reduce exposure. If a person in quarantine does not develop any COVID-19 symptoms, then they are released from quarantine at the end of 14 days. If symptoms do develop during those 14 days, the person is to contact their primary provider for further evaluation and/or testing. People who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 may be released from isolation at the direction of the Health Department when it has been 10 days since the onset of symptoms AND 72 hours since symptoms have resolved. This symptom-based method of returning people to work is preferred to a testing-based method of returning people to work because tests can still remain positive long after the virus is no longer active.

These are challenging days for groups and businesses. They are responsible for providing a safe environment for their employees and participants. They are severely affected when their employees and participants are excluded due to exposure. Much of this exposure is occurring outside of work. The best way to keep our businesses open and functional and keep our social interactions available is to maintain a 6-foot physical distance between people and wear a mask when in public when physical distancing may be difficult to maintain.

Rice County Health Department reports eight total confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rice County. Four of the total confirmed cases have now met recovery guidelines set forth by the KDHE. There are zero current hospitalizations and zero deaths.

  • Positive case #7 is a symptomatic male in his 30's and is recovering at home.
  • Positive case #8 is a symptomatic male in his 20's and is recovering at home.
KDHE and RCHD continue to mandate a 14-day home quarantine for Kansas if you have done any of the following:
  • Traveled within the United States to any of the following states with known widespread community transmission:
    • On or after June 17: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas
    • On or after June 29: South Carolina, Florida
    • Traveled internationally on or after March 15
    • Traveled on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15
Rice County residents are encouraged to help slow the spread of coronavirus by:
  • Maintaining social distancing
  • Avoiding gatherings in groups greater than 90 persons
  • Wearing cloth face coverings or homemade masks when in public
  • Practicing cough etiquette and washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Rice County Health Department wants the public to know that the Health Department will not disclose any patient information - including information about any patient's location - except by explicit request of the patient. The best way for you to receive correct information is to check the Rice County website, the Health Department Facebook page, or to wait for the publication of a press release on multiple forums.

REMINDER:
If you are having any symptoms of COVID-19 please call the Health Department or your primary care office.