[College Hill Topeka] Fwd: Media Release: Updated COVID-19 Recommendations from Local Health Officer

Wed Jul 28 20:02:18 CDT 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rachelle Vega-Retana <rvretana at topeka.org>
Date: Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 2:34 PM
Subject: Media Release: Updated COVID-19 Recommendations from Local Health
Officer
To:

*Topeka, Kan.* – Shawnee County Health Officer, Dr. Erin Locke, has issued
new recommendations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and specifically the
Delta variant on the Shawnee County community. These updated
recommendations continue to be in accordance with recommendations from both
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of
Kansas. Recommendations continue to focus on the primary mitigation
measures that have been shown to have the greatest impact on reducing the
spread of COVID-19.

Updates to the COVID-19 Recommendations from the Local Health Officer are
as follows:

·         *Masks for Indoor Spaces: *

o   All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in crowded indoor
situations and unable to achieve Physical Distancing should wear a Face
Mask or Other Face Covering in public spaces and when interacting in
private spaces with unvaccinated individuals from other households.

·         *Mass Gatherings:*

o   Indoor events should to be limited to no more than 50 percent of the
room capacity in order to maintain Physical Distancing.

o   If adequate Physical Distancing of 6 feet cannot be successfully
achieved (indoors or outdoors), small groupings (e.g. tables) of no more
than 10 individuals should be maintained. This will limit the potential
spread to the entire event.

Shawnee County has seen 5 consecutive weeks of increasing cases, percent
positivity and hospitalizations. These increases continue to be driven by
the emergence of the Delta variant in our community, which is 60% more
contagious than previous variants. Viral sequencing has identified the
Delta variant as the dominant community strain in Shawnee County. Early
infection with the Delta variant has frequently been mistaken for allergies
or a “common cold” before more significant symptoms develop later in the
illness. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be effective against variants,
including Delta, and are effective in significantly reducing the risk of
serious illness, hospitalization and death.

As of July 28, 2021 approximately 79,000 (45% of total population) Shawnee
County residents have completed their vaccine series. Shawnee County
continues to vaccinate at a rate slightly higher than the state of Kansas,
however, the county is falling further behind the United States as a whole.
In Kansas, 42% have completed the vaccine series.

The vast majority of cases and hospitalizations in Shawnee County continue
to be in unvaccinated individuals. In fact, Shawnee County has only
documented 103 total vaccine breakthrough cases or just over 1 vaccine
breakthrough case for every 1,000 fully vaccinated residents. Weekly
updates regarding the status of Shawnee County’s vaccination efforts can be
found on the SCHD Vaccine Webpage here
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.snco.us%2fhd%2fCOVID19_Vaccination.asp&c=E,1,MaaY2ie-Tfgt0JqpeEU9hDaDiPhf4APQMf165l4tcaboDuBdVfVhXbhpCvlIHZFJSxeXMcV6Pw5dm8-kDJKZ4fXCk_bkNoTR-dUCVhOQ5PqdJwQ4rrhLjd-2xX2z&typo=1>
.

The SCHD continues to strongly encourage residents to protect themselves by
getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Many opportunities exist in the community and
can be found on SCHD’s Vaccine webpage
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.snco.us%2fhd%2fCOVID19_Vaccination.asp&c=E,1,IxZTriIcxtu2i3HdRi8yu9xnLuSi7BFKEN6X-NpimjS8uNNLmBWY78vr1On4JJqgUPQQutLuq2hSAlZL0y4_Mw4eUTc4FCJKIZ9q8_KJ0tevV20R_C52&typo=1>
or through the CDC’s Vaccine tool
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.vaccines.gov%2f&c=E,1,8W0IoScZSPc4v-cJmz0EalV6cpGHWKUOv9iSdWlx_RtotULlxNiH9Md7acjgpbiVvGICJeBvOUcxRyvAb9AoW2lyf0lI8G439n06mR1QaNlV3oqge4vTYfgaMlgttg,,&typo=1>.
In addition, organizations and groups can request a SCHD-sponsored COVID-19
vaccine clinic by completing this survey
<https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6424209/Shawnee-County-COVID-19-Vaccine-Clinic-Request-Form>.
Questions regarding COVID-19 vaccine can be sent to CovidVaccine at snco.us.

Early identification and treatment for COVID-19 remains essential. The SCHD
strongly encourages immediate testing with the development of any COVID-19
symptoms or after contact with a confirmed positive case. Individuals at
high risk for severe disease should discuss early outpatient treatment of
COVID-19 with their healthcare provider. Testing continues to be available
and free to Shawnee County residents. To find a location near you, visit:
www.gogettested.com/kansas
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.gogettested.com%2fkansas&c=E,1,dOR9EZCVozq0a2v8BnFZFz4x7Ui-4KWR7RGox0WXJnJnh7qjwBMDYNbaC4GD0ABKtTcm3i8XEt9RsNnQg65M_3VIIGXbRBiFSdYriYJ-7Q,,&typo=1>
or contact your healthcare provider.

Questions regarding the Health Officer Recommendations can be sent to
HAAdmin at snco.us or by calling *785.251.4949. *Questions regarding COVID-19
vaccine can be sent to CovidVaccine at snco.us.

*Attachment:*

COVID-19 Recommendations from the Local Health Officer (7/28/2021)

###

*Shawnee County Health Department is committed to working in partnership
with our community to promote and protect the optimal health of all people
by bridging gaps to eliminate health inequities, respecting the diversity
of our community, through adaptive and innovative processes.*

*Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube*

[image: Logo_Color_Transparent(3x2.5)]*Craig Barnes*

Division Manager

Community Health Outreach and
Planning

Shawnee County Health Department

2600 SW East Circle Drive

Topeka, KS 66606

http://www.shawneehealth.org/
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.shawneehealth.org%2f&c=E,1,sXdHRa_awhKAzcbLNsac8sFGVfy0sJ_FKa2UcezGdntaq_JmRFFWx1C8So1EneIftsnX-3YkhMTaEY_b-0Iq4S0dfOhKh0izgAJHjPV7-ypD9A,,&typo=1>

785.251.5612 office

785.806.6310 cell

785.251.5696 fax

Rachelle Vega-Retana, Grants Administrator

City of Topeka, Dept. of Planning & Development

Division of Housing Services

620 SE Madison St.  1st Floor – Unit 8

Topeka, Ks. 66607

Phone: (785) 368-4490

Fax:      (785) 368-2546

Email:    rvretana at topeka.org

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