[College Hill Topeka] Fwd: Media Release: B.1.1.7 COVID-19 Variant Confirmed in Shawnee County

Tue Mar 30 18:07:22 CDT 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rachelle Vega-Retana <rvretana at topeka.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 12:07 PM
Subject: Media Release: B.1.1.7 COVID-19 Variant Confirmed in Shawnee County
To:

*Topeka, Kan.* – Three cases of the B.1.1.7 variant that causes COVID-19
have been identified in Shawnee County and confirmed via whole genome
sequencing conducted through the laboratories at the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment (KDHE). Shawnee County received confirmation of
these three cases this morning.

These are the first cases of this variant to be identified in Shawnee
County and among more than 30 cases of this variant identified across
Kansas.

Variant strains are mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that cause COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies variants in
three categories: Variant of Interest, Variant of Concern and Variant of
High Consequences. The CDC has classified B.1.1.7, also known as the U.K.
Variant, as a Variant of Concern
<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance/variant-info.html#Concern>
because of the increased likelihood of severe disease and increased level
of transmission.

The Shawnee County Health Department (SCHD) urges residents to continue
being vigilant about wearing their masks, watching their distance, and
washing their hands among other preventative hygiene measures to limit the
spread of the COVID-19 in our community.

Additionally, it continues to be important to get tested for COVID-19
should an individual begin exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19 or come
in contact with a confirmed positive case. 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,c5Se3Lkx1Z1k5TKwIDs7SPf3yIDpfePh81GHe-mIXQ8KjCXmnpPxcwehYlpwQQVHX9WXsKdg-6cgyfkGNNesXvDOKLWHS3OIk3E0D8WaVf6IwwD_&typo=1>

“With the confirmation of the B.1.1.7 variant in Shawnee County and the
recent uptick of COVID-19 cases in Shawnee County and across the nation, it
is important that we as a community continue to do what we can to limit the
spread of the virus,” said Dr. Erin Locke, Shawnee County Health Officer.
“It’s important to not get complacent; we continue to promote proper mask
wear and encourage all eligible Shawnee County residents to get vaccinated
when they are able.”

Visit the SCHD Vaccine webpage (
http://www.snco.us/hd/COVID19_Vaccination.asp
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.snco.us%2fhd%2fCOVID19_Vaccination.asp&c=E,1,lzwDoVUO2VK6I7nPmEFr8Gxb-5yerMLk0yBgn13Iv5tDJvf9ZiNVsoa5T9y3-GgEMoQCJ-3_gy-nCIchSN6PFsvk76U-k6x4COewzyFhtBqXXZI,&typo=1>)
or KDHE’s Find My Vaccine tool (
https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/160/Find-My-Vaccine
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.kansasvaccine.gov%2f160%2fFind-My-Vaccine&c=E,1,tOewsEjT_3wNsFICrMjOAPk0mPE-Dzg3n92D96_hPs4ERnSEpgAXGdlcc2fCX-s285cFSmcbcHNE7XoujOetocK5PrFnW-gJEnShKfrlQJhobVw,&typo=1>)
to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and to access the CDC’s VaccineFinder
to locate the closest vaccinating provider to you.

Questions about COVID-19 vaccines in Shawnee County can be directed to
CovidVaccine at snco.us.

Additional COVID-19 Resources:

Shawnee County Health Department: https://www.snco.us/HD/coronavirus.asp
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.snco.us%2fHD%2fcoronavirus.asp&c=E,1,krSwI323jvhUr-7y6Wy00I6_7DxB5O7hd11RB7ofZfIdd55q9EPTa29aqkoRrvfwTYDb_KXRr-jk2LQs8RsTGhE0H8n6j5vxiq-7atliO88tTiuJGuUjI6c51jo,&typo=1>

Kansas Department of Health and Environment:
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.coronavirus.kdheks.gov%2f&c=E,1,5DuzAOoQuhhQmZn7fMXkiCxq0tAiNrFCkePnrkuf8ty8gUW9MSh6jbg8vOzHoAr5o5XlTLL-m24TvBg8bhYyMhqrxtjRToIzpZ3L5TcV5AkpbmcZeIgBUSIAdBbi&typo=1>

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Attachment: FAQ - COVID-19 Variants

*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*

<https://www.google.com/maps/search/2600+SW+East+Circle+Drive+%0D%0A+Topeka,+KS+66606?entry=gmail&source=g>

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

Division Manager

Community Health Outreach and
Planning

Shawnee County Health Department

2600 SW East Circle Drive
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/2600+SW+East+Circle+Drive+%0D%0A+Topeka,+KS+66606?entry=gmail&source=g>

Topeka, KS 66606
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/2600+SW+East+Circle+Drive+%0D%0A+Topeka,+KS+66606?entry=gmail&source=g>

http://www.shawneehealth.org/
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.shawneehealth.org%2f&c=E,1,ns9Zkn3aUmUjjZ3xS7HIIEHwzWecQ3SdBBArOoiGn6BeaFr8t2v3r66udC7RzCW1HHru7ZC_sLINvUEG4KfhuCjCxVNt0RZ4CMYbLquQ_Pe_WyjCTQEOpTOm0UU,&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
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/620+SE+Madison+St?entry=gmail&source=g>.
1st Floor – Unit 8

Topeka, Ks. 66607

Phone: (785) 368-4490

Fax:      (785) 368-2546

Email:    rvretana at topeka.org

The preceding email message (including any attachments) contains
information that may be confidential, protected by the attorney/client or
other applicable privileges or that may constitute non-public information.
This message is intended to be conveyed only to the designated
recipient(s). If you are not listed as a recipient of this message, please
notify the sender immediately by replying to this message and then delete
it from your system.  Use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of
this message by unintended recipients is not authorized and may be
unlawful."
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 40772 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://collegehilltopeka.org/pipermail/neighbors_collegehilltopeka.org/attachments/20210330/b80cda67/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 173997 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://collegehilltopeka.org/pipermail/neighbors_collegehilltopeka.org/attachments/20210330/b80cda67/attachment-0003.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 03302021 COVID Variant B.1.1.7 Confirmed in SNCO.PDF
Type: application/pdf
Size: 213551 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://collegehilltopeka.org/pipermail/neighbors_collegehilltopeka.org/attachments/20210330/b80cda67/attachment-0001.pdf>