The governors of Kansas and Colorado have begun looking at ways to plan regionally for handling the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Finney County will be expanding its testing capabilities next week with a drive-through testing site.
During their respective press briefings Wednesday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis each said they had conversations with one another about coordinating efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Kelly said, specifically, that the two discussed coordinating efforts for western Kansas. Polis -- without specifying any particular part of Kansas -- said those efforts could include sharing ventilators, but did not refer to any particular state.
“They’re very excited to work with us, where if there is a time where they have a peak and we could move some ventilators there -- if we have a peak they could move some here,” Polis said. “That helps us all to be able to do that in a more unified way.”
Polis said for containment to work well, neighboring states need to work together to develop a regional plan for containing the spread, since so many people travel between eastern Colorado and western Kansas, and other neighboring states.
“I’m really proud to report that we have some terrific governors in Wyoming and Kansas and New Mexico and Utah. And they really all add a lot to this,” he said. “And I look forward to expanding those relationships in the days and weeks to come.”
No other information about the collaboration was discussed by either Kelly or Polis.
Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said during the press briefing that Finney County is among a handful of Kansas counties that plans to expand COVID-19 testing capabilities.
According to a press release from the Finney County Health Department (pictured above in English and en Espanol), the health department will be moving its testing functions to an off-site drive-through center at the Finney County Fairgrounds. The drive-thru site will open Monday.
The press release said KDHE has provided Finney County with additional testing supplies in order to increase the number of tests county health officials can perform, to provide more data and help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in southwest Kansas.
The off-site center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
- Individuals who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 or are symptomatic must call the local COVID-19 Hotline at (620) 272-3600 to be screened over the phone.
- Those who meet the testing criteria will be given an appointment time and instructions to drive through the off-site center to receive their testing.
- The off-site center has the capacity to test fifty (50) individuals by appointment each day.
- Individuals without an appointment will be directed to leave the center, call the hotline for pre-screening, and make an appointment if they meet the testing criteria. Tests will not be conducted without an appointment.
As of Wednesday, according to KDHE, to date, there 17 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Finney County.
Ford County’s case count of 32 was nearly double the number reported on Tuesday, but no other information was available.
Other western Kansas counties’ case counts as of Wednesday are as follows: Osborne (2), Barton (5), Stafford (1), Pratt (1), Barber (1), Rooks (2), Ellis (4), Gove (1), Scott (1), Seward (7), Stevens (2), Morton (1), Stanton (2) and Hamilton (1).
Check your county's public health department website or Facebook page for information on how to get tested.
For Kansas’ statewide COVID-19 map, click here.
And in eastern Colorado, a handful of counties are reporting 10 or more COVID-19 cases, including Baca (10), Logan (13) and Morgan (96).
Other eastern Colorado counties’ case counts as of Tuesday, are as follows: Phillips (4), Yuma (2), Kit Carson (8), Prowers (1), Las Animas (2), Otero (5), Crowley (2), Lincoln (2), Washington (5).
Check your county's public health department website or Facebook page for information on how to get tested.
For Colorado’s statewide COVID-19 map click here.
