STATE NEWS
Kansas COVID-19 Vaccination Overview
- 2,532,701 Total Doses Reported as Administered
– First Dose: 1,397,885
– Second Dose: 1,134,817 - 2,991,240 Total Doses Distributed
– State Distributed: 2,038,630 - 48.0% of Kansans Vaccinated with One Dose
- 42.0% of Kansas Completed COVID-19 Vaccine Series
Source: https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data
Kansas COVID-19 Cluster Summary
As of July 28th, there are 6 long-term care facility with clusters and 1 is a LeadingAge Kansas Member.
Statewide Active COVID-19 Clusters
- Clusters: 108
- Cases: 1,134
- Hospitalizations: 47
Kansas COVID-19: Case Rates
- Cases: 330,932
- Total Case Rate Per 1,000: 113.59
- Daily Cases Diagnosed: 562
Long-Term Care Facilities with Active Cluster Case Information
- Clusters: 28
- Cases: 248
- Hospitalizations: 18
Source: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
This Friday: Weekly Webinar
Make plans to join us each Friday at 10 AM. Register here. Let Nicole if you have specific topics we should add to the agenda.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
LeadingAge Policy Call Features Dr. Nimalie Stone from CDC
On the call on Monday, August 2nd at 2:30 PM CTear returning guest Dr. Nimalie Stoneof CDC, as she discusses how CDC is thinking about the Delta variant, the new masking guidance, the differences between the three approved vaccines in terms of breakthrough infections, CDC views on mandates, and other critical issues. As always, Nimalie will talk about how these issues apply specifically to aging services and long-term care providers.If you haven’t registered for the call, you can do so here.
CDC Call with Health Care Providers on Delta Variant
LeadingAge participated in an invitation only call for health and long-term care providers today, convened in light of surging numbers of positive cases and the new masking guidance released today. “Much of the increase in spread of the Delta variant is driven by low vaccination rates, especially among health care providers,” a CDC official said. Among the top points covered:
- The new guidance on masking is only guidance; it recommends that fully vaccinated people wear a mask indoors, reversing earlier guidance. State and local jurisdictions will need to make their own decisions about whether to take action and what action to take.
- No specific guidance from CDC around capacity of indoor spaces; that is up to the jurisdictions.
- Vaccines remain the most effective defense against transmission.
- CDC “can’t issue mandates at this time,” but encourages providers and health systems to “move in that direction. We encourage consideration of mandates.”
- Transmission of Delta variant
- It is looking so far like viral loads with Delta are comparable for infected people who have been vaccinated or are unvaccinated. Potentially, they may be equally likely to transmit the Delta variant virus.
- Breakthrough infections.
- Breakthrough infections are inevitable. Anything – like the Delta variant – that increases transmission is going to increase the number of breakthrough infections.
- So far there is no evidence of reduced vaccine efficacy with Delta.
- CDC seems especially concerned about breakthrough infections in nursing homes where they are most likely to cause severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.
- CDC is tracking breakthrough infections that result in hospitalizations and deaths, but for a variety of reasons not tracking the role of the Delta variant in all cases, especially not in asymptomatic infections.
- They are working on new messaging about breakthrough infections.
- Should providers change what they are doing?
- None of the guidance has changed except masking.
- CDC continues to recommend that exposed health care workers be tested and if positive, quarantine.
- Today’s guidance does not address mask types.
- In terms of further sanitation guidance – nothing new today. CDC reinforces and will reiterate that while environmental factors play a limited role in transmission, high touch surfaces should be cleaned often.
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