Greetings 308 Parents/Families-
Below is the weekly update on COVID numbers. We did see a drop in both PTR and New Case count, which is a positive sign. We need to stay diligent in our efforts to bring these numbers out of the Red zone and get all of our students back in school ASAP. The next couple of weeks are critical and it is too early to tell which way our numbers will go!
Have a good weekend.
Mike Folks, Superintendent
Reno County is in the RED Zone for the week 1/18/21. The 14-Day PTR is 23.0% and the 14-day New Case count is 495 cases, as of 1/10/21. There has been quite a decrease in cases in the county, however, we are still at very high levels compared to when school started in Aug. / Sept. Our medical advisors have let us know it is too early to start decreasing mitigating measures. Please be intentional with all day to day activities, avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, social distance by more than 6 ft., wash hands frequently, wear a mask and stay home when you are sick.
Small amounts of vaccine have been received in the community and they are going to Health Care front line workers. The next Phase recommended by KDHE, includes High-contact critical workers and Persons aged 65+. We will start administering vaccine as soon as it becomes available, but we do not anticipate it being shipped until late February or March.
Please encourage your teachers, parents, students and their grandparents that live in Reno County to be tested at the Free Community Testing Events. Log on to https://www.gogettested.com/ for more information and directions as to how to sign up. Health Order 20-05 has been put into place due to our extremely high case count, high PTR and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center Covid-19 increased cases. The order limits mass gatherings to “10” people, this does not include public and private business/school functions. However, social distancing of more than 6’ is highly recommended at work, and mandated at sporting events and social functions. A community effort is needed to decrease the COVID-19 cases in Reno County and get our kids to in-person school settings. A Mask Mandate is in place by Governor Kelly, Reno County follows this mandate.
Also included in the information about the Vaccination Town Hall if you would want to push out to parents/grandparents that have questions about the Covid-19 Vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccine Lunchtime Town Hall- Friday, January 15th- Noon to 1 p.m.
The Reno County Health Department, along with local physicians and administrators from the Hutchinson Clinic and Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, will be holding a town hall this Friday, January 15th from noon - 1pm. The topic will be the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants may watch it live via Reno County’s Emergency Management Facebook Page (@RENOEMA). The recording will also be available later in the day on the County’s Facebook and YouTube channels, as well as local Cable Channel 7.
Reno County is currently in Phase 1 of the Governor’s vaccine distribution plan. This includes Healthcare workers, residents or patients in long term care senior housing, and workers critical to pandemic response continuity. The next phase will include persons aged 65 and over, as well as congregate settings, high-contact critical workers, and all unvaccinated persons prioritized in the previous phase. For the most up-to-date information on the vaccine distribution in Reno County, please visit the COVID-19 information center at www.renogov.org/741/COVID-19.
Watch it live: https://www.facebook.com/RENOEMA
Watch the recording: https://youtube.com/TheRenoCounty https://www.facebook.com/RENOEMA https://www.facebook.com/RenoCountyKS Cable Channel 7