Name: Kansas says state has three church-related COVID-19 clusters | The Kansas City Star
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Kansas says state has three church-related COVID-19 clusters | The Kansas City Star

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This article is subscriber-only content. To get access to this and the rest of KansasCity.com, subscribe or.Thanks for reading! To enjoy this article and more, please subscribe or.$1.99 for 1 month$12.99/month after, cancel anytime.Start now$1.99 for 1 month$12.99/month after, cancel anytime.Let Google manage your subscription and billing.SubscribeBy subscribing, you are agreeing to the KansasCity.com'sand .Are you a subscriber and unable to read this article? You may need to upgrade.and learn more.&nbsp;Kansas now has 11 coronavirus clusters across six counties, state officials said Monday as they detailed their efforts — so far mostly in vain — to obtain scarce medical supplies from the federal government over the past two weeks.Three of the clusters are tied to church gatherings, said Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, raising the specter that in-person Easter celebrations this coming Sunday will help spread the virus, which has so far claimed 25 lives in the state.While Norman touted new projections that predict the state will ultimately suffer fewer deaths and hospitalizations than previously anticipated, Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration is still scrambling to gather personal protective equipment for doctors and nurses ahead of a likely surge of cases that could still strain the healthcare system.Kelly and Norman have been urging Kansans to stay at home, and Monday brought a fresh round of exhortations as Christians head into Holy Week.“Again, my plea, especially coming up to the religious holiday this Sunday … be careful to not gather in numbers that would put you in danger,” Norman said at a news conference.Norman didn’t detail where the church-related clusters are, but KDHE last week said at least seven cases may be associated with a church conference hosted in March in Kansas City, Kansas.Also, a spokesperson with the Unified Government told The Star that three church-related clusters had been identified in Wyandotte County: A ministers conference at Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, a March 14 gala at Rising Star Baptist Church, and congregation members at Power Realm Church of God in Christ.When Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order, she exempted religious gatherings. Her order described them as essential, along with a host of other industries and organizations.But Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, said over the weekend that its local ban on mass gatherings larger than 10 still applies, citing guidance from Kelly’s office. That would limit all but the smallest of gatherings this Easter. A spokeswoman for the governor later clarified the guidance came from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.How many churches will hold some kind of in-person gathering on Sunday is unclear. Across the state, numerous congregations have either cancelled services or moved gatherings online, with clergy holding services via livestream.In a letter last week to Kelly, the Kansas Catholic Conference said all bishops in the state had suspended the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and have halted public celebration of Mass.“We have encouraged our people, not only for their own safety, but to manifest charity for others, to observe social distancing, good (hygiene) and the number limitation for any gathering,” the letter, signed by the bishops, said.The other eight clusters consist mostly of skilled nursing facilities, Norman said, adding that he believes there have been six outbreaks in nursing homes.Outbreaks have so far been identified at Life Care Centers in both Wyandotte and Coffey counties. The company that operates the centers also runs a nursing home in Washington state, where nearly 40 people have died from the virus.As of Monday, 845 people in Kansas have tested positive for COVID-19 — a jump of 98 from the previous day. At least 198 people have been hospitalized.Officials anticipate the virus peaking in the next few weeks, though predictions vary as to when. Some expect a peak in mid-to-late April, while others say it could be as late as May.With the ultimate height of the peak unknown, the clusters underscore the urgency of the search by Kelly’s administration for medical supplies. The state’s share the national strategic stockpile was delivered last week and is being distributed across the state. Kelly said Kansas doesn’t expect to receive any more from the stockpile.Kansas has made seven requests over the past weeks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Kelly said. The state has asked for 22.3 million gloves, 4.6 million N95 masks, 1.2 million face shields, 10.7 surgical masks, 500 ventilators and testing supplies.“None of which have been fulfilled,” Kelly said.At a White House briefing Monday, assistant Health and Human Services Secretary Adm. Brett Giroir and Vice President Mike Pence said that they are taking governors’ recommendations into account as new supplies are doled out.Kelly is also looking to purchase supplies from the private sector. The state budget includes $15 million for the Division of Emergency Management to buy personal protective equipment.“We have successfully purchased some PPE from normal suppliers. Unfortunately, the unprecedented global demand has resulted in delay or outright cancellation of several orders,” Kelly said.As of Monday, Kansas has ordered and is awaiting delivery of 3.9 million N95 masks, 1.8 million surgical masks, 2 million gloves, 4 million gowns, 2 million shoe covers and 2 million face shields. Kelly said the orders are designed to “hold Kansas over” until FEMA provides additional supplies or the state figures out new ways to obtain equipment.Officials have “scoured the state” for existing protective equipment that can be redirected, she said, adding that the state has approached research labs for testing chemicals and autobody shops for N95 masks and tattoo parlors for gloves.Kelly said the state Department of Commerce is looking to partner with Kansas businesses willing to reconfigure facilities to manufacture supplies.“I’m truly grateful for all the businesses that have stepped up at this time of need,” Kelly said. “Unfortunately, even all of this may not be enough to meet the demand we could anticipate coming by the end of the month.”The Star’s Kaitlyn Schwers and McClatchy DC’s Francesca Chambers contributed reportingRelated stories from Kansas City StarApril 06, 2020 6:03 PMProtesters are rallying against extended stay-at-home orders across the US. Healthcare professionals fear a lack of proper social distancing will risk the spread of coronavirus.Local news has never been more important#ReadLocalSubscribe for unlimited digital access to the news that matters to your community.MORE CORONAVIRUSApril 16, 2020 6:03 PMApril 16, 2020 4:37 PMApril 16, 2020 5:44 PMApril 16, 2020 6:18 PMApril 16, 2020 4:14 PMApril 16, 2020 5:50 PM

This article is subscriber-only content. To get access to this and the rest of KansasCity.com, subscribe or.Thanks for reading! To enjoy this article and more, please subscribe or.$1.99 for 1 month$12.99/month after, cancel anytime.Start now$1.99 for 1 month$12.99/month after, cancel anytime.Let Google manage your subscription and billing.SubscribeBy subscribing, you are agreeing to the KansasCity.com'sand .Are you a subscriber and unable to read this article? You may need to upgrade.and learn more.&nbsp;Kansas now has 11 coronavirus clusters across six counties, state officials said Monday...

Kansas says state has three church-related COVID-19 clusters | The Kansas City Star

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