In the latest COVID-19 update released on March 30, the Riley County Health Department announced it would no longer provide percent positive information in the weekly update. The change comes after the Department of Health and Human Services updated its test reporting procedures for COVID-19.
According to the release, labs only need to report positive results, using the same reporting procedure as all other infectious diseases in the United States. Individuals can still obtain their results, whether positive or negative, but local and state health departments and the CDC won’t include negative results as part of their statistics.
As a result, RCHD will only include active cases, current hospitalizations, new recoveries, total positive cases and recoveries, deaths and incidents per 100,000 people.
Active cases increased from three to eight: however, Ascension Via Christi has zero COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Related:
Health department announces decreased COVID-19 hospitalizations, cases
On-campus for the week of March 14-18, the positivity rate was 0.00 percent. However, the website does not reflect any numbers for the week of March 21-25 as of this publication.
Beginning Monday, April 4, all RCHD-sponsored testing will be at 3019 Anderson Ave, with free rapid and PCR tests available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with no appointment. The service is available through the end of April.
The health department will continue providing COVID-19 vaccinations with or without an appointment. Walk-in vaccinations are available at 2030 Tecumseh Road from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday. Individuals can schedule appointments by calling (785) 565-6560. However, COVID-19 testing will no longer be available at the location.
