Lyon County Public Health continues to be concerned about recent coronavirus trends, even though there haven’t been massive increases in the number of overall or active cases.
Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern commented on those trends on KVOE’s Newsmaker segment.
In addition, the increase of close contacts is an issue because of the increased chances of spreading coronavirus to a wider circle — and the increased risk of illness that follows.
Recent reports from elsewhere in the country are starting to show an increase in “empty ” or false positive tests. Millbern says there are three general forms of tests, two of which are diagnostic and one which tests for antibodies. Millbern says the antibody tests are more apt to be less specific and are thus more susceptible to false positives.
Millbern updated the situation at Flint Hills Care and Rehab Center. She said Public Health was made aware of infection in the building with a case several weeks ago, and Public Health worked with the care center on an aggressive testing strategy. The care center was into its third week of weekly testing when 18 cases, 12 residents and six workers, were confirmed Saturday.
Millbern again urged people to use masks and the social distancing methods as outlined by public health officials across the country since the pandemic began. She says those steps are vitally important to reducing the spread of COVID-19, especially with no vaccine in place possibly for months.
