Plans are coming together to set up special temporary housing in Emporia for certain coronavirus patients.
Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell tells KVOE News the “non-congregant” temporary housing will be established so people can go to quarantine or non-hospital isolation living quarters if they can’t do so currently due to current arrangements.
Specifics have not been announced, including the locations to be used and the number of spaces available for patients. One place off the list is Emporia State University. ESU was asked by the state to research that option, but the residence hall design did not meet state requirements
Governor Laura Kelly briefly made mention of the state’s plans during her daily news briefing Tuesday. Without mentioning details, Kelly said the state has secured housing for people who test positive but don’t need hospitalization or are part of the contact-tracing investigation process.
Word on the short-term living arrangements came shortly before Lyon County Public Health announced 27 new confirmed COVID-19 patients. Lyon County now has 110 confirmed patients and 133 total cases, including 22 probable positives and one death. On Monday, Public Health began announcing the locations of coronavirus clusters in town, including four at production plants — Tyson, Simmons, Hostess and Detroit Reman. Monday’s numbers at Simmons (13), Hostess (four) and Detroit Reman (four) remained static Tuesday, but Tyson’s number jumped from 34 to 48. Seven cases have also been reported at Heritage Pentecostal Church.
