HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 747 as of Sunday afternoon, down sharply from Saturday. The death count among Reno County residents is at 76. Forty-seven people have died in the last 30 days. 

The Correctional Facility cluster type has 36 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 85 active cases. Twenty-eight people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.

Out of 5,895 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 719 cases in the community at large. 5,072 people have recovered thus far.

Thirty-seven Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred fifty-nine total have been hospitalized. Eighty-four have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.

The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 31.20%. 30.06% of the population has been tested.

The next community testing date is Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dairy Tie Barn on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. To schedule your appointment, call 1-844-834-3657.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595202434504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 747 as of Sunday afternoon, down sharply from Saturday. The death count among Reno County residents is at 76. Forty-seven people have died in the last 30 days. The Correctional Facility cluster type has 36 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 85 active cases. Twenty-eight people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.Out of 5,895 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 719 cases in the community at large. 5,072 people have recovered thus far.Thirty-seven Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred fifty-nine total have been hospitalized. Eighty-four have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 31.20%. 30.06% of the population has been tested.The next community testing date is Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dairy Tie Barn on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. To schedule your appointment, call 1-844-834-3657.

Case count in Reno County 747, with 719 in community as of Sunday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Pre-K and elementary school students throughout Kansas should remain in school even with a large amount of community disease spread, according to guidance approved last week by the Kansas State Board of Education, given to the board by Kansas medical experts.

"Young children do not catch the virus as often as older children and adults," said Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson. "They don't get as ill as older children and adults and they do not transmit that virus as readily and easily to other people."

Precautions to limit spread still need to be taken.

"The schools need to have a mask, every student," Watson said. "Adults should be masked up. Kids should be kept apart for the majority of the day. They need to sanitize per the guidelines in Navigating Change. They need to have a proper ventilation system operating."

That means either sanitizing or washing hands at least every hour. 

"This decision making was all based upon the spread of the virus," Watson said. "The medical advisors said because the risk is so low, again, with catching the virus, spreading the virus and getting severely ill, that the negative parts of not being in school with early learners, early reading, early mathematics, being in school far outweighs the risk of not being in school with the younger kids."

The new guidance was approved 10-0 by the board last Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607943056819.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —Pre-K and elementary school students throughout Kansas should remain in school even with a large amount of community disease spread, according to guidance approved last week by the Kansas State Board of Education, given to the board by Kansas medical experts."Young children do not catch the virus as often as older children and adults," said Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson. "They don't get as ill as older children and adults and they do not transmit that virus as readily and easily to other people."Precautions to limit spread still need to be taken."The schools need to have a mask, every student," Watson said. "Adults should be masked up. Kids should be kept apart for the majority of the day. They need to sanitize per the guidelines in Navigating Change. They need to have a proper ventilation system operating."That means either sanitizing or washing hands at least every hour. "This decision making was all based upon the spread of the virus," Watson said. "The medical advisors said because the risk is so low, again, with catching the virus, spreading the virus and getting severely ill, that the negative parts of not being in school with early learners, early reading, early mathematics, being in school far outweighs the risk of not being in school with the younger kids."The new guidance was approved 10-0 by the board last Tuesday.

Watson: State Board says young kids should be in school, on advice of doctors

PORTAGE, Michigan (AP) — The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation’s pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000.

The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. history — one that health officials hope the American public will embrace, even as some have voiced initial skepticism or worry. Shots are expected to be given to health care workers and nursing home residents beginning Monday.

Quick transport is key for the vaccine, especially since this one must be stored at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Early Sunday, workers at Pfizer — dressed in fluorescent yellow clothing, hard hats and gloves — wasted no time as they packed vials into boxes. They scanned the packages and then placed them into freezer cases with dry ice. The vaccines were then taken from Pfizer’s Portage, Michigan, facility to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, where the first cargo plane took off amid what airport officials called a “jubilant” mood.

“This is a historic day,” said Richard W. Smith, who oversees operations in the Americas for FedEx Express, which is delivering 630-some packages of vaccine to distribution sites across the country. United Parcel Service also is transporting a share of the vaccine.

Helping with the transport of the vaccine has special meaning to Bruce Smith, a FedEx package handler at the Grand Rapids airport, whose older sister, Queen, died after she contracted the coronavirus in May. She was hospitalized in Georgia one day after he saw her on a video chat, and they never spoke again.

“I think she would be ecstatic to know that something that has ravaged our family — that a family member is going to be part of such a big project,” said Smith, 58, whose nephew, Queen’s son, also got sick and is still undergoing therapy for stroke-like symptoms. “It is very, very important.”

Tracked with GPS-enabled sensors, the initial shipments were expected to contain about 3 million doses, with many more to come. Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with another 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday. Doses of the vaccine, co-developed by German partner BioNTech, are given out based on each state’s adult population. Then the states decide where they go first.

In California, where health care workers will be among the first to be vaccinated, state health officials are prioritizing hospitals that have adequate storage capacity, serve high-risk populations and have the ability to vaccinate people quickly.

Initial surveys have found that even some health care workers don’t want to be first in line. Dr. Graham Snyder, who’s led the vaccine task force at Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC, estimates that about half of its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered.

But many health officials expect enthusiasm to grow.

“There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune,” said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality at the 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi. Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said. Enough vaccine is being saved so that each person who gets the first dose of vaccine can get a second required shot a few weeks later.

Senior U.S. government officials, including some White House officials who work in close proximity to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, are among those who will be offered coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-michael-pence-f5a759c9d597d0e458c5fc9d2a96ee6f">vaccines as soon as this week</a>, two people familiar with the matter confirmed.

A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about half of Americans want to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Another quarter aren’t sure, while the remaining quarter say they aren’t interested. Some simply oppose vaccines in general. Others are concerned that the vaccines have been rushed and want to see how the rollout goes.

Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the FDA, which approved the Pfizer vaccine Friday, has repeatedly insisted that the agency’s decision was based on science, not politics, despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine wasn’t approved before Saturday.

Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly, also said he is “very concerned” about the skepticism about the vaccine in some circles.

“Unfortunately ... there’s been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners ...,” Slaoui said. “I can guarantee you that no such things have happened, that we follow the science.”

He called the development of vaccines from several pharmaceutical companies, including Moderna and AstraZeneca, “a remarkable achievement of science, academia, the industry ecosystem and the U.S. government, working together.”

While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.

The Moderna vaccine will be reviewed by an expert panel Thursday and soon afterward could be allowed for public use.

KALAMAZOO, Michigan (AP) — The first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States headed Sunday from Michigan to distribution centers across the country, with the first shots expected to be given in the coming week to health care workers and at nursing homes.

Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine will set in motion the biggest vaccination effort in American history at a critical juncture of the pandemic that has killed 1.6 million and sickened 71 million worldwide.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be sent out, and the priority is health care workers and nursing home residents as infections, hospitalizations and deaths soar in the U.S. With numbers likely to get worse over the holidays, the vaccine is offering a bright spot in the fight against the pandemic that’s killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with an additional 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday. The vaccine, co-developed by German partner BioNTech, is being doled out based on each state’s adult population.

Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC has chosen staff who are critical to operating its facilities as among those getting the first round of vaccinations, said Dr. Graham Snyder, who led the center’s vaccine task force.

“It’s very exciting. I will be thrilled, that moment when we administer our first dose,” Snyder said Saturday. “That will clearly be a watershed moment for us.”

Snyder said the UPMC system estimates that half its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered to them.

The vaccine is heading to hospitals and other sites that can store it at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer is using containers with dry ice and GPS-enabled sensors to ensure each shipment stays colder than the weather in Antarctica.

Doses should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states, such as local pharmacies, within three weeks, federal officials said.

The 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi expects to receive more than 9,000 doses in the coming days, said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality.

Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said.

“I would say there’s enthusiasm,” Kemmerly said Saturday. “There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune.”

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine Friday, saying it is highly protective and presents no major safety issues. While U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review, they faced political pressure until the final stages.

Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country where some are skeptical about vaccines — some because of overall opposition to vaccines and others because of the quick timeframe in which the virus vaccines were developed. Even some health care workers have said in surveys that they would forgo at least the first round of shots to see how things go.

The head of the FDA has repeatedly insisted that the agency’s decision was based on science, not politics, despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine wasn’t approved before Saturday.

Speaking Sunday to Fox News, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly, also said he is “very concerned” about the skepticism about the vaccine in some circles.

“Unfortunately ... there’s been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners or anything like that,” Slaoui said. “I can guarantee you that no such things have happened, that we follow the science.”

Another vaccine by Moderna will be reviewed by an expert panel next week and soon afterward could be allowed for public use.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, U.S. officials said Saturday, after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer’s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states, said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. An additional 425 sites will get shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be shipped nationwide. It was unclear exactly who would receive the first shots, though health care workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said health authorities would decide.

A similar number of shots will be held back for those recipients’ second dose, which is needed for full protection from COVID-19.

The announcement Saturday kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments, private companies and health care workers to quickly distribute limited vaccine supplies throughout the U.S. It offers hope in a country grappling with surging COVID-19 infections and deaths, which are overwhelming hospitals and raising fears that things will only get worse as people gather over the holidays.

Perna compared the vaccine distribution effort to D-Day, the U.S.-led military offensive that turned the tide in World War II.

“D-Day was the beginning of the end and that’s where we are today,” Perna said a news conference. But he added that it would take months of work and “diligence, courage and strength to eventually achieve victory.”

MaineHealth, a network of 12 hospitals based in Portland, plans to provide an expected first delivery of nearly 2,000 vaccines to doctors, nurses and others facing risk as they treat COVID-19 patients, said Dr. Dora Mills, chief health improvement officer.

“It’s almost hard for me to talk about without tearing up,” Mills said Saturday. “This vaccine gives us some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.”

The first shipments will leave Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by truck and then be flown to regional hubs around the country. Medical distributor McKesson and pharmacy chains, including CVS and Rite-Aid, also are involved in the initial rollout and vaccinations at nursing homes and assisted living centers.

In a key distribution challenge, the vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech, must be stored and shipped at ultra-low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer has developed shipping containers that use dry ice, and GPS-enabled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and ensure it stays cold.

Distribution sites are mainly large hospitals and other facilities able to meet those ultra-cold storage requirements. Within three weeks, vaccines should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states, such as local pharmacies, Perna said.

The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday so health workers could receive the shots and begin giving them, Perna said.

Workers at Mount Sinai Hospital System in New York did a dry run this week to prepare for their shipment. In a clean room, pharmacists practiced making separate doses of a training vaccine and ensuring the freezer was kept at temperatures colder than in Antarctica.

“Not a lot of people have vaccinated for a large pandemic like this,” said Susan Mashni, vice president of pharmacy at Mount Sinai. “So we want to make certain that we get it right. There’s a lot of different moving pieces and parts.”

At a meeting where an expert panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines unanimously endorsed the Pfizer shot, some said local health officials were struggling to ensure the vaccine is distributed fairly and to those most in need and to ease people’s concerns about getting the shot.

But “the funding necessary for state and local health departments to carry out this program has been put in the deep freeze,” said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a Seattle physician representing the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine late Friday. It capped an unprecedented global race to speed vaccines through testing and review, chopping years off the normal development process.

The FDA found the vaccine highly protective with no major safety issues. U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review, but President Donald Trump’s administration pressured the agency until the final announcement. A top White House official even threatened to remove FDA chief Stephen Hahn if a ruling didn’t come before Saturday.

Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country with deeply ingrained skepticism about vaccines.

“Science and data guided the FDA’s decision,” Hahn said Saturday. “We worked quickly because of the urgency of this pandemic, not because of any other external pressure.”

While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.

The FDA’s vaccine director, Dr. Peter Marks, said the agency will carefully track any reports of allergic reactions in the U.S.

Next week, the FDA will review a vaccine from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health that appears about as protective as Pfizer’s shot. On Friday, the Trump administration said it had purchased 100 million more doses of that vaccine on top of 100 million it previously ordered.

The announcement came after revelations that the White House opted not to lock in an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for delivery in the second quarter of 2021. The Trump administration contends the current orders plus those in the pipeline will be enough to accommodate any American who wants to be vaccinated by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

First COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive at sites across the U.S.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 968 as of Saturday afternoon, just about steady from a week ago. The death count among Reno County residents is at 75. Forty-seven people have died in the last 30 days. Seventeen have been listed since this time last week.

The Correctional Facility cluster type has 36 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 90 active cases. Twenty-seven people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.

Out of 5,847 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 942 cases in the community at large. 4,804 people have recovered thus far.

Thirty-five Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred fifty-seven total have been hospitalized. Eighty-four have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.

The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 31.06%. 29.95% of the population has been tested.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595202434504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 968 as of Saturday afternoon, just about steady from a week ago. The death count among Reno County residents is at 75. Forty-seven people have died in the last 30 days. Seventeen have been listed since this time last week.The Correctional Facility cluster type has 36 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 90 active cases. Twenty-seven people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.Out of 5,847 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 942 cases in the community at large. 4,804 people have recovered thus far.Thirty-five Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred fifty-seven total have been hospitalized. Eighty-four have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 31.06%. 29.95% of the population has been tested.The next community testing date is Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dairy Tie Barn on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. To schedule your appointment, call 1-844-834-3657.

Case count in Reno County 968,  with 942 in community as of Saturday afternoon

By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/second-1000-coronavirus-deaths-kansas-came-5-times-faster-first-1000">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — The number of Kansans who have died from COVID-19 topped 2,000 on Friday.

How
 quickly the state passed that milestone — it took the state seven-plus 
months to lose its first 1,000 people to the coronavirus, and little 
more than a month to lose 1,000 more — shows how quickly the spread is 
accelerating.

“There’s just so many more people getting COVID 
right now that inevitably that’s going to lead to more death,” said 
Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health 
System.

The number of people who die after contracting the 
disease has remained relatively stable at about 1.9% in the U.S. and 
about 1% in Kansas.

But the rapid increase in the number of new 
deaths mirrors the increases in new cases. In the past two weeks, the 
state has averaged nearly 2,500 new cases a day.

In Kansas, it 
took about six months to go from the first death, to 500 deaths. The 
next 500 took only six weeks. The 500 after that, four weeks. And the 
most recent 500, to get the state over 2,000, took about two and a half 
weeks.

● 1 to 500 - 6 months (3/18/20 to 9/11/20) ● 500 to 1,000 - 6 weeks (9/11/20 to 10/28/20) ● 1,000 to 1,500 - 4 weeks (10/28/20 to 11/25/20) ● 1,500 to 2,000 - 2.5 weeks (11/25/20 to 12/11/20)

The
 rapid rise takes a toll on doctors and nurses in intensive care units 
who have to watch their patients die, while dealing with grieving family
 members.

“It has been palpably more difficult over the last 
month, and even couple of weeks,” said Lewis Satterwhite, a critical 
care physician at the KU Health System hospital.&nbsp;

So far, the 
youngest person to die of COVID in Kansas is 18. But young people dying 
from the disease remains rare. Of the coronavirus deaths in Kansas, 
94.4% have come among people 55 or older. The median age is 80.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-02/its-becoming-increasingly-hard-to-find-a-nursing-home-in-kansas-where-coronavirus-hasnt-shown-up" target="_blank">Nursing homes remain hot spots</a>.
 Two-thirds of all facilities in the state have had confirmed cases. And
 dozens still have to wait up to a week to receive test results from 
backlogged labs.

Deaths are pretty evenly split between male and 
female, but have hit Black people particularly hard, with a death rate 
of 61.47 per 100,000 people.

Physicians fear that the number of 
daily deaths hasn’t quite peaked yet. Deaths usually lag four to six 
weeks behind spikes in cases.

Almost every Kansas county has a 
percent positive testing rate greater than 10%, a sign of uncontrolled, 
widespread community transmission.

U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services regional administrator Catherine Satterwhite said 
reducing the spread of the virus is still the best way to reduce the 
number of deaths.

“It’s really important to know,” she said, “that this is not inevitable.”

Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607710594610.png" alt="The number of COVID-19 deaths by day in Kansas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment" />
 <figcaption>The number of COVID-19 deaths by day in Kansas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/second-1000-coronavirus-deaths-kansas-came-5-times-faster-first-1000">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — The number of Kansans who have died from COVID-19 topped 2,000 on Friday.How
 quickly the state passed that milestone — it took the state seven-plus 
months to lose its first 1,000 people to the coronavirus, and little 
more than a month to lose 1,000 more — shows how quickly the spread is 
accelerating.“There’s just so many more people getting COVID 
right now that inevitably that’s going to lead to more death,” said 
Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health 
System.The number of people who die after contracting the 
disease has remained relatively stable at about 1.9% in the U.S. and 
about 1% in Kansas.But the rapid increase in the number of new 
deaths mirrors the increases in new cases. In the past two weeks, the 
state has averaged nearly 2,500 new cases a day.In Kansas, it 
took about six months to go from the first death, to 500 deaths. The 
next 500 took only six weeks. The 500 after that, four weeks. And the 
most recent 500, to get the state over 2,000, took about two and a half 
weeks.● 1 to 500 - 6 months (3/18/20 to 9/11/20) ● 500 to 1,000 - 6 weeks (9/11/20 to 10/28/20) ● 1,000 to 1,500 - 4 weeks (10/28/20 to 11/25/20) ● 1,500 to 2,000 - 2.5 weeks (11/25/20 to 12/11/20)The
 rapid rise takes a toll on doctors and nurses in intensive care units 
who have to watch their patients die, while dealing with grieving family
 members.“It has been palpably more difficult over the last 
month, and even couple of weeks,” said Lewis Satterwhite, a critical 
care physician at the KU Health System hospital.&nbsp;So far, the 
youngest person to die of COVID in Kansas is 18. But young people dying 
from the disease remains rare. Of the coronavirus deaths in Kansas, 
94.4% have come among people 55 or older. The median age is 80.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-02/its-becoming-increasingly-hard-to-find-a-nursing-home-in-kansas-where-coronavirus-hasnt-shown-up" target="_blank">Nursing homes remain hot spots</a>.
 Two-thirds of all facilities in the state have had confirmed cases. And
 dozens still have to wait up to a week to receive test results from 
backlogged labs.Deaths are pretty evenly split between male and 
female, but have hit Black people particularly hard, with a death rate 
of 61.47 per 100,000 people.Physicians fear that the number of 
daily deaths hasn’t quite peaked yet. Deaths usually lag four to six 
weeks behind spikes in cases.Almost every Kansas county has a 
percent positive testing rate greater than 10%, a sign of uncontrolled, 
widespread community transmission.U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services regional administrator Catherine Satterwhite said 
reducing the spread of the virus is still the best way to reduce the 
number of deaths.“It’s really important to know,” she said, “that this is not inevitable.”Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett@kmuw.org.

Second 1,000 virus deaths in Kan. came 5 times faster than first 1,000 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;If you think you may have COVID-19, you need to get tested. There will be some opportunities for free testing next week.

"Tuesday, we have a date," said Reno County Health Officer Karen Hammersmith. "We also have WellHealth coming to town and we'll have more information coming out as soon as they are here. I believe, right now, its preliminary set up that they'll be here the 17th, but we will get advertisement out about that and then people can get tested, you know, more of an 8 to 5 schedule."

The Tuesday date at the fairgrounds is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. However, if you are sick, Hammersmith suggests you call your healthcare provider to be checked out. It isn't taking as long to get tests back as it was at times during the pandemic.

"Community testing has been doing a really good job about getting testing back," Hammersmith said. "I would say that if we took the test on Tuesday, we're usually seeing them Thursday evening into Friday coming back. The clinic has been a little slower, as well as Prairie Star. It depends on what reference lab they are using for the PCRs that are send outs."

It's important to note that you should isolate while you are awaiting a test, so as not to infect others, if you believe you are a close contact of a person who has tested positive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604716965620.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;If you think you may have COVID-19, you need to get tested. There will be some opportunities for free testing next week."Tuesday, we have a date," said Reno County Health Officer Karen Hammersmith. "We also have WellHealth coming to town and we'll have more information coming out as soon as they are here. I believe, right now, its preliminary set up that they'll be here the 17th, but we will get advertisement out about that and then people can get tested, you know, more of an 8 to 5 schedule."The Tuesday date at the fairgrounds is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. However, if you are sick, Hammersmith suggests you call your healthcare provider to be checked out. It isn't taking as long to get tests back as it was at times during the pandemic."Community testing has been doing a really good job about getting testing back," Hammersmith said. "I would say that if we took the test on Tuesday, we're usually seeing them Thursday evening into Friday coming back. The clinic has been a little slower, as well as Prairie Star. It depends on what reference lab they are using for the PCRs that are send outs."It's important to note that you should isolate while you are awaiting a test, so as not to infect others, if you believe you are a close contact of a person who has tested positive.

Hammersmith: More testing opportunities next week

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 920 as of Thursday afternoon. The death count among Reno County residents is at 70. Forty-six people have died in the last 30 days. Case count is down 210 from a week ago, but 13 deaths have been reported in that same time frame.

The Correctional Facility cluster type has 38 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 92 active cases. Twenty-seven people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.

Out of 5,731 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 897 cases in the community at large. 4,741 people have recovered thus far.

Forty-two Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred fifty-three total have been hospitalized. Eighty-four have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.

The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 30.80%. 29.61% of the population has been tested.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595202434504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 920 as of Thursday afternoon. The death count among Reno County residents is at 70. Forty-six people have died in the last 30 days. Case count is down 210 from a week ago, but 13 deaths have been reported in that same time frame.The Correctional Facility cluster type has 38 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 92 active cases. Twenty-seven people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.Out of 5,731 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 897 cases in the community at large. 4,741 people have recovered thus far.Forty-two Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred fifty-three total have been hospitalized. Eighty-four have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 30.80%. 29.61% of the population has been tested.The next community testing date is Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dairy Tie Barn on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. To schedule your appointment, call 1-844-834-3657.

Case count in Reno County 920, with 897 cases in community as of Thursday afternoon

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-2/fda-advisory-committee-votes-recommend-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here t</a>o watch Thursday's discussion on the vaccine.

Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation.

In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, the government advisers concluded that the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and older.

That endorsement came despite questions about allergic reactions in two people who received the vaccine earlier this week when Britain became the first country to begin dispensing the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

Despite all the remaining unknowns, in an emergency, “the question is whether you know enough,” said panel member Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who concluded that the shot’s potential potential benefits outweigh its risks.

The independent review by non-government experts in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics was considered critical to boosting Americans’ confidence in the safety of the shot, which was developed at breakneck speed less than a year after the virus was identified.

The decision came as COVID-19 cases surge to ever-higher levels across the U.S., with deaths hitting an all-time, one-day high of more than 3,100 on Wednesday.

Pfizer has said it will have about 25 million doses of the two-shot vaccine for the U.S. by the end of December. But initial supplies will be limited and reserved primarily for health care workers and nursing home residents, with other vulnerable groups next in line until the shots become widely available on demand, something that will probably not happen until the spring.

Experts estimate at least 70% of the U.S. population will have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, the point at which the virus can be held in check. That means it could be several months before things start get back to normal and Americans can put away their masks.

The FDA next week will review a second vaccine, from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, that appears about as protective as Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot. A third candidate, from Johnson &amp; Johnson, which would require just one dose, is working its way through the pipeline. Behind that is a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford University

All eyes now turn to the FDA staff scientists who will make the final decision on whether to greenlight use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Regulators not only in Britain but in Canada have already approved it for use in their countries, and President Donald Trump and White House officials have complained for weeks about the pace of FDA’s careful review.

FDA’s vaccine director Dr. Peter Marks said ahead of the expert meeting that a decision would come within “days to a week.”

“Americans want us to do a scientific review, but I think they also want us to make sure we’re not wasting time on paperwork as opposed to going forward with the decision,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said before the meeting.

A positive vote for the vaccine was virtually assured after FDA scientists issued a glowing review of the vaccine earlier in the week. Agency staffers said data from Pfizer’s ongoing study of 44,000 people showed strong protection across different age groups, races and health conditions with no major, unexpected safety problems.

The Pfizer-BioNTech shot remains experimental because that final-stage study isn’t complete. As a result, the expert panel wrestled with a list of questions that have yet to be answered.

For example, while the vaccine is more than 90% effective in blocking the symptoms of COVID-19, the FDA’s advisers stressed it is not yet clear if it can stop the silent, symptomless spread that accounts for up to half of cases.

“Even though the individual efficacy of this vaccine is very, very, very high, you really as of right now do not have any evidence” that it will lower transmission, said Dr. Patrick Moore of the University of Pittsburgh. He urged Pfizer to take additional steps to answer that question.

And the advisers are worried that Pfizer will lose its opportunity to answer critical questions as it begins offering the real vaccine to study participants who had been getting dummy shots.

The company proposed gradually moving those patients to the vaccine group, with priority based on age, health conditions and other factors. Under that plan, 70-year-old participants would cross over before healthy 30-year-olds.

Pfizer must still show whether the vaccine works in children younger than 16 and in pregnant women.

On the safety front, as widespread vaccinations begin, the first recipients will be closely tracked by government health authorities since studies in tens of thousands of people can’t detect rare risks that strike 1 in a million. Hanging over the meeting were the British allergic reactions and a warning from authorities there that people with a history of serious reactions shouldn’t get the vaccine for now.

Pfizer representatives said they have seen no signs of allergic reactions in their trial. But some of the FDA advisers fear the British warning will deter millions of Americans with allergies who might benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine from giving it a try, and urged additional studies to try to settle the issue.

“This issue is not going to die until we have better data,” Offit said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607640634805.png" alt="Virtual FDA panel discussion Thursday image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Virtual FDA panel discussion Thursday image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-2/fda-advisory-committee-votes-recommend-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here t</a>o watch Thursday's discussion on the vaccine.Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607648760719.png" alt="Zoom vote Thursday afternoon on the vaccine" />
 <figcaption>Zoom vote Thursday afternoon on the vaccine</figcaption>
 </figure>In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, the government advisers concluded that the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and older.That endorsement came despite questions about allergic reactions in two people who received the vaccine earlier this week when Britain became the first country to begin dispensing the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.Despite all the remaining unknowns, in an emergency, “the question is whether you know enough,” said panel member Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who concluded that the shot’s potential potential benefits outweigh its risks.The independent review by non-government experts in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics was considered critical to boosting Americans’ confidence in the safety of the shot, which was developed at breakneck speed less than a year after the virus was identified.The decision came as COVID-19 cases surge to ever-higher levels across the U.S., with deaths hitting an all-time, one-day high of more than 3,100 on Wednesday.Pfizer has said it will have about 25 million doses of the two-shot vaccine for the U.S. by the end of December. But initial supplies will be limited and reserved primarily for health care workers and nursing home residents, with other vulnerable groups next in line until the shots become widely available on demand, something that will probably not happen until the spring.Experts estimate at least 70% of the U.S. population will have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, the point at which the virus can be held in check. That means it could be several months before things start get back to normal and Americans can put away their masks.The FDA next week will review a second vaccine, from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, that appears about as protective as Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot. A third candidate, from Johnson &amp; Johnson, which would require just one dose, is working its way through the pipeline. Behind that is a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford UniversityAll eyes now turn to the FDA staff scientists who will make the final decision on whether to greenlight use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Regulators not only in Britain but in Canada have already approved it for use in their countries, and President Donald Trump and White House officials have complained for weeks about the pace of FDA’s careful review.FDA’s vaccine director Dr. Peter Marks said ahead of the expert meeting that a decision would come within “days to a week.”“Americans want us to do a scientific review, but I think they also want us to make sure we’re not wasting time on paperwork as opposed to going forward with the decision,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said before the meeting.A positive vote for the vaccine was virtually assured after FDA scientists issued a glowing review of the vaccine earlier in the week. Agency staffers said data from Pfizer’s ongoing study of 44,000 people showed strong protection across different age groups, races and health conditions with no major, unexpected safety problems.The Pfizer-BioNTech shot remains experimental because that final-stage study isn’t complete. As a result, the expert panel wrestled with a list of questions that have yet to be answered.For example, while the vaccine is more than 90% effective in blocking the symptoms of COVID-19, the FDA’s advisers stressed it is not yet clear if it can stop the silent, symptomless spread that accounts for up to half of cases.“Even though the individual efficacy of this vaccine is very, very, very high, you really as of right now do not have any evidence” that it will lower transmission, said Dr. Patrick Moore of the University of Pittsburgh. He urged Pfizer to take additional steps to answer that question.And the advisers are worried that Pfizer will lose its opportunity to answer critical questions as it begins offering the real vaccine to study participants who had been getting dummy shots.The company proposed gradually moving those patients to the vaccine group, with priority based on age, health conditions and other factors. Under that plan, 70-year-old participants would cross over before healthy 30-year-olds.Pfizer must still show whether the vaccine works in children younger than 16 and in pregnant women.On the safety front, as widespread vaccinations begin, the first recipients will be closely tracked by government health authorities since studies in tens of thousands of people can’t detect rare risks that strike 1 in a million. Hanging over the meeting were the British allergic reactions and a warning from authorities there that people with a history of serious reactions shouldn’t get the vaccine for now.Pfizer representatives said they have seen no signs of allergic reactions in their trial. But some of the FDA advisers fear the British warning will deter millions of Americans with allergies who might benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine from giving it a try, and urged additional studies to try to settle the issue.“This issue is not going to die until we have better data,” Offit said.

FDA panel votes to approve Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine faces one final hurdle as it races to become the first shot greenlighted in the U.S.: a panel of experts who will scrutinize the company’s data for any red flags.

or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-1/fda-holds-open-meeting-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here to watch</a>&nbsp;the hearing that begins at 8 a.m. CST

Thursday’s meeting of the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel is likely the last step before a U.S. decision to begin shipping millions of doses of the shot, which has shown strong protection against the coronavirus.

The FDA panel functions like a science court that will pick apart the data and debate — in public and live-streamed — whether the shot is safe and effective enough to be cleared for emergency use. The non-government experts specialize in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics. The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-236677e5030e61b70ce432cfd9fd9b8b">is expected to follow</a>&nbsp;the committee’s advice, although it is not required to do so.

The FDA’s decision comes as the coronavirus continues surging across much of the world, claiming more than 1.5 million lives, including more than 289,000 in the U.S.

Hanging over the meeting is a warning from U.K. officials that people with a history of serious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/allergy-reaction-vaccines-rare-explained-4ee5fb2f2553863d9d2659b1f06a0e21">allergic reactions</a>&nbsp;shouldn’t get the vaccine. Government officials there are investigating two reports of reactions that occurred when the country began mass vaccinations.

Still, a positive recommendation and speedy U.S. approval seem nearly certain after FDA scientists issued an overwhelmingly positive initial review of the vaccine earlier this week.

FDA said results from Pfizer’s large, ongoing study showed the shot, which was co-developed with Germany’s BioNTech, was more than 90% effective across people of different ages, races and underlying health conditions, including diabetes and obesity. No major safety issues were uncovered and common vaccine-related side effects like fever, fatigue and injection site pain were tolerable.

“The data presented in the briefing report were consistent with what we heard before and are really exciting,” said Dr. William Moss, head of Johns Hopkins University’s International Vaccine Access Center. “Nothing that I see would delay an emergency use authorization.”

The meeting also gives regulators an opportunity to try to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">public confidence</a>&nbsp;in the breakneck development process that has produced the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and a string of other upcoming shots in less than a year. The FDA has also faced weeks of verbal abuse from President Donald Trump for not rushing out a vaccine before Election Day.

“There have been a lot of questions about why it takes us so long or ‘are we being rigorous enough?’” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn in an interview. “I’m hoping that people will see with our transparency that we have taken a very rigorous stance on this.”

Hahn said the agency has already teed up the process to authorize the vaccine by filling out all the legal paperwork in advance, regardless of the ultimate decision.

The FDA uncovered no major safety issues in its review of Pfizer’s 44,000-person study, including no allergic reactions of the type reported in the U.K. But such studies can’t detect rare problems that might only affect a tiny slice of the general population.

FDA reviewers noted four cases of Bell’s palsy that all occurred among people getting the vaccine. They concluded the cases were likely unrelated to the vaccine because they occurred at rates that would be expected without any medical intervention. But the agency did say cases of the nerve disorder should be tracked, given that other vaccines can cause the problem.

“I think we have to be upfront, without scaring people, that we don’t know yet about any potential, rare, long-term adverse events,” Moss said.

The FDA found the vaccine highly effective across various demographic groups.

But it’s unclear how well the vaccine works in people with HIV and other immune-system disorders.

The study excluded pregnant women, but experts will tease apart the data for any hints in case women get vaccinated before realizing they’re pregnant.

A study of children as young as 12 is underway.

Answering some of these questions will require keeping Pfizer’s study going for many more months.

When the FDA panel met in October, experts warned against allowing trial participants who received placebos to switch and get the real vaccine immediately after it receives the FDA’s emergency OK. Doing that could make it impossible to get answers to long-term questions, including how long the protection lasts.

Pfizer and BioNTech say they want to allow such participants to get the vaccine either upon request or, at the latest, after six months of follow-up.

The FDA still hasn’t made clear if it will accept that approach.

“FDA is adamant that they want these trials completed,” said Norman Baylor, former director of FDA’s vaccine office, adding that its expert panel members “know that too.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607605686018.png" alt="During a news conference Wednesday, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman shows the packaging container used to ship the vaccine to the state from Pfizer. It contains a probe to monitor the cold temperature necessary to store the vaccine." />
 <figcaption>During a news conference Wednesday, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman shows the packaging container used to ship the vaccine to the state from Pfizer. It contains a probe to monitor the cold temperature necessary to store the vaccine.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine faces one final hurdle as it races to become the first shot greenlighted in the U.S.: a panel of experts who will scrutinize the company’s data for any red flags.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFDA%2Fvideos%2F849134789187196%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-1/fda-holds-open-meeting-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here to watch</a>&nbsp;the hearing that begins at 8 a.m. CSTThursday’s meeting of the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel is likely the last step before a U.S. decision to begin shipping millions of doses of the shot, which has shown strong protection against the coronavirus.The FDA panel functions like a science court that will pick apart the data and debate — in public and live-streamed — whether the shot is safe and effective enough to be cleared for emergency use. The non-government experts specialize in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics. The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-236677e5030e61b70ce432cfd9fd9b8b">is expected to follow</a>&nbsp;the committee’s advice, although it is not required to do so.The FDA’s decision comes as the coronavirus continues surging across much of the world, claiming more than 1.5 million lives, including more than 289,000 in the U.S.Hanging over the meeting is a warning from U.K. officials that people with a history of serious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/allergy-reaction-vaccines-rare-explained-4ee5fb2f2553863d9d2659b1f06a0e21">allergic reactions</a>&nbsp;shouldn’t get the vaccine. Government officials there are investigating two reports of reactions that occurred when the country began mass vaccinations.Still, a positive recommendation and speedy U.S. approval seem nearly certain after FDA scientists issued an overwhelmingly positive initial review of the vaccine earlier this week.FDA said results from Pfizer’s large, ongoing study showed the shot, which was co-developed with Germany’s BioNTech, was more than 90% effective across people of different ages, races and underlying health conditions, including diabetes and obesity. No major safety issues were uncovered and common vaccine-related side effects like fever, fatigue and injection site pain were tolerable.“The data presented in the briefing report were consistent with what we heard before and are really exciting,” said Dr. William Moss, head of Johns Hopkins University’s International Vaccine Access Center. “Nothing that I see would delay an emergency use authorization.”The meeting also gives regulators an opportunity to try to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">public confidence</a>&nbsp;in the breakneck development process that has produced the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and a string of other upcoming shots in less than a year. The FDA has also faced weeks of verbal abuse from President Donald Trump for not rushing out a vaccine before Election Day.“There have been a lot of questions about why it takes us so long or ‘are we being rigorous enough?’” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn in an interview. “I’m hoping that people will see with our transparency that we have taken a very rigorous stance on this.”Hahn said the agency has already teed up the process to authorize the vaccine by filling out all the legal paperwork in advance, regardless of the ultimate decision.On Thursday’s agenda:RARE ADVERSE REACTIONSThe FDA uncovered no major safety issues in its review of Pfizer’s 44,000-person study, including no allergic reactions of the type reported in the U.K. But such studies can’t detect rare problems that might only affect a tiny slice of the general population.FDA reviewers noted four cases of Bell’s palsy that all occurred among people getting the vaccine. They concluded the cases were likely unrelated to the vaccine because they occurred at rates that would be expected without any medical intervention. But the agency did say cases of the nerve disorder should be tracked, given that other vaccines can cause the problem.“I think we have to be upfront, without scaring people, that we don’t know yet about any potential, rare, long-term adverse events,” Moss said.EFFICACY QUESTIONSThe FDA found the vaccine highly effective across various demographic groups.But it’s unclear how well the vaccine works in people with HIV and other immune-system disorders.The study excluded pregnant women, but experts will tease apart the data for any hints in case women get vaccinated before realizing they’re pregnant.A study of children as young as 12 is underway.IMPACT OF EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATIONAnswering some of these questions will require keeping Pfizer’s study going for many more months.When the FDA panel met in October, experts warned against allowing trial participants who received placebos to switch and get the real vaccine immediately after it receives the FDA’s emergency OK. Doing that could make it impossible to get answers to long-term questions, including how long the protection lasts.Pfizer and BioNTech say they want to allow such participants to get the vaccine either upon request or, at the latest, after six months of follow-up.The FDA still hasn’t made clear if it will accept that approach.“FDA is adamant that they want these trials completed,” said Norman Baylor, former director of FDA’s vaccine office, adding that its expert panel members “know that too.”___

🎥  Countdown to vaccine: FDA approval hearing 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 837 as of Wednesday afternoon. The death count among Reno County residents is at 65. Forty-one people have died in the last 30 days.

The Correctional Facility cluster type has 37 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 91 active cases. Twenty-five people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.

Out of 5,595 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 816 cases in the community at large. 4,693 people have recovered thus far.

Thirty-nine Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred forty-six total have been hospitalized. Eighty-three have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.

The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 30.57%. 29.12% of the population has been tested.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595202434504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 837 as of Wednesday afternoon. The death count among Reno County residents is at 65. Forty-one people have died in the last 30 days.The Correctional Facility cluster type has 37 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 91 active cases. Twenty-five people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.Out of 5,595 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 816 cases in the community at large. 4,693 people have recovered thus far.Thirty-nine Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred forty-six total have been hospitalized. Eighty-three have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 30.57%. 29.12% of the population has been tested.The next community testing date is Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dairy Tie Barn on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. To schedule your appointment, call 1-844-834-3657.

Case count in Reno County 837,  with 816 in community as of Wednesday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As the House prepares to vote on a continuing resolution to keep the government open in the short term, maybe as little as a week, Kansas First District Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall admits this isn't the way the process would ideally work.

"The challenge is, how much money are we willing to borrow from our grandchildren and maybe our great-grandchildren as well?" Marshall asked. "It is very frustrating. Basically, trying to figure out, what are the priorities? Where do we spend the money? When you can't figure something out long-term, people just throw their hands up finally and say, okay."

Marshall is pleased, though, that the vaccine progress he'd been hearing about in recent weeks is soon to come.

"I'm just upset it's not out yet, that they're not distributing it," Marshall said. "We've actually had two vaccines for about a month now. We're waiting for the FDA to approve those, expecting this week for the FDA to approve one of them and next week the FDA to approve the other."

Marshall said it's important to talk to your doctor about what they advise regarding vaccines now.

"The FDA has actually taken its time," Marshall said. "They've been looking very closely at this data for over a month now. I believe its a very safe vaccine and encourage those folks who are at high risk, people above the age of 50 to seriously consider taking it. Discuss it with your doctor now and I encourage folks to get it done."

Marshall believes that in the first quarter of the year they should be able to roll out enough vaccine between the two types to take care of the highest risk populations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595001869381.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — As the House prepares to vote on a continuing resolution to keep the government open in the short term, maybe as little as a week, Kansas First District Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall admits this isn't the way the process would ideally work."The challenge is, how much money are we willing to borrow from our grandchildren and maybe our great-grandchildren as well?" Marshall asked. "It is very frustrating. Basically, trying to figure out, what are the priorities? Where do we spend the money? When you can't figure something out long-term, people just throw their hands up finally and say, okay."Marshall is pleased, though, that the vaccine progress he'd been hearing about in recent weeks is soon to come."I'm just upset it's not out yet, that they're not distributing it," Marshall said. "We've actually had two vaccines for about a month now. We're waiting for the FDA to approve those, expecting this week for the FDA to approve one of them and next week the FDA to approve the other."Marshall said it's important to talk to your doctor about what they advise regarding vaccines now."The FDA has actually taken its time," Marshall said. "They've been looking very closely at this data for over a month now. I believe its a very safe vaccine and encourage those folks who are at high risk, people above the age of 50 to seriously consider taking it. Discuss it with your doctor now and I encourage folks to get it done."Marshall believes that in the first quarter of the year they should be able to roll out enough vaccine between the two types to take care of the highest risk populations.

Marshall: Continuing Resolution isn't necessarily good news, but vaccines are

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 975 as of Tuesday afternoon. The death count among Reno County residents is at 63. Forty-one people have died in the last 30 days.

The Correctional Facility cluster type has 36 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 90 active cases. Twenty-four people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.

Out of 5,542 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 954 cases in the community at large. 4,504 people have recovered thus far.

Thirty-seven Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred forty-four total have been hospitalized. Eighty-three have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.

The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 30.38%. 29.02% of the population has been tested.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595202434504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County overall case count is at 975 as of Tuesday afternoon. The death count among Reno County residents is at 63. Forty-one people have died in the last 30 days.The Correctional Facility cluster type has 36 active cases measured by the county's COVID-19 dashboard. The Long Term Care Facility cluster type has 90 active cases. Twenty-four people within those clusters have died. There are 41 active clusters in the county.Out of 5,542 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 954 cases in the community at large. 4,504 people have recovered thus far.Thirty-seven Reno County residents are in the hospital. Two hundred forty-four total have been hospitalized. Eighty-three have been admitted to the ICU and 27 have been intubated. These are Reno County resident numbers regardless of where they are hospitalized.The community's positive test rate is at 24.84%, with the overall positive test rate at 30.38%. 29.02% of the population has been tested.The next community testing date is Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dairy Tie Barn on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. To schedule your appointment, call 1-844-834-3657.

Case count in Reno County 975,  with 954 in community as of Tuesday evening

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — According to Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department, it's not necessarily that things are appreciably better or worse right now than they have been in recent weeks, but the circumstances regarding COVID-19 remain difficult.

"We're just in the thick of it," Hammersmith said Tuesday. "We look at what's going on in the hospital every single day. They are really stretched thin. We have so many patients that are in the hospital. As of right now, we have 38 patients that are in the hospital. We have three patients on ventilators, two of them are confirmed COVID positive earlier today. It's just a huge problem that's going on. These patients are very sick. They stay in the hospital quite a while once they are admitted. If we didn't have the positive test rate that we had, we wouldn't have quite so many admits in the hospital."

"We have some family clusters," Hammersmith said. "They're being named in our area. That doesn't necessarily mean that's going to be published or anything, but if they had get togethers over Thanksgiving and they have six out of the ten people that were there test positive seven days out or more, then those are clusters."

Hammersmith doesn't expect any reduction between now and Christmas.

"We just have more in our community," Hammersmith said. "We have a lot of cases. They do keep coming in. When we're indoors, that just spreads more. That's how colds and flu season spread so much more, too. People go inside. Separate as much as you can. Staying at home when you're ill. That's the best thing. We hear a lot of people say, I really just have a runny nose or cough, so I don't think that's COVID. Generally, right now, that's what's circulating and so that runny nose is probably COVID, so please stay at home."

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606243325401.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — According to Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department, it's not necessarily that things are appreciably better or worse right now than they have been in recent weeks, but the circumstances regarding COVID-19 remain difficult."We're just in the thick of it," Hammersmith said Tuesday. "We look at what's going on in the hospital every single day. They are really stretched thin. We have so many patients that are in the hospital. As of right now, we have 38 patients that are in the hospital. We have three patients on ventilators, two of them are confirmed COVID positive earlier today. It's just a huge problem that's going on. These patients are very sick. They stay in the hospital quite a while once they are admitted. If we didn't have the positive test rate that we had, we wouldn't have quite so many admits in the hospital."Holiday celebrations did not help."We have some family clusters," Hammersmith said. "They're being named in our area. That doesn't necessarily mean that's going to be published or anything, but if they had get togethers over Thanksgiving and they have six out of the ten people that were there test positive seven days out or more, then those are clusters."Hammersmith doesn't expect any reduction between now and Christmas."We just have more in our community," Hammersmith said. "We have a lot of cases. They do keep coming in. When we're indoors, that just spreads more. That's how colds and flu season spread so much more, too. People go inside. Separate as much as you can. Staying at home when you're ill. That's the best thing. We hear a lot of people say, I really just have a runny nose or cough, so I don't think that's COVID. Generally, right now, that's what's circulating and so that runny nose is probably COVID, so please stay at home."Community testing continues on the Kansas State Fairgrounds on Tuesdays.

Coronavirus Update