HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County has its first case of COVID-19. Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti reported the finding Friday evening.
Baldetti says a woman over the age of 60 was tested two days ago and the results came back today. The female is in self-quarantine and is doing well.
Officials are doing a backtrack of the patients whereabouts and travel and contact history which usually goes back about two weeks, according to Baldetti.
Baldetti also noted that the state is running out of test kits and emergency responders are also running low on protective equipment to handle emergency calls in necessary.
He reminded the public that Reno County does not have test kits as all tests are done in Topeka. But the ability to collect samples is also running low.
While local health providers don’t have the actual test kits, nasal and throat swabs used to conduct them are also running low.
He stressed once again that anyone who feels they have symptoms to contact their health care provider or the health department at 694-2900. Those symptoms include a cough, tightness of chest or trouble breathing and fever of 100.4 or higher. They also stress that you should not just come to see your doctor or the health department without calling first.
Residents should continue to practice social distancing and good respiratory hygiene, staying at least 6 feet from others and if you have to be within 6 feet, to not remain there for more than 10 minutes.