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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Part of the conversation that the Economic Recovery task force is having with stakeholders is to let them know that the social distancing we have been doing is working."All models are predicated on the input data for the output, so that's always the important caveat," said Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti. "Where we're at right now suggests that if we are able to maintain consistently some aspect of 25% to 45% adherence to social distancing guidelines, the model suggests within the next 90 days that the potential surge of hospitalizations is extremely manageable from the standpoint of what we have here in Reno County."Adherence numbers now are solid."Based off of that model, we're averaging about 45% to 50% adherence rate to social distancing guidelines as it stands throughout the duration of the stay at home order and social distancing executive orders," Baldetti said.The hospital may be able to handle a relaxation in the restrictions going forward, if the county is empowered to make that decision."Thirty percent adherence would suggest that within the next 90 days, we'd potentially have an increase of about 14 to 20 active COVID-19 cases, with an additional 2 to 4 people hospitalized," Baldetti said.The exact amount of the loosening of restrictions is what the meetings of the subcommittees and the committee is for."Those are the very discussions, that we're trying to infuse as much safety as possible within this taskforce in establishing guidelines to try and maintain adherence level throughout what this phased approach looks like," Baldetti said.Debra Teufel with the Chamber notes that business owners seem willing to come together on that score."Our businesses are willing to abide by reasonable restrictions," Teufel said. "I think there's a real desire to get back to business. The economic recovery from this is going to be a long-term recovery. We don't want the economic implications of the epidemic to be worse than the actual epidemic."The task force hopes to have a local plan together prior to the expiration of the Governor's order May 3.

Current social distancing solid, task force looking at how much to open