By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As of Friday morning, Reno County has no active cases of COVID-19.
"We've held steady all this week at 41 total cases," said Nick Baldetti with the Health Department. "We now have 41 recovered, so we have zero active cases as of this morning for Reno County, which is fantastic."
Baldetti said at this point the goal to get ready for COVID-19 illness has been achieved.
"The policy of allowing us to prepare did what it was supposed to do," Baldetti said. "Our health care system is eminently prepared for whatever happens, in addition to the public health infrastructure. We did what we were supposed to do and we're ready."
Governor Kelly's decision Thursday in her slower opening of the state was surprising to Baldetti.
"For myself and for Reno County, we're ready to advance," Baldetti said. "We are very well poised and positioned in this community. The closures, the stay at home order was exactly that strategic retreat to regroup and plan and move forward."
With that said, people are still going to get sick from COVID-19 and if there is a large amount of communal spread, then that data will be dealt with at that time and current social distancing and protective measures need to be taken even during the phased reopening.