COVID-19 updates presented at LEPC meeting

The Local Emergency Preparedness Committee (LEPC) met this morning via a Zoom conference to discuss the latest updates on county and city measures to combat COVID-19.
Cloud County Health Department Administrator Brandi Bray reported that as of April 7, 2020, less than 20 persons in Cloud County had been tested for the coronavirus; three were positive, and they were awaiting the results of four other tests.
Bray requested that citizens continue to follow the guidelines for the stay-home order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
It is expected that Governor Laura Kelly's office will issue an Executive Order by the end of the week to clarify aspects of the Stay-Home order, providing specific guidance for such things as convenience store operations and even a continuation of church services.
There was discussion among the Cloud County Sheriff's Department, the Concordia Police Department, and Cloud County Attorney Robert Walsh as to enforcement of the Governor's Stay-Home order and public violations of the safe-distancing requirements.
"We wanted to make sure we were all on the same page," said Concordia Police Chief Ric Fredrickson. "If we see three or more people together who are not family, or public gatherings of more than 10 people, we are going to speak with those people. I'm not too crazy about doing that, but the safe-distancing guidelines are huge for all of us to stay safe. It is not a big issue right now, but if there are flagrant violations our officers will issue warnings. If it continues to be an ongoing violation with a specific individual or group of people, citations will be issued."
Fredrickson added that the citation is a misdemeanor violation, and will be forwarded to the County Attorney's Office for possible prosecution.
Also discussed was enforcing self-isolation and quarantine isolation guidelines for individuals who have been notified they were in close contact with a COVID-19 patient, or who have recent travel history to counties and states that are on the quarantine list.
Bray noted that new Center For Disease Control (CDC) guidelines now state that someone is considered to have had close contact with a COVID-19 infection if they were in close contact with that individual within 48 hours of the outbreak of initial symptoms.
14 days is still considered an appropriate time for self-isolation and quarantine.