Riley County saw three new positive cases of COVID-19 reported Tuesday. Pottawatomie County also reported one new case.
7 p.m. update
Late Tuesday, the Riley County Health Department learned that a 22-year-old K-State student who traveled to England in the group with a K-State journalism professor tested positive. The professor, Drew Smith, was released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Health officials say the student has been in quarantine in their Manhattan home since returning to the community March 18. The health department has been in daily contact with them. The student has been sick for the last few days and is now in isolation at home.
This marked the fifth positive case in Riley County.
4 p.m. update
A 29-year-old male who was tested at KSTAT, became the fourth Riley County resident to test positive for COVID-19. The Riley County Health Department is conducting contact tracing and following up with the patient and all close contacts. Further information related to that case are not available at this time, but will be shared when it becomes available.
8 a.m. update
Earlier on Tuesday, the health department announced a 57-year-old Riley County man tested positive. He presented to Ascension Via Christi Hospital on March 27 and was tested the same day.
The man is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at Via Christi and is considered an imported case, and not an instance of community spread. The patient had recently traveled to a church meeting in the Kansas City area. His family members are currently in quarantine at their home in Riley County and are not showing symptoms at this time.
Just before noon Tuesday, Pottawatomie County announced its second positive case of COVID-19, a 71-year-old Wamego woman currently at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. Her travel history is being researched at this time. The Pottawatomie County Health Department is currently working to identify any close contacts and those who were exposed will be contacted as soon as possible.
Total positive cases in Manhattan area up to 7
There are now seven confirmed cases in Riley and Pottawatomie County. The other cases include 51-year-old Drew Smith of Pottawatomie County, who was released late last week to his home.
The others are a 57-year-old Manhattan woman in isolation at a Topeka residence and a Fort Riley soldier who also remains in isolation at his Manhattan home.
“Currently in Riley County, we are monitoring 23 people and we still have 10 tests pending,” Julie Gibbs, the director of the Riley County Health Department, said during an update via Facebook Live earlier today. “This number includes tests pending in Fort Riley. We have had a total of 50 negative tests so far in the county.”
Anyone who believes they may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can contact the RCHD screening line at 785-323-6400 any day of the week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. where a health professional will provide guidance.
General questions about COVID-19 can be emailed to rileycountycovid19@gmail.com.
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