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KDHE monitoring shows rising COVID-19 infections, while emergency visits remain low statewide

COVID-19 infections are trending upward across the country, and Kansas is included in areas the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks as “likely growing.” In Kansas, emergency department data for the week ending Aug. 22 shows COVID-19 visits are still under 0.1% of all visits.

Hospital exterior with masked healthcare workers and a region-glow map effect suggesting statewide COVID monitoring and prevention guidance.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said COVID-19 is not a reportable condition in Kansas, so diagnosed cases and positive tests are not tracked statewide the same way. Instead, KDHE relies on monitoring of emergency department data to track trends. Jill Bronaugh, the agency’s spokeswoman, also pointed out that KDHE uses this approach to gauge whether infections are changing over time.

A CDC map indicates that higher COVID-19 activity in Kansas is concentrated in the northeast of the state, including counties around Topeka and Kansas City, as well as counties surrounding Wichita. CDC wastewater monitoring reported low levels of COVID-19 virus in Kansas.

The CDC recommends considering a 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine update, with particular emphasis for people who never received a COVID-19 vaccine, those age 65 and older, those at high risk for severe COVID-19, people in long-term care facilities, pregnant or breastfeeding people, and those trying to get pregnant or who may become pregnant.