This page answers some of the most frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19.
General
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The name COVID-19 is an abbreviation of (co)rona(vi)rus (d)isease 20(19). It is also known as a novel coronavirus. There are many types of human coronaviruses, but COVID-19 is novel because it had not previously been seen in humans. COVID-19 was first identified in an outbreak investigation in Wuhan, China in 2019. It has since been confirmed in countries around the world, including the United States, and has been declared a pandemic.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can have a wide range depending on the individual, from mild to severe. Symptoms can develop 2-14 days after exposure. Some individuals do not exhibit symptoms, and are considered asymptomatic. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle of body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. In the most severe cases, COVID-19 can have significant short-term and long-term health effects.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says COVID-19 mainly spreads between people in close contact with each other. An infected individual can spread COVID-19 through coughing, sneezing, singing, talking or breathing. Not all individuals infected with COVID-19 display symptoms, but these individuals can still spread the virus. COVID-19 can also be airborne, and less commonly, spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.
Statistics local to Harvey County can be found on our website. For information on COVID-19 in Kansas, please visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. For information on COVID-19 in the United States, please visit the CDC website.
Testing
Several organizations in Harvey County provide COVID-19 testing. If you have one or more symptoms of COVID-19, please consult your medical provider. Hesston Pharmacy and Harvey Drug and Gifts offer free COVID-19 testing by appointment. The KDHE, in partnership with WellHealth, has a COVID-19 test site at the Chisholm Trail Center in Newton. The site tests both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. More information about the testing site, as well as a link to schedule an appointment, can be found here. Testing is not conducted by the Harvey County Health Department.
A negative test result is simply that, negative. A positive - or confirmed - test result is found from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Probable test results have presumptive lab evidence (serology) with COVID-19 symptoms or epi-linked to a confirmed case, or no lab testing with COVID-19 symptoms and epi-linked to a confirmed case. Serology evidence includes a positive antigen result.
The KDHE includes both positive and probable cases in its COVID-19 case counts. After a COVID-19 test sample is collected, the sample is sent to either the KDHE or a private laboratory to be completed.
Quarantine and Isolation
Isolation separates someone with a contagious disease from the well population. Quarantine separates someone who was exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. Both directives are meant to reduce the spread of a contagious disease, and in this case, COVID-19. Those in home quarantine cannot attend school, work or any other setting where they cannot maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Those tested for COVID-19 must quarantine until they receive a test result.
The CDC recently released guidance allowing for shorter quarantine periods. The KDHE, and in turn the Harvey County Health Department, have adopted that guidance. The modified quarantines are:
- 7-Day Quarantine: After exposure, monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days. If you have no symptoms during this time frame, you may get a PCR test (antigen or antibody testing are not allowed for this purpose) on or after the sixth day. If the test is negative, and you remain symptom-free, you can be removed from quarantine on or after the eighth day. If test results remain pending, you must continue to wait until your result is received.
- 10-Day Quarantine: After exposure, monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days. If you have no symptoms through 10 days, you can be released from quarantine without a test.
- Individuals that have received COVID-19 vaccinations: If an individual has received both (two) doses of COVID-19 vaccine, they may be exempted from quarantine if they are two weeks or longer past receiving their second COVID-19 vaccine dose, are within three months (90 days) past the two weeks after receiving their second COVID-19 vaccine dose, and they remain without COVID-19 symptoms.
Long-term care and assisted living residents, as well as offender populations in jails or prisons, are not eligible for shortened quarantines.
The incubation period for COVID-19 remains 14 days. Those that have completed the modified quarantine should continue to self-monitor for symptoms the entire 14-day period from exposure. If symptoms develop, consult your medical provider.
The KDHE mandates a 14-day quarantine for Kansans who have:
- Traveled on or after April 8, 2021 to Connecticut or Pennsylvania
- Traveled on or after April 8, 2021 to Andorra, Bermuda, Curacao, Poland, Serbia or Uruguay
- Traveled on or after March 26, 2021 to Delaware, Michigan or Rhode Island
- Traveled on or after March 26, 2021 to Hungary or Jordan
- Traveled on or after March 12, 2021 to New Jersey or New York
- Traveled on or after March 12, 2021 to State of Palestine or Estonia
- Traveled on or after Feb. 26, 2021 to San Marino
- Traveled between Feb. 26, 2021 and April 8, 2021 to Czechia or Montenegro
- Attended/traveled to mass gathering events out of state of 500 people or greater where individuals do not socially distance and wear masks
- Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15, 2020.
Those fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine regarding travel if the individual is two weeks or longer past receiving their second COVID-19 dose in a two-dose series or two weeks past receiving their dose of single-dose vaccine, are within three months (90 days) past the two weeks after receiving their final COVID-19 vaccine dose, and they remain without COVID-19 symptoms.
An individual is considered recovered either after 10 days from the beginning of symptoms, or 72 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine (whichever criteria is longer). Individuals who are asymptomatic but have tested positive are recovered 10 days after the positive test result date.
Reducing The Spread
Taking proactive steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 helps keep not just you healthy, but your friends, your family, local businesses and your community. Here are some ways to help:
- Wash your hands frequently (or if soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol).
- Avoid close contact. Social distancing recommendations are to be at least 6 feet away from another person, and no more than 10 minutes within 6 feet of someone if necessary.
- Wear a face mask over your nose and mouth when around others.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces.
- If you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19, stay home. Consult your medical provider for further guidance.
No. The Harvey County Commission voted to remove local health orders concerning COVID-19 as of March 23, 2021. The Commission, and the Health Department, encourage residents and businesses to continue precautions such as wearing a face mask, social distancing, and receiving a COVID-19 vaccination when it is available.
Other counties may have local health orders that are more or less restrictive that best suit their specific outlooks and data. Please check with those specific counties for their local order.
Vaccine
Researchers have made tremendous strides in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have been authorized and recommended for emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Novavax are in or plan to begin large-scale clinical trials in the United States. The CDC has additional information on how COVID-19 vaccines work.
For facts about Pfizer's vaccine, click here. (En español).
For facts about Moderna's vaccine, click here. (En español).
For facts about Johnson & Johnson's vaccine (Janssen), click here.
As vaccines gain necessary approval for use, their availability will be prioritized to specific groups. Currently, the KDHE is in Phase Five, which includes anyone 16 years old and older. Those not yet vaccinated that were prioritized in previous phases remain eligible.
Updates on availability can be found on our COVID-19 Vaccine page. Additional information about the KDHE’s strategy can be found in the State of Kansas' COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.
Some. If you have been fully vaccinated - either two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, or two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine - KDHE guidance says you can gather in private residences with other fully vaccinated people without masks or distancing, or with unvaccinated people if those that have not been vaccinated are from a single household and are at low risk of severe disease. The KDHE guidance says people that have been vaccinated need to continue to follow all precautions in public settings.
