Now you can check the community threat level from COVID-19 with just a few keystrokes, and get “real time” guidance on what steps to take to help protect yourself, your friends and family, and your community from the spread of the virus.
A new tool just unveiled by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lets the public search for community COVID levels on a county-by-county basis. Just enter your state and county, and the database will show the community threat level in your community, and list guidance according to the community threat level. The community levels are determined by looking at the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in any given area. You can access the county-by-county search function by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.
Visit Community COVID Levels Dashboard
For example, currently in Wyandotte County, the community level of COVID-19 is “High.”
Public Guidance For Different Community Levels
High
For counties with high community levels of COVID, the CDC recommends the following actions:
Medium
For counties with medium COVID Community levels, the public guidance looks like this:
Low
For counties with low COVID Community levels, the public guidance looks like this:
Who Can Get a Booster Shot?
No matter what COVID community level, the CDC and the UGPHD encourage everyone to stay up to date with their COVID vaccines, including booster shots. COVID-19 booster shots are now available for people ages 12 and older. See vaccine and booster recommendations here to check if you are up to date: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
UG Public Health Department
COVID vaccines are available by appointment only for anyone five years and older at the UGPHD department at 619 Ann Avenue in KCK. Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (913) 573-8855 to make an appointment.
COVID vaccinations are also available at the former Kmart facility at 7836 State Avenue in KCK on Fridays only, from noon to 6 p.m. In addition, you can also search for vaccination sites by location and vaccine type at vaccines.gov.
Community Calendar
Here are details on upcoming COVID-19 vaccination and testing events in our community:
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Cross-Lines Community Outreach at 646 South 7th Street is providing free COVID testing and/or vaccinations every Monday through the end of March. Hours are Mondays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Booster shots are available for those age 12 and older. No appointment needed.
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El Centro, in cooperation with Swope Health and the M.E.R.C. Co+op, is hosting a vaccination clinic on Monday, March 14th, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the M.E.R.C. Co+Op located at 501 Minnesota Avenue in KCK. Vaccines are available for anyone 5 years and older. Youth 5 to 17 must have consent from a parent or guardian. No appointment is needed, and there is no cost. In addition, event organizers will have $25 gift cards for any Wyandotte County residents who get vaccinated for the first time or who receive their booster shot.