Reno County district attorney Keith Schroeder said Wednesday his office is investigating a report of a person infected with COVID-19 who may have violated a quarantine order and infected others in the community.

Schroeder said a person who tested positive for the virus is believed to have infected at least four other people, and that number may rise.

Schroeder issued a statement saying that the county public health officer has the legal authority to issue a quarantine order for someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 and may be contagious to other persons.   He said a person under a quarantine order has a right to a hearing, but that person is still legally bound by the order unless a judge decides otherwise.   He said anyone who selfishly violates a formal quarantine order will be dealt with as provided by Kansas law.

Reno County has now reported 35 cases of coronavirus.