Governor Laura Kelly has issued an emergency declaration for the state in response to the coronavirus, and the state has reported its first death from the COVID-19 virus.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Thursday evening a man in his 70s was taken to a hospital and died shortly after arrival. Testing was positive for the COVID-19 virus. The man was living in a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County.
KDHE secretary Lee Norman said health officials are working on identifying people who had contact with the man. This would be the state’s fifth case of coronavirus. The other four cases have been reported in Johnson County.
The emergency declaration from the governor will authorize the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.
