At least 10 people from multiple counties and two states became infected with COVID-19 after taking part in a group event early this month at Lake Perry in apparent violation of Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order, the Shawnee County COVID-19 Response Team announced Saturday.
At least two other people — including a recruit officer at the Topeka Police Academy — didn’t attend but were infected with the coronavirus because they came into contact with people who took part, said Amanda Monhollon, deputy public information officer for the Shawnee County Health Department.
“Over 20 people have been placed on quarantine as a result of having been exposed to the virus through some of the people who attended the lake event,” Monhollon said in a news release. “It appears that the gatherings at the lake violated the statewide stay-at-home order that was in place at that time.”
The situation provides a “strong reminder of how easy it is to be infected by this virus,” Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino said in the release.
“It is also an example of how disregarding the orders of public health authorities may result in a cascade of events leading to large disruptions and exposure to the virus for multiple people,” he said.
Pezzino said it appeared “a lot of drinking and closeness” occurred at the gathering.
Monhollon asked all those who visited public areas at Lake Perry, including its restrooms, between May 2 and 10 to alert their health care provider that they may have been exposed.
She told of how local officials found a connection between people infected during the gathering at the lake and a Topeka police recruit officer who wasn’t there.
“The presence of the infected recruit has forced the academy to shut down temporarily,” Monhollon said. “All the recruits have been placed on quarantine.”
Health department director Linda Ochs said in Saturday’s release: “Our skilled investigators were able to quickly find a link between the case at the TPD Recruit Academy and groups of people who decided to spend leisure time boating on a lake. It is unfortunate that precious public health resources now must be used to investigate dozens of cases and exposures that could have been prevented, had people followed the orders issued by public health authorities.”
Shawnee County has recorded 25 new COVID-19 cases during the week lasting from May 10 through Saturday, increasing its total to 185 from 160.
In comparison, the county saw 36 new cases the previous week, raising its total to 160 from 124, according to information posted on the website of the health department.
That site said Saturday that five of Shawnee County’s COVID-19 patients have died while 138 have recovered and 42 continue to receive treatment.
Statewide, 7,886 cases have been confirmed, with 724 hospitalizations and 172 deaths.
