Officials discuss COVID-19 impact, mitigation

County officials and health professionals from the region discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the local health system during a special meeting of the Bourbon County Commission on Wednesday.

The meeting took place in the county’s emergency management building. Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said the meeting was requested after commissioners had discussions with County Counselor Justin Meeks “and some other people revolving around transports and expediency and whether we can get them out and where we need to be in a timely manner.” Attendees discussed mitigating spread of COVID-19 and potential strategies to help EMS and hospital services.

Guiding much of the discussion were Dr. Tim Stebbins, Crawford County public health officer and director of the Ascension Via Christi emergency departments in Fort Scott and Pittsburg, and Dr. Linda Bean, chief medical officer at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and deputy health officer for Crawford County. Stebbins said he is also the director of the Via Christi emergency department in Manhattan, the director of EMS for Crawford County, and the medical director for Crawford County.

See Wednesday's print or online edition for complete story.