(KAIR)--COVID-19 testing has increased in Atchison County, with related supplies now on-hand.

That message came Tuesday during the regular meeting of the Atchison County Commission, delivered by Atchison County Health Officer Lori Forge and County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter. “Right now we are sitting pretty well with testing supplies. Same with the PPE supplies we’ve ordered in for all of the agencies,” Lanter said.
Although Atchison County’s case-count has grown to 15, as of Tuesday the number stood at 14, and Forge explained that of those cases, there was one confirmed as having been contracted through community spread. “I was able to investigate back and find where they came from,” Forge told the Commission, referencing the origin of the local cases. We have one that I was able to and it was a community spread.”

Atchison County, along with the State of Kansas, remains in phase one of reopening following closures made due to the pandemic. Taking effect May 4, the first phase of the state’s plan allowed restaurants to reopen for inside customers, so long as certain guidelines are followed. Atchison County’s plan remains stronger, keeping restaurants operating only for curbside pickup and delivery. That led to an outcry from some local restaurant owners, and those concerns are being addressed as plans are developed for phase 2. “Wes put out a questionnaire for the restaurants to kind of have their say on how they wanted things to look, and there was really, really good feedback. They have really, really good ideas, so I think that’s going to go pretty smoothly.”

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly will issue an executive order to move into the second phase of the Kansas reopening, tentatively planned to begin Monday.

A special meeting will be held by the Atchison County Commission for the release of the details of the local reopening plan. However, Lanter told MSC News that plan can’t be released until after Kelly releases that of the state. Once that timeline is known, the local meeting will be scheduled.