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Northeast Kansas COVID-19 cluster grows by 46 positive cases

Posted at 2:27 PM, May 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-22 15:27:29-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Increased testing in Jackson County, Kansas, showed a cluster at the Johnsonville plant in Holton is larger than the five COVID-19 cases initially reported.

On May 13, the plant closed after confirming five positive cases of the virus.

On Friday, the Jackson County, Kansas, Health Department said it had completed testing of all plant employees.

Health officials found 46 additional cases of coronavirus, bringing the county total to 84.

Those who tested positive and anyone they’ve been in contact with will be placed in quarantine.

Johnsonville has not set a reopening date and said it will not do so until its employees have recovered, according to the health department’s release.

County health officials asked residents to continue social distancing, wearing face masks in public and avoiding gatherings of 15 or more people.

Total cases in Kansas on Friday reached 9,024.