With ‘endemic normalcy,’ Kansas plans fewer COVID updates

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is planning fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly is formally declaring that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn’t considered a pandemic. Kelly said Thursday that the state health department will continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing, work to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.” The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations once a week rather than the current three times a week.