Editor’s Note: In an effort to keep our readers informed of COVID-19 trends across Johnson County, the Shawnee Mission Post each Wednesday will publish a weekly update detailing the latest news and trends related to the novel coronavirus in our area. This is our first report.

The Shawnee Mission Post is making much of its local coverage of the coronavirus pandemic accessible to non-subscribers. (If you value having a news source covering the situation in our community, we hope you’ll consider subscribing here).

This week was a busy one in regards to COVID-19 news and trends across Johnson County. On Monday, some kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders at Shawnee Mission Schools returned to in-person learning for the first time since COVID-19 triggered shelter-in-place orders last March.

Also, this Monday the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment adjusted how it calculates and displays COVID-19 data. One big change: JCDHE changed its method for calculating percent positive test rates, which resulted in a significantly lower percent positivity figure.

Before the change Monday, JCDHE displayed Johnson County’s percent positivity at 11.3%. After the change, it fell to 6.6%.

JCDHE spokesperson Barbara Mitchell wrote in an email to the Post that county health officials opted to change their methodology for calculating percent positivity to reflect a “truer picture of what is going on in our community.” You can read more about that decision and the change in calculation method here.

Below are key trends in COVID-19, based on data from JCDHE’s revamped COVID-19 dashboard.

Key Trends

Below you will find links to the Shawnee Mission Post’s COVID-19 coverage from the last week, along with notable news releases from Johnson County.

Recent COVID-19 coverage

• Key metric plummets after JoCo health department changes COVID-19 dashboard — here’s why
• SMSD students return to school for first time since pandemic started, but uncertainty and fear linger
• Health officials say 60% of JoCo public schools have had to use quarantines to try to stop COVID-19
• SMSD says middle and high school students could return to some in-person learning Oct. 26
• Johnson County health officials revise school reopening criteria, expand options for middle and high school students
• ‘We’re taking it slow’ — What to expect when SMSD students return to class, starting Oct. 5
• Kansas’ entire Congressional delegation —including Democrat Davids — votes against latest U.S. House coronavirus bill

Announcements from Johnson County

• Johnson County to make available more than $35M in Coronavirus Relief Funds to re-invest in the community
• Johnson County launches new COVID-19 dashboard
• JCDHE releases updated school recommendations
• BOCC addresses COVID-19 pandemic, among other items

Click here to see a calendar of Johnson County COVID-19 testing events.