KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 41 Action News is offering a daily recap of COVID-19 related stories from across Kansas City and the country. Check back every morning for the latest developments.
LATEST: COVID-19 case tracker for Missouri, Kansas and Kansas City
University of Kansas Health System update
The University of Kansas Health System on Thursday was treating 93 patients with acute COVID-19 infections, including 47 in the ICU and 28 on ventilators. At the hospital, 62 patients also are in recovery phases.
Dr. Steven Stites, chief medical officer, said that a potential Thanksgiving “surge” in cases may not be evident for another two weeks.
Doctors were joined Thursday by Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who said that he plans to get a COVID-19 vaccine publicly when one becomes available. The senator said he will encourage others to get vaccinated as well.
Kansas to end some benefits on Dec. 26
Kansas residents receiving benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs will lose those benefits after Dec. 26.
Both programs, which were created through the federal CARES Act, have to end based on federal law. They haven’t been extended or replaced because Congress has failed to pass a second stimulus bill or to extend the programs created in late March in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
FDA panel considers Pfizer vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is meeting Thursday to consider Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, which has already received authorization from officials in Canada and the United Kingdom. The hearing is expected to conclude around 5 p.m.
Gov. Laura Kelly sets testing standards at care facilities
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order Wednesday to put COVID-19 testing standards in place at state-licensed adult care homes. The order sets standards for frequency of staff testing based on the county’s positivity rate.
Also Wednesday, Kelly announced the state has launched a website to help Kansans find testing sites more easily. It’s part of her administration’s “Stop the Spread” campaign, which launched last week.
Kansas gives look at vaccine packaging
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman provided more details on the specially designed packaging in which the Pfizer vaccine will be shipped. The state expects to begin receiving vaccine doses later this week.
Plans underway for notifying public about vaccine
Health officials are working out the details about how the general public will be notified when it’s their turn to receive a vaccine. Officials in both Missouri and Kansas say vaccinations for the general public likely will not be available until the spring.
3 library branches resume services
Three branches of the Mid-Continent Public Library System resumed curbside services on Thursday after closing due to staff members who tested positive for COVID-19.
The library’s curbside services are now available again at these branches:
- Blue Springs North, 850 NW Hunter Drive;
- Grain Valley, 101 SW Eagles Parkway;
- Oak Grove, 2320 S. Broadway St.
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