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.
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University of Kansas Health System update
Doctors with the University of Kansas Health System said Thursday the hospital currently is treating 33 patients with active COVID-19 infections, including eight patients in the ICU and two on ventilators. The hospital also has 36 patients in recovery phases.
During the Thursday briefing, doctors also discussed vaccine distribution efforts and the impacts of the vaccine on pregnant women and new mothers.
Extreme cold delays vaccine shipments
Extreme winter weather in Kansas and Missouri this week has caused delays in COVID-19 vaccine shipments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the federal government has predicted widespread delays over the next few days. Weather could continue to impact shipments out of FedEx and UPS hubs that serve multiple states, according to the CDC.
At the University of Kansas Health System, doctors said Wednesday that they were still waiting on shipments that were supposed to arrive earlier in the week.
Doctors said that those waiting on their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should not be concerned as long as they get it sometime within the next month.
Kansas to allocate more vaccine doses to teachers
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced a new push to get K-12 teachers and staff vaccinated so more students can return to in-person learning.
Under the plan, counties will receive shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine earmarked specifically for school teachers and staff. Those doses will be in addition to ones already going toward vaccinating people in the state’s Phase 2 tier.
Across the state line in Missouri, teachers still are waiting to become eligible for the vaccine. Teachers are included in the state’s next phase, 1B Tier 3.
Kansas City, Missouri, Public Schools said its plan to bring students back in March could be delayed if teachers don’t receive their vaccinations soon.
Fans to be allowed at Royals spring training games
Kansas City Royals fans will have the chance to catch a spring training game at Surprise Stadium in Arizona. The stadium announced Wednesday that it will sell a limited number of tickets for games between Feb. 28 and March 29.
No more than 2,000 fans will be allowed per game, and groups will be spaced in socially distanced pods. Other restrictions also will be in effect at the stadium.
Partnership aims to get more volunteers to administer vaccines
Johnson County has partnered with Heart to Heart International to screen volunteers who will administer COVID-19 vaccines.
For a large clinic administering 1,400 doses each day, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment said it needs at least 20 to 50 volunteers. Those people must have medical certifications or be licensed to provide the injections.
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