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 gives COVID-19 update
Doctors with the University of Kansas Health System said Friday the hospital has 37 active COVID-19 patients, including 14 in the ICU and five on ventilators. The hospital also has 31 patients in recovery.
On Thursday, the health system said it had to set up an overflow ICU because of the high number of COVID-19 patients.
"We have never had to overflow from one ICU because we have all the beds are taken to another ICU for one entity, so that has never happened for influenza," Dr. Dana Hawkinson said at Friday's briefing. "That's never happened for pneumococcal pneumonia. So again, pointing out the fact that COVID is a different entity than most other infections."
Missouri to receive rapid tests for schools
More than 330 school districts in Missouri are set to receive approximately 583,000 rapid COVID-19 tests. In a briefing Thursday, Gov. Mike Parson said the state has started shipping the rapid tests, which can deliver results in about 15 minutes, to schools and districts that requested them.
Trick-or-treating can be done safely, health officials say
Doctors in the Kansas City metro say trick-or-treating can be done safely this year if certain precautions are taken. Masks should be worn (though costume masks won't cut it), and all interactions should be done outside, rather than in homes. Luckily, the Halloween weather forecast calls for a pleasant fall day.
Kansas nursing home to lose funding
A troubled nursing home in Norton County, Kansas, will lose its federal Medicare funding. Every resident at the Andbe Home has tested positive for coronavirus, and at least 10 have died since the beginning of the pandemic.
In a scathing report, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the facility faces $14,860 in fines and that it will lose Medicare funding effective Nov. 18, according to the Associated Press.
2 Independence libraries close due to exposure
Two branches of the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence will be closed until further notice due to a potential COVID-19 exposure.
The North Independence Branch, 317 W. 24 Highway, and the Fairview Neighborhood Branch, 18109 E. 12 St. N., are closed after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
The North Independence Branch will still be open as a polling place on Election Day, though no library services will be available.
KCMO Municipal Court using virtual hearings, online payments
The Kansas City, Missouri, Municipal Court has made some big changes since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, including virtual hearings and the expansion of its online payment portal. The changes were made to reduce the amount of foot traffic into the downtown building.
The courthouse plans to continue doing the virtual hearings even after the pandemic has ended.
Mother, daughter share their experiences with COVID-19
As cases rise across the country and in the Kansas City area, one family in Raymore is sharing side-by-side stories of survival after a mother and daughter were both hospitalized with COVID-19.
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