KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to spread across the world, and in Missouri and Kansas.
41 Action News is keeping track of all closings and cancellations, as well as tracking where positive coronavirus cases are located.
If you are a business finding unique ways to serve our community, check our KC Open for Business Facebook group to share your ideas.
Updates on the spread of the virus and how it is affecting the metro can be found below for March 20.
6:50 p.m. | According to a document obtained by the I-Team on Monday, Lansing Correctional Facility has been identified as the largest contributor to the COVID-19 outbreak in Kansas. As of Monday, 926 cases and six deaths, including two staff members, have been traced back to the facility, according to the state Department of Corrections.
4:30 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday that she has signed a bipartisan bill to give Kansas lawmakers some oversight of her response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Kansas Legislature passed the bill last week amid criticisms from both sides of the aisle.
In a briefing Monday, both Kelly and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman acknowledged that today would have been the start of Phase 3 under the state's original reopening plan, before Kelly transferred ownership of those plans to individual counties.
Norman said most counties in the state are now continuing to see improvement in terms of key metrics, which include disease spread, hospitalization and testing capacity. Among the exceptions to those include Douglas, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties, Norman said, although he also said they were "fairly minor deflections" and he does not "have any great deal of worry" about those counties.
Norman also said the state is in the middle of contact tracing efforts related to people who tested positive for the virus who were either at the Lake of the Ozarks over Memorial Day or who have attended recent protests.
Watch the full briefing below:
2:55 p.m. | Oak Grove Parks and Recreation announced on Monday that its Fourth of July fireworks display will proceed, but with changes.
In a Facebook post, the department said the display will take place at the "highest point of Bent Oak Park."
"The only way we are allowed to do this though is if we do not open the gates of the property for people to come in to watch," the post stated. "So we encourage you to watch from your home or somewhere around town (while maintaining social distance from those outside your immediate household). Because of this, we've spoken with our pyrotechnic and they've agreed to do all high aerial displays and no low to the ground fireworks."
The display will begin at 10 p.m., pending weather, according to the post.
2:45 p.m. | Allies for Racial Justice will host a webinar with Kansas City health professionals to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting people within their areas of specialty health care. The webinar will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16.
Join Allies for Racial Justice for an open webinar with Kansas City area medical professionals discussing how COVID-19 is impacting people within their areas of specialty healthcare.
— KCMO Health Dept (@KCMOHealthDept) June 8, 2020
When? Tuesday, June 16th, 7pm
Register @ https://t.co/3E6hz93TOS pic.twitter.com/NekJM09lo5
2 p.m. | Changing Leads Equine Rescue will close its doors due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Facebook post, the horse rescue said it had to cancel three upcoming fundraisers, with more potential cancellations in the future.
"Without an influx of funding, we cannot commit to accepting rescue horses at our facility," rescue leaders said in the post. "For this reason, it is time to close our doors."
Changing Leads will no longer be accepting horses at the rescue, effective immediately. As part of the closing, it will have three tack sales on June 13, 20 and 27. The rescue also said it would take a couple of months to notify donors and those who have adopted a horse.
1:30 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City resumed full team training Monday morning at Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City, Kansas. A spokesperson for the club says its full team training plans were reviewed and approved by medical staff and local infectious disease experts prior to receiving approval from Major League Soccer to begin the sessions.
11:41 a.m. | Three U.S. national cemeteries in the Kansas City area — Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Scott National Cemetery and Leavenworth National Cemetery — will resume committal services Tuesday, the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System has announced.
10:35 a.m. | The City of Independence announced Monday it will resume disconnecting delinquent customer utility accounts, a practice that was halted during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, starting July 15.
Earlier this month, the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities resumed disconnects for unpaid accounts. The region’s largest utility provider, Evergy, also plans to resume disconnects on July 15.
9:19 a.m. | Families in need of fresh produce and meat can receive a free box of fruit, vegetables, dairy and 10 pounds of frozen precooked chicken Thursday from the Fort Osage School District Education Foundation and the Fort Osage Food Service Department.
The program is possible through the USDA’s Food to Families Program and local vendors.
Anyone can pick up a box from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until supplies last, on Thursday outside Osage Trail Middle School, 2102 N. Twyman Road in Independence. Participants should remain in their vehicle and a box will be loaded into the vehicle trunk or backseat.
8:32 a.m. | For the first time in 85 years, City Union Mission announced Monday that Camp Cumcito will be closed to the public this summer due to COVID-19.
Children staying at City Union Mission will be able to participate, but most programs have been moved on campus rather than at the camp in Warsaw, Missouri.
8:00 a.m. | Officials with the University of Kansas Health System are giving an update on COVID-19 operations in the area.
7:45 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
7:30 a.m. | Missouri residents can get tested for COVID-19 in Platte City Monday and Tuesday. The testing site at Platte County R-III Middle School will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Any Missouri resident can be tested. They are encouraged to register for an appointment online. Walk-ins will be available only if there are remaining appointments available.
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
Monday, June 1
Tuesday, June 2
Wednesday, June 3
Thursday, June 4
Friday, June 5
