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.
3:45 p.m. | New data from state and local health departments shows the number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas, Missouri, and the Kansas City area continues to rise.
In Kansas, the number of cases has surpassed 16,000, with 846 new cases reported Friday.
Missouri saw its highest single-day increase since the pandemic started, adding 617 cases on Friday.
In the Kansas City area, there are now more than 10,000 cases with the 511 new cases reported Friday.
2 p.m. | The U.S. set another daily record in new cases of the coronavirus Thursday, according to a database kept by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. as a whole reported about 52,300 new cases of the virus on Thursday. Of those cases, about 25,000 were reported in four states: Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.
All but 10 U.S. states are showing an increase of confirmed cases over the last 14 days, according to data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project.
Noon | The University of Kansas football team has suspended voluntary workouts due to an uptick in positive COVID-19 tests in the program.
10:50 a.m. | Kansas’ governor and its top public health official worry that the state won’t be able to reopen its K-12 schools for the new school year in August if it doesn’t reverse a recent surge in reported coronavirus cases.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly told legislative leaders that a desire to reopen schools is a key reason for her executive order she issued to require Kansas residents to wear masks in public and their workplaces, according to an Associated Press report. The order took effect Friday.
9:30 a.m. | The Salvation Army said it is postponing planned food box distributions originally scheduled for July and August because its partner in the effort, Loffredo’s Fresh Foods, was not selected as a subcontractor in the USDA's Farm-to-Table program.
“We want people to know every single one of our metro food pantries are open and ready to help people who are struggling with food security,” Maj. David Harvey said in a news release. “Our corps will work closely with Harvesters to make sure the pantries remain well stocked with all the essentials families need.”
The Salvation Army said a third phase of the national Farm-to-Table program is expected to start on Sept. 1st, with subcontractors selected by the end of August.
8:30 a.m. | The Leavenworth County Board of County Commissioners voted Thursday to amend Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's order mandating masks in public spaces, making the use of masks a recommendation rather than a requirement.
7:45 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
6:45 a.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, has been selected as one of six cities where the U.S. Census Bureau will begin door-to-door follow-up interviews at households that have yet to reply for the 2020 Census.
Census takers, who will follow local health department guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19, will begin field operations July 16 in Kansas City as well as Beckley, West Virginia; Boise, Idaho; Gardiner, Maine; New Orleans and Oklahoma City.
6:30 a.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's order requiring face masks to be worn in public spaces took effect at 12:01 a.m. today. Wyandotte and Johnson counties both adopted the order.
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
Wednesday, July 1
Thursday, July 2
