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.
We are also keeping track of which metro jurisdictions are under stay at home orders for the foreseeable future, only allowing for essential business and activities.
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 April 23.
9:47 p.m. | There were no new cases or deaths reported Thursday in association with the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation cluster in Kansas City, Kansas.
7:42 p.m. | Missouri is leveraging its expanded testing capacity to combat areas of intense COVID-19 clusters.
Cases in Buchanan County have more than tripled in the last two weeks to 43, so the state Department of Health and Senior Services is offering tests to anyone who worked in close proximity to a pair of patients who recently tested positive for the virus.
At least 2,800 tests will be available in the St. Joseph area. The tests will be processed by a commercial lab as well as at the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory.
6:20 p.m. | Children's Mercy says it is furloughing nearly 600 employees due to the financial impacts of COVID-19. In addition to the furloughs, senior leadership is forfeiting portions of their compensation for the 2020 fiscal year.
5:45 p.m. | The House of Representatives has voted to approve a fourth round of stimulus funds amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It now goes to the president’s desk.
5 p.m. | William Jewell College in Liberty said Thursday it plans to reopen for in-person classes starting Aug. 26.
3:50 p.m. | Wyandotte County has created a "ReStart WYCO" committee with the goal to provide guidance for businesses on how to reopen once stay-at-home orders are lifted. The 25-member committee is comprised of health professionals and business leaders. The committee will not be involved in deciding when to lift the local order, but it will work with businesses on how to reopen safely.
2:30 p.m. | On Thursday afternoon, data shows Missouri has 6,407 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 252 deaths.
Two additional deaths in Wyandotte County, Kansas, brings the total number of deaths in the state to 112, with 2,591 total confirmed cases.
In Kansas City, Missouri, there have been 461 cases and 14 deaths.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this update provided an incorrect number of cases in KCMO.
2:10 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Delía García said eligible Kansans who have filed for unemployment should begin receiving an additional weekly payment from the CARES Act.
Kelly said the processing issue that delayed the payment has been fixed and those eligible will start to receive the $600 weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payment.
García said those who have filed for unemployment and are eligible for the payment will receive it automatically.
1:20 p.m. | The Guitar Center Distribution Center, which was originally ordered to shut down operations because it was not considered an essential business, has been allowed to reopen.
According to Kansas City, Missouri, officials, the mayor's office met with representatives to make the change possible.
The distribution center will change how it operates during the stay-at-home order so that they can remain open.
1 p.m. | Kansas added 185 new COVID-19 cases in the past day, as well as two additional deaths.
Several rural counties in Kansas that have received expanded COVID-19 testing supplies — including Finney, Ford, Seward and Lyon counties — have seen a recent increase in cases. Supplies went to those counties because of the meat processing plants there.
The Kansas City metro has seen 25 new cases since Wednesday.
12:55 p.m. | Johnson County Community College students may be eligible for a federal grant to help pay for unexpected expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information and to apply, click here.
12:25 p.m. | Johnson County, Kansas, says it plans to send advance voting-by-mail applications to every voter in the county. Residents should start to receive the applications in May. The applications will include one for the primary elections in August and one for the general election in November.
12:10 p.m. | The Department of Health and Human Services awarded Missouri nearly $11 million from the CARES Act to help Missouri with COVID-19 testing. The money will go toward increasing testing capacity, increasing contact tracing abilities, controlling high-risk settings and managing the monitoring system.
11:58 a.m. | A family filed a lawsuit against Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Wyandotte County Thursday. The facility has had 119 cases of COVID-19 and 27 virus-related deaths.
11:50 a.m. | Kansas City University announced they will freeze tuition for the 2020-21 academic year instead of implementing a planned 3 percent increase. The decision comes as COVID-19 takes a financial toll on many people.
11:40 a.m. | Nearly 60,000 more Missouri workers filed initial unemployment claims last week amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, according to data released Thursday by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The state said 59,271 workers filed claims. The number is still high but is down sharply from the 101,722 claims the previous week, the Associated Press reported.
11:15 a.m. | A nearly $500 billion measure that would help businesses and hospitals cope with the coronavirus’ devastation is edging toward House passage. President Donald Trump has said he will sign it into law.
10:45 a.m. | Following Clay County, the city of North Kansas City says it will amend its stay-at-home order to end on May 4. Clay County announced Tuesday that it would no longer be extending its order through May 15 — as Kansas City, Missouri, Jackson and Platte counties have done — due to the latest modeling projections that show the peak of COVID-19 has already occurred in the area.
10:20 a.m. | The city of Gladstone says COVID-19 testing will be offered outside the Walmart at 7207 N. Highway M1 beginning Friday, April 24. The site will be available to anyone experiencing symptoms and to all health care workers and first responders. Appointments must be scheduled.
10 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
9:30 a.m. | The Kansas Department of Commerce has launched an online jobs and hiring portal. For more information, visit the website.
9:13 a.m. | Wayside Waifs is offering virtual adoptions on Friday. People interested in a pet on the website should call 816-986-4426. An adoption counselor will call back to set up a virtual meet-and-greet.
9 a.m. | Since stay-at-home orders were enacted, Unleashed Pet Rescue said the organization has brought in over 600 animals. The rescue said the pandemic has increased the number of pets it takes in.
8:47 a.m. | Officials with the University of Kansas Health System gave their daily COVID-19 update, which included information on new testing capabilities.
7:35 a.m. | A new report shows 4.4 million Americans filed for unemployment last week. That makes a five-week total of 26 million unemployment filings.
7:18 a.m. | The Kansas City Symphony has canceled the remainder of its 2019-2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. The symphony had previously just canceled or postponed different performances.
5:28 a.m. | Some people have found their IRS stimulus check did not make it into their bank accounts, but instead into the accounts set up by tax preparation services like TurboTax or H&R Block.
5:25 a.m. | Belton, Missouri, amended its stay-at-home order to last through May 3 to line up with the change Cass County made Wednesday.
ATTN: The Stay At Home Order is Extended Through Sunday, May, 3, 2020! Mayor Jeff Davis amended his original stay at home order for Belton to align with that issued by Andrew Warlen, director, Cass County Health Department. #StayHomeBelton #BeltonStrong https://t.co/l4WKoefyej pic.twitter.com/W5lzn9cw3J
— Belton, MO (@Belton_MO) April 23, 2020
5 a.m. | A vigil will be held Thursday night for a Research Medical Center nurse who died from COVID-19. Nurses will gather at 8 p.m. to remember Celia Yap-Banago.
Previous coverage:
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
Thursday, March 19
Friday, March 20
Saturday, March 21
Sunday, March 22
Monday, March 23
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27
Saturday, March 28
Monday, March 30
Monday, March 30
Tuesday, March 31
Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4
Monday, April 6
Tuesday, April 7
Wednesday, April 8
Thursday, April 9
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Sunday, April 12
Monday, April 13
Tuesday, April 14
Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 16
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
Monday, April 20
Tuesday, April 21
Wednesday, April 22
Tuesday, April 21
Wednesday, April 22
