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 24.
9:22 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, will not turn on the city's fountains this spring until the stay-at-home order is lifted, a city official confirmed Friday to 41 Action News.
8:16 p.m. | The City of St. Louis Health Department is now reporting 1,000 positive COVID-19 cases.
4:57 p.m. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams said the spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths this week can be attributed, in part, to late reports from private labs, including some who waited more than 10 days to provide updates to the state.
4:38 p.m. | Missouri provided new details on its expanded "surveillance" testing programs, which were rolled at this week at meat-packing and food-processing facilities in the state this week.
4:35 p.m. | Four more families have filed lawsuits against Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Kansas City, Kansas. All of the families had loved ones who died from COVID-19 while at the facility.
4:32 p.m. | The Shawnee Mission School District announced that all athletic fields at its schools and other district facilities are now closed to keep comply with state social-distancing guidelines.
"Unfortunately, the district continued to experience repeated violations of those guidelines, as well as attempts to circumvent the spirit of the guidelines by organized groups," SMSD said Friday in a statement. "For those reasons, the district has made the decision to completely close all athletic fields until further notice."
4:16 p.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced an executive order extending the state of emergency until June 15 in his state. The procedural move keeps more than 450 waived or regulated state statutes
4:08 p.m. | During his daily press briefing Friday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson pushed ahead with early details of his plan to reopen the state starting May 4.
Salons, gyms and barbershops are among the businesses that will be allowed to reopen on May 4.
4 p.m. | In a statement Friday afternoon, officials at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, Kansas, said the resort will remain closed through June 15, 2020, out of an effort to keep guests safe from the coronavirus pandemic.
3:35 p.m. | At least three long-term care facilities in Wyandotte County are being monitored by health officials as COVID-19 clusters, health officials announced Friday. That includes Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation, where officials said there are 128 cases (103 residents and 25 staff members), including 25 deaths.
3 p.m. | In her remarks Friday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly pushed back against at least one federal lawmaker who suggested that states file for bankruptcy rather than be eligible for additional federal aid.
Kelly also used the press briefing to say she plans to release guidelines on the state's reopening in the middle of next week. The state's stay-at-home order is set to expire on May 3.
2:30 p.m. | The seven-county Kansas City metro has reached 2,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 122 deaths reported.
In Missouri, 6,691 cases have been confirmed, and the death toll statewide has reached 271.
2:10 p.m. | In her daily news conference, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the coronavirus pandemic has caused the state's budget situation to deteriorate "rapidly."
Kelly urged federal lawmakers to approve additional aid to states, adding that any aid should be direct and flexible.
2:08 p.m. | Johnson County says it will begin accepting partial payments on second half property taxes due on or before May 11. No minimum payment is required, but the remaining balance will begin to accrue interest on May 12. Partial payments can only be made in two ways:
- Send check or money order to: Johnson County Treasurer, PO BOX 2902, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201. Write the Quick Ref ID on the check or money order. Do not send cash in the mail.
- By credit card over the phone at 913-715-2600. A 2.4% service fee will apply.
2 p.m. | Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway says she's continuing to seek more information about defective masks distributed to first responders across Missouri. She released this statement on Friday:
"Missourians, especially first responders on our front lines, deserve clarity on how their government is handling this public health crisis. The response from the Governor's administration and the slow drip of information being released publicly has created more questions than answers. As taxpayers' independent watchdog, it is my duty to review and investigate allegations of government mismanagement and waste of state resources. I will continue to pursue the truth on behalf of citizens."
12:45 p.m. | Kansas now has 2,812 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 113 deaths statewide, according to new data released Friday. It's the third day in a row that cases have increased by more than 200 as testing continues to ramp up in the southwest part of the state. No new deaths were reported.
11:50 a.m. | Gov. Laura Kelly says her goal is to start reopening the Kansas economy on May 3 but she may not be able to do it because the state is "nowhere near" having the supplies needed for adequate coronavirus testing. The state has had among the lowest testing rates of any state, 7.32 per 1,000 residents as of Thursday.
11:45 a.m. | President Donald Trump has signed a $484 billion bill that aids employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic.
11:05 a.m. | Walmart says it will extend special shopping hours for seniors and those vulnerable to the coronavirus through the end of May. The company had previously said it would keep the hours in effect through April.
10:45 a.m. | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Kansas City District has extended its recreation area closures through June 1, 2020. Anyone with paid campsite or shelter reservations will be contacted by email, and full refunds will be automatically processed.
10:30 a.m. | The Kansas City Ballet will be offering select performances from past seasons online. Click here for more information.
10:07 a.m. | The U.S. COVID-19 death toll has topped 50,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
10 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
9:32 a.m. | Liberty Public Schools is adding two new school lunch pickup sites beginning Monday. Meals will be available at Alexander Doniphan Elementary from 10:45-11:30 a.m. and at Warren Hills Elementary from 11:15 a.m. to noon.
8:58 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials were joined by Sen. Jerry Moran for their daily COVID-19 update.
6:57 a.m. | North American Savings Bank donated $115,000 to Newhouse, Kansas City to support the domestic violence shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.
5:35 a.m. | The Small Business Administration is pressuring large, public companies that received Paycheck Protection Program loans to return them so that actual small businesses can benefit from the aid.
5:15 a.m. | It's possible debt collectors could take Americans' stimulus payments out of their bank accounts. There is no language in the CARES Act preventing that.
5 a.m. | Southeast Correctional Center became the first Missouri state prison to have inmates test positive for COVID-19. A total of 19 offenders in a quarantined housing wing tested positive for the virus. The remainder of residents and all staff were tested, and there were no other positive results.
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
Thursday, April 23
