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 28.
10:10 p.m. | Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson warned residents to be aware of scame related to the coronavirus pandemic and stimulus checks. In one scam, criminals offer to provide stimulus check funding via checks or direct deposit, Thompson said in a news release.
"These con artists ask for an upfront payment to receive the aid or for your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number details," Thompson said. "Another scam is criminals impersonating retailers by sending fake texts or social media posts to offer stimulus checks."
7:22 p.m. | Platte County is rolling back its stay-at-home order, which had been extended to May 15, and will permit some businesses to reopen May 4 but under stricter guidelines than the state's reopening plan.
6 p.m. | On Tuesday, confirmed COVID-19 cases in the seven-county Kansas City metro topped 2,200. Cases in Kansas continue to surge because of an increase in testing.
5:36 p.m. | Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools will resume serving free breakfast and lunch on April 30 after temporarily suspending the service because a worker had a fever.
Information on school district meal programs throughout the Kansas City area can be found on our resource page.
4:20 p.m. | The Kansas Department of Labor said Tuesday that it's aware some some claimants may not have received their $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments on Monday night.
The department says it's working to fix the issue, and the payments should be issued later Tuesday.
The state has struggled with processing issues related to the payments but said last week that those eligible should begin receiving them automatically.
4:15 p.m. | Cass County plans to follow guidance from Gov. Mike Parson following the end of the statewide stay-at-home order on May 4. The county says residents should continue to follow social distancing guidelines and take precautions if their jobs require close contact with others.
Restaurants in the county can begin offering dine-in services on May 4 if social distancing guidelines are followed, though drive-thru, pickup and delivery services are encouraged.
Unlike Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson and Platte counties in the metro, Cass County did not extend a local stay-at-home order past May 3.
3:56 p.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson delivered his daily update on COVID-19 Tuesday afternoon, reiterating his plan to reopen Missouri.
Parson also commented on President Donald Trump's expected signing of an order to keep meatpacking plants open, saying he thinks it's a good thing.
"Whatever we do, we got to keep the food chain going in the United States and Missouri," Parson said. "It's a huge issue here, so yes I want to see them open. I want to see people going to work, and making sure we keep that food chain moving."
3:44 p.m. | The Missouri Democratic Party has announced that its summer convention will be a virtual gathering. The 2020 Democratic State Convention will kick off June 13 online with voting online and by mail-in ballot through June 19.
3:01 p.m. | Washburn University announced Tuesday that it plans to have in-person classes next fall, barring "an unforeseen event."
"Our plans are to return to teaching in the classrooms this fall," President Jerry Farley said.
The university plans to implement social-distancing measures in classrooms and provide additional cleaning. Residence halls also will reopen, but Washburn plans to house fewer students in each building.
2:40 p.m. | According to reports from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and local health departments, 327 people have died from COVID-19 in the state.
The 41 Action News COVID-19 case tracker shows Missouri stands at 7,373 cases.
1:55 p.m. | Another patient death at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation brings the death toll at the Kansas City, Kansas, facility to 30, according to the Unified Government Public Health Department.
Additionally, five residents and four staff at the Life Care Center of Kansas City nursing home have contracted COVID-19, and two more residents have died. Another resident died on March 11, but that person's case is not considered part of the same "cluster," according to the health department.
The UG Public Health Department says it will offer two pop-up testing sites this week. The first will be held from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Kansas City Kansas Community College Tech Center. The second will be held from 3-6 p.m. Thursday at Salem Baptist Church. Testing is free, but residents should call ahead to register at 913-371-9298.
1:10 p.m. | President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday classifying meat processing as a critical industry to ensure that production plants stay open. The order comes after industry leaders warned that consumers could see meat shortages in a matter of days after workers at major facilities tested positive for the virus.
1:05 p.m. | Truman Medical Centers says it has cut salaries for many staff, including executives, amid declining revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
12:44 p.m. | Leavenworth County in Kansas reported a fourth COVID-19 death on Tuesday.
11:45 a.m. | Spire, a natural gas utility that services large swaths of western Missouri, said it will extend the suspension of customer late fees and disconnections for Missouri customers through May 31.
11:30 a.m. | Douglas County officials are asking residents to take a second survey on whether they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The survey is open to any Douglas County resident, but officials specifically want the 11,400 people who took the first survey to take it again.
10:50 a.m. | Kansas City International Airport will receive more than $2.7 million in federal funding to reconstruct runway lighting through the Airport Improvement Program.
The grant program received full funding through the CARES Act, which also will deliver $43 million from the CARES Act Airport Grant program "to deal with the prevention of, preparation for, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican.
10 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
9:04 a.m. | St. Louis County officials reported 20 new COVID-19 deaths Monday night, bringing the county's total deaths to 137. There are also nearly 3,000 cases of the virus in the county.
8:41 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 briefing.
8:30 a.m. | A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, a A-10 Thunderbolt and a T-38 Talon will do a flyover of nine area hospitals between 10-11 a.m. Tuesday morning. The flyover is a way to thank medical staff working to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Take your eyes to the sky this morning! Whiteman Air Force Base pilots will honor health care & essential workers with a flyover. The base announced that a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, a A-10 Thunderbolt IIs & a T-38 Talon will all be flying over nine hospitals. #WhitemanSalutesKC pic.twitter.com/xv3t2jEgNw
— City of Lee's Summit (@cityofLS) April 28, 2020
7:30 a.m. | Kansas State University is offering COVID-19 testing to students and staff who have symptoms or have been exposed to the virus. The testing will take place at the Lafene Health Center. Those who need a test should call ahead. The university is currently capable of doing about 270 tests per day.
5:54 a.m. | A new poll shows that nearly 10% of Americans would not seek medical care for COVID-19 if they were infected due to costs of treatment.
5:30 a.m. | Sprint and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City (HCCGKC) partnered together to make COVID-19 resources available to the Hispanic and Latinx community in Spanish.
5 a.m. | Dunkin' stores in Kansas City will offer free medium coffees to medical personnel and first responders on Tuesday to thank them for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
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
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
Saturday, April 25
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 25
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 25
Sunday, April 26
Sunday, April 26
Monday, April 27
