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 9.
5:28 p.m. | Johnson County plans to reduce public transportation by 40% amid ridership declines and a growing projected budget shortfall. With fixed-route ridership down 75% and microtransit ridership down 52% since March 9, the plans calls for halting all service except for the 401 and 475 routes, except during peak morning and afternoon hours.
Smaller vehicles also will be used where possible, while the microtransit fleet has been reduced to three vehicles with a one-rider limit.
The change are scheduled to go into effect April 12, which the same timeframe for reduced routes announced Tuesday by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.
5:27 p.m. | The ACLU of Kansas has filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Kansas state prisoners in an effort to reduce populations amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The lawsuit seeks “the immediate release of those within 18 months of release or are serving sentences for minor offenses” and a renewed effort in prisons to adhere to social-distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The ACLU also is asked for a special appointment to help expedite the release process.
At least 26 people at Lansing Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID19 and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has promised a review process to help thin out the prison population.
4:46 p.m. | The U.S. Department of Education is allocating $206 million for Missouri colleges, universities and trade schools, according to U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt.
Half of the money will be made available immediately for schools to make emergency cash grants to students for expenses that includes course materials, food, housing and health care. The other half will be used to help offset expenses related to the transition to virtual learning.
Here is the full list of schools set to receive money from the program, including many private and religious-affiliated schools.
4:37 p.m. | The Johnson County Board of Commissioners have furloughed 264 employees — the equivalent of 194 full-time employees — as of Wednesday, many of whom are librarians and Parks and Recreation staff. Currently, all Johnson County libraries are closed to the public, while before and after-school and recreation programs also are suspended.
4:21 p.m. | The Johnson County Appraiser's Office has extended the deadline for informal appeals of property assessments until 5 p.m. on April 17. Supporting documentation must be included at the time of submission.
Appeals may be submitted online, which is the recommended way, dropped off at the office located at 11811 S. Sunset Drive in Olathe or mailed will a postmark no later than April 17.
4:17 p.m. | Dick's Sporting Goods has announced plans to furlough a "significant number" of its 40,000 employees, because it's "increasingly" evident its 800 stores won't reopen anytime soon. Some staff will be retained to help fulfill online and curbside pickup orders.
"It is our goal that when this crisis subsides, we will welcome back our teammates, open our doors and get back to the business we love of serving athletes and our communities," the company said in an SEC filing.
4:00 p.m. | There were 1,122 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the seven-county Kansas City metro and 44 deaths, according to data from state and local health departments Thursday afternoon.
3:45 p.m. | A day after a Kansas Legislative committee overturned an executive order issued by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly that limited the size of religious gatherings to fewer than 10 people, the governor fired back, announcing she has directed her general counsel to file a lawsuit against the Legislative Coordinating Committee, and plans to appeal to the Kansas Supreme Court for an expedited ruling.
"Kansas lives are on the line," Kelly said during her regular daily briefing in Topeka.
3 p.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday he is ordering all public and charter school buildings in the state to remain closed through the end of the academic year. The order exempts nutrition and child care services.
We are ordering all Missouri public and charter schools to remain closed through the remainder of the academic year with the exceptions of nutrition and child care services that are outlined in our recent health order. pic.twitter.com/umYYkszu7l
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) April 9, 2020
Virtual learning will continue through the last day of school as previously set on the district's academic calendar.
2:00 p.m. | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been transferred out of the ICU at a London hospital where he is battling a COVID-19 infection, according to multiple reports.
1:30 p.m. | The American Lung Association has committed $25 million to combat COVID-19 and better prepare and manage future respiratory virus pandemics. The money will be used to fund clinical trials and research grants.
12:20 p.m. | Kansas officials say more than 1,100 COVID-19 cases in 57 counties have been reported so far. Statewide, 42 deaths have occurred.
In the Kansas City metro, 1,093 cases have now been confirmed.
11:25 a.m. | The number of deaths linked to the novel coronavirus increased by 799 in the state of New York on Thursday, marking the third straight day of record COVID-19 deaths in the state. The death toll linked to the disease now stands at 7,067.
10:25 a.m. | According to data, Missouri added 91,049 new unemployment claims for the week ending April 4. The week before, 104,230 jobless claims were filed. Numbers in Kansas also paint a grim outlook as more and more people file for unemployment due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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. | Liberty police will begin issuing citations to anyone who enters park areas that are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes playgrounds and courts.
9 a.m. | In-person events activities with the K-State Research and Extension system have been suspended through July 4. That includes 4-H camps, Discovery Days and others.
8:41 a.m. | Officials with the University of Kansas Health System gave their daily COVID-19 update and addressed rumors about treatments and fears over visiting the emergency room.
8:30 a.m. | Johnson County, Kansas, reported three new cases of COVID-19 and one new virus death Thursday morning. The county's death toll now stands at 12.
Wyandotte County, Kansas, reported 15 new cases and three new deaths Thursday morning. The county's death toll now stands at 16.
Metro-wide, 43 people have died from COVID-19.
7:45 a.m. | The Labor Department said 16 million people in the U.S. have filed for unemployment in the last three weeks. Last week alone, 6 million people filed.
6:30 a.m. | Dr. Dana Hawkinson with the University of Kansas Health System joined 41 Action News to answer viewer questions about COVID-19.
5:28 a.m. | Cafe Corazon and the Tamale Kitchen are providing free meals to service industry workers in the Kansas City area. A $10 donation will feed one worker, and they have already received over $2,000 in donations.
5:23 a.m. | A Kansas City lab is testing a skin-deep COVID-19 vaccine. Inovio Pharmaceuticals will test two doses of its vaccine, code-named INO-4800, in 40 healthy volunteers at the Kansas City research lab and the University of Pennsylvania.
3:50 a.m. | Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte said that there are no positive cases of COVID-19 within the sheriff's office. He said that four corrections inmates and one deputy were tested, but all those results were negative.
One inmate is in a 14-day medical quarantine for observation.
No positive tests results for COVID-19
Four Department of Corrections inmates and @JCSheriffOffice deputy tested so far during COVID-19 pandemic. All with negative results.
One inmate is in medical isolation for a 14 day observation period. @JacksonCountyMO @KCMO pic.twitter.com/coGBvIf546
— Darryl Forte' (@sheriffforte) April 9, 2020
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
Sunday, March 29
Monday, March 30
Tuesday, March 31
Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4
Sunday, April 5
Monday, April 6
Tuesday, April 7
Wednesday, April 8
