Live blog: Missouri adds nearly 1,500 new COVID-19 cases Thursday

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 August 13.

6:15 p.m. | With many conferences scrapping fall sports, the NCAA announced that it will postpone all fall Division I championships for 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision does not impact the College Football Playoff, although the future of that competition is in question. The announcement, however, impacts athletes from other sports, including soccer and women’s volleyball.

6 p.m. | Nordstrom said Thursday it will not open its new store on the Country Club Plaza until fall 2022. The retailer cited delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

5:30 p.m. | Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte says three non-imates tested positive and eight inmates are in precautionary quarantine due to possible exposure before entering the Jackson County Detention Center.

4 p.m. | The Kansas City metro reported 338 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and two additional deaths.

In Kansas, which does not provide statewide data on Thursdays, 123 new cases and two additional deaths were reported.

Missouri saw an increase of 1,491 cases on Thursday, the most new cases in a single day since July 31, according to data kept by 41 Action News. The state also reported nine new deaths.

3:40 p.m. | The Kansas Department of Corrections on Thursday announced another COVID-19 outbreak at a state prison.

Secretary Jeff Zmuda said 43 inmates at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility tested positive for COVID-19.

After a staff member tested positive on Aug. 8, Zmuda said 262 residents were tested based on contact tracing.

Zmuda said all 43 men who tested positive were moved to the Lansing Correctional Facility, which is department protocol. Contact tracing will continue, and those who test negative will quarantine at the mental health facility.

“Families are understandably anxious, and we want them to know that we will be working hard to ensure the health and safety of their loved ones,” Zmuda said in a news release. “We continue to stress with our staff and residents the importance of adhering to our mask protocols, good hand hygiene and social distancing.”

3:15 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Thursday he is extending the city’s state of emergency through Jan. 16, 2021, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

12:45 p.m. | Wyandotte County health officials announced Thursday that many non-professional sports and activities will be prohibited this fall. The announcement comes after Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools already decided to cancel fall sports for students.

12:30 p.m. | Educators and teachers union representatives from around the state had an opportunity to share their back-to-school concerns with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly in a webinar Thursday morning.

11:25 a.m. | As students in the Kansas City metro prepare to start the school year virtually, SchoolSmartKC says more help is on the way for students who may not have access to the technology needed for virtual school.

The organization says it has received a grant that will be used to provide students with technology such as laptops.

"The important research done by LEANLAB Education revealed that there are still 25 school districts and charter school systems facing a need for laptop computers and internet hotspots in the Kansas City metropolitan area," the organization said.

More information on the grant can be found here.

11 a.m. | Missouri high schools now have the choice to move their fall seasons to the spring after receiving the green light from the Missouri State High School Activities Association on Thursday.

10:21 a.m. |The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra says it will postpone its 2020-21 fall performances due to COVID-19.

In a press release, the orchestra said, "We look forward to performing our mainstage season in the spring 2021."

Some socially distanced performances will still happen, including a drive-in performance on Aug. 29 at Plexpod Wesport.

For more information ticket and event information, visit the orchestra's website here.

9:19 a.m | The Shawnee Mission School District said all middle school extracurricular activities will be postponed until the spring semester.

"This action is designed to allow current mitigation practices, including wearing face masks, social distancing and hand washing, to continue to flatten the pandemic curve, so that middle school activities, athletics and clubs can begin in earnest in the second semester," the district said in a statement Wednesday.

The district said it expects all students to continue to follow safety practices so the activities can continue in the spring.

8:49 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update.

7:30 a.m. | AMC plans to reopen Kansas City-area theaters on Aug. 20, and to celebrate its 100th anniversary, movies will be priced at $0.15 for that day only — like they were in 1920.

Below are the theaters that will reopen in this phase of the company's plan:

• AMC Ward Parkway 14
• AMC Independence 20
• AMC Town Center 20
• AMC Barrywoods 24
• AMC DINE-IN Studio 28

7:20 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.

6:50 a.m. | Dr. Dana Hawkinson with the University of Kansas Health System answered some of the latest COVID-19 questions.

5:30 a.m. | Researchers in Thailand have been trekking through the countryside to catch bats in their caves in an effort to trace the murky origins of the coronavirus, according to the Associated Press.

Initial research has already pointed to bats as the source of the virus. The closest match to the coronavirus has been found in horseshoe bats in Yunnan in southern China.

Thailand has 19 species of horseshoe bats but researchers said they have not yet been tested for the new coronavirus.

5 a.m. | Americans counting on emergency coronavirus aid from Washington may have to wait until fall. Negotiations over a new coronavirus aid package have all but ended, according to the Associated Press.

The White House and Congress are far apart on the size, scope and approach on relief for households, schools and a national strategy to contain the virus. President Donald Trump’s top negotiator, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, tried to revive stalled talks Wednesday. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed what they called an “overture,” saying the Trump administration is still refusing to meet them halfway.

Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
July 2020 updates
Monday, August 3
Tuesday, August 4
Wednesday, August 5
Thursday, August 6
Friday, August 7
Monday, August 10
Tuesday, August 11
Wednesday, August 12