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Aug. 21 blog: Missouri sees spike in COVID-19 deaths

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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 Aug. 21.

9:41 p.m. | Missouri recorded 91 deaths attributed to COVID-19 during the last week from Saturday, Aug. 15, through Friday. That's the most deaths in any week since mid-May.

New cases in Missouri and Kansas remained relatively flat week over week, while the seven-county Kansas City metro area saw a drop of 14.7%.

Nationally, cases dropped for the fourth straight week and deaths continue to average about 1,000 people per day.

5:15 p.m. | The Lawrence/Douglas County, Kansas, Department of Health announced late Friday afternoon that three additional people have died from COVID-19. The new deaths grow the county's death toll from five to eight. -SH

5:05 p.m. | In a tweet Friday, the North Kansas City, Missouri, School District said sports practices would continue as planned ahead of a vote scheduled for Monday by the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference on how play will move forward. -SH

4:45 p.m. | The public health emergency order in Clay County has been extended until further notice, county health officials announced Friday.

The order mandates that face coverings must be worn in indoor public areas to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. -HG

4 p.m. | Days before several school districts in Jackson County are set to return to school, the county’s health department is “strongly recommending” a delay until at least Sept. 8 due to COVID-19.

Citing the number of new cases per 100,000 people, the county’s positivity rate and incident rate trends, the Jackson County Health Department says districts should delay reopening, and when schools do reopen, they should do so with remote learning. -SH

3:30 p.m. | Wednesday, Sept. 9, marks the first day of school for students in the Blue Valley School District, but what that first day will look like will vary.

On Friday, the district announced that elementary school students will start the year with hybrid learning, which includes some in-person learning.

Middle and high school students will start the year in virtual learning.

“Our goal is to get the kids back in session. This is not something that we hope happens for the whole year. We're going to continually reassess this and as soon as it is safe, we are going to bring kids back into school,” said Tonya Merrigan, superintendent of the Blue Valley School District.

Elementary school students in hybrid learning will be split into two groups based on the last name of the oldest child in the family. -SH/DM

2:40 p.m. | An Olathe North High School football player is transferring to an Iowa high school due to uncertainties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The mother of senior Arland Bruce IV confirmed to 41 Action News Sports Director Mick Shaffer Friday that her son will transfer to Ankeny High School in Iowa this fall. -SH

1:28 p.m. | The Raymore-Peculiar School District announced Friday that a support staff employee at Creekmoor Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19. The employee and anyone determined to have been in contact with them will have to quarantine and follow testing procedures before returning to work.

The Raymore-Peculiar School District is set to begin classes on Monday with some students attending virtually and some in-person. -KB

12:25 p.m. | The Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs, Kansas, will not hold its 2020 season because of COVID-19 restrictions. —AW

11:50 a.m. | COVID-19 testing is scheduled at three different sites next week in Jackson County. All run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and registration is required. Testing is available at Old Fire Station #3 in Lee's Summit on Tuesday, Vesper Hall in Blue Springs on Wednesday and Raytown Emergency Medical Service in Raytown on Thursday. -KB

11:30 a.m. | The annual Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival begins tonight at 6 p.m. This year, it will be held virtually -KB

10:54 a.m. | North Kansas City Mayor Don Stielow extended the city's mask order through Jan. 16, 2021, on Friday morning.

The order says, "all employees or visitors to any indoor public accommodation must wear face coverings or masks that cover the nose and mouth."

It also prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people on public city property. -DM

8:43 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update. -KB

7:30 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know. -KB

41 Action News Latest Headlines | August 21, 6am

7:15 am. | Experts are urging parents to remind their children about the dangers of vaping during the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic is causing stress, and experts fear young people are turning to e-cigarettes to cope. -KB

7 a.m. | After the board rescinded Johnson County gating criteria on Tuesday night, the Blue Valley School District plans to release the gating criteria established by a newly formed committee on Friday, along with a decision on whether the first day of school will be held virtually or in-person. -KB

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
Thursday, August 13
Friday, August 14
Monday, August 17
Tuesday, August 18
Wednesday, August 19
Thursday, August 20

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