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 3.
8 p.m. | The Kearney School District has pushed back its first day of school from Aug. 24 to Sept. 8.
In a letter to district parents and guardians, Superintendent Matthew Miller said that elementary students will begin in-person classes and secondary students will start a hybrid teaching model on Sept. 8, "based upon [Clay County Public Health] guidance."
"In the event that we receive additional guidance from CCPHC due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in our community, we may
be required to adjust to a districtwide online scenario as outlined," Miller said.
Students interested in an online-only option for the fall semester must enroll by Aug. 10
6:20 p.m. | As the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies prepare to return to play following a week hiatus, the St. Louis Cardinals will be forced to sit out for another few days.
On Monday, MLB announced it has postponed this week's three-game series between St. Louis and Detroit following a number of Cardinals players testing positive for the coronavirus late last week. The Cardinals' outbreak was the second COVID-19 rash that MLB has encountered since resuming the season 11 days ago.
5:15 p.m. | Missouri reported 976 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and also saw its positivity rate decrease to 9.4% after being above 10% all last week.
In the seven-county Kansas City metro, 492 new cases were reported, the fewest new cases reported on a weekday since July 23, according to data kept by 41 Action News.
4:30 p.m. | A football player from Raymore-Peculiar High School tested positive for COVID-19 after participating in summer workouts, the district announced Monday.
No workouts are scheduled for this week due to the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s no-contact week policy, the district said.
The district said it's working with the Cass County Health Department to conduct contact tracing.
3:59 p.m. | Kansas City residents can now receive notary services at their local community centers for free.
The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department said there will be certified staff at all of the parks' community centers to help residents get their absentee ballots notarized.
The services will be available from 9 a.m. to noon and 3-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A list of all the locations can be foundhere.
3:45 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has rescheduled a news conference to announce "a major economic development update" until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
2:28 p.m. | Did you lose your job because of COVID-19 or do you just need a new job? Dust off your resume for a virtual job fair Thursday with employers offering at least $15 per hour.
Job-seekers will need to register to get a Zoom link and schedule of employers for a varsity of openings. Browse the current job listings.
2:15 p.m. | The Missouri State High School Activities Association says it is working with schools in areas where local health departments have required virtual learning and advised postponing athletics in the fall.
MSHSAA staff plan to discuss possible changes for those schools with the Board of Directors, which may include postponing fall activities, having students participate in sports even when in-person learning is not offered, or planning regional competitions outside the traditional season once a school begins offering in-person learning.
“With the changing face of the start of the school year for our member schools, the Board and staff want to discuss possibilities that would allow as many students to participate as safely as possible," MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Kerwin Urhahn said in a news release. "The Association wants to work with schools to provide as many opportunities as possible. For the schools currently planning to start the year as normal, our current hope is that the fall season will proceed to its fruition.”
At least one district in Missouri already has said it plans to delay the fall sports season. Last week, Lexington Schools said it would follow the guidance of Lafayette County in postponing fall sports after the health department said it would be "impossible to safely conduct these activities using COVID-19 prevention recommendations."
1:55 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will hold a news conference at 4 p.m. Monday "to announce a major economic development update" in the state, according to a news release from her office. 41 Action News will stream the news conference live on Facebook.
1:25 p.m. | Kansas reported 910 new COVID-19 cases and seven new deaths on Monday. Most of the increase was driven by Johnson, Wyandotte and Sedgwick counties.
Chase County, located just east of Emporia, went from six to 34 cases over the weekend, according to the latest data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
1:12 p.m. | The Johnson County Election Office says there will be 167 polling locations available for the primary elections scheduled for Tuesday.
The locations will be open to people from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will have the following safety precautions so voters are safe:
- Physical distancing between voters, election workers and voting equipment
- Plexiglass shields to separate voters and election workers during the check-in process
- Personal protective equipment provided to election workers
- Sanitation supplies available to clean voting booths and equipment
- Masks and hand sanitizer available to voters
- Single-use pen or stylus for marking paper ballots or touchscreen voting equipment
- Additional signage to help voters navigate the advance voting location safely
A spokesman for the election office said it mailed more than 106,000 ballots to voters for the primary election, which is far more than in past elections.
Voters can find their polling location here.
11:47 a.m. | The Missouri Department of Conservation has reopened its Kansas City Regional Office at the James A. Reed Wildlife Area, 12405 S.E. Ranson Road in Lee’s Summit.
The office closed in March as a precaution, but visitors can now ask questions and buy permits. Social distancing and face mask requirements will be observed and only one visitor is allowed inside at a time.
The building is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, but phones are staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The wildlife area’s fields, fishing lakes, forest and hiking trails remain open for public use.
8:51 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update and said they had four patients die from the virus over the weekend.
7:20 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
5:20 a.m. | U.S. health authorities are beginning the debate on who will be first in line to get a COVID-19 vaccine once it is ready, according to the Associated Press. Traditionally, front line healthcare workers would receive a scarce vaccine first. However, officials are also looking at things like members of test groups who were given the placebo or distributing the vaccine to virus hot spots first.
5 a.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will hold one press briefing this week, on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The governor also plans to travel to Maryville and Kirksville on Monday and hold a brief media availability after each event.
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
July 2020 updates
