July 2 blog: 41 positive cases identified at Kamp Kanakuk

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 July 2.

9:34 p.m. | The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has confirmed that 41 campers or counselors at Kamp Kanakuk, which operates six sites in Taney and Stone counties, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to KY3 in Springfield.

7:15 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, has been selected as one of six cities where the U.S. Census Bureau will begin door-to-door follow-up interviews at households that have yet to reply for the 2020 Census.

Census takers, who will local health department guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19, will begin field operations July 16 in Kansas City as well as Beckley, West Virginia; Boise, Idaho; Gardiner, Maine; New Orleans and Oklahoma City.

5:40 p.m. | Overland Park police are encouraging residents concerned about mask violations to contact the manager or owner of the business or the Johnson County District Attorney consumer fraud hotline at 913-715-3003. Police say they want to remind residents that violation of the order is not a criminal issue.

5:25 p.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson acknowledged the increasing number of total COVID-19 cases in the state during a briefing Thursday from Jefferson City.

He said roughly 60% of those increases statewide are driven primarily by five counties, including Jackson County.

According to Parson, the most recent statewide data on hospitalization rates shows a decline throughout Missouri, except in Kansas City.

Also Thursday, Parson announced a $50 million statewide investment in broadband internet services Thursday during a briefing in Jefferson City.

Watch his full briefing below:

3:30 p.m. | The Platte County Health Department says it is "strongly encouraging" residents to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but the county has stopped short of issuing a mandate as others in the Kansas City metro have done, including Jackson County and Kansas City, Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.

Clay County also issued an amended order on Wednesday that allows businesses to operate at full capacity if employees and visitors wear masks when social distancing cannot be maintained. If masks are not worn, the business must stay at a 50% capacity restriction.

In Miami County, commissioners voted 5-0 to override Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's mask requirement. Businesses can choose whether to require masks for employees and customers.

3:15 p.m. | Kansas added 62 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths, including one in Johnson County, on Thursday. The state now has a total of 15,159 cases and 280 deaths.

In Missouri, 405 new cases were added and six additional deaths, bringing the statewide total to 23,100 cases and 1,155 deaths.

In the Kansas City metro, cases increased by 72, all on the Missouri side. There are now 9,921 cases in the metro and 278 deaths.

2:50 p.m. | Prairie Village police say they are "asking for voluntary compliance" with the order to require masks for all residents, which goes into effect Friday.

"We understand there will be complaints on people not wearing masks, and we want to provide some guidance to our community," the police department said in a statement. "We are asking for voluntary compliance, and we will be focusing our education efforts on people not wearing face coverings in indoor spaces or large outdoor gatherings."

Prairie Village police asked residents to be "mindful" of this approach when calling police. Officers also will have disposable face masks available for those who need them.

1:55 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes shared a health update Thursday with the media, stating the club has one "unconfirmed" positive COVID-19 test. Vermes said he will not designate whether it is a player or staff member.

1:20 p.m. | Silver Dollar City in Branson says it has learned of employees who tested positive after the park reopened on June 13. Additional employees who had contact with those who tested positive are quarantined from work, according to the park.

The Stone County Health Department confirmed that six employees at the amusement park tested positive, but all were wearing masks making the likelihood of transmission to park-goers low, according to a report from KY3.

"We are working closely with the health departments to follow all required and recommended protocols," Silver Dollar City said in a statement.

The park said it has reduced attendance and ride capacity and is requiring masks for anyone ages 3 and up, with some exceptions in place for eating and drinking and on water rides.

12:50 p.m. | The Johnson County Board of Commissioners voted 4-2-1 on Thursday to adopt Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's order mandating the use of masks in public spaces and areas where social distancing is not possible.

Both the director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the county’s public health officer urged the board to adopt the mandate.

Kelly's order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

12:45 p.m. | The North Kansas City School District will hold July summer school classes in person. The district announced the news on Twitter Thursday.

11:10 a.m. | Roeland Park will require face masks in public areas, in accordance with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's executive order. The city also announced it would provide free masks for residents and businesses after placing an order for 10,000.

11 a.m. | The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is hearing public comment on a proposal to adopt Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's mask mandate. 41 Action News reporter Emma James is tweeting live updates from the special meeting, which started at 10 a.m.

10:10 a.m. | Four additional Missouri Job Centers reopened this week after shutting down in March due to the pandemic, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development said in a news release. Centers reopened in Branson, Kennett, Park Hills and Poplar Bluff, with staff returning to in-person work on July 1.

Job seekers and displaced workers also can access services by phone at 1-888-728-5627, or online at jobs.mo.gov.

9:45 a.m. | Staying in a hotel is one of the many experiences changing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotel chains are implementing stricter cleaning and safety precautions to get travelers back in their rooms.

9:30 a.m. | Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursdaysigned her executive order requiring Kansans to wear masks in public spaces and when social distancing is not possible. Enforcement of the order, however, is up to individual counties.

8:46 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update.

7:49 a.m. | Reports say 4.8 million new jobs were added to the U.S. economy in June, dropping the unemployment rate to 11.1%. It's the second straight month of improvements.

7:38 a.m. | Another 1.4 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, bringing the 15-week total to 47.9 million.

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

7 a.m. | Dr. Dana Hawkinson answered questions about COVID-19 and celebrating the Fourth of July.

6:51 a.m. | The U.S. again broke its daily record for new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, as local health departments recorded 50,000 new confirmed cases.

5:30 a.m. | The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 2, to consider Gov. Laura Kelly's mask order, which is set to go into effect on July 3. Enforcement of Kelly's policy is up to individual counties, which can choose not to mandate the requirement.

5 a.m. | North Kansas City, Missouri, will join other parts of the metro in requiring face masks to be worn within city limits. The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and will remain in effect until at least July 13.

Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
Wednesday, July 1