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 21.
6:59 p.m. | The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools Board of Education has voted to delay the start of school until Sept. 9 and have only virtual classes for at least the first nine weeks.
5:15 p.m. | Congressional watchdogs are questioning the government’s decision to award a $700 million coronavirus relief loan to a struggling trucking company on grounds its operations are critical for maintaining national security.
YRC Worldwide, which is headquartered in Overland Park, provides transportation and logistics services, such as delivering food, electronics and other supplies to military locations around the country.
4:10 p.m. | Beginning July 24, those traveling to Chicago from Kansas will need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival to the city.
Chicago's emergency travel order includes a mandatory quarantine for travelers or residents coming from states "experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases." Along with Kansas, other states included in the order are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
3:06 p.m. | State and local health departments in Missouri reported 1,328 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, which blows away the old record for a single day of 1,160 set July 14.
There also were 13 new deaths reported in Missouri, which are the most in a single day since July 13 and the third-highest total for a single day in July.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment no longer reports new cases on Tuesdays, but local departments reported an additional 98 cases and four deaths.
The Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department also reported three new deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday.
2:20 p.m. | The largest COVID-19 cluster at any Missouri Department of Corrections facility involves 195 inmates and 11 staff members at the Chillicothe Corrections Center, a women's state prison located 90 miles northeast of the Kansas City area.
1:50 p.m. | For the first time since April, President Donald Trump will host a press briefing by the White House Coronavirus Task Force on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Central time.
Trump's briefing will come as confirmed cases of COVID-19 surge toward the 4 million mark in the U.S. and as daily confirmed cases routinely reach more than 60,000 a day — more than during any other time of the pandemic.
11:30 a.m. | Missouri has been added to New York's travel advisory, which requires anyone traveling from the state to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New York. Missouri joins Kansas and and 29 other states on the quarantine list.
11:15 a.m. | Walmart said Tuesday that it plans to distribute another round of cash bonuses to its workers. The retail giant said full-time hourly associates will receive $300, while its part-time and temporary associates will be paid $150.
Unlike in years past, Walmart also said it will be closed on Thanksgiving this year to give employees time to spend with their loved ones.
9:48 a.m. | WaterOne is resuming collections and water shutoffs after placing a moratorium on them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since April, we’ve suspended shut-offs as a common sense and compassionate response to the difficulties our community is experiencing with the pandemic. As a non-profit utility, it is time to resume our collections program. We are standing by to help.
☎️ 913/895-1800 pic.twitter.com/PVMG8vRkj8— WaterOne (@MyWaterOne) July 21, 2020
9:07 a.m. | In a news conference Tuesday morning, Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas City Health Department Director Dr. Rex Archer announced they are recommending that all school districts within city limits delay reopening of schools until after Labor Day, or until Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Lucas said the recommendations are not a mandate, and any final decisions would be left up to individual school districts.
On Monday, Kansas City Public Schools said the district was reevaluating back-to-school plans after receiving guidance from health officials about issues regarding in-person education.
8:40 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update. The system has 36 patients with COVID-19, 16 of which are in the ICU, and six on the ventilator.
7:20 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
5:30 a.m. | Clothing stores and fitness apps have noticed many customers with changing body sizes after months of quarantine due to COVID-19. Stores are seeing an increase in returns because people cannot figure out their new sizes, and fitness tracking apps are seeing an increase in people updating their measurements. They include both weight gain and weight loss, according to the Associated Press.
5 a.m. | The Kansas State Board of Education has called a special meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday to discuss Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order to delay the start of the 2020-21 school year until after Labor Day.
The meeting, which will take place by video conference, will only address Executive Order 20-58 and public comments, which can be submitted online, will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
Wednesday, July 1
Thursday, July 2
Friday, July 3
Monday, July 6
Tuesday, July 7
Wednesday, July 8
Thursday, July 9
Friday, July 10
Monday, July 13
Tuesday, July 14
Wednesday, July 15
Thursday, July 16
Friday, July 17
Monday, July 20
