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 24.
10:25 p.m. | Parents face a tough decision about whether to send children back to school with the numbers of cases continuing to climb in the Kansas City area.
9:03 p.m. | Chiefs right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who is a medical doctor from Canada, has become the first NFL player to opt out of the 2020 season.
5:50 p.m. | After several days of negotiations, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Friday that team training camps will begin as scheduled.
The move comes after the National Football League Players Association signed off on a series of protocols related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
5:30 p.m. | After a surge of COVID-19 cases in Douglas County at the beginning of July, health officials decided to close down bars and nightclubs and implement a mask mandate. Officials believe the actions have helped to stem the tide of new positive cases.
5 p.m. | Health officials for the "Core 4" municipalities in the Kansas City metro on Friday issued a strong warning that quick action must be taken to stem the growth of COVID-19 in the area.
"If we do not act quickly as a community and region, future shutdowns will be inevitable,” the health officials wrote in the letter. “It may be important in the coming days to limit the interactions of individuals in bars, restaurants, and other indoor shopping venues — particularly where masks cannot be worn when eating and drinking.”
4:45 p.m. | Gov. Mike Parson plans to hold one press briefing next week. He will give an update on current events in the state at 3 p.m. on Monday.
4:30 p.m. | The seven-county Kansas City metro reported 762 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the most in a single day since the pandemic began. The KC area also reported four new deaths, making it the fifth straight day with at least three deaths reported, according to data kept by 41 Action News.
Missouri also reported a record number of new cases on Friday with 1,697. The state has reported at least 1,200 new cases in each of the last four days, all the largest single-day increases since the pandemic began.
Kansas also reported a significant increase in cases, adding 994 on Friday. It was the third-most for a single day behind the last two Mondays, which likely reflect catching up on weekend results.
4:15 p.m. | The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department's Animal Services Unit will be limiting services to keep employees safe amid an increase in COVID-19 cases.
No adoptions will be completed, and Animal Services will only respond in-person to calls for service related to neglect, animal injury or bites to a human.
4 p.m. | The Kansas Department of Corrections said Friday that one inmate at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility and five inmates at the El Dorado Correctional Facility tested positive for COVID-19.
Earlier this month, one staff member at each facility tested positive for COVID-19. The corrections department did contact tracing and mass testing on living units that were exposed to the staff members.
Each of the six inmates who tested positive were asymptomatic. Those inmates and four others who roomed with them were moved to Lansing Correctional Facility "to be in a more modern facility that is better equipped to control the spread of the virus," according to the corrections department.
Additional testing is planned at both facilities.
3 p.m. | A gathering of at least 100 teens earlier this month in a Lee’s Summit neighborhood has led to an outbreak of COVID-19 cases.
Jackson County Public Health Department officials say at least five COVID-19 cases have been traced to a party of 100-200 teenagers — most between the ages of 14 and 16 — on July 10 in the Lakewood neighborhood in Lee’s Summit.
2 p.m. | The University of Kansas Health System said Friday a pediatric patient died from COVID-19 complications this week.
A spokeswoman for the health system confirmed the death but could not provide further details on the patient’s age or circumstances surrounding the death, citing privacy laws.
12:50 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Public Schools will officially start Sept. 8. The school board on Friday voted to adopt a revised school calendar recommended by KCPS earlier this week.
12:30 p.m. | The Unified Government Treasury Office is asking residents for patience as it tackles a backlog of car registrations and renewals.
The Treasury Office and its Department of Motor Vehicle locations were closed to the public for an 11-week period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the problems didn't end once the doors reopened as staffing was limited because of government-wide furloughs.
10:25 a.m. | A Springfield, Missouri, woman is suing the city over its decision to require face coverings, saying the health of others "is not my responsibility."
10 a.m. | The Lawson R-XIV School District says it has shut down summer classes after a staff member and three students tested positive for COVID-19.
8:41 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update and said they had a young person die from the virus.
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. | The Kansas City Royals announced Wednesday that Greater Kansas City Day presented by Price Chopper, which had to be postponed in April, now will take place on Friday, July 24. Flags benefiting Royals Charities and the Rotary Youth Camp can be purchased at area Price Chopper stores for $10 or online.
5 a.m. | The Kansas Department of Revenue announced the Kansas City, Kansas, driver's license location will temporarily close Friday, July 24, due to a suspected COVID-19 case at the office.
This is the office located at 155 S. 18th Street.
Customers who had an appointment at this location can still go to the following locations:
- 6507 Johnson Drive, Mission
- 13507 S. MurLen Suite #137, Olathe
- 7600 W. 119th Street, Suite D, Overland Park
- 111 B Delaware Street, Leavenworth
- 1035 N. 3rd Street, Suite 119, Lawrence
The Kansas City, Kansas, location will reopen on Monday, July 27.
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
Tuesday, July 21
Wednesday, July 22
Thursday, July 23
