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 28.
6:05 p.m. | The North Kansas City Schools Board of Education on Tuesday approved a recommendation to move the first day of school to Tuesday, Sept. 8. The July 31 deadline for families to select their choice of learning also will be extended, and the district plans to add more virtual options for K-12 grades.
5:45 p.m. | The Kansas State High School Athletics Association voted Tuesday to proceed as normal with its fall sports schedule.
The board was presented various proposals, including one that would have pushed the first high school football and volleyball games back to Sept. 8, but ultimately voted to make no changes to the activities calendar.
It wasn't immediately clear how the vote would affect school districts — including many on the Kansas side of the metro — that have already pushed back the first day of school until after Labor Day.
5:25 p.m. | A staff member at the Topeka Correctional Facility died on Saturday due to complications from COVID-19, the Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.
Richard Rose, 74, had been with the corrections department for more than 17 years. He served as a facility maintenance supervisor.
It's the third staff death related to the virus among Kansas prisons. The other two staff deaths occurred at Lansing Correctional Facility.
The Topeka Correctional Facility, Kansas' only all-female prison, has a capacity of 948.
4:15 p.m. | The University of Missouri–Kansas City says the start of fall sports will be pushed to Sept. 23 as the spread of COVID-19 continues.
Training and practices will continue, but the university will continue to follow NCAA regulations and guidelines from local health agencies.
The delay does not affect winter or spring sports.
3:50 p.m. | The seven-county Kansas City metro reported 690 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, pushing the area's total to 20,051. Johnson County and Kansas City, Missouri, each reported two additional deaths, and Cass County added one additional death. In the metro, 344 people have died from COVID-19, according to data kept by 41 Action News.
In Kansas City, Missouri, more than 5,000 cases now have been reported. For reference, if Arrowhead Stadium were at full capacity with 76,416 KCMO residents in attendance, 800 of those people would have tested positive for the virus.
In Missouri, data from state and local health departments reported 1,676 new cases on Tuesday and 15 additional deaths. The number of new cases in Missouri is the second-highest in a single day, only trailing last Friday (1,697).
Kansas, which does not have full reporting on Tuesdays, added four additional deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 339.
3 p.m. | The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art says it will not reopen anytime soon due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.
1:24 p.m. | Hy-Vee says it will offer flu vaccines at its pharmacy locations and through a drive-up service from Aug. 17 through Oct. 31. No appointment is needed.
Here’s the schedule for vaccines through the week:
- Mondays: 7-11 a.m.
- Thursdays: 3-7 p.m.
- Saturdays: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
12:35 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a tweet on Monday that he participated in a call with Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and several Midwestern mayors who are seeing reported cases rise. Recommendations that were suggested include reducing indoor dining seating capacity and reducing bar hours.
Informative chat. Dr. Birx identified our region, including StL and KCMO/KS region and OK cities as area of rising infections, particularly asymptomatic spread for those under 30. Recommends we consider: (1) Reducing indoor dining to 25%; (2) mask orders at all times in public... https://t.co/cCdYQKd7KD
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) July 27, 2020
12:20 p.m. | The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Tuesday that Arizona has been removed from its quarantine list, as well as Bahrain and French Guiana.
Florida and countries under a Level 3 Travel Health Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remain on the list.
Kansas determines states to add or remove from the list by evaluating new cases over a two-week period and adjusting for population size. States with significantly higher rates than Kansas are added to the list.
The department said Tuesday that Kansas' rate was 223 cases per 100,000 population, while Florida's rate was 717 cases per 100,000 population.
11:45 a.m. | The third KANSASWORKS statewide virtual job fair will be held Tuesday, July 28, through Thursday, July 30, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Tuesday.
The virtual fair allows job seekers to chat with employers through computers and mobile devices. Four more virtual fairs are planned later this year. Registration can be done online.
11 a.m. | Chicago has added Missouri to its list of states that must quarantine for two weeks upon arrival into the city. The move looks to affect passengers on several flights operating out of Kansas City International Airport.
10:30 a.m. | According to the NFL Players Association, 107 players tested positive for COVID-19 in the offseason. Since players reported to camp, 21 players have tested positive. The data was updated Tuesday.
9:40 a.m. | RideKC says that regular weekday service will be restored on some routes beginning Aug. 2. It's expanding service based on a review of current ridership patterns, social distancing requirements and restoring jobs and services.
Routes operated by the Unified Government, Johnson County and the city of Independence are not impacted by the changes.
Maps and timetables can be found on ridekc.org.
8:48 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update.
7 a.m. | CVS is holding a virtual job fair to fill over 200 positions in Kansas City. The positions are both full and part-time at the company's local distribution center. The fair will take place Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
5:30 a.m. | The Society for Human Resource Management estimates that 45 percent of companies have not set a date for a return to work. Companies that are offering parents flexibility may be ones that are best able to attract and retain workers, as school and child care plans continue to be in flux.
5 a.m. | The NFL officially announced Monday night that there will be no preseason games. It comes as part of a health and safety agreement the league made with the NFL Players Association.
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
Friday, July 24
Monday, July 27
