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 29.
6 p.m. | A Kearney School District student who attended in-person graduation ceremonies last weekend has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Clay County Health Department has launched a contact tracing investigation.
5:40 p.m. | Missouri reported 1,547 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and 10 additional deaths, including six new deaths from Kansas City, Missouri.
In the seven-county metro, 286 new cases were reported, below the seven-day average. However, the metro also reported an increase in new deaths, adding eight on Wednesday to bring the total to 352. The number of new deaths is the highest single-day increase since nine new deaths were reported on April 14, according to data kept by 41 Action News.
The new deaths reported on Wednesday included the six in KCMO, one in Wyandotte County and one in Cass County.
4:45 p.m. | The U.S. reached another bleak milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, as Johns Hopkins University reported that 150,000 Americans have now died of the virus.
The U.S. continues to lead the world in deaths linked to the coronavirus. Brazil, with a death toll of about 88,000, is currently the only other country with more than 50,000 deaths.
4:30 p.m. | The Kansas City, Missouri, Parks and Recreation Department says it will reduce mowing services across city parks as it works to keep up with an increased demand for services. The department said several maintenance staff have had to self-quarantine during the pandemic, which also has impacted its budget.
2:30 p.m. | Gordon Parks Elementary School, a public charter school in Kansas City, Missouri, has released its reopening plans for the 2020-21 school year. The school will start on Aug. 31 with half-days planned for the first two weeks. Full school days will begin on Sept. 14. The school also is providing a virtual option for families.
1:35 p.m. | Kansas reported 604 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the lowest number of new cases on an official reporting day (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) since July 1.
However, the state added 10 new deaths to its total on Wednesday, which is the highest single-day increase since May 5, when 18 people were added to the death toll. The 10 new deaths also is the third-worst for a single day since the beginning of the pandemic, according to data kept by 41 Action News.
12:25 p.m. | Organizers for Rock the Parkway Half Marathon and 5K said Wednesday that the race has been canceled for 2020. It had initially been postponed to Aug. 29.
"Ultimately, we were not able to develop a plan that would enable us to get the race permitted and safely hold the event, so it will not be held this year," organizers said in an email to participants.
The event will offer participants the option of participating in the 2020 race virtually, transferring their registration to next year's event or transferring to the 2022 event.
Organizers say next year's event will be held in late summer, instead of April as usual, because they are "uneasy" about planning for the April 2021 time slot.
12:15 p.m. | The University of Kansas Medical Center and Children's Mercy saythey will partner to test a COVID-19 vaccine in the greater Kansas City region. It's part of a nationwide trial that plans to recruit 30,000 participants, with around 1,500 from the Kansas and Missouri region. Adults who are considered high-risk for the virus will be recruited for the study.
The trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health and sponsored by AstraZeneca, is expected to launch in mid- to late August.
To be considered for the trial, go online or call 913-574-3006 in Kansas City or 316-293-1833 in Wichita.
10:18 a.m. | Kansans under the age of 65 will continue to be allowed to renew their driver's licenses online after Gov. Laura Kelly extended an executive order that alters age restrictions. Under the order, all drivers under the age of 65 are permitted to use the online renewal system. The order expires on Dec. 31, 2020.
9:31 a.m. | The City of Roeland Park announced it will provide 10,000 masks to people who need them starting Thursday, July 30. The city says it's an effort to support Gov. Laura Kelly's statewide mask order.
The masks will be provided to businesses around the city to give to customers who need them as they enter the business.
Some of these businesses include CVS pharmacy, Walmart and Walgreens among others.
9:26 a.m. | Kohl's says it will close its stores nationwide on Thanksgiving. In a statement the company said, "the Kohl’s team is designing plans to reflect a year like no other."
Customers will still have the chance to shop online and take advantage of online deals throughout the holiday season.
8:50 a.m. | Kansas City Public Schools announced reopening plans Wednesday. The plans will see students begin distance learning on Sept. 8, and students will return to in-person classes in a phased approach as COVID-19 cases decrease in the community.
8:40 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update and were joined by a virus patient currently in the hospital for treatment.
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. | Hundreds of thousands of people, including more than 40 percent of Missouri renters, could lose their homes this summer in what is being called an eviction crisis.
The national hold on evictions ended last week and extra unemployment benefits end this week, leaving people at risk for losing their home.
Stout, a valuation advisory company, studied numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and expects 205,000 eviction filings in Missouri in the next four months.
In Kansas, 33 percent of renters could face eviction, with 81,000 filings in the next four months.
5 a.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.
Previous coverage:
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
Thursday, March 19
Friday, March 20
Saturday, March 21
Sunday, March 22
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