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.
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Updates on the spread of the virus and how it is affecting the metro can be found below for June 26.
5:05 p.m. | Judging by shoppers Friday at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, the public remains split on wearing masks in public.
4:34 p.m. | Nearly 22% of employees who were tested after a recent COVID-19 outbreak was identified at a Tyson Foods processing plant in Noel, Missouri, have tested positive.
The company announced the results Friday of on-site testing it conducted last week at the poultry after the largest new cluster of cases in the U.S. was detected in southwest Missouri.
4:15 p.m. | Beginning Monday, face coverings will be required inside public places in Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas announced Friday afternoon.
Lucas said he consulted KCMO Department of Public Health Director Dr. Rex Archer on this decision in the city’s fight against the spread of COVID-19.
3:30 p.m. | Shawnee Mission East suspended all summer conditioning workouts for its athletic programs Friday after two athletes tested positive for COVID-19.
3:18 p.m. | The Olathe School District became the latest school district on Friday to announce plans to welcome students back to class this fall.
2:40 p.m. | The Shawnee Mission School District released an updated school calendar Friday with new start dates. The district said it wanted to allow more time for professional development for staff, as well as to "ensure successful implementation of the school reopening plan."
The changes are as follows, according to the district:
- August 17: Classes begin Grades 1-6, 7, 9 & 12
- August 17: Early Dismissal-Grades 1-6; Conferences Pre-K & Kdg.
- August 18: Classes begin Grades 8, 10-11
- August 18: Pre-K & Kindergarten Conferences
- August 19: First Day for Pre-K and Kindergarten
2 p.m. | According to updates from state and local health departments, Missouri is now reporting more than 20,400 COVID-19 cases.
On the Kansas side, the state added 568 cases since the last official update on Wednesday.
12:25 p.m. | Wyandotte County has expanded their phone access to WIC services to last through at least July 31 due to COVID-19. Anyone in need of assistance can call 913-573-6720.
12:21 p.m. | Johnson County will expand appointment-based COVID-19 testing for anyone who lives and works in the county to anyone with or without symptoms. They will also start providing tests to children 12 and older for free starting June 29, but a parent must be present with any child under 16.
Testing is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or every other Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. starting June 30 at 11875 S. Sunset Dr.
9:03 a.m. | Johnson County is holding free testing for any residents over 18 with or without symptoms. It is being held Friday at Church of the Resurrection until 1 p.m.
We are underway at our seventh COVID-19 drive-thru testing clinic. The test is free for anyone who lives or works in Johnson County, KS, is age 18+, with or without symptoms. We will be here until 1 p.m. at the @ChurchoftheRez or until supplies run out. pic.twitter.com/blurMFPHpi
— JCDHE (@JOCOHealth) June 26, 2020
9:00 a.m. | The Kansas City VA Medical center is providing free COVID-19 testing to all veterans. ID is required and tests will be available to the first 300 veterans. It will take place at the Shawnee Community Based Outpatient Clinic on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
8:45 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials answered COVID-19 questions from viewers.
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. | More Kansas families are signing up for homeschooling this summer than had at this time last year, continuing a recent trend in the state.
According to data from the Kansas Department of Education, the number of new non-accredited private school registrations increased by more than 54 percent in May and so far in June 2020, compared to May and June last year.
Some believe an increased interest in homeschooling may be tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of what schools will look like in the fall.
5 a.m. | The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council unanimously approved $1.5 million Thursday for more COVID-19 testing and to hire contact tracers.
The city is also looking at whether or not to make it mandatory for people to wear a face mask whenever they're inside a building within city limits, advice that is backed up by recommendations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
Monday, June 1
Tuesday, June 2
Wednesday, June 3
Thursday, June 4
Friday, June 5
Monday, June 8
Tuesday, June 9
Wednesday, June 10
Thursday, June 11
Friday, June 12
Monday, June 15
Tuesday, June 16
Wednesday, June 17
Thursday, June 18
Friday, June 19
Monday, June 22
Tuesday, June 23
Wednesday, June 24
Thursday, June 25
