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.
We are also keeping track of which metro jurisdictions are under stay at home orders for the foreseeable future, only allowing for essential business and activities.
We've also compiled a detailed list of school district meal service options while schools are closed.
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 March 31.
10:15 p.m. | Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens donated 500 masks to the Kansas City, Missouri, police department. KCPD requested during a press conference last week donations of masks and thermometers for its officers.
A source also confirmed to 41 Action News that three KCPD personnel tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 25 others are in quarantine.
Additionally, workers at the General Motors plant in Fairfax will not return to work on April 6 as previously reported. In a letter sent to United Auto Workers Local 31, members were notified that the plant will suspend operations even longer. A new date to return to work has not yet been set.
9:55 p.m. | Three staffers at the Lansing Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. The cases – one male older than 20 and two females older than 40 – are the first in a KDOC facility.
8 p.m. | Two Kansas City-area arenas are in consideration as sites for alternative-care facilities should the need arise, according to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson. The Cable Dahmer and Hy-Vee arenas are among locations throughout the state being considered to house patients.
7:50 p.m. | Wyandotte County has reported three additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the county total to 89. Leavenworth County also announced a new case, bringing its total to 25.
6 p.m. | Those who attended the Kansas East Jurisdiction's 2020 Ministers and Workers Conference on March 16-22 in Kansas City, Kansas, may have been exposed to COVID-19, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Multiple people who attended the event have become ill and tested positive for COVID-19.
5:30 p.m. | The Shawnee Mission School District says it will close all of its playgrounds and lock gates to school grounds due "to the inability to obtain voluntary compliance with the request to stay off of school playgrounds." Stadiums and athletic facilities remain open as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.
5:10 p.m. | Overland Park will furlough around 200 part-time city employees and freeze salaries due to COVID-19.
4:45 p.m. | One way Americans are coping with the new coronavirus? Booze.
3:55 p.m. | The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools Board of Education approved a motion to allow high school seniors to graduate with 21 credits, which is required by the Kansas Department of Education, instead of the 25 credits previously required by the board.
The board also approved motions to freeze GPA at the end of the third quarter and move to a pass/fail scale for the fourth quarter. If a student does not complete work in the fourth quarter, they will not get credit.
3:40 p.m. | Staff members and youth at the Waverly Regional Youth Center in Lafayette County, Missouri, tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Social Services. Youth were evaluated and allowed to remain at the facility to recover in quarantine. They are being isolated from other youth. Staff who tested positive are quarantined at home.
3 p.m. | Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt says his office has received more than 400 complaints of price gouging in the past two weeks. Anyone who wants to report price gouging or scams can do so through the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or online at ago.mo.gov.
2:25 p.m. | In response to overcrowding and issues of public safety, Missouri will close a number of state parks beginning Thursday, April 2. The closures will last until at least April 30. Among the parks being closed are Weston Bend State Park and Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site and Park in the Kansas City area.
2:15 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, says 119 cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed. The total includes 85 patients from Jackson County, 28 from Clay County and six from Platte County.
2 p.m. | Missouri confirmed nearly 300 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, reporting a total of 1,327 cases. Kansas also saw an increase in cases on Tuesday, with officials reporting 428 confirmed cases in the state.
1:40 p.m. | Jackson County reports 69 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Platte County also identified 10 additional cases. Between the two counties' additional data, there are now 429 cases in the seven-county Kansas City metro and 1,085 cases in Missouri.
1:15 p.m. | The U.S. has surpassed China in the number of deaths linked to the novel coronavirus, according to a database kept by Johns Hopkins University.
12:45 p.m. | The Kansas City Royals announced that Royals Radio Network will be airing classic games, beginning with Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2. All games can be heard locally on 610 Sports Radio.
12:30 p.m. | The University of Kansas Health System says it is treating 25 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, including 10 patients who are on ventilators. Another 25 patients are currently being tested for the virus.
11:55 a.m. | Good Ju Ju in the West Bottoms says that while it has canceled its April First Friday event, the sale is now available online on its Facebook page.
11:45 a.m. | Walmart says it will being checking employees' temperatures and making masks available for those who want to wear them. For more information on the company's response to COVID-19, click here.
11:35 a.m. | Park University and The 1900 Building will stream a live concert featuring pianist Behzod Abduraimov, which had to be canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The link will go live at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, until the end of the performance.
11:30 a.m. | The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has committed $2.8 million for the COVID-19 response in the Kansas City region. The foundation says the funding will go to support grantees, small businesses, entrepreneurs and educational institutions
11:13 a.m. | A third person died from COVID-19 in Johnson County, Kansas, according to new data. The county also reported 11 new cases Tuesday, bringing the total to 127.
Throughout the Kansas City metro, eight people have died of coronavirus.
10:30 a.m. | The Kansas City Royals will fund more than 500,000 meals for Harvesters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
10:25 a.m. | The Kansas City Repertory Theatre's OriginKC: New Works Festival will be available to watch online for a short time. Ticketholders who did not receive a refund can view the videos for free, and those who did not have tickets can purchase the videos for $20. The link will be live from April 1-15.
10:20 a.m. | United Healthcare will waive customer cost-sharing and co-payments for all treatments related to COVID-19, according to a report.
10:15 a.m. | Big Slick Celebrity Weekend, originally scheduled for June 5-6, has been canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus. The annual event serves as a fundraiser for Children’s Mercy Hospital.
10 a.m. | Here's everything you need to know to get your morning started.
9:58 a.m. | Wyandotte County reported eight new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the county total to 75 cases. The Kansas City metro has now surpassed 400 cases of the virus.
9:45 a.m. | Southwest Airlines announced a new flight schedule for May 3 through June 5 that will reduce flights to around 2,000 per day. The airline did not offer details on market-specific cuts.
9:06 a.m. | Performances of "Aladdin" at the Kansas City Music Hall have been canceled. The show was scheduled for April 15-26.
8:40 a.m. | KC Water will continue its spring leaf and brush curbside collection as normal. Customers should set the lawn debris in paper bags on the curb by 7 a.m. on their regularly scheduled trash day. Here is the schedule:
- Residents who live in south Kansas City (from 63rd Street, south to the city limit, as well as all residents who live east of Blue Ridge Cutoff) will receive curbside leaf and brush collection from April 6-10.
- Residents who live in central Kansas City (from the Missouri River, south to 63rd Street, but not including residents who live east of Blue Ridge Cutoff) will receive curbside leaf and brush collection from April 13-17.
- Residents who live in Kansas City, North (from the Missouri River, north to the city limit) will receive curbside leaf and brush collection from April 20-24.
8:22 a.m. | Doctors with the University of Kansas Health System gave an update on the fight against COVID-19.
6:43 a.m. | Dr. Dana Hawkinson with the University of Kansas Health System joined 41 Action News Today to answer questions about sanitizing groceries and ordering takeout during the COVID-19 pandemic.
5:40 a.m. | U.S. officials ruled Monday that gun shops are considered essential businessesand may stay open during stay-at-home orders.
5:15 a.m. | Liberty Public Schools is doing their best to recognize teachers working hard from home. On Tuesday, they want students and families to use the #LPSTeacherTuesday to recognize those going above and beyond.
Tomorrow's theme is "Tuesdays are for Teachers". We all have that special teacher that has made a difference in our life. Video messages are encouraged, but not mandatory. Don't forget the hashtag #LPSTeacherTuesday🧑🏫 #InThisTogetherLPS #ShareTheGoodLPS pic.twitter.com/pQuPeq1TDK
— LPS53 (@LIBERTYSCHOOLS) March 31, 2020
5 a.m. | The Lenexa Rec Center may be closed to comply with the statewide stay-at-home order, but the city is offering online workout options. Those looking for a workout can go to their website and find videos that are possible to do at home and stay fit.
Previous coverage:
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
Thursday, March 19
Friday, March 20
Saturday, March 21
Sunday, March 22
Monday, March 23
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27
Saturday, March 28
Sunday, March 29
Monday, March 30
