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 May 22.
9:27 p.m. | Two days after reporting its first COVID-19 death, the Platte County Health Department has confirmed a second death from the virus. There are 66 cases outside Kansas City, Missouri, city limits in the county and 119 positive coronavirus cases overall.
6:53 p.m. | Unemployment in Kansas reached 11.2% in April, according to state’s Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It had been 2.8% in March and 3.2% in April 2019.
The state shed 130,400 non-farm jobs, including 121,600 in the private sector and 8,800 government jobs, last month. The leisure and hospitality sector accounted for more than 50,000 of the lost private-sector jobs.
6:48 p.m. | Johnson County has opened the vehicle tag renewal system for Kansans who were unable to renew tags in March or April due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
There are no penalties for late renewal, but the portal is only available for such renewals on a temporary basis. You’ll need your plate and VIN numbers.
Questions can be directed to the county department of Motor Vehicles via email dmv@jocogov.org or by calling 913-826-1800.
6:17 p.m. | United Inner City Services — a year-round education program in Kansas City, Missouri — welcomed students back to its Metro Center and St. Mark Center campuses this week.
New protocols in place amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic include temperature and symptom screening, new student pick-up practice, having masks available for staff, class sizes limited to 10 people and controlled access of classrooms.
5 p.m. | Jackson County plans to transition to Phase 2 of its reopening plan on June 1, allowing more businesses to open and increasing gathering limits to 50.
In Phase 2, capacity limits for non-essential businesses, places of worship, weddings and funerals will increase to 50% of their lowest occupancy load. Community centers, theaters and swimming pools can reopen with limitations. Graduations, overnight summer camps and organized youth sports also can resume.
Fairs, parades and festivals will remain closed, along with K-12 schools and playground equipment.
Phase 2 will last at least 14 days and up to 28 days, until a Phase 3 date is set. Jackson County guidelines do not apply to the portions of Kansas City, Missouri, located within the county.
4:01 p.m. | The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will conduct free community testing for any state resident next week in six counties, including Jackson County.
The free testing in Jackson County will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 26-30 at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, formerly Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.
Online pre-registration is encouraged. Anyone wishing to get tested but lacking internet access can call the Missouri COVID-19 hotline for assistance at 877-435-8411.
3:31 p.m. | Missouri has seen a 7% rise in COVID-19 cases during the last seven days, according to the Department of Health and Senior Services online tracker.
Based on information from state and local health departments, there are now 11,852 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri with 681 deaths.
The immediate Kansas City area added 124 new cases today, a 2.6% single-day jump and the second-most new cases in one day since May 7.
2:48 p.m. | Wayside Waifs will reopen its Pet Food Pantry next week. The pantry — located on the pet-adoption facility’s campus at 3901 Martha Truman Road in Kansas City, Missouri — has been closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
First-time clients in need of pet food or kitty litter will need to call Wayside at 816-761-8151 to fill out an application by phone. Appointments are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily beginning next Tuesday.
Items will be left in a container marked with the clients name outside the shelter to avoid human interaction in the process.
2:38 p.m. | KC Parks announced Friday that none of its 14 pools or 14 spraygrounds will open this summer “due to ongoing health concerns. The decision was made “after much deliberation and consultation” with the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department.
“KC Parks feels like this is the best decision for our community,” the department said on Twitter.
#COVID19 UPDATE (5/22/20): Due to ongoing health concerns, #KCParks has decided it will not open any of the 14 Pools or 14 spray grounds this season. After much deliberation & consultation with @KCMOHealthDept, KC Parks feels this is the best decision for our community. #KCMO
— KCMO Parks and Rec (@KCMOParks) May 22, 2020
2:30 p.m. | Increased testing in Jackson County, Kansas, showed a cluster at the Johnsonville plant in Holton is larger than the five COVID-19 cases initially reported. After testing all plant employees, health officials found 46 additional cases of coronavirus, bringing the county total to 84.
2:13 p.m. | The U.S. Department of Health and Senior Services will provide nearly $165.4 million in emergency COVID-19 relief funding to 502 skilled nursing facilities in Missouri.
The money — which can be used for safety equipment, testing and staffing needs — comes from the CARES Act.
2 p.m. | Fort Leavenworth will conduct a private Memorial Day ceremony that will not be open to the public. No traffic will be allowed in the area of the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery on Monday morning.
COVID-19 protective measures require all Fort Leavenworth visitors to have a valid federal ID card or to enter in the vehicle of a driver with a valid ID. Those who wish to visit grave sites should do so on Saturday or Sunday.
1:15 p.m.| Over the last two days, Kansas has seen nearly 300 additional positive COVID-19 tests, pushing the total to more than 9,000.
With a cluster growing in Jackson County, Kansas, the state has added 295 cases since Wednesday, bringing total cases in the state to 9,024.
The death toll reached 207 Friday with three new deaths reported.
More than 70 new cases were reported across the Kansas City-area counties of Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte.
12:47 p.m. | The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, will reopen buildings to the public on Tuesday. City Hall, the courthouse and the jail will be open by appointment only. Staff and visitors must wear masks and have their temperatures checked when entering.
12:25 p.m. | Kansas City's annual Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair will be held virtually this year. The virtual craft fair will happen May 30 and 31 from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature over 100 virtual booths. There will also be food trucks stationed around the metro for takeout.
11:50 a.m. | The Kansas City International Airport saw a 95.5% drop in passenger traffic in April as the pandemic grounded flights and brought travel to a standstill.
10:45 a.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will not hold a press briefing on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. The governor plans to hold briefings at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week.
10:30 a.m. | The Liberty Public Schools bus fleet will be driving normal afternoon drop-off routes on Friday to close out the 2019-20 school year. Students and families can wave to their bus drivers and are encouraged to share photos or videos on the district's social media platforms.
10:04 a.m. | Flags at the White House, federal buildings and national monuments are at half-staff to honor those who lost their lives to the coronavirus.
9 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update.
8 a.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of victims of the coronavirus pandemic. The flags will be flown half-staff beginning today until sunset on Sunday, May 24.
“The death toll due to coronavirus is devastating in Kansas and beyond,” Kelly said. “We all have an obligation to honor those lost to the virus, to include courageous frontline workers who literally gave their lives to help and protect others during this pandemic.”
7:45 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
7:12 a.m. | The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is eliminating 51 positions and furloughing 33 more as part of a dramatic cut in staffing designed to trim up to 20 percent of its budget to respond to shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
6:09 a.m. | Kansas will begin Phase Two of reopening Friday. That will include the reopening of community centers, theaters, casinos and organized sports.
Kansas and Johnson County move into Phase 2 of the reopening plan today, May 22. Mission’s City facilities will begin gradual reopening on June 1. https://t.co/y36SkSIZZs
— City of Mission, KS (@CityofMissionKS) May 22, 2020
Kansas and Johnson County move into Phase 2 of the reopening plan today, May 22. Mission’s City facilities will begin gradual reopening on June 1. https://t.co/y36SkSIZZs
— City of Mission, KS (@CityofMissionKS) May 22, 2020
5:30 a.m. | Gov. Mike Parson said he hopes to reach 7,500 COVID-19 tests per day in Missouri.
As I said earlier this week, I have set a goal of reaching 7,500 tests per day.
The plan focuses on three main testing strategies:
🔍Box-in outbreaks
🔍Sentinel testing
🔍Community sampling
🔍Sentinel testing
We have already been utilizing these strategies, and now we will ramp them up! pic.twitter.com/n1XwZq0zXK
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) May 21, 2020
We have already been utilizing these strategies, and now we will ramp them up! pic.twitter.com/n1XwZq0zXK
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) May 21, 2020
5:15 a.m. | All Douglas County, Kansas, residents are encouraged to take a third COVID-19 community survey before 9 a.m. Saturday.
It covers COVID-19 symptoms, face coverings, local reopening plans and communications.
All Douglas County residents are encouraged to complete the third survey!
More info & survey links: https://t.co/cAZxpoEMv0
Available until 9 a.m. on May 23. #DGKSCOVID pic.twitter.com/pD5TOkXLfM
— Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health (@LDCHEALTH) May 22, 2020
5 a.m. | The Missouri State Highway Patrol tweeted that they were helping with the delivery of potential COVID-19 fighting drug remdesivir to local hospitals. (Note: Remdesivir is only a trial drug and should only be used at the direction of a medical provider.)
Teamwork saves lives. We are proud to be working @MoSEMA_ , @HealthyLivingMo & @Missouri_NG tonight to expedite delivery of the #COVID19 fighting drug remdesivir to hospitals around Missouri. These deliveries were to hospitals throughout Kansas City and NW Missouri. #WeServeMO pic.twitter.com/IQXsMALZYq
— MSHP General HQ (@MSHPTrooperGHQ) May 22, 2020
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
Friday, May 1
Saturday, May 2
Sunday, May 3
Monday, May 4
Tuesday, May 5
Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 7
Friday, May 8
Saturday, May 9
Sunday, May 10
Monday, May 11
Tuesday, May 12
Wednesday, May 13
Thursday, May 14
Friday, May 15
Sunday, May 17
Monday, May 18
Tuesday, May 19
Thursday, May 21
Wednesday, May 20
Thursday, May 21
Thursday, May 21
