Live blog: Jackson County alters gathering-limit restrictions

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — We have been tracking the spread of COVID-19 in the Kansas City area since the start of the pandemic.

Whether it's stories about how we bounce back through our Rebound KC effort, important information as school resumes or critical information about the November election, trust 41 Action News to keep you informed.

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Updates on the spread of the virus and how it is affecting the metro can be found below for Oct. 2.

9:14 p.m. | Under an amended emergency order, the Jackson County Health Department will no longer automatically limit gatherings in the county to 100 people or fewer, but larger gatherings now require special permission from the county's Environmental Health Department.

The Blue Springs School District sued the county in early September over gathering restrictions related to high school football attendance, though a judge denied the district’s initial request for a restraining order, but the matter remains pending in Jackson County Circuit Court.

The Jackson County Health Department would not say if the revised order was related to Blue Springs’ lawsuit, but did confirm that districts in eastern Jackson County can seek approval to have more than 100 fans at sporting events or other gatherings through the amended order as soon as next week.

7:51 p.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has ordered an external review of COVID-19 operations at all seven Missouri Veterans Homes after deaths were reported at four of the locations.

Missouri Veterans Commission Chairman Timothy Noonan has been instructed “to conduct a rapid, independent, external review” to determine if the Missouri Veterans Homes are performing adequately and identifying steps to ensure the safety of staff and residents.

Parson also has ordered comprehensive COVID-19 testing of all staff and residents under state care. —TP

6:28 p.m. | The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Washington University in St. Louis will receive millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

FEMA announced Friday that the state health department will receive $19,136,982 as part of a 75/25% cost-share program to reimburse the state for the cost of personal protective equipment purchased for essential workers and ventilators through Aug. 12.

Washington University will receive $1,142,425 to reimburse its costs for PPE purchases, other medical supplies and components for manufacturing ventilators and face shields through June 6.

Both entities may be eligible for additional grant funding based on ongoing expenses. —TP

5:40 p.m. | Moments after he was transported to Walter Reed Hospital on Marine One, President Trump tweeted a video, saying he appreciated the support in the wake of his coronavirus diagnosis.

"I think I'm doing very well, but we're going to make sure that things work out," Trump said in the video. —AW

4:30 p.m. | President Donald Trump is being transported to Walter Reed Hospital on Friday afternoon after being diagnosed with the coronavirus. He was being transported on Marine One from the White House.

4:15 p.m. | The Kansas City, Missouri, Parks and Recreation Department and Heart to Heart International will partner to offer free COVID-19 testing for essential workers at several parks locations in October.

The testing events are available for both asymptomatic and symptomatic workers.

Here are the testing events and locations:

• 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 8: Gillham Park, 3915 Gillham Road
• 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 9: Blue Valley Park, 2301 Topping Ave.
• 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 10: The Springs Aquatic Center, 9400 N. Congress Ave.

Registration can be done online. —AW

4 p.m. | President Donald Trump's physician said Friday afternoon that the president is being treated with an Regeneron antibody cocktail, adding that Trump is "fatigued."

Trump did not participate in the only public event on his schedule today, a conference call to discuss COVID-19 support for vulnerable seniors. —AW

3:45 p.m. | A gubernatorial debate between Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and State Auditor Nicole Galloway has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia, according to an Associated Press report.

The forum was originally scheduled for Sept. 25 but had to be postponed after Parson tested positive for COVID-19. —AW

2 p.m. | A microbiology technology company in Drexel, Missouri, is helping fight the coronavirus pandemic across the country.

CEO David Alburty said InnovaPrep's patented Concentrating Pipette is being used to detect COVID-19 in wastewater.

The technology currently is being used on several college campuses, including the University of Arizona and Colorado State University, to detect COVID-19 in dormitories. —AW

11:40 a.m. | Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he and his wife, Jill, both tested negative for the coronavirus. They were tested on Friday after the former vice president shared a debate stage Tuesday with President Trump. —AW

10:45 a.m. | The Blue Valley School District says an individual associated with the soccer program at Blue Valley North tested positive for COVID-19.

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has "directed individuals associated with the JV and C teams to quarantine," a school district spokesperson said Friday. —AW

10:40 a.m. | According to an Associated Press report, President Donald Trump is experiencing "mild" symptoms of COVID-19 on Friday after confirming that he and first lady Melania Trump had contracted the virus. —AW

10:20 a.m. | The Mid-America Regional Council, philanthropic foundations and two Kansas City metro counties have formed a public-private partnership to supplement response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a news release Friday morning, MARC said the group has committed $2.5 million to increase the region's testing capacity, facilitate the purchase of personal protective equipment and support community organizations that are helping residents who test positive for the virus.

According to MARC, Johnson County allocated $400,000 and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, provided $250,000, both through CARES Act funding. Private foundations supplied the remaining $1.85 million for the initiative.

For more information, visit preparemetrokc.org. —AW

8:54 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update. -KB

8:03 a.m. | America’s employers added 661,000 jobs in September, the third straight month of slower hiring and evidence from the final jobs report before the presidential election that the economic recovery has weakened.

With September’s hiring gain, the economy has recovered only slightly more than half the 22 million jobs that were wiped out by the viral pandemic.

The roughly 10 million jobs that remain lost exceed the number that the nation shed during the entire 2008-2009 Great Recession. -KB

7:30 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know. -KB

7:15 a.m. | Kansans who are eligible for an additional $300 a week in unemployment benefits because of the coronavirus pandemic can begin applying for the funds Friday.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced the state will begin processing applications for the Lost Wages Assistance payments on Friday. The payments are in addition to regular federal unemployment benefits under the federal Lost Wages program. -KB

7 a.m. | Douglas County amended a health order that will extend the hours that restaurants and bars can serve alcohol.

Beginning Friday, Oct. 2, all restaurants, bars and entertainment venues with liquor licenses must stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. and close their doors, including outside seating areas and patios, no later than midnight.

The previous order required those places to stop serving alcohol at 9 p.m. and close an hour later. -KB

Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
July 2020 updates
August 2020 updates
September 2020 updates
Thursday, Oct. 1