Oct. 8 blog: KCK elementary school goes virtual amid outbreak

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.

Businesses finding unique ways to serve our community can share ideas and connect on our KC Open for Business Facebook group.

Updates on the spread of the virus and how it is affecting the metro can be found below for Oct. 8.

6:15 p.m. | The Tennessee Titans’ ongoing COVID-19 outbreak may impact the Chiefs’ schedule for next week, postponing yet another game.

The NFL has decided to push back the Titans’ scheduled game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills until Tuesday in hopes of squeezing it in next week.

Kansas City was scheduled to play Thursday, Oct. 15, at Buffalo, but that game also must be moved as a result, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Chiefs-Bills game will now be played on Sunday, Oct. 18, according to Schefter. —TP

4:30 p.m. | The Jackson County Health Department will host two drive-thru flu vaccine clinics in October. Registration is required.

Experts say it's more important than ever to get a flu shot this year over fears of a "twindemic" between COVID-19 and influenza that could be deadly. —AW

3:45 p.m. | The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, Health Department says multiple COVID-19 cases and exposures are forcing a KCK elementary school to return to online learning.

Four students and three staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 at Oak Grove Elementary School in the Turner School District. More than 100 students have been exposed after officials conducted contract tracing.

In a Facebook post Thursday afternoon, health officials said students switch back to online learning starting Friday, Oct. 9 and will remain remote through at least Oct. 19. —SH

2:30 p.m. | University of Kansas football coach Les Miles has tested positive for COVID-19, but the school said it expects he'll be available to coach the Jayhawks' next game Oct. 17 at West Virginia.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department downplayed concerns about possible exposure during Wednesday's "Hawk Talk" program at at Johnny's Tavern West, saying the health and safety protocols in place prevented any high-risk contacts. — TP

12:50 p.m. | The Overland Park Police Department will host its annual trunk-or-treat event virtually this year due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

The department is encouraging participants to register in categories for a friendly Halloween decoration competition.

Residents can deck the trunks of their vehicles out in their own driveways and share them online using the hashtag #2020TrunkOrTreatOPPD. — HG

12:10 p.m. | Students at Washburn University in Topeka are urging officials to reconsider the decision to cancel spring break. Last week, the university announced that students would have 15 weeks of uninterrupted classes in the spring semester, with finals to be held one week earlier. The decision was made in an effort to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

Student leaders say they were blindsided by the announcement, according to an Associated Press report. —AW

11:45 a.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says the state will release $133 million, including $95 million in CARES Act funding, for critical services in the state. The rest of the funding will come from general funds, according to the Associated Press. —AW

10:45 a.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 this week.

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

10:30 a.m. | AMC Theatres, headquartered in Leawood, says it plans to have more than 520 of its 600 locations open by mid-October. The movie theater chain says that when the state of Washington allows theaters to reopen on Oct. 16, AMC Theatres will be operating in 43 out of 45 states.

The movie theater industry has been hard hit by the pandemic, and AMC Theatres has reported significant losses due to the shuttering of theaters nationwide. —AW

10:20 a.m. | The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra has announced additional outdoor performances for its alternative 2020-21 season. The first concert will be held Sunday, Oct. 11, at the John Wornall House Museum, 6145 Wornall Road. For more information, visit the orchestra's website. —AW

8:43 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update. -KB

8:08 a.m. | The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that job cuts remain elevated seven months into the pandemic 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. | Doctors are encouraging patients more than ever to get their flu shot this year. They fear a "twindemic" between COVID-19 and influenza that could be deadly.

Despite increased demand for the flu shot, experts say people shouldn't be worried about a shortage of the vaccine. -KB

7 a.m. | Cineworld Group will close all 536 of its Regal Cinemas locations in the U.S., effective Thursday. The chain has one location in the Kansas City metro at the Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City. -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
Friday, Oct. 2
Monday, Oct. 5
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Wednesday, Oct. 7