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 Sept. 11.
11:08 p.m. | New COVID-19 cases nationally fell for the seventh straight week and deaths fell for a fifth straight week, but Missouri – aided by a record 2,033 cases reported Friday – recorded more than 9,000 cases for the third time and second straight week. The 9,364 new cases were a 4.3% drop from last week’s record high.
The number of deaths reported dropped from 103 last week to 88 this week, but that’s still 88 families who lost a loved one. At least 80 reported deaths have been recorded in six of the last seven weeks in Missouri.
The seven-county KC area saw a drop in cases for the second straight week to the lowest total since the week of July 4-10 and also recorded fewer than 20 deaths for the first time since mid-July.
Kansas saw a significant drop in new cases, 20.9% from 4,221 last week to 3,340 this week, but there also were a record 39 deaths reported in Kansas during the last week. The prior week, there were 32 deaths, which tied for second-most in Kansas history, so September is shaping up as the state’s deadliest month.
10:08 p.m. | Miami County in Kansas reported its first death from COVID-19 on Friday.
A female over the age of 60, who had been hospitalized, died Thursday, according to a release from the Miami County Health Department.
The death was one of a record 17 reported Friday in Kansas, according to state and local health department reports.
8:45 p.m. | At least seven employees and two patrons at a Westport bar have tested positive within the last month for COVID-19, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department.
The health department announced Friday evening that it has been investigating an outbreak at the Westport Ale House, 4128 Broadway Blvd., since Wednesday after receiving complaints about mask and capacity violations.
6:56 p.m. | A beloved Olathe West baseball coach died Thursday within weeks of contracting COVID-19.
Derek Leppert was an associate baseball coach and attendance clerk at Olathe West High School, where he'd worked since the school opened three years ago. His family and friends opened up and Leppert and his legacy Friday.
"He’s one of a kind and he has touched so many lives," Owls head baseball coach Rick Sabath said.
5:28 p.m. | Mizzou Athletics made the “difficult decision” Friday to prohibit on-campus tailgating for football games this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the school announced.
Fans will not be permitted to gather for meals and libations “in all game-day parking lots and campus spaces,” a move the school said was “an effort to ensure the health and well-being of its fans, student-athletes, coaches, officials, staff and students attending 2020 Mizzou home football games.”
3:40 p.m. | The Blue Springs R-IV School District will be required to limit attendance at its high school home football games to 100 spectators or fewer tonight or face sanctions from the Jackson County Health Department.
A Jackson County judge denied the district’s request for a temporary restraining order Friday afternoon, roughly four hours before the scheduled kickoff of Staley at Blue Springs and Park Hill at Blue Springs South. — TP
1:55 p.m. | The Big 12 has secured access to COVID-19 antigen testing that produces rapid results and will be used the day before competition on players, coaches and staff. The conference announced a partnership with Virtual Care for Families. The testing program will use Quidel Rapid Antigen tests, which are expected to give results in about 15 minutes, according to an Associated Press report.
1:15 p.m. | The Blue Springs School District on Friday said that six cases of COVID-19 have been reported in schools since Sept. 7, the first week back to class.
The district said that it planned to send a COVID-19 update to families each Friday, along with an email from their child's school listing the total number of confirmed virus cases. Families of students who are "directly exposed" to a positive case will be notified.
The district also plans to make a dashboard tracking COVID-19 cases available on its website soon. —AW
12:45 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City announced Friday two more regular-season home matches on Sept. 19 and Sept. 23 — and with them an increased stadium capacity.
The club will allow 18% stadium capacity for the games, which amounts to about 3,300 fans. That's up from a previous 14% cap.
"Comprehensive health and safety protocols" such as mask requirements and a socially-distant seating plan remain in place, SKC said. — HG
12:05 p.m. | After an outcry from some parents, the Shawnee Mission School District on Friday said that it would allow families of elementary students to choose a different learning option for the second semester. —AW
11:30 a.m. | The Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade, typically held the first Saturday in December, will not take place this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The parade's board of directors decided to cancel the parade for public safety concerns. Alternate activities are being planned that will be held in its place.
“Deciding to cancel the parade this year is the right decision to promote public health and protect our participants, volunteers and spectators,” said board President Marty Kennedy. “But we view this as a one-year interruption and are committed to returning in 2021.” —AW
8:48 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update. -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. | The United States plans to end enhanced health screening of travelers from certain countries next week, and those visitors will no longer be funneled through 15 large U.S. airports.
Those requirements were imposed in January to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the government will remove those edicts beginning Monday. -KB
7 a.m. | Beginning Friday, drive through COVID-19 testing will be available to children 12 and older at CVS pharmacies. The company said they've increased turnaround time to have results back within two or three days. Patients have to register online in advance and must be accompanied by a parent. -KB
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
July 2020 updates
August 2020 updates
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Thursday, Sept. 3
Friday, Sept. 4
Monday, Sept. 7
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Wednesday, Sept. 9
Thursday, Sept. 10
