Live blog: Missouri records 3rd-most new COVID-19 in single day

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 Sept. 15.

4:50 p.m. | Missouri added 1,837 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, which are the third-most in state history, based on reports from state and local health departments.

There have now been 107,740 confirmed cases in the state, which has the fourth-highest rate of daily new infections among all U.S. states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Missouri also added 26 new deaths, raising the state's death toll to 1,866 people.

Within the seven-county Kansas City metro area, there were 10 new deaths reported Tuesday, the most deaths since Aug. 25.

4 p.m. | The Kansas City Streetcar says that ridership increased in August by more than 5,000 trips compared with July, but ridership levels still remain well below pre-pandemic levels.

While 54,265 people rode the streetcar in August, the ridership in August 2019 was 221,259 trips. —AW

3:40 p.m. | Thousands of face masks will be delivered to polling sites throughout Missouri ahead of the general election.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced in a news release on Tuesday that he "secured 25,000 face masks" that the Cape Girardeau-based Patriot Medical Devices will supply. —KW

3:10 p.m. | A record 22 deaths were reported Tuesday in Kansas from COVID-19. All of the deaths were reported by local health departments, including four in Johnson County and three in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment only reports its statewide data on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but the state totals do not break down the number of deaths by county.

There already have been 108 deaths reported in Kansas in September, which also is a state record. There were 94 deaths reported in all of August, 83 in July and 58 in June, according to the 41 Action News COVID-19 data tracker. —TP

1 p.m. | More than $37 million in CARES Act funding has been approved in Wyandotte County. The funding will focus on three areas: public health, cities/county and education and nonprofits.

“The allocation of $37 million in initial CARES Act funding will provide a tremendous benefit to our community as we continue to battle the health and economic impacts of COVID-19,” Mayor David Alvey said in a news release. “In particular, I’m pleased that more than $9 million in direct aid will be distributed to more than 60 local organizations in Wyandotte County, providing meaningful support to nonprofits and small businesses, as well as rent, utility, and food assistance for our residents.”

The State Office of Recovery approved the county's allocation of the funds on Sept. 7.

Here is a look at the funding breakdown:

• Public Health: $12,572,604
• Cities/County: $18,458,302
• Education & Nonprofit: $6,300,028

—AW

Noon | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's mask mandate will remain in effect in Johnson County after the State Finance Council voted last week to extend the order through Oct. 15. Johnson County officials said Tuesday that the local order was tied to the governor's emergency proclamation and did not include an expiration date other than when the statewide order expires or is rescinded.

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners will have an item on its agenda to consider the mask order at its next regular meeting on Sept. 17.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Kelly also addressed the mask order, saying that "incorrect information" was being shared about the expiration of the order.

"The statewide mask order remains in effect," Kelly said. —AW

11:15 a.m. | The Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church in Lenexa opened a food pantry on Tuesday to provide non-perishable food items and produce from the church's garden to people in need.

It will be open from 3-6 p.m. every Tuesday on the south side of the church at 9400 Pflumm Road. Households with one to four members can receive one bag, while those with five or more members can receive two bags.

After the pandemic, the church plans to leave it as a walk-in pantry where shoppers can choose their own items. —AW

9:24 a.m. | The Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center is providing free flu shots to veterans with ID. Experts are encouraging everyone to get a flu shot more than ever with the added component of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vaccine will be available in a drive-thru format on Sept. 19, 20, 26 and 27 as well as Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25. The hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. -KB

9:22 a.m. | Kansas Gas Service presented a check for $10,000 to Harvesters to boost how many people the service can help during the pandemic. That donation will provide 30,000 meals to Kansas City area people. -KB

8:38 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. | Dr. Dana Hawkinson joined 41 Action News to answer questions about COVID-19 vaccines. -KB

7 a.m. | The Raymore-Peculiar School District announced two students at Ray-Pec High School and one at Raymore Elementary school tested positive for COVID-19. Health officials completed contact tracing to talk to anyone who came in contact with them. -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
Friday, Sept. 11
Monday, Sept. 14