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. 3.
8:38 p.m. | Effective Friday, health officials in Douglas County, which includes the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, have ordered all restaurants, bars and venues with a liquor license to stop serving alcohol by 9 p.m. and close to customers by 10 p.m. — except for carryout, curbside and delivery of food.
The new public health order also:
- Requires all restaurant and bar patrons to be seated at tables, which are to be spread at least six feet apart, of no more than 10 people;
- All food and beverages, except carryout, must be consumed at tables;
- Congregating at bars and counters is prohibited;
- Face masks are required indoors and outside, when it’s not possible to stay at least six feet from non-household members;
- Mass gatherings of more than 45 people are prohibited;
- Entertainment venues subject to occupancy limit of 100 people;
- Dance floors are closed to dancing, but may be repurposed for additional seating. — TP
4:46 p.m. | Local health departments in Kansas reported 14 deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday, the second-most in state history and the most in nearly four months. Two of the deaths were in Wyandotte County.
There have been 44,736 COVID-19 cases and 472 deaths in Kansas since the start of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Missouri reported 18 deaths and 1,608 new cases, which are the third most new cases since July 31. The state has seen 90,410 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,710 deaths, including 68 reported in the last three days. — TP
4:25 p.m. | Public health experts in the Kansas City metro are urging residents not to follow new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the agency said those who have had contact with an infected person but do not show symptoms themselves do not need to be tested.
Instead, those locally who have had contact with an infected person should seek testing, whether or not they have symptoms, and self-quarantine for 14 days, according to the health leaders.
All health departments in the region said they support the metro-specific guidance. —AW
2 p.m. | Missouri continues to see an increase in positive cases among college-age students as they return to campuses, according to Gov. Mike Parson.
The governor, speaking Thursday at Washington University in St. Louis, said that through August alone, nearly 7,000 people in the 18- to 24-year-old age group tested positive for COVID-19. Statewide, about 30% of all new cases recently have come from that group, Parson said. —AW
11:47 a.m. | Emporia State University has temporarily suspended all athletic activities due to COVID-19. The university said 14 student-athletes out of around 400 tested positive for the virus. Athletic activities only began on Monday of this week, and the MIAA is not participating in competition. -KB
10:05 a.m. | The City of Independence is using CARES Act funding to create a utility assistance program to help families negatively affected by COVID-19. The program begins Sept. 3 and will help with delinquent bills from the period of March 1 to Aug. 31, 2020.
The program is a partnership with the Community Services League and was created to combat nearly $2 million in delinquent bills. Applications will be accepted online and it could be three to four weeks before approvals are issued.
Approximately $2.2 million is available through CARES Act Funding for the Utility Assistance Program. -KB
8:53 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 Jackson County Health Department will hold three testing clinics next week. People do not need to show symptoms to be eligible for the testing.
The clinics will be held at these dates and times:
- Wednesday, Sept. 9: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Fieldhouse, 1300 E. White Road, Oak Grove
- Thursday, Sept. 10: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Vesper Hall, 400 NW Vesper St., Blue Springs
- Friday, Sept. 11: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Raytown EMS, 10020 E. 66th Terrace, Raytown
Testing will not be provided during the lunch hour from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
For more information and to register for the testing, visit the health department's website. —AW
7 a.m. | Dr. Dana Hawkinson talked to 41 Action News about how to handle the upcoming holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic. -KB
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
July 2020 updates
August 2020 updates
Tuesday, Sept. 1
