Sept. 4 blog: Benedictine College, Atchison County reach agreement

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. 4.

9:58 p.m. | It's not the celebration recordBar envisioned for its 15-year anniversary, but through Lemonade(e) Park in the West Bottomsat least the music plays on.

6:15 p.m. | Benedictine College and the Atchison County Health Department on Friday reached an agreement that avoids a quarantine order that would have moved classes entirely online.

Under the agreement, students who live on-campus will not be permitted to leave, with a few exceptions. Those students will continue to have in-person classes.

Students who live off-campus will not be allowed to come onto campus except for athletic practices, religious services and necessary academic purposes.

The agreement, which goes into effect on Saturday, comes after a full day of negotiations between the school and health department, according to a spokesman for Benedictine College.

4:30 p.m. | The country's top infectious disease doctor is warning the U.S. could be in a critical weekend for coronavirus cases.

"We don't want to see a repeat of the surges that we have seen following of the holiday weekends,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

There were surges after Memorial Day and Fourth of July due in part to large social and family gatherings. Labor Day has the potential to be the same.

12:30 p.m. | The number of Missouri prison inmates who have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic is approaching 1,000, and the number of infected prison staff has topped 300.

The corrections department website lists 263 of the inmate cases as active, along with 114 of the staff cases.

11:25 a.m. | The Mid-Continent Public Library's Woodneath Library Center branch, 8900 Flintlock Road in Kansas City, Missouri, will be closed until further notice due to potential COVID-19 exposure.

The closure also includes the branch's book drop.

The library said it immediately closed the branch after a staff member was confirmed for the virus. The last day the staff member worked in the branch was Wednesday, Sept. 2.

All library staff who were potentially exposed will be screened before going back to work. The branch also will undergo a deep cleaning. —AW

10:51 a.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced he signed an executive order Friday to continue supporting remote notary services.

"It is important that we continue to remove barriers and keep Missourians moving forward during this time,” Parson said. “This Executive Order will help ensure that Missourians can still safely sign estate planning documents such as a wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and self-proving affidavits without placing themselves, their notary, or any other individuals at risk.”

The order suspends any personal appearance requirement for certain acts. -DM

10:15 a.m. | The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, one of the largest churches in the Kansas City metro, will resume in-person worship services on Oct. 4, Pastor Adam Hamilton told congregants this week.

The church suspended in-person services and moved entirely online at the beginning of the pandemic in March. Hamilton said that while other area churches have since reopened, the Church of the Resurrection has “taken this slower” because of the church’s size and its “desire to be as responsible as possible with the health of our members.”

The church will require masks to be worn, and rows and seats will be blocked off so there will be two rows and at least three seats between families. No bulletins, offering plates or notebooks will be distributed.

If more than one service takes place, the sanctuary will be cleaned between services, as well as bathrooms and door handles.

Reservations will be required for those returning to in-person services, and online and broadcast worship services will continue as the “primary” way for most congregants to worship, Hamilton said in his note.

The church is asking that those who plan to worship in-person on Oct. 4 fill out a survey online. —AW

9:16 a.m. | Blue Valley high school students can begin participating in fall sports on Saturday. The district announced the decision Friday, saying activities are valuable to students' education experience.

The district is moving into the "yellow" phase of the gating criteria for COVID-19 cases. They will work with health experts to participate in athletic activities safely, and competition will be limited to the Kansas City metro area.

Middle school sports are still postponed until in-person learning begins.

8:46 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update. -KB

7:52 a.m. | Kansas State University officials are asking students to stay on campus for the Labor Day weekend to prevent further spread of COVID-19. -KB

Travel outside of your normal school community is discouraged over the Labor Day weekend due to the current number of positive COVID-19 cases related to campus. https://t.co/gPnscEu308

— K-State (@KState) September 4, 2020

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. | After two hours of public comments Thursday, mostly filled with parents pleading for the district to allow fall sports and in-person classes, the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education will allow fall sports and activities. -KB

7 a.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

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