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. 21.
7:30 p.m. | Middle and high school students in the Blue Valley School District will begin a hybrid learning model in early October.
The district on Monday said that older students who chose the in-person learning option will begin hybrid learning on Oct. 5.
The schedule will alternate in-person and at-home learning days, without a distance learning day currently in the elementary schools' hybrid model, according to the district.
Also Oct. 5, elementary students will begin full in-person learning, five days a week. —AW
5:40 p.m. | La Petite Academy of Kansas City will be closed until Thursday, Oct. 1, after a person who was in the school last week tested positive for COVID-19.
The school notified families and staff on Monday that the individual was last at the school on Thursday, Sept. 17. The school closed "out of an abundance of caution" to prevent further spread of the illness.
The person who contracted the virus will not return until completing quarantine and receiving medical clearance. The building also will be professionally deep cleaned and sanitized. —AW
3 p.m. | The Park Hill School District says it will continue to provide free meals to students through the end of December.
Families can pick up hot meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those meals can be picked up at the following locations:
- Walden Middle School, 4701 NW 56th St., KCMO
- Congress Middle School, 8150 N. Congress Ave., KCMO
Five-day frozen meal pickups happen from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Support Services Building, 9501 N. Seymour Ave., KCMO. —AW
1 p.m. | Lawrence police did not issue any citations on the first weekend that a new ordinance took effect that gives the police department enhanced abilities to enforce public health orders.
"No citations on Ordinance #9811 were issued over the weekend, according to municipal court," a police spokesperson told 41 Action News.
The Lawrence City Council on Thursday voted to adopt the ordinance after images surfaced on social media showing several large house parties taking place near the University of Kansas campus.
The ordinance makes "maintaining a public nuisance" a municipal offense. Violators could face a misdemeanor in municipal court. —AW
12:30 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will hold a news briefing to give an update on COVID-19 in the state at 4 p.m. Monday. The briefing will be streamed on the 41 Action News Facebook page. —AW
Noon | The Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Community-Based Outpatient Clinics will have free drive-up flu vaccinations available for enrolled veterans from Sept. 21 to Oct. 23.
The flu clinics will be offered at the clinics in Belton, Cameron, Excelsior Springs, Nevada, Paola, Shawnee and Warrensburg from 1-3 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Those who attend must bring their VA identification and wear clothing that allows access to their upper arm. —AW
10:18 a.m. | Some small businesses in Lee's Summit impacted by the pandemic will have the opportunity to receive some relief through the Cares Cash: Small Business Grants for COVID-19 Relief.
On Monday, the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce announced Velocity Lee’s Summit, the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street received a $225,000 from the the City of Lee’s Summit.
Small businesses may receive up to $5,000 in relief. Applications will open up on Sept. 28.
For more information on how to apply, businesses can visit the Velocity Lee's Summit website.
8 a.m. | Officials with the University of Kansas Health System are giving an update on COVID-19 operations in the area.
7:45 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
7:30 a.m. | The COVID-19 pandemic has left hundreds of thousands of people unemployed.
When one local man was let go from his job at an indoor amusement park in Johnson County, he started a career with skills he's obtained there, opening his own fogging business called "What Duh Fog." — HG
7 a.m. | The Johnson County Health Department and Blue Valley School District ordered just over a hundred individuals to quarantine after a Blue Valley elementary school teacher was exposed to COVID-19.
Some district parents opposed the decision and organized a Sunday protest in front of Timber Creek Elementary School. — HG
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
July 2020 updates
August 2020 updates
