KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri hit a record on Friday, recording the most COVID-19 deaths in a single day. But the state's top health official said Missouri still is faring better than others.
Dr. Randall Williams said the numbers are better than in recent weeks, when looking at COVID-19 cases per 100,000 in the past seven days.
“While one case is too many, we have the 20th best ratio in the country, which is really the best we’ve been in about a month," Williams said.
On Friday, 147 coronavirus related deaths were reported in Missouri. In Kansas, 107 deaths were reported, the second most in a single-day behind only 119 on Wednesday.
The Kansas City metro area saw a record number of new COVID-19 cases on Friday with more than 2,700. And Williams said he anticipates another surge in cases.
“We would normally expect, coming out of Thanksgiving with an incubation period of about five days, but if we were going to see a rebound or a surge, that would probably come this weekend or early next week, so we’re watching that very, very closely," Williams said.
Pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration, both sides of the state line will receive their initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year.
