KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. set records Wednesday for COVID-19 cases and deaths, but in the Kansas City area, case numbers could be headed in the right direction.
“Everybody needs to be proud of, and take credit for, having helped or reduced this disease some," Kansas City, Missouri, Public Health Department director Dr. Rex Archer said Thursday.
Archer told 41 Action News that recommendations and protocols that the city implemented appear to be working.
“Those protocols are working - 10pm closure in regards to eating and drinking is making a huge difference," Archer said.
Based on the daily trends of the last seven days, the metro area will see fewer COVID-19 cases this week than any other week since late October and early November.
MORE: 41 Action News COVID-19 case tracker
“We can’t let our guards down by virtue of the fact that a vaccine is out there, because you can still get COVID," Truman Medical Center trauma surgeon Dr. Michael Moncure said.
While the metro area is seeing an ebb in cases, if the same trend holds, the metro would set a record for most deaths reported in a week.
The spike is a result of the number of new cases reported about three weeks ago.
With Christmas and New Years approaching quickly, doctors say don't let up on the safety measures. Social Distancing, mask wearing and washing hands will help prevent the spread of the virus.
“My concern is that we’ve got Christmas coming up and a lot of people that feel like they have definitely made sacrifices by not celebrating Thanksgiving in a normal fashion and they feel like they deserve to celebrate Christmas in a normal fashion. That would cause an incredible spike," Moncure said.
The COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the metro earlier this week and shots have been administered. Doctors say 65 to 70 percent of people will have to be vaccinated before any restrictions or protocols are lifted.
