KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 41 Action News is offering a daily recap of COVID-19 related stories from across Kansas City and the country. Check back every morning for the latest developments.
LATEST: COVID-19 case tracker for Missouri, Kansas and Kansas City
University of Kansas Health System daily update
Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System saw no change in COVID-19 patient numbers Wednesday.
They are still treating 70 patients in total. A few more are in acute phases of infection than Tuesday, with 31. Eight of those are in the intensive care unit and two on ventilators.
Thirty-nine patients are in recovery.
The doctors were joined by Dr. Stephen Lauer, a pediatrician, to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on children, which can include sleep regression or deprivation and anxiety.
Kansas City VA Medical Center reports zero COVID-19 cases
The Kansas City VA Medical Center on Tuesday reported it's treating no COVID-19 patients for the first time since this summer.
The last time there were zero COVID-19 cases at the center was June. At the pandemic's peak, KCVA doctors treated anywhere between 15 and 25 COVID-19 patients at a time.
Top Kansas official expects 'pockets' of coronavirus variant
The B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 could become Kansas' dominant strain because of its increased infectiousness, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said Tuesday.
The variant, which is also referred to as the U.K. variant, could spread in "pockets" in local regions of the state, Norman said.
Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade canceled for 2nd year in a row
The Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade was canceled for a second consecutive year due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.
The parade was canceled for the first time in its 80-year history in 2020 as COVID-19 cases began appearing in the Kansas City area in early to mid-March.
Parade organizers announced a hopeful 2022 date of March 17.
Kansas bolsters COVID-19 rental-assistance program
The state of Kansas is taking steps to help those still struggling to make rent paymentsamid financial struggles brought on by the pandemic.
Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation said $200 million in CARES Act funds will be available for rental assistance.
—
Find more coronavirus news and resources from 41 Action News here.
