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Kansas City COVID-19 Daily Briefing for Jan. 19

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Posted at 10:49 AM, Jan 19, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-19 11:49:25-05

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 update

Doctors with the University of Kansas Health System reported 67 patients with active COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, including 21 in the ICU and 10 on ventilators. The hospital also has 47 patients in recovery phases.

On Tuesday’s call, the doctors were joined by Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman. Much of the conversation centered on vaccine rollout and how to make sure vulnerable populations receive the shot.

Norman said that Kansas should know by the end of the week when it can move into Phase 2 of its vaccine distribution plan, which will make the vaccine available to older adults and high-contact critical workers, among others.

With the Chiefs set to play in the AFC Championship on Sunday, Lucas also addressed some questions about the possibility of a public celebration should the team win another Super Bowl.

The mayor said he will take public health advice into account but cautioned that any parade “in the classic sense as we know it is highly unlikely.” He said the city will work to be creative in finding other ways to celebrate.

All Kansas, Missouri counties now report 100 COVID-19 cases

Ten months into the COVID-19 pandemic, every county in Kansas and Missouri now has confirmed at least 100 COVID-19 cases, according to data collected by 41 Action News.

Before Monday, Greeley County in Kansas had been the only county in either state yet to hit triple digits.

Missouri begins next phase of vaccine rollout

Missourians who fall into the next phase of the state’s vaccine rollout plan say they are looking forward to getting their shot.

Residents in Phase 1B, Tier 2 — which was activated on Monday — include adults over age 65 and those with health conditions that put them at high risk for the virus.

One woman in that category said it feels like “the light at the end of the tunnel’s getting closer and closer.”

PPE production plant to open in Riverside

A Kansas City-area physician is behind the opening of a new production plant in Riverside that will manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE). Safe PPE USA will make surgical-grade equipment to be used on the frontlines and in other medical fields.

The plant plans to go into production within the next month.

Jackson County vaccine site down

Jackson County officials confirmed the online survey for those interested in receiving COVID-19 vaccine information was temporarily down Tuesday morning. The county said the form was moving to a larger server to accommodate new requests.

A spokeswoman for the county said those interested in the survey should check back Tuesday night or Wednesday.

Find more coronavirus news and resources from 41 Action News here.