KANSAS CITY, Mo. — COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the Kansas City metro and throughout Kansas and Missouri as a whole.
41 Action News compiles data daily on the cases, and on Friday, the number of cases and deaths hit single-day records.
In the Kansas City metro, 855 cases and 28 deaths were the most-reported since the pandemic began.
Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said it's "quite alarming" that cases are not decreasing.
"The fact that we are not pushing the number of cases down on a daily basis is worrisome," Norman said. "Now we’re starting back up on more cases per day coming into fall and winter, and it’s not going to get any better in the fall and winter. Matter of fact it’s going to be worse."
Kansas added 1,841 cases on Friday and 26 deaths, while Missouri added 2,411 cases and 81 deaths.
Norman said he believes the increase could be linked to people letting their guard down.
"Community events, concerts, and of course kids in school, colleges, universities, Greek houses," Norman said. "So people are I think spending too much time in close proximity with other people."
This comes as some school districts are welcoming students back to in-person learning on Monday, while others, because of COVID-19 outbreaks, went back to virtual learning.
"It’s impossible for schools to be safe islands in a sea of infectious disease known as COVID-19," Norman said. "You have to push down the community spread of the illness."
It's a spread that can be managed with a vaccine, but Norman does not believe one will be available by the end of this year. He sees spring as more likely.
"I think people don’t want to get a vaccine that is rushed to market without having pretty good assurances about safety," Norman said.
