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Live blog: Kansas City metro nearing 1,500 COVID-19 cases

Posted at 5:40 AM, Apr 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-14 21:46:59-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to spread across the world, and in Missouri and Kansas.

41 Action News is keeping track of all closings and cancellations, as well as tracking where positive coronavirus cases are located.

We are also keeping track of which metro jurisdictions are under stay at home orders for the foreseeable future, only allowing for essential business and activities.

If you are a business finding unique ways to serve our community, check our KC Open for Business Facebook group to share your ideas.

Updates on the spread of the virus and how it is affecting the metro can be found below for April 14.

8:45 p.m. | Wyandotte County now has 30 deaths related to COVID-19.

Additionally, Jackson County has 20 deaths based on reports from the Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson County health departments.

Missouri has reached 150 deaths statewide, while coronavirus cases nationally have topped 600,000.

6:10 p.m. | President Donald Trump says he is halting funding to the World Health Organization, pending a review, alleging that the World Health Organization covered up information about the spread of the coronavirus.

6 p.m. | Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte says another "non-inmate" at the Jackson County Detention Center has tested positive for COVID-19. Forte said in a tweet that the person has been out of the detention center for the last week and a half.

5:15 p.m. | Four additional residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at Meadow View Health and Rehabilitation. In total, 14 residents have contracted the virus, as well as two staff members.

4:55 p.m. | Late Tuesday afternoon, the Kansas City metro had nearly 1,500 COVID-19 cases and more than 70 deaths.The eight new deaths reported in the area Tuesday are tied for the most in a single day in the seven-county area. Nationally, deaths in the U.S. topped 25,000.

4:05 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, officials report 351 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths on Tuesday afternoon. Eleven of those deaths are in Jackson County, bringing the county's overall total between reporting from the the city and county health departments to 20 deaths.

3:50 p.m. | A spokesman for the Kansas City International Airport says 85 commercial planes are parked on taxiways and one runway, with 14 more planes expected to arrive this week. Airlines have slashed flights because of COVID-19. Two runways remain in service at KCI.

3:11 p.m. | The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department confirmed Tuesday that eight members of the department, four officers and four civilians, have tested positive fot COVID-19. None have required hospitalization and 65 employees are in precautionary quarantine.

2:59 p.m. | The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Division of Employment Security began issuing $600 payments from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation fund to more than 115,000 claimants in the state.

The payments, which total more than $66 million are will be available for the weeks beginning March 29 through July 25, should be deposited in unemployed Missourians accounts in the coming days.

Money can be withheld for back child support and taxes in some instances.

1:50 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has canceled her daily COVID-19 briefing set for 2 p.m. Tuesday. Her office says she will resume the daily briefings at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Earlier Tuesday, Kelly said on Facebook that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment now recommends that all Kansans wear cloth face masks when going out in public.

1:26 p.m. | Missouri schools — elementary, secondary and higher education institutions — will receive an additional $54.6 million in funding from the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund, which was included in the CARES Act.

The program provides financial assistance directly to state governors, who then direct the funding to the area of greatest need.

12:32 p.m. | A number of Kansas City metro municipalities reported additional COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

Jackson County, Missouri, reported 10 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 456, and two new virus-related deaths on Tuesday. In Johnson County, Kansas, one additional death was reported, bringing the total deaths in that county to 16.

Wyandotte County, Kansas, now has 345 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

In Kansas and Missouri, the combined death toll is now more than 200 people.

12:30 p.m. | The FAA estimates the Kansas City International Airport will receive $43.2 million in funding from the CARES Act that was signed by President Donald Trump to alleviate COVID-19 stress.

The FAA is also providing $157,000 for Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, while Lee's Summit Municipal Airport will receive $69,000 and Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe will receive $30,000.

Overall, Missouri airports will receive $152.5 million from the FAA.

12:15 p.m. | Kansas officials report 1,426 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 62 counties. As of Tuesday morning, 69 deaths have been reported.

11:45 a.m. | The Missouri Department of Social Services will extend the application period for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assistance. Applications are now being accepted through May 31.

11 a.m. | The Kansas Department of Labor says its system has been struggling because of the "enormous" volume of unemployment claims. The website will be taken down for one hour beginning at noon on Tuesday, April 14. Phone lines will remain open at this time, but the website will not be accessible. The website will be taken down again for one hour at 7 p.m. on April 14.

10 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.

Get Caught up: April 14

9:55 a.m. | University of Missouri System vice presidents, chancellors and their cabinet members, and deans at the four universities will be taking 10% salary cuts through at least July 31 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other senior leaders and administrators will be asked to take similar pay cuts, and budget planners at each university are planning for cuts up to 15%, which could include layoffs, unpaid leaves, restructuring and strict cost containment, according to a news release. Some of those decisions will be made by April 30.

9:50 a.m. | Major League Soccer says it's "extremely unlikely" that the league will resume play in mid-May, when it had hoped to return. "Our goal remains to play as many games as possible, and while we currently have enough dates to play the entire season, we recognize at this time that it may become difficult to do so," MLS said in a statement on Tuesday. "We continue to learn more every day from the medical experts, and we expect to have additional details in the coming weeks regarding when we can play."

9:30 a.m. | Field activities related to the 2020 U.S. Census will not resume until after June 1, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Tuesday. Online, phone and mailed self-responses will continue in the interim.

9:13 a.m. | Missouri will receive a $66.5 million block grant for child care and early education needs from the CARES Act, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt's office announced.

The money will be used "for immediate assistance to child care providers to prevent them from going out of business and to otherwise support child care for families," according to a release from Blunt's office.

8:52 a.m. | St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, is hosting "Honking for our Heroes" on Wednesday. From 6:30-7:45 p.m., the community is invited to visit the parking lot and honk for staff during shift change for support. Everyone is required to stay in their vehicles.

8:30 a.m. | The University of Kansas Health System gave its daily update on COVID-19 operations.

8 a.m. | The International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. will suffer its worst economic year since the Great Depression this year.

5:30 a.m. | The FDA approved a new saliva-based test for COVID-19.

5:15 a.m. | Lang Chevrolet in Paola, Kansas, is offering free lunches on Tuesday. The 200 meals will be served curbside from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They include a burger and chips from Grandstand Burgers.

5 a.m. | Sauer Brands, Inc. employees in New Century, Kansas, were furloughed due to COVID-19 decreasing demands for products from restaurants. The move affects 34 employees at that facility.

Previous coverage:
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
Thursday, March 19
Friday, March 20
Saturday, March 21
Sunday, March 22
Monday, March 23
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27
Saturday, March 28
Sunday, March 29
Monday, March 30
Tuesday, March 31
Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4
Monday, April 6
Monday, April 6
Tuesday, April 7
Wednesday, April 8
Thursday, April 9
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Sunday, April 12
Monday, April 13