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Live blog: Riverbend facility reports 5 more COVID-19 deaths

Posted at 5:40 AM, Apr 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-20 21:37:34-04

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 20.

8:35 p.m. | The Kansas City, Missouri, police department has 56 department members in quarantine due to COVID-19 and has tested 44 people, according to a KCPD spokesperson. Eight KCPD employees have tested positive for the virus, and the first officer who tested positive has returned to work.

8:20 p.m. | Three counties in Missouri and the city of St. Louis have reported additional COVID-19 cases and new coronavirus deaths. St. Charlies County reported 11 new cases, bringing its total to 469, and four new deaths related to COVID-19.

Cape Girardeau County has one new case and 37 total, while Greene County also has one new case for a total of 92.

The city of St. Louis now has 23 new cases, bringing the total to 882. Ten more deaths have been reported, bringing the total to 40.

7:30 p.m. | Kansas is facing a projected 8.1% shortfall in its next state budget after a new fiscal forecast slashed projections for expected tax collections over the next 15 months by nearly $1.37 billion.

6:25 p.m. | The Webster House in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District will not reopen, citing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

5:30 p.m. | Wyandotte County says three more residents have died from COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the seven-county Kansas City metro to 107.

5:25 p.m. | Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation now has 92 confirmed cases among residents and 24 cases among staff, according to the Unified Government Public Health Department. Eight residents have been hospitalized, and five more people have died, bringing the death toll to 24.

5:05 p.m. | Jackson County will partner with the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness to provide temporary emergency housing for those who have tested positive for COVID-19. The agreement provides temporary emergency housing at the Salvation Army Kansas City Three Trails Camp, located at 16200 East U.S. 40, for up to 12 weeks. Housing is available for up to 50 people who do not have a safe place to stay during their isolation.

4:50 p.m. | Meadow View Health and Rehabilitation in Harrisonville says a fifth employee has tested positive for COVID-19. All five employees are recovering at home. The facility says 17 residents have tested positive as of Monday, with 11 of them remaining in isolation on-site and two recovering in the hospital. Four people have died.

4:30 p.m. | The Lansing Correctional Facility has reported additional cases of COVID-19. As of Monday, 47 staff and 40 inmates have now tested positive for the virus, an overall increase of 18 cases since Friday.

4:20 p.m. | One staff member at the Topeka Correctional Facility has tested positive for COVID-19, Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda said Monday. It's the third KDOC facility with at least one confirmed case of the virus, along with the Lansing Correctional Facility and the Wichita Work Release Facility.

4 p.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced more than $47 million in funding restrictions over nine state agencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The agencies impacted include: the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development; Office of Administration; Department of Revenue; Department of Natural Resources; Department of Mental Health; Department of Health and Senior Services; Department of Social Services; and the Department of Economic Development.

Earlier this month, Parson announced an initial round of budget restrictions totaling $180 million.

3:30 p.m. | Kansas has received more personal protective equipment and supplies to expand COVID-19 testing in communities with meat processing plants. Gov. Laura Kelly says the supplies will go to Finney, Ford and Seward counties in southwest Kansas and Lyon County in the east-central part of the state, according to the Associated Press.

3:25 p.m. | Since March 18, when Jackson County implemented a stay-at-home order, more than 200 inmates at the Jackson County Detention Center have been released by the court. The facility had 840 inmates on March 18, and today it has 638. Those being held for non-violent offenses and who have bonds less than $5,000 are considered for release.

As of Monday, three inmates and two "non-inmates" have tested positive for COVID-19. Testing is being done on every inmate identified as symptomatic, according to jail director Diana Turner.

3 p.m. | Oil prices plunged below zero on Monday as demand for energy collapses amid the coronavirus pandemic. A barrel of benchmark U.S. oil for May delivery fell more than 100%.

2:15 p.m. | There are now more than 5,800 cases and 200 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Missouri, according to updated information from state and local health departments.

In the Kansas City metro, there are now 1,770 cases of COVID-19 and 104 deaths. Nationally, the U.S. has reached 766,664 cases and 40,931 deaths.

1:51 p.m. | The entry deadline for the 32nd annual Trolley Run, which has gone virtual this year, has been extended to Sunday. The 4-mile race benefits the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired.

1:23 p.m. | Two of the Kansas City area’s largest nonprofits are merging this summer. The boards for the United Way of Greater Kansas City and the United Way of Wyandotte County announced Monday that the two organizations will merge effective July 1.

12:25 p.m. | New data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment shows there are more than 130 new COVID-19 cases in the state and eight additional deaths.

With the new report, total cases in Kansas surpassed 2,000 and the death toll reached 100.

11:15 a.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas is encouraging Kansas Citians to find ways to come together while still observing social distancing guidelines.

With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, the mayor suggested families tailgate in their yards.

The mayor's office said it would announce further social distancing events at a later time.

10:09 a.m. | Kansas received $6 million in Department of Justice grants to respond to COVID-19 in the public safety sector. An additional $3.2 million will be allocated to local Kansas jurisdictions.

The money will help provide overtime pay, gloves, masks and sanitizer for public safety workers and address the medical needs of Kansas inmates.

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 20

8:43 a.m. | The Raymore-Peculiar School Foundation is launching a neighbors helping neighbors program within the district. District residents can either fill out a form to provide help or request help. The foundation will do their best to meet all requests for help, but it is not guaranteed.

8:40 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update, which included testimony from a doctor who went to New York to fight the virus on the front lines.

7:47 a.m. | Direct reporting of COVID-19 cases at nursing homes and care facilities to the CDC is no longer optional.

5:38 a.m. | A "Reopen Missouri" rally is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Jefferson City near the Capitol. Organizers request that people only attend if they are healthy, under 70 and understand social distancing and safety measures. It will take place at noon.

Note: The protest would violate the government order that gatherings have no more than 10 people, should more than 10 people show up at the event.

5:25 a.m. | The Missouri Cattlemen's Association and similar organizations in 22 other states are asking U.S. Attorney General William Barr to investigate fraudulent business practices in the beef meatpacking industry. The organizations claim the beef market has experienced extreme volatility after a Tyson processing plant caught fire in August, and because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

5 a.m. | One lucky five-year-old received a mountain of well wishes on his birthday - some that were extra special. The boy's father tweeted that the boy's birthday plans had been foiled by COVID-19, and asked if any Kansas City Chiefs players could wish him happy birthday. Several responded with birthday wishes, as well as hundreds of other people.

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
Monday, March 30
Monday, March 30
Tuesday, March 31
Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4
Monday, April 6
Tuesday, April 7
Wednesday, April 8
Thursday, April 9
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Sunday, April 12
Monday, April 13
Tuesday, April 14
Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 16
Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 16
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
Sunday, April 19