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 29.
8:55 p.m. | Some Kansas State University coaches and athletics department staff members will take salary cuts to alleviate budget constraints during the coronavirus pandemic.
Head football coach Chris Klieman and head men's basketball Bruce Weber agreed to 13 percent salary reductions for the fiscal year that begins July 1, according to a statement from the university's athletic department.
6:26 p.m. | To celebrate it 125th anniversary, KC Life Insurance Company has pledged $125,000 in donations to the community, including some gifts to help in the COVID-19 fight.
6:21 p.m. | Kansas City-based H&R Block has announced that it will offer its Tax Pro Go program, an "expert-prepared virtual tax service," to all law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs and health care workers during the month of may as "a small thank you" for their efforts during the COVID-19 crisis.
6:18 p.m. | Healt care workers and first responders can receive a 55% discount at all Kansas City area Lion's Choice location. All customers can receive a a Cub Meal Deal kid's meal for $1.99 after 4 p.m. every day.
Lion's Choice, which is based in St. Louis, has locations in Independence, Liberty, Olathe and Overland Park. All four locations are currently only open for drive-thru.
5:30 p.m. | The Kansas Department of Corrections reports a second inmate has died at its Lansing Correctional Facility.
In a Wednesday update, KDOC data showed 75 staff members and 76 inmates tested positive for the virus. Fifteen of the staff members have returned to work, according to the report, and 49 inmates had recovered.
Two inmates have died.
5:10 p.m. | Jackson County says that its stay-at-home order remains in effect until May 15, despite Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas' announcement Wednesday that some non-essential businesses can reopen in KCMO on May 6. The county says it was not notified that Lucas planned to rescind parts of the KCMO order and planned to speak with the city's public health officials more about the decision.
4:23 p.m. | The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $23 million to Kansas to offset costs the state has incurred in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Funds from the FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program were made available Wednesday and reimburses Kansas for personal protective equipment purchases among other things.
4 p.m. | The Kansas City Royals will be offering credits to fans who had purchased tickets for games between April 2 and May 6. The credit will be good for the remainder of this year and for next year, but only during the regular season.
1:55 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says she will deliver an address at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on plans to reopen the state following a stay-at-home order. She will not hold her daily afternoon briefings on Thursday or Friday this week.
1:50 p.m. | Costco announced Wednesday that beginning next week, all shoppers in its stores will be required to wear a mask or face covering.
1:30 p.m. | Jackson County, Missouri, has reported one additional death from COVID-19. In the state, more than 7,500 cases have been confirmed, and 337 people have died.
Ford County in western Kansas now has 600 confirmed cases, second-most in Kansas behind only Wyandotte County (619) and an increase of more than 4,500% in the last two weeks as state health officials ramped up testing around the county's food processing plants. There were only 180 confirmed cases in the county just one week ago.
12:10 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas says that after the stay-at-home order is lifted, all non-essential businesses in the city will be allowed to reopen under a "10/10/10" rule. Those businesses must limit customers to no more than 10% of building occupancy or 10 people, whichever is larger. Businesses must also record the names, contact information and entry/exit time for all customers who are on the premises and seated for more than 10 minutes.
The new rule does not apply to grocery stores, medical and dental offices, pharmacies and other essential businesses.
Additional guidelines will be issued for gyms, museums, bars and in-person restaurant dining to reopen. Certain items, such as masks and gloves, will be required.
Non-essential businesses that don't open to the public will be allowed to reopen earlier, on May 6.
11:40 a.m. | The Missouri Gaming Commission has extended the closure of all casinos in the state through May 15.
11:30 a.m. | A number of Kansas City business organizations on Wednesday released a "Safe Return KC Guide" to help businesses with plans to reopen following stay-at-home orders.
11:25 a.m. | The city of Independence will merge two of its departments, Public Works and Water Pollution Control, into one department known as Municipal Services. The restructuring was done "in a time of uncertainty that is requiring cities to look at their services, programs and budgets for every operational efficiency we can find,” City Manager Zach Walker said in a news release.
11:20 a.m. | Clay County, which will lift its stay-at-home order on May 4, on Wednesday released guidelines for reopening that rely on guidance from Missouri Gov. Mike Parson. In the first phase of reopening, residents should continue to practice social distancing, while the county aims to increase testing and the speed at which those tests are completed.
According to the plan, the county will not move into the "recovery" phase until it has seen a reduction in cases over 14 days; hospitals can treat COVID-19 patients without crisis standards of care; all symptomatic people can be tested; and public health can maintain active case and contact isolation and monitoring.
11:05 a.m. | According to the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, the Leavenworth VA Medical Center has reported 14 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including seven staff and seven veterans. Five of the staff have recovered, while one veteran has recovered from the virus so far.
The first person at the Leavenworth campus tested positive on March 23, according to the VA.
10:30 a.m. | Belton will follow guidelines from Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on reopening the city, with one additional requirement for businesses. According to a news release from the city, Mayor Jeff Davis says each business must submit a plan outlining how it will comply with social distancing guidelines. Those organizing events of more than 10 people also must submit plans that demonstrate prevention and mitigation of the virus.
10:15 a.m. | The Kansas City Mavericks have announced plans to welcome fans back to games starting in mid-October. The 2020-21 regular season will kick off on Oct. 17 when the Mavericks the Tulsa Oilers at Cable Dahmer Arena.
10:07 a.m. | The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities has expanded the time frame where it will prohibit disconnecting utility services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disconnects will now not happen until after May 31.
10:06 a.m. | According to the Kansas Department of Labor, 27,663 people filed for unemployment in the state last week. That is a 1990.9% over-the-year change.
10 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
9:53 a.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas will hold a noon press conference to announce plans for a soft reopening of Kansas City.
8:55 a.m. | Domino's stores in Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka and St. Joseph are donating 13,000 pizzas to front line organizations in those communities.
Those stores are also looking to hire those who may need work during the pandemic.
8:36 a.m. | Officials with the University of Kansas Health System gave their daily COVID-19 update.
7:54 a.m. | The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate last quarter as the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the country and began triggering a recession that will end the longest expansion on record.
6:23 a.m. | Tito's Vodka is matching donations made to the KC Runs on Hospitality tip jar up to $8,000 right now.
5:30 a.m. | May 6 is National Nurses Day, and Dunkin' announced it will celebrate by offering free medium coffee and a doughnut to healthcare workers who are working in the fight against COVID-19.
5:15 a.m. | Odessa plans to mirror much of Missouri in a four-phase reopening plan, according to a tweet from Mayor Adam Couch. Their plan will also begin May 4.
Beginning May 4th Odessa will move into its 4-step plan to fully reopen Odessa. It’s a gradual progression with 3 weeks allotted for each step and will include lifting occupancy restrictions and gathering limitations.
— Adam Couch (@MayorAdamCouch) April 28, 2020
5 a.m. | Lenexa was supposed to hold its annual art show on May 9, but that has since been canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Now, the city is offering an online tour of the art that would have been featured.
We were excited to feature more than 50 exceptional fine artists at this year's 🎨🎶Lenexa Art Fair on May 9. Unfortunately, this event is canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Take a virtual tour by visiting the artists' websites listed at https://t.co/Yo1AE9cxX7 pic.twitter.com/iUzr66EBQJ
— City of Lenexa (@cityoflenexa) April 29, 2020
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
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
Saturday, April 11
Monday, April 13
Tuesday, April 14
Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 16
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
Monday, April 20
Wednesday, April 22
Tuesday, April 21
Wednesday, April 22
Thursday, April 23
Saturday, April 25
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 25
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 25
Sunday, April 26
Sunday, April 26
Monday, April 27
Tuesday, April 28
Monday, April 27
Tuesday, April 28
