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.
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 July 7.
6:10 p.m. | The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center in Lawrence is offering free classes to Douglas County residents who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
It's a partnership with the Lawrence Workforce Center, the Lawrence chapter of the NAACP, the Kansas Department of Children and Families, and Lawrence Public Schools.
6 p.m. | Some Kansas City metro school districts on both sides of the state line still plan to have outdoor graduations this month, despite rising COVID-19 numbers.
5:55 p.m. | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said this week he is in favor of passing another round of economic stimulus for Americans, but suggested the funds be targeted to a smaller number of Americans.
McConnell told reporters on Monday that the next round of stimulus funds should cover Americans making less than $40,000 per year, which is far lower than the threshold for stimulus funds during the last round of aid, which many Americans received in April and May.
5:50 p.m. | Disney World is set to reopen in Florida on Saturday after being closed for several months due to COVID-19. Disney said it is taking new safety measures to keep guests safe.
4:55 p.m. | The Kansas City Royals have announced two more players tested positive for COVID-19 less than a week into Spring Training 2.0.
Right-hander Brad Keller and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn have contracted the virus known to cause COVID-19, the club announced Tuesday afternoon. That makes three players along with manager Mike Matheny who have publicly confirmed positive tests for COVID-19.
4:25 p.m. | At least 14 student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 at Shawnee Mission East High School, according to a district spokesperson.
All sports practices are off this week, the spokesperson said, and are expected to resume next week.
3:25 p.m. | The Shawnee County Health Department advised anyone who visited a rest stop near Topeka between July 2 and 4 to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.
The department said in a news release that "some" novel coronavirus cases have been "linked to the Topeka Service Area on the I-70 Turnpike located at mile marker 188 (just east of Topeka)." Exposure, according to the release, was at the food court or restrooms.
The rest area is accessed by traveling east and westbound on the Interstate 70 turnpike.
If symptoms develop, people are urged to contact their primary health care provider.
2:15 p.m. | State and local health agencies across Missouri combined Tuesday to report a single-day record in new COVID-19 cases.
Data analysis by 41 Action News shows the state added 788 additional cases Tuesday, pushing the state's total to 25,579. The previous single-day record was last Friday, when the state added 617 new cases.
Tuesday's data likely includes health departments "catching up" in their reporting from the July 4 holiday.
The two-day total of 1,135 falls just shy of the previous two-day record total of 1,143, which was set last Monday and Tuesday, June 29-30.
In the metro, Jackson County reported two additional deaths, giving it a total of 42. The county overall - including the portion of Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County - now tallies more than 3,000 COVID-19 cases.
Clay County and Johnson County, Kansas, also reported one additional death each.
In limited reporting, local health departments in Kansas combined to report 97 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the state's total past 17,000 to 17,070.
1:45 p.m. | Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is assailing plans by some local districts to offer in-person instruction only a few days a week. She says schools must be “fully operational” even amid the pandemic and anything less fails students and taxpayers.
DeVos made the comments during a call with governors as the Trump administration launched an all-out effort to get schools and colleges to reopen. Audio of the call was obtained by The Associated Press.
1:30 p.m. | A spokesman for the Shawnee Mission School District says a draft of the plan for the next school year, as well as a survey, will be sent to parents this week. Feedback from parents will then help the district finalize a plan to present to the Board of Education on July 20.
The board will discuss the plan and could take a vote at that meeting, though a final decision could also come at the board's next meeting on July 27.
12:55 p.m. | The deadline for Wyandotte County organizations to apply for federal CARES Act funding is July 13. Those interested in applying should visit wycokck.org/COVID-19.
DEADLINE APPROACHING (July 13) - COVID-19 Relief Funding for WyCo Organizations - https://t.co/UAeTOgMDGd pic.twitter.com/ZeonQoOhFm
— KCK Chamber (@KCKChamber) July 7, 2020
12:40 p.m. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman expressed frustration Tuesday with the spread of COVID-19 in Kansas.
Norman said in a tweet that Kansas now ranks in the top 14 states for the most rapid spread of COVID-19. He attributed the increase in cases to restrictions that do not go far enough to slow the spread of the virus.
"We were a shining example of success, only to squander it," Norman said in the tweet.
Sad. Kansas in now, as of today, in the top 14 states for the MOST rapid COVID-19 spread and in the top 14 states for having the LEAST restrictions on activities. Do you think those two things are related? We were a shining example of success, only to squander it. pic.twitter.com/A3e5CYrPJP
— Lee Norman (@SecNorman) July 7, 2020
11:50 a.m. | The nonprofit KVC Kansas will distribute boxes of produce and dairy to the public every Wednesday through the rest of the summer. The first 500 people or families who arrive will each receive a box of produce, a box of dairy products and a gallon of milk, free of charge.
The distributions will be held at 10 a.m. at the organization's Olathe office, 21344 W. 153rd St. Cars can begin lining up at 9:30 a.m.
11:40 a.m. | Missouri received a donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) from its sister state in South Korea.
Jeollanamdo Province in the Republic of Korea sent 60,000 nitrile and latex gloves to the state in June to assist in response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Missouri sincerely appreciates this donation of PPE from Governor Kim and the citizens of Jeollanamdo Province,” Gov. Mike Parson said in a news release. “Their generosity highlights the value of Missouri’s international relationships and will help our health care providers, care facilities and many others across the state as we continue to build up our PPE supply. It gives me great hope to know that Jeollanamdo stands with Missouri in our efforts to overcome and recover from COVID-19.”
11 a.m. | The Kansas City Ballet and Kansas City Symphony are among those that have canceled or postponed all remaining performances in 2020 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Harriman-Jewell Series also said Tuesday that they will not be performing again at the Kauffman Center for the rest of the year due to COVID-19.
Those with tickets to upcoming performances at the Kauffman Center should contact the organization that issued the tickets.
10:45 a.m. | The Johnson County Library is partnering with Catholic Charities to serve summer meals to children 18 and under. Up to five breakfast and five lunch meals will be provided per eligible child. The next event will be held from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the library's Antioch branch, 8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam.
Other distributions will be held every Wednesday through July 29, all from 10-11 a.m.
10:40 a.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Police Chief Rick Smith said Tuesday 19 department members had tested positive for COVID-19.
Smith said he expects more positive cases as the pandemic continues, saying “COVID is still very much a threat to the organization.”
9:44 a.m. | New York has added Kansas to its list of states where travelers will have to quarantine upon arriving in New York.
According to New York's restrictions, states are added to the list based upon a seven-day rolling average of positive tests in excess of 10%, or the number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.
8:50 a.m. | The Jackson County Election Board is offering additional details on how residents can request either an absentee or mail-in ballot and who qualifies for those options.
Every registered voter can request a mail-in ballot, but it will need to be notarized. To vote absentee, residents must meet one of seven reasons. The ballot does not need to be notarized if the resident meets the "incapacitated" or "at-risk for COVID-19" reasons listed on the application.
Applications for mail-in or absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on July 22 for the August primary election and by Oct. 21 for the November general election. Wednesday, July 8, is the last day to register to vote in Missouri for the Aug. 4 election.
8:47 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update.
7:20 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know.
6:50 a.m. | Dr. Dana Hawkinson of the University of Kansas Health System weighed in on whether the Fourth of July weekend will cause a spike in COVID-19 cases.
5:30 a.m. | The government’s small business lending program has benefited millions of companies, with the goal of minimizing the number of layoffs Americans have suffered in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet the recipients include many you probably wouldn’t have expected, according to the Associated Press.
Kanye West’s clothing line. The sculptor Jeff Koons. Law firms and high-dollar hedge funds. The Girl Scouts. Political groups on both the left and right. All received loans.
5 a.m. | Schools in St. Louis County will reopen with masks, social distancing and some online classes amid an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that County Executive Sam Page said Monday that public and private schools are expected to present their plans to parents and students Tuesday after meeting with county public health officials to set protocols for safely reopening classrooms and school activities, according to an Associated Press report.
Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
Wednesday, July 1
Thursday, July 2
Friday, July 3
Monday, July 6
