Jackson County’s first reported case of coronavirus announced Tuesday
A woman in her 80s from eastern Jackson County is the first presumptive positive case of the novel coronavirus in the county, according to a news release Tuesday from the Jackson County Health Department.
The woman had not traveled recently and she tested positive for Covid-19 through a private lab, the health department said.
As of Tuesday, 16 cases of the disease had been identified in Kansas and nine in Missouri. Nationwide, more than 5,7000 cases and 94 deaths have been reported, according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, more than 194,000 cases and 7,865 deaths were reported.
“We knew that COVID-19 was coming, and we’ve been preparing accordingly by monitoring individuals, educating the public, and working with our partners at all levels,” Bridgette Shaffer, director of the health department, said in the statement.
The health department urged people to practice good hygiene, social distancing and limit in-person interactions. People with symptoms of fever, cough or other respiratory problems should call their healthcare provider or an urgent care clinic to determine if testing is needed.
“This is another call to action that we must take this seriously and follow the guidance of public health experts,” Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. said in the release. “ If not, we risk seeing a wave of infections that could overwhelm our community’s healthcare system.”
Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, who on Monday said that the amount testing for the novel coronavirus in his district is woefully insufficient, said in a statement Tuesday that he remained committed to doing everything possible to ensure Missouri receives the federal support it will likely need in the coming weeks.
“While this is certainly not unexpected, it underscores the dire need for more testing capabilities in Missouri and across the country,” said Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat and former Kansas City mayor.
“I encourage all of my constituents in the Fifth District to continue social distancing practices for the foreseeable future, and call into Missouri’s coronavirus hotline should you have any questions at 877-435-8411.”
McClatchy reporter Bryan Lowry contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 1:49 PM.
