Kansas City’s first COVID-19 death is reported after a woman in her 70s died Thursday
The first COVID-19 death in Kansas City was reported Thursday by the local health department.
A woman in her 70s died from the disease Thursday after spending several days in the hospital, the Kansas City Health Department said in a written statement.
The woman was admitted to the hospital on March 25. Because she was already in critical condition, the statement said, the health department did not obtain information on how the disease progressed, information on any underlying health conditions or the patient’s activities prior to her showing symptoms.
Another member of her household also has tested positive for the coronavirus, the health department added.
An investigation is ongoing. The health department said it was gathering information from those around the patient and working to determine if others need to go into isolation and be tested for the virus.
“We can’t imagine the grief her family and friends are going through right now,” Dr. Rex Archer, the local director of health, said in a statement. “We knew this day was coming and we will have more hard days to come. We need to take care of one another and take seriously the stay-at-home order.”
At least 143 COVID-19 cases have been identified and verified in the city as of Thursday, the health department said.
In Missouri, 1,834 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and at least 19 people have died. The number of deaths reported by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Thursday afternoon does not appear to include the death announced in Kansas City.
Missouri has identified about three times as many coronavirus cases as Kansas has. It has also tested about three times as many people. Residents in both states have tested positive for the virus at rates close to 8 or 9 percent.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 4:07 PM.
