More than 930 coronavirus cases in KC metro, with 3 new deaths tied to KCK clusters
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named the location of a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility where a coronavirus outbreak was reported. The Life Care Center of Burlington is in Coffey County, Kansas.
At least three more coronavirus deaths have been linked to clusters in Kansas City, Kansas, originating from a nursing facility and a church gathering, officials said Wednesday.
Two of the dead were residents of Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation, increasing to six the number of people at the facility who have died from COVID-19. The third was a Montgomery County resident who was among dozens of people who attended a a mid-March conference at Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ in Kansas City, Kansas.
That person was the second Montgomery County resident who was associated with the event and later died from COVID-19.
The deaths reported Wednesday came as the total number of coronavirus cases identified in the Kansas City metro area reached 939. That was an increase of 86 from Tuesday.
On the Missouri side, there were 249 cases in Kansas City, 167 in Jackson County, 37 in Clay County and 19 in Platte County. In Kansas, Johnson County reported 239 cases and Wyandotte County reported 228.
Thirteen people in Wyandotte County have died, including the two reported Wednesday at the Riverbend facility, which appears to account for the biggest outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Kansas. As of Wednesday, 48 residents have tested positive as have eight employees, according to information released by the Unified Government Public Health Department. Seven residents are hospitalized.
The department said on its Facebook page Wednesday that it continues to work with the facility to determine who may have been exposed.
Another outbreak, at a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Coffey County, the Life Care Center of Burlington, led to 41 cases and one death.
Cluster at KCK church conference
At least 18 people linked to the Kansas East Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction’s Ministers and Workers Conference from March 16-22 have contracted the virus and two have died. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said one of the people who died attended the event and the second person was a contact of the attendee.
Both of those individuals were residents of Montgomery County in southeast Kansas.
The Wyandotte County Health Department believes 150 to 200 people attended the event. Kansas East Jurisdiction, the organizers of the conference, referred to its previous statement when reached for comment Wednesday. It said it notified attendees after it learned of two positive COVID-19 cases.
Two Coffeyville residents told the Montgomery County Chronicle that they were “standing at death’s door” after attending the conference and contracting the virus.
Sandra and Melvin Simpson said the community, state and nation should take the virus seriously.
Three coronavirus clusters in Kansas were tied to church gatherings, according to KDHE.
Ahead of Easter weekend and Passover, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday signed an executive order limiting religious services to 10 people. Republican lawmakers revoked the order on Wednesday, saying it was a violation of religious freedom.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the metro area had recorded 32 deaths. In addition to Wyandotte County’s 13, there have been 11 in Johnson County, six in Kansas City, one in Jackson County and one in Clay County.
On Wednesday, Kansas reported 1,046 coronavirus cases while Missouri confirmed 3,327 cases.
Missouri has reported more than three times as many cases as Kansas, but has also tested more than three times as many people.
The Star’s Kevin Hardy contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 5:35 PM.
