Health officials confirm seven new deaths, 78 more cases of COVID-19 in KC metro area
Seven more deaths and 78 more cases of the new coronavirus were reported in the Kansas City metropolitan area Saturday.
Combined at least 1,175 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and in Kansas City.
At least 51 fatalities from the pandemic had been confirmed in the area by Saturday.
The area has seen about a 7% increase in cases and 16% increases in deaths from the virus since Friday.
The largest number of cases and deaths were reported in Wyandotte County, where the areas first COVID-19 related death was reported a month ago.
The county now is home to Kansas’ largest outbreak of the virus at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center where at least 10 people had died and 92 people connected to the facility were infected as of Friday.
In total, Wyandotte County has confirmed at least 315 case and 24 deaths related to the virus.
Both Kansas and Missouri are under stay-at-home orders.
The Kansas Supreme Court convened Saturday morning over video conference to hear oral arguments in the state’s legal battle over mandated restriction to religious gatherings.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly sued the state’s Legislative Coordinating Council Thursday over Republican lawmaker’s decison to overturn her executive order limiting church gatherings to 10 people.
Chief Justice Marla Luckert indicated Saturday morning the court planned to rule quickly, possibly later Saturday.
Kansas has confirmed 1,268 cases and 55 deaths. Missouri confirmed 4,024 cases and 109 deaths.
