62 new coronavirus cases, four more deaths reported Tuesday in the Kansas City metro
The Kansas City metropolitan area reported 62 new cases of the coronavirus and four more deaths on Tuesday.
A total of 2,569 cases have been identified in the area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties on the Kansas side.
Each of the six jurisdictions reported a rise in cases on Tuesday.
As parts of the metro including Clay and Platte counties reopened Monday, the area recorded 123 new cases, its sharpest one-day increase yet.
“We know there’s going to be an increase in cases and hospitalizations as people start moving around more. It’s just a case of when and to what degree,” Johnson County public health officer Joseph LeMaster said during a news briefing hosted by the University of Kansas Health System.
He emphasized the need for social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands.
Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte counties remain under stay-at-home orders until May 11.
Wyandotte County has the most cases in the metro with 896. The four new deaths reported Tuesday were all in Wyandotte County which has a total of 64 deaths. The metro has 139.
According to the Unified Government, there are three outbreaks at long-term care facilities in Wyandotte County.
The most severe cluster was found at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation, where 132 cases and 36 deaths have been reported.
Restrictions remain in place for Kansas City, which plans a “soft reopening” Wednesday and further loosening of guidelines on May 15.
On Tuesday, Kansas reported 5,458 cases including 137 deaths while Missouri had 8,916 cases including 377 deaths.
Nationwide, more than 1.1 million cases have been confirmed, according to Johns Hopkins University.
