Kansas City metro adds more than 170 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 9,605
The Kansas City metropolitan area added 174 more COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 9,605.
The seven-day average for new cases in the area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas is 239.
One week ago, it was 194. Two weeks ago, on June 22, it was 119.
The positive test rate on Monday was 5.65% in Kansas City, 5.07% in Jackson County, 6.85% in Clay County, 4.93% in Platte County, 5% in Johnson County and 15.7% in Wyandotte County.
One new death was reported Monday, in Johnson County, bringing the metro’s total to 248.
Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System said they had 18 patients being treated for the coronavirus, up one from Thursday.
About 10 days ago, the hospital saw its numbers spike with 24 patients.
Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the health system, urged people to wear masks.
“As we are moving into the post-Fourth of July era now in Kansas City with some of the masking regulations, wear your mask,” Hawkinson said during a briefing hosted by the health system. “For the most part, it’s going to be for a short period of time, 10 to 20 minutes, it’s not going to impair gas exchange. The majority of the population are going to be able to wear it. Use your hand hygiene. All of these will hopefully make a dent in the spread of the virus.”
In the metro, masks are required in public places including Kansas City, Jackson County, Johnson County and Wyandotte County.
Missouri has reported 23,856 cases, including 1,028 deaths. Of the deaths, 537 have been people over the age of 80. The statewide positive test rate is 5.5%.
Kansas has confirmed 16,901 cases, including 280 deaths. Of the deaths, 165 have been age 75 or older. The statewide positive test rate is 8.4%.
Across the U.S., more than 2.9 million people have contracted the virus and more than 130,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 2:51 PM.
