KC metro breaks record for single-day jump in COVID-19 infections, with 485 Sunday
The Kansas City metropolitan area on Sunday saw its largest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus infections since the beginning of the pandemic, according to data reported by local and state health departments.
The metro reported 485 new coronavirus cases Sunday. In total, the virus has infected 13,858 of the metro’s residents, killing 287.
Those figures are up from the 11,428 infections and 259 deaths reported as of last week. Two weeks prior, there had been 9,431 cases and 247 deaths as of July 5, according to data maintained by The Star.
Before Sunday, the largest single-day increase in infections across the metro was July 3, when 443 cases were reported.
Last week, the metro recorded its largest increase in COVID-19 deaths in a day, with 11 additional fatalities.
The metro, which encompasses Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, reported 379 new cases Saturday, 442 Friday, 378 Thursday and 298 Wednesday.
The increase in infections Sunday included an additional death in Wyandotte County, which has seen 3,655 infections and 89 deaths. That’s up from 3,050 cases and 88 deaths last week.
As of Sunday, Johnson County outpaced other counties in the region in the number of virus-related infections and deaths, with 3,744 cases and 96 deaths. That’s up from 2,967 infections and 93 deaths last week.
Kansas City has the second highest number of cases with 3,715, including 38 deaths. That’s up from 34 deaths and 3,113 cases last week.
Jackson County has seen the most residents die from the virus in the last seven days, with a total of 45 deaths as of Sunday compared to 25 by this time last week. Health officials reported 1,912 cases there Sunday; there had been 1,586 the week before.
Clay County has seen 625 cases, including 13 deaths. In Platte County, officials confirmed 207 cases, including six deaths.
Clay and Platte counties have not reported an additional death in the last week. Clay County saw an increase of 67 infections in that time while Platte County reported an additional 53 cases since last Sunday.
The 13,858 cases confirmed across the metro was up from the 11,428 reported the week before and 9,431 two weeks prior.
Throughout Missouri, 33,094 residents have been infected, including 1,129 who have died. That’s up from 27,443 infections and 1,069 deaths last week. The positive test rate is 5.7%.
When it last updated its data Friday, Kansas confirmed 21,965 cases, including 299 deaths. That’s up from 18,611 infections and 284 deaths last week. The positive test rate is 8.8%.
COVID-19 has infected more than 3.7 million Americans, the most cases discovered in any country. More than 140,000 people have died from the virus in the U.S., according to data maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
This story was originally published July 19, 2020 at 3:43 PM.
