KC metro adds 253 coronavirus cases as positive test rate rises in many area counties
The Kansas City metropolitan area added more than 250 new COVID-19 cases and one more death on Monday.
The area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties on the Kansas side has 14,111 coronavirus cases.
The metro added 253 cases Monday. On Sunday, a record 485 cases were confirmed.
Jackson County reported one death Monday, raising the metro’s total to 288.
The seven-day rolling average for new cases in the metro was 357. One week ago, it was 287. On July 1, it was 204.
The positive test rate in Kansas City was 4.74%, 6.04% in Jackson County, 7.78% in Clay County, 6.24% in Platte County, 6.1% in Johnson County and 17.1% in Wyandotte County.
The rate has increased in most jurisdictions since June 30, when it was 5.65% in Kansas City, 5.23% in Jackson County, 3% in Clay County, 4.4% in Johnson County and 15.5% in Wyandotte County. Platte County did not report the figure at that time.
Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System said Monday that the number of people being treated at the hospital for the virus continues to increase with 36 patients. One week ago, it was 22.
“Our numbers are continuing to creep up, unfortunately,” said Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the health system.
He said the direction of the numbers depends on “individual responsibility, keeping out of large gatherings, keeping out of indoor spaces as much as possible, distancing is the important part— six, eight, 10 feet away if possible — and of course, both parties wearing masks.”
On Monday, Missouri reported 33,624 cases including 1,132 deaths. The positive test rate was 5.7%.
Kansas confirmed 23,334 cases including 307 deaths. The positive test rate was 8.9%.
Across the U.S., more than 3.8 million people have contracted the virus and more than 140,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
