Kansas City metro area records more than 400 new COVID-19 cases for 4th straight day
The Kansas City metro area recorded more than 400 new COVID-19 cases in one day for the fourth day in a row Saturday.
The area recorded 473 new cases the day after public health officials in Kansas City, Jackson County, Johnson County and Wyandotte County sounded an alarm in a joint letter urging residents to wear masks and avoid crowds so the hospital system does not become overwhelmed.
The Kansas City metro area recorded 473 new coronavirus cases of COVID-19 Saturday.
The area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas has recorded a total of 16,535 cases of the rapidly spreading virus.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases in the metro is 451. Last week it was 318. Two weeks ago, it was 273.
Four new deaths were reported reported Friday, two each in Kansas City and Johnson County. A total of 302 people have died in the metro area.
Kansas City area health directors, including Johnson County’s Samni Areola, Kansas City’s Rex Archer, Wyandotte County’s Allen Greiner and Jackson County’s Bridgette Shaffer, wrote a joint letter Friday, expressing their concern over rising numbers of cases in the area.
“If we do not act quickly as a community and region, future shutdowns will be inevitable,” the letter said.
On Saturday, Missouri listed 40,709 cases, including 1,182 deaths.
The positive test rate was 6.2%.
When Kansas last reported case numbers on Friday, the state had 25,109 cases, including 326 deaths.
The positive test rate was 9%.
Nationwide, the virus has infected more than 4.1 million people, killing more than 146,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
