Kansas City metro adds nearly 400 new COVID-19 cases, four more deaths reported
The Kansas City metropolitan area gained nearly 400 new COVID-19 cases and added four more deaths, according to data released Monday.
The area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas added 396 new cases for a total of 17,177 cases.
The seven-day rolling average for new cases is 438. One week ago, it was 357. Two weeks ago, it was 287.
The positive test rate was 5.38% in Kansas City, 6.52% in Jackson County, 7.64% in Clay County, 7.2% in Platte County, 6.5% in Johnson County and 17.2% in Wyandotte County.
A vaccine trial will be launched in the Kansas City area in the coming weeks, according to Mario Castro, vice chair for clinical research at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
The vaccine was developed by Oxford University.
“This vaccine is very exciting,” Castro said during a media briefing hosted by the University of Kansas Health System. “It simulated antibodies like we want to see them, just as good as convalescent plasma, and it was boosted by a second injection.”
There were 33 patients being treated for the virus at the health system on Monday, up one from Friday. Of the 33, 11 are in the intensive care unit.
Three patients at the health system died over the weekend, said Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the health system, bringing the system’s total to 30.
Four new deaths were reported Monday in the metro area. Two were in Jackson County, one was in Kansas City and one was in Wyandotte County, bringing the area’s total to 306.
On Monday, Missouri reported 43,050 cases, including 1,201 deaths. The positive test rate was 6.2%.
Kansas confirmed 26,172 cases, including 335 deaths. The positive test rate was 9.4%.
Across the country, more than 4.2 million people have contracted the virus and more than 147,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
