Kansas City metro adds more than 300 new COVID-19 cases, two more deaths reported
The Kansas City metropolitan area added more than 300 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and two more deaths were reported.
The area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas gained 324 new cases for a total of 20,481 cases.
The positive test rate was 4.72% in Kansas City, 7.35% in Jackson County, 7.63% in Clay County, 7.83% in Platte County, 6.8% in Johnson County and 17.4% in Wyandotte County.
The seven-day rolling average for new cases in the metro is 472. One week ago, it was 438. One month ago, it was 222.
Two new deaths were reported. One was in Kansas City and the other was in Wyandotte County, raising the metro’s total to 329.
Doctors in the metro reported patients being treating for the virus have been younger compared to earlier months in the pandemic and that their hospitalization numbers have started to plateau after peaking within the past few weeks.
Thirty patients are hospitalized at the University of Kansas Health System for the virus. That number takes into account four deaths over the weekend as well as new admissions, said Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control.
The youngest patient in the hospital was 19 while the oldest was in their mid-80s.
“All ages are being affected,” said David Wild, vice president of performance improvement. “A portion of those that are affected, regardless of age, end up in the hospital.”
Larry Botts, chief medical officer at Advent Health Shawnee Mission, said the hospital was treating 24 patients, of which eight were in the ICU.
“Our numbers peaked about 10 days ago at about 30,” Botts said.
“We’re still doing well from a capacity standpoint, but with our other patients, our other ICU patients as well as the COVID, it’s stretching us a little bit from a capacity standpoint.”
Raghu Adiga, chief medical officer at Liberty Hospital, said they had seven cases and three suspected patients awaiting testing results. Three of the patients were in the ICU on ventilators.
Truman Medical Centers had 22 patients, down from a high of 36 one week ago. Half are in the ICU, including three on ventilators.
“We admitted over twice as many patients in July as we did in June and fortunately also discharged twice as many in July,” said Mark Steele, executive chief clinical officer at Truman Medical Centers.
The Hispanic population accounts for about one-third of COVID-19 admissions and deaths, Steele said.
On Monday, Missouri reported 52,887 cases, including 1,255 deaths. The positive test rate was 7.2%.
Kansas confirmed 28,876 cases, including 365 deaths. The positive test rate was 9.6%.
More than 4.6 million people in the U.S. and 18 million worldwide have contracted the virus. More than 155,000 people have died in the U.S. The virus has killed 690,624 people globally, according to Johns Hopkins University.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 3:14 PM.
