KC metro adds more than 300 COVID-19 cases as KU docs explain hospitalization rates
The Kansas City metropolitan area added more than 300 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, but no new deaths were reported.
The area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas gained 319 new cases for a total of 25,792.
The seven-day rolling average for new cases sits at 398. One week ago, it was 360. Two weeks ago, it was 472.
Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System said they were treating 28 patients for the virus, up four from Friday.
More people are seeking treatment for the virus at the health system than in April.
“Starting in mid-July, we’ve been at the peak in the entire pandemic in the number of new patients every day that are needing to be in the hospital in our system,” said David Wild, vice president of performance improvement. “That speaks volumes about transmission in the community.”
The rate of people who do not have a chronic health problem who require hospitalization for COVID-19 has increased from 6% in March and April to 18% in July.
“Three times the portion of the population being admitted now not having coexisting disease, I think is really important,” Wild said during a briefing hosted by the health system. “For those that say, ‘Well the people that end up in the hospital are just sick before they get there.’ Well many are, but more and more every month are not.”
No new deaths were reported Monday in the KC area. A total of 374 people have died from COVID-19 in the metro.
On Monday, Missouri reported 68,623 cases to date, including 1,393 deaths. The seven-day positive test rate was 11.2%. The overall test rate was 8%.
Kansas confirmed 35,167 cases to date, including 405 deaths. The overall positive test rate was 9.9%.
Across the country, more than 5.4 million people have contracted the virus and 179,277 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
