Kansas City metro’s seven-day average of new COVID cases is at its highest since January
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the Kansas City area as the highly contagious omicron variant arrives just in time for the winter holidays.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 21, the rolling average of new COVID-19 cases across the metro area is around 844 per day over seven days, according to data tracked by the Star. That’s higher than last week’s average of 748, and the highest 7-day rolling average recorded since January of this year.
Forty people have died from COVID-19 in Kansas City in the past week, bringing the death total up to 3,341 people since the pandemic began.
Local county officials have reported 5,908 new COVID-19 infections in the past week, bringing the total number of cases in Kansas City up to 230,710 since the pandemic began.
The surging cases are beginning to overwhelm local hospitals, with some facilities running out of beds to treat non-COVID patients. The University of Kansas Health System is treating 61 patients with active COVID-19 infections as of Tuesday, Dec. 21. Nineteen of these patients are in the ICU, with 13 on ventilators. That’s higher than last week’s count of 39 active cases.
The rise in cases comes on the heels of the highly contagious omicron variant’s arrival in the Kansas City area. Missouri health officials announced on Friday, Dec. 17, that the strain had been identified in wastewater collected near Raytown and St. Joseph.
On Monday, Dec. 20, two positive cases of the omicron variant were identified in Wyandotte County. The patients, between ages 20 and 39, were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Theirs were the first two omicron cases identified in the Kansas City area.
Reports from the CDC on Monday, Dec. 20 stated that omicron is now the dominant COVID-19 variant in the United States. The strain now accounts for 73% of cases nationwide, and in some areas of the country exceeds 90%.
Of the 61 patients that the University of Kansas Health System is currently treating for COVID-19, only two are fully vaccinated. Getting a full course of vaccines and a booster shot remain the most effective way to stay safe from the virus.
“We know the answer. We can beat this. Get your vaccine today,” sang Dr. Steven Stites, to the tune of “Here Comes Santa Claus,” in a prerecorded message broadcast by the University of Kansas Health System on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
Vaccinations and booster shots are available for free at clinics around the Kansas City area.
Do you have more questions about staying safe from COVID-19 in Kansas City? Ask our Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com or fill out the form below.
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 3:36 PM.
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