Four years ago this week COVID-19 shut down Kansas City. Video captured a ghost town

Four years ago this week life in Kansas City took a sudden turn. On March 24, 2024, a stay-at-home order went into effect in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The order required residents of Kansas City and Johnson, Jackson and Wyandotte counties to remain at home except for activities “essential to the health and safety” of themselves, family members or friends.

The Star flew a drone to record video along Grand Boulevard in downtown Kansas City on that day to show readers the impact of the shutdown. The video shows an almost completely deserted downtown as the drone flies south directly over Grand Boulevard. Our Star drone pilots normally don’t fly directly over busy roads but the lack of traffic in the area allowed us to safely do so on this day.

The original stay-at-home order was set to be reviewed after 30 days. Several more extensions were ordered as the pandemic took hold.

The video also gives details of the state of the pandemic in the area at the time.

Having trouble seeing the video? Watch it here.