COVID-19 outbreak shuts down Kansas City metro area

Sunday saw the expansion of COVID-19 cases in Missouri into the triple digits, and several new counties on both sides of the state line issued “stay-at-home” orders that go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.More case announcements are expected. Here’s a roundup of the top news:MONDAY UPDATES8 a.m. — Health officials with the Leavenworth VA Medical Center say an employee of the hospital has tested positive for COVID-19. Hospital officials did not say how the employee contracted the coronavirus, but added that the risk of transmission to other patients and staff remains low at this time. 6:30 a.m. — The Associated Press reports Missouri now has 128 confirmed COVID-19 cases. This number differs from the information provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Missouri is next expected to update its case numbers around 2 p.m. Monday. SUNDAY UPDATESS9 p.m. — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri climbed again late Sunday night with 106 confirmed coronavirus cases and three deaths. Kansas City has 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Cass County has six, Jackson County has 6 and Johnson County, Missouri, has one. St. Louis County leads the state with 23 confirmed cases, while the city of St. Louis has 10. 8 p.m. — Add Douglas County and the city of Lawrence, Kansas, to the list of areas that will go under a “stay-at-home” order at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Douglas County joins other Kansas counties in the Kansas City metro area — Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth — that are under the order mandates people stay at home, unless it’s for essential business.5:23 p.m. — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri rose to nearly 100 Sunday, including at least five cases tied to one suburban St. Louis preschool.The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, was up to 90, according to the state, an increase from 75 on Saturday. But later Sunday, St. Louis announced six additional cases.At least five cases are tied to Temple Israel’s preschool in Creve Coeur. The synagogue said in a statement late Saturday that a total of four teachers have now tested positive for COVID-19. A parent of a child at the preschool has also tested positive.3:15 p.m. — Clay County joined the growing list of Kansas City metro area counties to issue a “stay-at-home order” that goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.2:30 p.m. — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says the state is now up to 64 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Johnson County continues to lead the state with the highest cases of the new coronavirus with 28, followed by Wyandotte County at 14, and Douglas and Leavenworth counties with four.2:15 p.m. — The City of Belton, Missouri announced it will join the Core 4 in the “stay-at-home” order to limit the spread of COVID-19. 1:30 p.m. — The Platte County Health Department director has ordered Platte County residents to stay at home effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. It’s an order like what is in place in Kansas City and Jackson County in Missouri, and Leavenworth, Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.11 a.m. — The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment in Kansas said it is continuing to get questions about the stay at home order that goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. To help residents better understand what is acceptable and not acceptable, the county created a frequently asked questions page on its website.9:30 a.m. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announces new executive orders, allowing doctors to prescribe medicine after telemedicine visits and out of state doctors to threat through telemedicine. The orders also allow temporary emergency licenses for healthcare professionals regulated by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts.8:40 a.m. — Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri is reporting its first confirmed case of COVID-19. According to a news release from the base Sunday morning, the case was confirmed on Saturday and is an adult, non-military member. “Whiteman AFB remains at Health Protection Condition BRAVO,” the base said in the release. “There are no immediate, additional restrictions in place; however, they may be implemented in the future.”8:30 a.m. — Authorities in Leavenworth County in Kansas have issued a “stay-at-home” order that goes into effect Tuesday and will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. April 23. 8 a.m. — As of 8 a.m. Sunday, there have been 90 confirmed cases ofCOVID-19 in Missouri, including 13 in Kansas City, six in Cass County, five in Jackson County and one in Johnson County, Missouri. In Kansas, there are 55 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 26 in Johnson County, Kansas and 13 in Wyandotte County.SATURDAY UPDATES4:30 p.m. — Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and Jackson County in Missouri, along with the municipalities of KCMO and KCK have agreed to issue a “stay-at-home” order, starting Tuesday. Under that order, only essential businesses and organizations are allowed to remain open in those areas. The order will last for 30 days. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said 14 area school districts on the Missouri side of the state line agreed to remain closed through April 24. Those districts were not listed.3 p.m. — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson detailed his social distancing order Saturday in a news conference. Under the order, all social gatherings of more than 10 people in the state are prohibited. Restaurants are ordered to continue carryout or drive-thru service only. Schools were ordered to remain closed through the end of the order, which will expire April 6.1 p.m. — The state of Kansas now reports a total of 55 cases of COVID-19, with a new fatality reported in Johnson County. In all, 25 cases have been confirmed in Johnson County, and 13 cases in Wyandotte County. The fatality in Johnson County was a man in his 70s. Health officials said he was hospitalized and had other underlying health concerns with no travel history. FRIDAY UPDATES8:50 p.m. — The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri rises to 73.7:15 p.m. — St. Louis County officials said a woman in her 60s, who suffered from multiple health problems prior to being diagnosed with COVID-19, died at a hospital. Officials don’t yet know if she had traveled or how she became exposed to the virus.7 p.m — The Clay County Commission said in a statement that it is “aware of the patient who tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID‐19 on Friday, March 20 at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri.” Clay County health officials say the patient is from Kansas City.6:30 p.m. — The Jackson County, Missouri Health Department says the county now has five cases of COVID-19 in eastern Jackson County. 6 p.m. — A member of the Missouri House of Representatives has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. 5:30 p.m. — Cass County health officials said two new COVID-19 cases were reported in the area, bringing the county total to six. Officials said the newest cases are in Belton and Raymore, and the patients are currently in isolation and following CDC guidance. 4:45 p.m. — The Kansas City, Missouri Health Department now reports 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases within the city. Authorities said six patients are men, six patients are women, all ranging in age between 20 and 60, and all are recovering at home.4 p.m. — Leavenworth County, Kansas confirms two new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the county, bumping the county total to 4 cases. Health officials said the first patient is a male in his 20s with recent travel history, the second patient is a female in her 40s with no travel history. Neither of the individuals are related, or associated to the county’s two previous cases. 3 p.m. — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said the state’s total number of cases is up to 47. He said he is now requiring social distancing in Missouri and banning gatherings of more than 10 people in the state. An order is expected to be released detailing changes Saturday. 2 p.m. — Jackson County health officials reported the county’s first death because of COVID-19 Thursday afternoon. Health officials said the victim was a woman in her 80s, and she had been previously identified with COVID-19. She also had not traveled recently. The county also revealed two new cases of COVID-19.1:30 p.m. — The Kansas Department of Health & Environment said Thursday Kansas now has 44 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. That is an increase of 10 from Wednesday. The Johnson County Health Department said Thursday afternoon it now has 24 presumptive positive cases and Wyandotte County has nine cases.11:30 a.m. – Kansas has launched a new program to provide short-term, no-interest loans to bars, restaurants, taverns and motels struggling to cover operating expenses because of the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic.9:05 a.m. – Missouri reports its totals of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has climbed to 47. The latest numbers were updated at 9:05 a.m. by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The new numbers include seven confirmed cases in Kansas City, three in Jackson County and three in Cass County.6:30 a.m. – Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to address the latest developments with COVID-19 in the Sunflower State at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is expected to update the situation in Missouri at 3 p.m.6 a.m. – Both Kansas and Missouri updated the totals of COVID-19 cases on Thursday, and the increases continue. Kansas’ totals climbed to 35, while Missouri is at 28.TOTAL CASES BY COUNTY:Kansas: 64 casesButler: 3Cherokee: 1Douglas: 4Franklin: 1Jackson: 1Johnson: 28 (1 fatal)Leavenworth: 4Linn: 1Mitchell: 1Morris: 2Reno: 1Riley: 1Sedgwick: 2Wyandotte: 14 (1 fatal)**County and state numbers may not reflect total number due to timing of releaseMissouri: 106 cases*Adair: 1Bates: 1Boone: 10 (1 fatal)Camden: 1Cass: 6Christian: 1Cole: 4Dunklin: 1Greene: 14Henry: 1Jackson: 6 (1 fatal)Jasper: 1Johnson: 1Kansas City (city): 13Moniteau: 1Perry: 1Pulaski: 1Scott: 1St. Charles: 2St. Francois: 1St. Louis: 23 (1 fatal)St. Louis (city): 10TBD: 5**County and state numbers may not reflect total number due to timing of release