As political officials around the region are stepping onto podiums to announce reopening dates, Kanas City has seen its biggest one-day jump in coronavirus cases.
The Kansas City Star reported that 104 positive COVID-19 cases were declared Thursday, more than half of the cases in Wyandotte County. Until Thursday, the metro had not seen more than 100 new cases in one day.
A contributing factor to jump in cases is attributed to a rise in test availability. The city offered pop-up this past week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Aside from more testing, an increase in cases is linked to cluster sites. Most recently, WyCo long-term care facilities Delaware Highlands and Life Care Center saw a combined twenty-two cases between residents and staff. Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center saw the highest number of positive cases, topping 128 cases in residents and staff and 28 deaths.
On the same day the number in positive coronavirus cases spiked, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced a three-phase plan to reopen the state. On Monday, May 4, restaurants are expected to open with limited seating capacity following six-foot distancing guidelines. Bars and nightclubs, casinos, gyms, theaters and salons will not open until at least Phase 2, which is set for May 18.
Just one day before, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas shared his 10/10/10 strategy for reopening the city. In this rollout plan, which is also broken into phases, businesses will allow ten percent occupancy or ten people allowed inside (whichever is greater) and sign-ins required for anyone who visits a business for more than ten minutes.
