Coping with COVID: Missouri sees continued uptick in COVID-19 cases and deaths

Across the state and Kansas City metro the number of cases has increased, Missouri now among the top 10 states for growth in the rate of COVID-19 spread.

The web site rt.live, which has tracked estimated rates of viral transmission by state since April, adjusted its model today, a change that currently ranks Missouri among the top 10 states for growth in the rate of COVID-19 spread. The site assigned Missouri a Rt value of 1.16, up 10 basis points from Thursday’s figure because of those changes in methodology. Kansas, meanwhile, saw its Rt value drop slightly to .87, down from .91 earlier in the week.

Values below 1.0 on that scale generally reflect a decline in the spread of the virus; those above that mark indicate the rate of new infections is increasing. The model revisions pushed half a dozen states into the ranks of those with increasing infection rates, and 26 states now are designated as centers of COVID-19 infection growth.

The revisions catapulted Hawaii, which had been ranked near the bottom for weeks, into the No. 1 position, with a Rt value of 1.44.

Deaths related to COVID-19 rose by 37 in Missouri as of Thursday. This is the second day that Missouri has recorded an increase in deaths due to the virus. On Wednesday, the state recorded 27 deaths. The sum of the two days has amounted to 64 deaths and is the most over two consecutive days since the pandemic began, according to the AP.

In the Kansas City metro, Wyandotte County is still leading with the highest amount of COVID-19 cases in the nine-county area, according to reporting by KMBC. There were 117 new positive cases reported Thursday in the metro area. Kansas City is not far behind Wyandotte County with 1,700.

Even the less-urban areas of the state have seen an increase. Parts southwestern Missouri have seen a big increase in confirmed cases over the past week, according to the AP. Counties such as McDonald County, Jasper County and Newton County reported new cases up into the double digits.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Health Director Randall Williams said at a news conference that the state is currently testing all 1,420 workers at a food plant in McDonald County, according to the AP. Williams said the National Guard also plans to help next week with testing in McDonald, Jasper, Newton and Barry counties.

As of Thursday, Missouri has reported 946 COVID-19 related deaths, while new cases for the state have totaled 322 in one day.