Coping with COVID: An increase in new COVID-19 cases in Kansas City

Although the death rate is declining in the metro, a recent increase in confirmed cases has the health department concerned.

As opening plans in the Kansas City metro remain on track and stay-at-home orders have been lifted, people have slowly begun to return to pre-quarantine activities.

Each week more businesses reopen and the number and size of groups seen out have increased. Weeks of closure have hit businesses and their employees hard, and recent openings have brought great relief to those struggling to stay afloat.

On Monday afternoon the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported a total of 11,419 confirmed COVID-19 cases 245 deaths. On Sunday the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported a total of 15,983 confirmed cases and 879 deaths.

The concern for Kansas City’s health department lies in report that the rate of new cases has increased every week since May 10, reaching an average of 52 new cases reported per day, according to KCUR.

“We are on a rise of a second wave,” Kansas City Health Department Director Dr. Rex Archer said on KCUR on Friday.

Although the health department has said that the rise in cases is partially due to an increase in testing, the rise has also been caused by new outbreaks.