With 1,600 COVID cases, KC metro sees one of the biggest daily jumps since pandemic began
The Kansas City metro is in the midst of a COVID-19 surge, with 1,600 new cases reported in the area on Thursday, Dec. 23 alone. The spike marks one of the largest single-day increases since The Star began recording case numbers in early March 2020.
The Star’s count of local COVID-19 cases and deaths combines data from Kansas City and Independence; Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri; and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.
All the jurisdictions update their case and death totals along with other data 5 to 7 times a week. On Thursday, Dec. 23,
Kansas City reported 545 new cases
Jackson County reported 318 new cases
Clay County reported 121 new cases
Platte County reported 33 new cases
Independence reported 130 new cases
Johnson County reported 364 new cases
Wyandotte County reported 89 new cases
It’s important to remember that case numbers often fluctuate on a day-to-day basis. A more reliable metric of case growth is the rolling seven-day average of cases. On Tuesday, Dec. 21, The Star reported this average reaching levels it hadn’t seen since January. On Thursday, the average was even higher at 893.
Today’s new cases are higher than any single-day total reported last winter, when COVID-19 surged around the country. But death rates haven’t risen to match — due in large part to the treatments available now that weren’t around last year.
Data tracked by The Star shows deaths from COVID-19 in the Kansas City area averaging around five per day in recent weeks. That’s less than half of what they were last winter, where seven-day averages frequently reached the double digits at around 11 to 14 deaths per day.
Kansas City isn’t alone in experiencing a surge of COVID-19: cases are on the rise around the country due to the highly contagious omicron variant. Here’s where to get tested for COVID-19 in the Kansas City area, and here’s where to find a vaccination or booster shot.
Do you have more questions about staying safe from COVID-19 in Kansas City? Ask our Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com or fill out the form below.
