Kansas City COVID Mask Up, Vaxx Up Roundup

The plague is getting even more serious in its 2nd year and now the fight to protect youngsters is the focus of bitter partisan debate.

In the Kansas City metro, most districts have approved an abundance of caution much to the chagrin of skeptics and amateur scientists.

In this www.TonysKansasCity.com post, we compile some of the most interesting local COVID news we're recently stumbled upon . . . Read more . . .

Latest mask policy changes for Kansas City-area schools

FAIRWAY, KS (KCTV) -- School districts are once again deciding how to best protect unvaccinated students in the classroom. KCTV5 News is monitoring the latest mask policy changes from around the metro. If you you would like to make a change or add your school/district to the list, click here.

Kansas City Nurses Are Overworked and Traumatized By 'Avoidable' Pandemic Surge

The pandemic has already been tough on nurses, but recent trends of rising hospitalizations and COVID-19 denial have made some nurses reconsider the profession. Heidi Lucas, state director of the Missouri Nurses' Association, said Monday on KCUR's Up To Date that nurses are frustrated that the pandemic is once again intensifying, despite the availability of vaccines.

Doctors at Children's Mercy concerned as number of children sick with COVID-19 rises in KC

The number of children sick with COVID-19 is rising in the Kansas City metro. Children's Mercy Hospital is at its peak, with the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized there nearly doubling in the past week. With children now heading back to school, doctors said they are concerned.Many children are heading back to class in the next few weeks.

Kansas City baby recovers from COVID-19 complications following hospitalization

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- At least 47 percent of Kansas Citians have their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Right now, vaccines are only approved for people 12 and older, leaving the youngest portion of the population unvaccinated. Children's Mercy said Monday it currently has the most Covid-19 inpatients since the beginning of the pandemic.

Independence closer to mask decision, as hospitals look farther away for bed space

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Independence Mayor Eileen Weir is set to make a decision on whether or not to issue a new mask mandate in the next few days, as hospitals in the area are nearly overrun with COVID patients. That was the topic of discussion at the Independence City Council's study session on the impacts [...]

Blue Springs following Jackson County mask mandate, will make them optional if mandate expires

BLUE SPRINGS, MO (KCTV) -- The Blue Springs School District will be following the mask mandate of Jackson County until it expires, the school board said tonight. During the Monday Board of Education meeting, the district said it would be following the Jackson County mask mandate, which went into effect last week.

Missouri issues COVID-19 hotspot advisory for Cass, Jackson counties and Kansas City

Missouri health officials have issued a COVID-19 hotspot advisory for Cass and Jackson counties and the Kansas City area.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said that most areas of Missouri have experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks with the delta variant as the predominant cause.

COVID-19 Hotspot: Missouri issues advisories for Jackson and Cass counties

by: Heidi Schmidt Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the number of COVID-19 cases climb across the metro, the area is running low on hospital beds, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The agency issued a COVID-19 hotspot advisory for Cass county and Jackson County, including Kansas City and Independence.

Sewage monitoring indicates rise of COVID-19 in Platte City, prompts testing event

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Testing of sewage in Platte City has indicated a possible increase of COVID-19 cases in the area. The Platte County Health Department announced Monday that testing completed during the weeks of July 19 and 26 saw increasing trends of genetic COVID-19 fragments.

Opinion | We Studied One Million Students. Universal Masking Works.

Kanecia Zimmerman and Dr. Zimmerman is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Benjamin is a pediatric-infectious-disease specialist at Duke Health. Big questions loom over the upcoming back-to-school season: Should children be required to wear masks? Should children go to in-person classes at all?

Schools Reopen to Mask Confusion

When students in California and Illinois head back to school in a few weeks, they will have to wear masks. Florida and Arizona, meanwhile, banned mask requirements in schools. Some, but not all, districts there are insisting on them anyway.

Missouri prepares to draw first round of $10,000 winners from pool of vaccinated residents

by: Heidi Schmidt Posted: / Updated: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri will draw it's first "MO VIP" on Friday. The state said more than 375,000 people have entered the drawing for a chance to win $10,000. Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced the COVID-19 vaccination incentive program last month.

COVID brings front and center the tug between individual rights and the public good

A sign marks the entrance to the drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Shannon County Health Center on July 8, 2021. // Photo by Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent It seems that getting control of the coronavirus has brought front and center the question: When should an individual's right become more important than what is in the best health and welfare of...

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