Kansas City COVID Saturday: Struggling Against Surge

The fight against the pandemic proves harder than anyone believed and the latest news features locals struggling valiantly amid ongoing political debate and dwindling resources.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

KC-area COVID-19 testing center 'paused' for additional staff training, education after complaints

A COVID-19 testing company with a site in the Kansas City area says it is "pausing" operations for additional staff and training and education after issues were raised about both the local, and a number of national locations.

KC doctors worried about number of COVID deaths, long-hauler symptoms

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The number of COVID-19 patients at the University of Kansas Health System dropped from Wednesday to Thursday. Doctors said it's too soon to tell if this is the start to a downward trend or just a blip.

I-Team: What parents should expect when taking their child to the emergency room as COVID cases surge

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The past year has been rough for parents like Dani Allen. Allen lives in Greenwood, Missouri, with her husband and son, Knox, who is 18 months old. The ongoing pandemic and staffing shortages have led to long waits at emergency rooms and urgent cares across the Kansas City area.

Students, staff to wear masks in Independence schools beginning Jan. 18

INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) --- Beginning Jan. 18, students and staff in the Independence School District will be required to wear a mask. The temporarily requirement will begin on Jan. 18 and will be applied universally.

Local school districts caution parents of possible temporary closures

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - This week, school districts in Bonner Springs, Eudora and De Soto all announced plans to close Friday due to overwhelming staff and student absences due to illnesses. Now closures could soon be affecting more schools in the Kansas City metro.

What should you do while waiting for COVID test results? KC experts explain

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Testing supply challenges lead to the obvious question: If you have to wait four, five or six days to get tested, how much is the information from that test worth anyway? Public health leaders are stressing that the results are still important and that the actions of the person awaiting that test is paramount.

City of Independence asks for public's help as city employees battle COVID-19

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The city of Independence is asking for the public's help and understanding as COVID-19 cases decimate the city's workforce. A tweet from the city Friday evening stated 25% of the snow plowing crews are out sick and power restoration crews are down 15%.

COVID testing company under investigation halts operations

BLUE SPRINGS, MO. - A controversial COVID-19 testing center announced it's temporarily halting operations. The announcement comes after multiple states have launched investigations into the company's operations after receiving dozens of customer complaints. Earlier this week, FOX4 Problem Solvers visited one of the company's testing sites in Blue Springs.

More calls, less staff causing strain on metro EMS crews

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - The call volume for emergency medical service in the Kansas City region is up more than 15% from just a few months ago according to the Mid-America Regional Council. This at a time when staffing at fire departments and EMS agencies is down due to sickness and quarantine.

Organ transplants up partially due to COVID-19, wife says husband was proud donor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas man died from COVID-19 but donated his kidneys saving two lives in the process. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Midwest Transplant Network said it's one of the reasons they are seeing an increase in donations.

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