4 p.m. COVID-19 update

4 p.m. COVID-19 update

DOES NOT EXPECT A VACCINE TO BEAVAILABLE FOR WIDE DISTRIBUTIONUNTIL THE MIDDLE OF 2021.LARA: KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURAKELLY SAYS SHE’S WORRIED THATTHE STATE DOESN’T HAVE THEINFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICIES INPLACE TO STOP A RISE INCORONAVIRUS CASES.THE STATE IS AVERAGING 500 NEWCASES PER DAY THE PAST SEVERALWEEKS.EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, THEGOVERNOR ISSUED STATEWIDEMANDATES TO WEAR MASKS, BUTLEGISLATURE PASSED A LAWREQUIRING THE GOVERNOR TO GETAPPROVAL FROM A REPUBLICAN-LEDCOUNCIL.THE MOVE ALLOWED COUNTY LEADERSTO DECIDE FOR THEMSLEVES IF THEYWANTED TO REQUIRE MASKS.GOVERNOR KELLY: WE KNEW THIS WASCOMING.WE KNEW WE COULD PREPARE FOR IT.BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN ANINEFFECTIVE, PATCHWORK APPROACHTO OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE, CASESAND DEATHS CONTINUE TO RISE.LARA: ON THE STATE REPORTED ITSMONDAY, 600TH DEATH RELATED TOTHE CORONAVIRUS.THE AGES RANGE FROM 18 TO 106YEARS OLD.RIGHT NOW, WYANDOTTE COUNTY HAS39 CASES OF CORONAVIRUS FOREVERY 1,000 PEOPLE.THAT’S THE HIGHEST IN THE METRO.THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISNOW TESTING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOTSHOWING SYMPTOMS.THE GOAL IS TO TEST PEOPLE WHOMAY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH APERSON WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE.GO TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT’SWEBSITE FOR A LIST OF TIMES ANDLOCATIONS.AND LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THEPOSITIVITY RATE FROM THE COVIDTRACKING PROJECT.THE RATE IS RISING IN BOTHKANSAS AND MISSOURI.IN KANSAS, 15% OF TESTS ARECOMING BACK POSITIVE.IT’S 13% IN MISSOURI.