Coronavirus

Restaurant goers are eager to support their local eateries, even as COVID-19 cases surge in Kansas City. Restaurants have been hit particularly hard throughout the pandemic, and many are still dealing with staffing shortages.

Hope for COVID 'long-haulers' comes with new treatments and research

Even as the pandemic worsens again, many restaurants say they can't afford to sit out the city's annual Restaurant Week. Some are offering delivery and carryout options, while asking diners to practice patience and kindness.

The Biden administration announced Friday that Americans can begin ordering free at-home COVID-19 tests starting Jan. 19. Orders can be placed using the website COVIDtests.gov.

The Missouri Legislature is considering several measures that would bar COVID-19 vaccine mandates and provide greater exemptions for vaccinations. But the Missouri Chamber of Commerce says that should be the choice of individual employers.

The mayor, a Democrat, said a universal mask order is possible, but it would be better to focus the city’s public health efforts on COVID-19 vaccines and tests.

With the city at its worst point yet in the pandemic, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas speaks with host Nomin Ujiyediin about how the city is handling the omicron surge and the ways that politics affect policy.

The cities of Prairie Village, Mission and Roeland Park will all impose new citywide mask mandates beginning Tuesday, Jan. 18. But as with previous mandates, there are several exceptions.

School districts are closing due to COVID outbreaks and hospitals are being forced to delay procedures. “Before this surge is finished, omicron will be responsible for many deaths,” one health care leader says.

Legislator Crystal Williams says she received threats after introducing an ordinance that would restore some powers to the local health department. “Those people should feel ashamed of themselves,” she said.

Overexposure to physical and mental stress that can result in feeling detached and hopeless is risk of of the pandemic.

The Board of Curators' decision not to require masks comes as the state experiences the worst COVID-19 infection rates it has seen since the start of the pandemic.