KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise, health leaders from “Core 4” municipalities on the Kansas City subway issued a strong warning on Friday, saying they may be necessary. future closings if certain precautions are not taken. taken.
According to health officials, the Kansas City subway has recently seen a “dramatic increase” in new cases and an increase in the number of hospitalizations related to the virus, with recent data indicating that the area is “again losing the battle with COVID-19 “. “
“We are extremely concerned that hospitalizations will continue to increase in the coming weeks and months, and that the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 will lead to increased ventilator use and death,” according to a letter from health officials representing Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte counties.
The number of subway hospitalizations is now at its highest point, even compared to March and April, and it has become more difficult to track the rate of hospitalizations due to a new federal hospital reporting system that began operating this week, According to health officials.
“If we don’t act quickly as a community and region, future closings will be inevitable,” health officials wrote in the letter. “It may be important in the next few days to limit people’s interactions in bars, restaurants, and other indoor shopping venues, particularly where you can’t wear masks when eating and drinking.”
According to health leaders, restaurants and retail stores should continue to provide sidewalk or outdoor services, looking for parking lots and sidewalks when possible.
“The efforts we make to wear masks, social distancing, and restrict our general interactions with others now, especially indoors, can help us avoid more stops,” the letter said. “We must all do what we can in the hope that stricter restrictions are not necessary.”
The letter, released Friday, was signed by Dr. Rex Archer, Director of the Kansas City, Missouri Department of Health; Dr. Sanmi Areola, Director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment; Dr. Erin Corriveau, Deputy Health Officer, Wyandotte County Department of Public Health; Wyandotte County Department of Public Health Health Officer Dr. Allen Greiner; Johnson County Department of Public Health Dr. Joseph LeMaster; Jackson County Health Director Bridgette Shaffer; and the Director of the Wyandotte County Department of Public Health, Juliann VanLiew.
Read the full letter below:
.
