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July 29, 2020

#TOGETHERLS

Welcome to the Covering COVID-19 Community Briefing

This weekly digest of information will help keep you up to date as we work together to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. This briefing will provide:

  • state and county health updates and measures the City is taking to keep residents as safe as possible
  • reliable and factual information sources to use when seeking facts about this public health crisis
  • reminders about things happening in our community and ideas to keep you entertained

Get the Medical Care You Need During COVID-19

Although COVID-19 is still present in our community, it is safe to receive medical care. Doctor’s offices, clinics, and hospitals implement practices to keep patients and staff safe. Low-cost care is available throughout the community.

COVID-19 Dashboard

View cases by demographics and zip code, hospitalizations, testing, deaths, outbreaks and more on Jackson County's dashboard.

The CDC Updates Guidelines on Reopening America’s Schools this Fall

As families and policymakers make decisions about their children returning to school, it is important to consider the full spectrum of benefits and risks of both in-person and virtual learning options. Parents are understandably concerned about the safety of their children at school in the wake of COVID-19. The best available evidence indicates if children become infected, they are far less likely to suffer severe symptoms. Death rates among school-aged children are much lower than among adults. At the same time, the harms attributed to closed schools on the social, emotional, and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement of children, in both the short- and long-term, are well-known and significant.

Further, the lack of in-person educational options disproportionately harms low-income and minority children and those living with disabilities. These students are far less likely to have access to private instruction and care and far more likely to rely on key school-supported resources like food programs, special education services, counseling, and after-school programs to meet basic developmental needs.

Aside from a child’s home, no other setting has more influence on a child’s health and well-being than their school. The in-person school environment does the following:

  • provides educational instruction;
  • supports the development of social and emotional skills;
  • creates a safe environment for learning;
  • addresses nutritional needs; and
  • facilitates physical activity.

This CDC discusses each of these critical functions, following a brief summary of current studies regarding COVID-19 and children.

Hand Sanitizer Recall

The Food and Drug Administration has added more hand sanitizers to a list of products that should be avoided after they tested positive for methanol contamination.

There are now a total of 86 kinds of hand sanitizers on the updated list of toxic products.

According to the FDA, it has seen a spike in the number of hand sanitizer products labeled to contain ethanol, but have tested positive for methanol, which can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested.

Local Health Officials Urge Mask Wearing

Core 4 Public Health Officers and Directors issue a letter as the metro area sees a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases.

Dear Kansas City Metropolitan Community,

The Health Officers and Health Directors of the Kansas City metropolitan Core 4 jurisdictions have been meeting regularly and making every effort to preserve the health of our communities over the last 4 1/2 months. As a group, we are thankful to have seen prior efforts successfully mitigate some impacts of this pandemic. Unfortunately, recent data suggests that we are now again losing the battle with COVID-19.

Free Disposable Masks

Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s office and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) donated 100,000 disposable masks to Jackson County for public distribution. Jackson County and the Sheriff's Office are distributing 10 masks per person at a drive-thru event this week.

Thursday, July 30 | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., Cable Dahmer Arena, 191100 Valley View Pkwy, Independence, MO 64055

Wearing is Caring

By wearing a mask and social distancing, we get closer to recovery. Take simple but important steps to keep everyone safe. Spread kindness, not COVID-19.

Traveling to the Windy City?

The City of Chicago announced Tuesday it has added four more states to its emergency travel order.

The Chicago Department of Public Health now lists Wisconsin, Missouri, North Dakota, and Nebraska as part of the order. The order was put in place to due coronavirus concerns.

Starting Friday, July 31, travelers entering or returning to Chicago from these states must quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state.

Local Coronavirus Testing Locations

Commission for Diversity and Inclusion

In Mayor Baird's 2019 State of the City address, he discussed the future formation of a commission for diversity and inclusion. Learn how that plan is moving forward in this short video.

Lee’s Summit Unveils Plan for Downtown Farmer’s Market and Conservatory

Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird presented a conceptual plan and potential funding program for the Downtown Farmer’s Market and Conservatory during the July 21 City Council meeting. Following the presentation, City Council gave City Manager Steve Arbo approval to proceed with a request for qualification to identify a master developer for the project, which will include a mix of public and private spaces.

“This is an exciting moment for our community. Through long-term planning and coordination with our downtown partners, we’ve created a framework that will transform our downtown environment,” said Mayor Baird. “With purpose, we designed a conceptual plan that supports and enhances the outstanding features already present in our downtown community.”

The City held conceptual planning meetings with leaders representing Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street and the Downtown Community Improvement District to develop a common vision for the proposed site near Southeast Green Street and Southeast Third Street. The conceptual plan consists of a permanent farmer’s market, conservatory, boutique hotel, mixed-use commercial building, outdoor performance area, apartment complex and courtyard.

In April 2013, Lee’s Summit voters approved a $2,898,000 general obligation bond for the purpose of constructing and rehabilitating public improvements for cultural arts, including improvements to the Legacy Park Amphitheater, rehabilitating the former city hall building, and the creation of a downtown performance and festival space. The combination of an outdoor performance area and permanent farmer’s market aligns with the long-term vision for downtown. Funding for the project will come from the remaining bond balance, proceeds set aside from the sale of surplus properties, a partnership with the Downtown Community Improvement District and potential private investment.

Farmer's Market Temporary Location

On Saturday, August 1, the Downtown Lee's Summit Farmers Market will be located at the Abundant Life Church parking lot south of Persels Rd. Customer parking will be located directly across the street, as seen on the map. Please use the crosswalks when crossing Persels to the market lot.

Be a part of the process! Give us your feedback by responding to the Community Vision and Quality of Life online surveys.

Kiosks are located in the lobby of City Hall, at Longview Community Center and J. Thomas Lovell Jr. Community Center at Legacy Park. These kiosks can be used to respond to the surveys and access the comprehensive plan landing page on the City's website where residents can find related information and activities.

Learn more about the comprehensive plan and how you can get involved by listening to the latest episode of the Green Street Beat podcast.

Grab Your Phone and Let's Walk

Explore Lee's Summit's public art, artist commentaries and photographs from your smartphone by downloading Otocast! Otocast's exhibit map is GPS activated and allows users to find each sculpture throughout Lee's Summit.

Otocast can be downloaded for free to any iPhone or Android device.

Record Donations

We hit a home run during the two-day Royals Blood Drive held earlier this week! The Community Blood Center collected 135 units of blood, which could save or impact up to 405 lives! Thank you to the donors and the Community Blood Center. There's no better time to donate than right now!

Get the Scoop in Two Minutes!

Your weekly flash briefing is here. Get a snapshot of what's happening this week in Lee's Summit. Take a listen!

COVID-19 Dashboard

COVID-19 information is rapidly changing and we encourage everyone to visit Jackson County's dashboard to get reliable up-to-date information.