An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kansas.
As the nation experiences a new surge in COVID-19 cases, the Red Cross has become increasingly concerned about the nation’s blood supply, including convalescent plasma, according to a spokesman.
The Red Cross has distributed a record number of COVID-19 plasma products to hospitals this fall treating patients who are battling COVID-19, the spokesman stated.
As a thank-you for helping meet the need for blood donations from Nov.15 through Dec. 15, Suburban Propane is offering blood, platelet and plasma donors a chance to win an Outdoor Living Experience, powered by Propane, to enable a winner to enjoy socially distanced celebrations with family and friends this holiday season. The prize includes a propane-powered pizza oven, fire pit, outdoor heater and stipend towards propane.
Eligible individuals are urged to make an appointment to donate blood now to help patients in need. Find a donation opportunity using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross is testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies which helps provide insight to donors concerning possible prior exposure to this virus. Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within one to two weeks through our Red Cross Blood Donor App or on the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. As part of this effort, plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma. Each week, whole blood donors with COVID-19 antibodies are helping to contribute between 350-500 units of potentially lifesaving convalescent plasma for patients in need.
The Red Cross is not administering diagnostic tests intended to diagnose illness. As such, to protect the health and safety of staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation, according to the spokesman.
For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Expect sunny skies with a high near 59 today, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Today will feel a bit cooler than Monday, as a weak backdoor cold front pushes through the area tonight, the weather service said..
On Wednesday, winds could gust up to 34 mph, according to the weather service, leading to elevated fire weather concerns with dry conditions.
Temperatures will rise in the next few days to a high near 71 on Thursday.
A cold front will push into the area Saturday night through Sunday, the weather service said.
Rain is in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday, according to the weather service.
Today, it will be sunny, with a high near 59 and a south southeast wind of 7 to 10 mph, the weather service said.
Tonight, it will be clear, with a low of 45 and a south wind of 8 to 14 mph, gusting to 22 mph, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 67 and a south wind of 15 to 23 mph, gusting as high as 34 mph, the weather service said.
Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 54 and a south southwest wind of 17 mph, gusting as high as 31 mph, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be mostly suny, with a high near 71 and a south southwest wind of 10 to 18 mph, gusting as high as 31 mph, the weather service said.
Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 56, according to the weather service.
Friday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 69, the weather service said.
Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 55, according to the weather service.
Saturday, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a high near 65, the weather service said.
Saturday night, there is a 70 percent chance of rain, with a low of 41, according to the weather service.
Sunday, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a high near 48, the weather service said.
Sunday night, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, with a low of 32, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 48, the weather service said.
Kansas reported an increase of 7,234 COVID-19 cases from Friday to Monday, for a cumulative total of 122,741, according to statistics from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
There was an increase of 10 deaths statewide, for a cumulative total of 1,266, according to KDHE statistics.
In Wyandotte County, there were 9,505 total cumulative COVID-19 cases, an increase of 65 since Sunday, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There was no change in the number of deaths.
The nine-county Greater Kansas City area had an increase of 707 cases from Sunday to Monday, for a cumulative total of 71,284, according to the Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 Resource Hub.
There were an average 171 new hospitalizations from COVID-19 in the nine-county Greater Kansas City area, according to the MARC Regional Hub.
The average number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital in the nine-county area was 659, up 68 from last week, according to the MARC Regional Hub. The average daily number of COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit was 154 in the nine-county area.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States increased to 11,202,109 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University figures.
Other developments on Monday
Earlier Monday, Wyandotte County limited gatherings to 10 in the wake of a larger number of hospitalizations and cases. Also, an earlier closing time of 10 p.m. was put into place for restaurants and bars.
Similar rules were announced Monday for Jackson County, Missouri.
There also was discussion of a new COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna with 94 percent effectiveness.
Counties’ case numbers
According to the KDHE’s COVID-19 summary report for Monday, counties with the most COVID-19 cumulative cases in Kansas included: Johnson County, 21,981; Sedgwick County (Wichita area), 21,255; Wyandotte County, 9,964; Shawnee County, 5,792; Ford County, 4,225; Douglas County, 3,712; Reno County, 3,682; Finney County, 3,498; Leavenworth County, 3,208; Butler County, 2,535; Seward County, 2,335; Riley County, 2,291; Crawford County, 1,944; Lyon County, 1,977; Ellis County, 1,908; Saline County, 1,697; Harvey County, 1,373; Barton County, 1,285; Cowley County, 1,104.
Also on Monday, another inmate death was reported at Ellsworth Correctional Facility. The inmate died on Sunday, Nov. 15, and had tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. It was the third resident death at Ellsworth, and the 10th resident death for KDOC.
The resident was moved Oct. 26 to Lansing Correctional Facility COVID-19 Management Unit after testing positive for the virus. The patient later was transported to a hospital.
The resident who died was a 68-year-old male with underlying medical concerns that contributed to his condition, according to the news release. He was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.
Free COVID-19 testing available on Tuesday
A free COVID-19 pop-up test will continue from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at All Saints parish, 811 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
The pop-up test is through Vibrant Health and the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force.
The Unified Government Health Department has moved its COVID-19 testing from the 6th and Ann location to the former Kmart at 78th and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Tests are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County. The tests are now saliva COVID-19 tests.
The tests now are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.
