Platte County has broken 200 cases of COVID-19 within the last week, with four deaths now reported, and the pandemic has forced not only the cancellation of Independence Day events across the county, but now also the Platte County Steam Engine Show.
Organizers announced last week the decision to cancel the August event.
“Since we started the Platte County Steam Engine Show 59 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and their families,” the statement says. “Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences for our guests that focus on the history and might of the steam engine in our farming communities. This has been our ambition and will remain so. As we have continued to gather information throughout this global pandemic, we have made the decision to cancel the 59th Annual Platte County Steam Engine Show. The safety, security, and health of our attendees, guests, exhibitors, staff and crew members will always be of the utmost importance to us.”
As of the Citizen’s press time, no announcement had been made if the Platte County Fair will be held next month in Tracy. Fair officials did not respond to the Citizen’s request for a comment.
COVID UPDATE
As of press time on Tuesday, June 23, there were 213 cases in total in Plate County with 107 of those within the City of Kansas City and 106 within other areas of the county.
Between April 21 and June 19, the health department administered 729 tests, with 17 yielding positive results. Results were pending for 21 cases. The state testing site in Platte City, conducted by the Missouri National Guard, conducted another 521 tests — which were open to all Missouri residents — with two Platte County residents coming back positive. Another mass testing event, held in partnership with the City of Kansas City, may be held at the old K-Mart building off Interstate 29 in July.
In Platte County, 18 people have been hospitalized.
The county entered “phase two, step three” last week, meaning retail businesses may operate at 50 percent of capacity, physical distancing and hygiene recommendations remain in place and face coverings are also recommended. Non-retail businesses, including religious organizations, gyms and fitness centers may also operate at 50 percent capacity with distancing measures in place. Distancing requirements and hygiene precautions also remain in place for restaurants. The full order may be found at plattecountyhealthdept.com.
BOARD MEETING
The health department’s board of trustees held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 16 and heard reports from the county’s epidemiologist Erin Sanders and health department director Mary Jo Vernon.
Jon Bushman spoke to the board about re-opening schools, stating he felt online learning allowed students to more easily cheat and they were missing out on social interactions.
Board members said the health department had been in contact with each county school district and Vernon said she had recently attended an online conference discussing the start of school in the fall with representatives from the state departments of health and senior services and elementary and secondary education. Districts must make individualized back to school plans.
Also at the meeting, two returning members were sworn in to the board of trustees. Dr. Kent Jackson and Dr. Teresa Hills were sworn in and re-elected to their positions of chair and vice chair, respectively.
UNIFIED FACILITY
The board of trustees recently finalized the purchase of a former Montessori school off Ambassador Drive near KCI Airport at a cost of nearly $2 million, with plans to relocate the health department to that facility next year. The existing health department buildings in Platte City and Parkville will be sold and a unified facility constructed at the KCI area site. Department officials last week toured the new building and discussed plans to repurpose or donate playground equipment and other items left behind by the previous owner.