Update: As of April 1, 2022, Missouri stopped updating some of its daily COVID metrics at the county level. This includes daily new counts of new cases and COVID-related deaths. As a result, The Beacon has adjusted this page and the COVID Data Dashboard to reflect data that will be available moving forward. More information on how to access historic data can be found below.

The Kansas City Beacon analyzed national datasets of COVID-19 metrics to create our COVID data dashboard for the Kansas City area. You can see the dashboard by clicking here and read more below about how we gathered the information and where you can access it. 

Why we’ve created a Kansas City COVID data dashboard now

This data dashboard launched in January 2022, nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there are many resources for COVID metrics available to the public, we decided to release our own data compilation after reporters found that certain critical metrics used to assess the omicron and delta surges were not readily available elsewhere for the Kansas City area. The Beacon decided to fill that hole and present comprehensive data on the statistics frequently cited by Kansas City area public officials while making decisions on things like mask mandates or other public health restrictions. 

This dashboard is not meant to cover all COVID metrics, but rather complement existing data resources

What is the source of this data?

As of April 2022, all data used in The Beacon’s COVID Data Dashboard is sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The graphic “COVID transmission levels in the Kansas City metropolitan area” is created using the dataset “United States COVID-19 Community Levels by County,” which is updated weekly. 

The graphic “Weekly COVID case rates in the Kansas City area” is created using the dataset “County Level of Community Transmission Historical Changes,” which is updated daily. However, because Missouri still doesn’t update each of its county metrics daily, some figures may be delayed. 

Historic data

Prior to April 1, 2022, the data used to populate graphics on The Beacon’s COVID Data Dashboard is primarily sourced from  the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, presented by the Associated Press. Specifically, reporters analyzed the data set titled “2_cases_and_deaths_by_county_timeseries,” which can be found here. 

Historic daily case rates calculated by The Beacon for each local county as well as a metropolitan-wide rate for the period between July 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, are available here. 

Geographic and population information for all analyses were sourced from the latest U.S. Census data.

Can I download the data?

The underlying datasets are available for public use at the links referenced above. The Beacon is also making its compilation available for public, noncommerical use, including by other local media outlets. 

Access the completed analyses here

To use this data, we require listed attribution to The Kansas City Beacon. For online presentations, we require anyone using the data to provide a public hyperlink to: https://kcbeacon.org/?p=8488

For additional detail, you may also credit and link to the underlying data sets.

What do all these numbers mean?

A full list of how we calculated each metric can be found here.

Weekly case rate per 100k residents: This shows the total number of new COVID-19 cases reported over the prior seven days, divided by population and multiplied by 100,000. This calculation facilitates comparisons between municipalities of different sizes and is frequently cited by public health professionals. 

Weekly COVID hospital admissions rate: The total number of people admitted to the hospital with the COVID-19 virus divided by the location’s population and multiplied by 100,000.

CDC community transmission level: Public health officials determine this indicator using each county’s weekly COVID case rate, weekly COVID hospital admission rate and the percentage of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients. To read more about recommended prevention steps for each community level, click here. 

Historic metrics

Weekly death rate per 100k residents: This is the same calculation as the weekly case rate, except using data for new reported deaths over the prior seven days. 

Average ICU occupancy: This number shows how many local ICU beds are occupied on average during a given week out of the total number of ICU beds available.

New pediatric COVID hospital admissions: The number of children admitted to local hospitals during the prior week who were either confirmed or suspected to be positive for the COVID-19 virus.

New adult COVID hospital admissions: The number of adults admitted to local hospitals during the prior week who were either confirmed or suspected to be positive for the COVID-19 virus. 

Total new COVID hospital admissions: The total new pediatric COVID hospital admissions combined with the total new adult COVID hospital admissions.

Where else can I find information?

There are several resources for additional COVID data available. We recommend readers check out any of the following to explore more:

State of Missouri – COVID-19 Data Dashboard

In addition to cases and deaths, Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services publishes data on vaccinations, testing and more. 

State of Kansas – COVID-19 Cases in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment publishes similar statistics for the state. 

Mid-America Regional Council – Kansas City Region COVID-19 Data Hub

MARC offers detailed information on hospitalizations, vaccinations and other metrics in the local area.