Missouri reported a sharp increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases this week, particularly in the Kansas City area. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the 290 new cases announced Thursday amount to the biggest single-day increase in the state since May 4. Dr. Randall Williams, Missouri's top health official, says improved testing could account for some of that increase but there could be other factors. He says state health officials are paying attention to the Kansas City metropolitan area, which had a triple-digit increase in cases for the third consecutive day. The metropolitan area, which includes two Kansas counties, reported 133 new cases Thursday.
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