Here's the Saline County COVID-19 update for Saturday:

The Saline County Health Department has been notified of one additional positive COVID-19 case in a Saline County resident.

• Female in her 20’s who is isolated at home and has recent travel to a hotspot area in the U.S.

This additional case brings the total to 5 in Saline County. At 11 am KDHE reported a total of 698 cases in Kansas.

FEMA has delivered Kansas’ portion of the Strategic National Stockpile and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management will coordinate the distribution of these critical resources for medical facilities and first responders to all 105 counties.

Saline County continues to receive reports of alleged non-compliance with the Statewide Stay-at-Home order. Alleged violations can be reported through our online submission form at <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a>. It has always been and will continue to be our intention to ensure that businesses and individuals are educated on the statewide order. Stay-at-Home simply means Stay at Home. If you are not performing essential tasks, then you need to be at home. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

If you have a question about a business being essential or not, please visit the Governor’s website at <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/keff">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff</a> to see the order, list of essential functions, and frequently asked questions.

KDHE issued guidance for the conduct of church services and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Churches should use online, radio, and or other telecommunications tools wherever possible to conduct services or other church operations without congregating in-person.

If a church is unable to use online, radio, or other telecommunication tools, a church conducting in-person services or operations must comply with the following requirements, which by the Governor’s guidance are hereby determined not to significantly disrupt church services:

•Maintain a six-foot distance between individuals

•Disinfect all doorknobs and other commonly touched surfaces both before and after service begins, and

•Refrain from passing offering plates, communion trays, or other implements that may be repeatedly touched.

Additionally, churches must comply with the “mass gathering” prohibition that is restrictive in Executive Order 20-14. Outlining 10 or less people in one setting.

Help our community in slowing the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

Here's the Saline County COVID-19 update for Saturday:The Saline County Health Department has been notified of one additional positive COVID-19 case in a Saline County resident.• Female in her 20’s who is isolated at home and has recent travel to a hotspot area in the U.S.This additional case brings the total to 5 in Saline County. At 11 am KDHE reported a total of 698 cases in Kansas.FEMA has delivered Kansas’ portion of the Strategic National Stockpile and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management will coordinate the distribution of these critical resources for medical facilities and first responders to all 105 counties.Saline County continues to receive reports of alleged non-compliance with the Statewide Stay-at-Home order. Alleged violations can be reported through our online submission form at <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a>. It has always been and will continue to be our intention to ensure that businesses and individuals are educated on the statewide order. Stay-at-Home simply means Stay at Home. If you are not performing essential tasks, then you need to be at home. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”If you have a question about a business being essential or not, please visit the Governor’s website at <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/keff">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff</a> to see the order, list of essential functions, and frequently asked questions.Announcements:KDHE issued guidance for the conduct of church services and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.Churches should use online, radio, and or other telecommunications tools wherever possible to conduct services or other church operations without congregating in-person.If a church is unable to use online, radio, or other telecommunication tools, a church conducting in-person services or operations must comply with the following requirements, which by the Governor’s guidance are hereby determined not to significantly disrupt church services:•Maintain a six-foot distance between individuals•Disinfect all doorknobs and other commonly touched surfaces both before and after service begins, and•Refrain from passing offering plates, communion trays, or other implements that may be repeatedly touched.Additionally, churches must comply with the “mass gathering” prohibition that is restrictive in Executive Order 20-14. Outlining 10 or less people in one setting.Help our community in slowing the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

Saline County reports 5th case of COVID-19

WASHINGTON — The White House is stepping up precautions to protect the president and vice president from contracting the new coronavirus.

Starting Friday, anyone who is expected to be in “close proximity” to either President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence will be given a quick COVID-19 test “to evaluate for pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic carriers status to limit inadvertent transmission.”

That’s according to White House spokesman Judd Deere.

All visitors to the White House complex already have their temperatures taken when entering the building and if they will be in close proximity to either Trump or Pence.

Trump took the new COVID-19 test on Thursday and the White House doctor said results were back in 15 minutes. He tested negative.

A first look at recent U.S. death certificate data confirms that most of the initial American coronavirus deaths were people age 65 and older. But it also notes that about 1 in 5 were middle-aged.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the data online Friday. It reflects 1,150 U.S. coronavirus deaths that occurred through the last week of March. That tally is several hundreds deaths lower than other totals reported for the same period, because it relies on death certificate information which can come in weeks after other kinds of reports.

The new data says 56% of deaths were people 75 and older, and another 23% were people in their late 60s and early 70s. But another 17% were ages 45 to 64, and 3% were 35 to 44. The statistics were smaller for younger adults. One child died

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585949419593.png" alt="President Trump and Vice President Pence during Friday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>President Trump and Vice President Pence during Friday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The White House is stepping up precautions to protect the president and vice president from contracting the new coronavirus.Starting Friday, anyone who is expected to be in “close proximity” to either President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence will be given a quick COVID-19 test “to evaluate for pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic carriers status to limit inadvertent transmission.”That’s according to White House spokesman Judd Deere.All visitors to the White House complex already have their temperatures taken when entering the building and if they will be in close proximity to either Trump or Pence.Trump took the new COVID-19 test on Thursday and the White House doctor said results were back in 15 minutes. He tested negative.___A first look at recent U.S. death certificate data confirms that most of the initial American coronavirus deaths were people age 65 and older. But it also notes that about 1 in 5 were middle-aged.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the data online Friday. It reflects 1,150 U.S. coronavirus deaths that occurred through the last week of March. That tally is several hundreds deaths lower than other totals reported for the same period, because it relies on death certificate information which can come in weeks after other kinds of reports.The new data says 56% of deaths were people 75 and older, and another 23% were people in their late 60s and early 70s. But another 17% were ages 45 to 64, and 3% were 35 to 44. The statistics were smaller for younger adults. One child died

US stepping up protection of Trump, Pence

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department announced Saturday the eighth confirmed case of COVID-19 in the county.

The seventh confirmed case in McPherson County was announced just before 10 p.m. Friday.

According to information from the McPherson County Health Department, the seventh person to be confirmed as having COVID-19 is a woman in her 50s who is recovering in isolation at home.

"This case has known travel exposure. McPherson County Health Department and key partners are actively investigating contacts and exposures. If you are an identified contact, you will be directly reached out to by local health officials," the information noted.

The eighth person to be confirmed as having COVID-19 in McPherson County is a woman in her 40s who is recovering in isolation at home, according to information from the McPherson County Health Department. Health officials are investigating to determine the source of the woman's exposure to COVID-19, the information noted.

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department announced Saturday the eighth confirmed case of COVID-19 in the county.The seventh confirmed case in McPherson County was announced just before 10 p.m. Friday.According to information from the McPherson County Health Department, the seventh person to be confirmed as having COVID-19 is a woman in her 50s who is recovering in isolation at home."This case has known travel exposure. McPherson County Health Department and key partners are actively investigating contacts and exposures. If you are an identified contact, you will be directly reached out to by local health officials," the information noted.The eighth person to be confirmed as having COVID-19 in McPherson County is a woman in her 40s who is recovering in isolation at home, according to information from the McPherson County Health Department. Health officials are investigating to determine the source of the woman's exposure to COVID-19, the information noted.

Two more cases of COVID-19 in McPherson County

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC</a> now recommends wearing cloth face masks in public places.

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tPx1yqvJgf4"></iframe>
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams demonstrates how to make low-tech face masks using what you have at home.</figcaption>
 </figure>CDCWASHINGTON, D.C. - The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC</a> now recommends wearing cloth face masks in public places.<h2>Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others</h2><ol>
 <li>You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.</li><li>Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.</li><li>Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.</li><li>The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.</li><li>Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.</li><li>Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.</li>
 </ol>

🎥 CDC: How to make a face mask in 45 seconds

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest report on coronavirus in Kansas Saturday.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData"> Click here </a>for additional details.

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest report on coronavirus in Kansas Saturday.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData"> Click here </a>for additional details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586020138546.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 21 deaths

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas could run out of personal protective equipment for medical personnel and others dealing directly with the coronavirus pandemic by the middle of next week, Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday, as the state saw its largest spike in the number of COVID-19-related deaths since the outbreak began.

The Democratic governor’s warning came a day after she sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s administration as unprepared. She said Kansas received a shipment of personal protective equipment from the federal government, including masks and gloves, late Thursday, but that six requests for more equipment have yet to be filled.

Kelly and the state Department of Health and Environment didn’t say how much equipment Kansas had received or how much more it was requesting. But the governor said supplies will last only until Tuesday.

“We will absolutely clear it out,” Kelly said during a daily coronavirus briefing at the Statehouse. “Everything will go down to our local county health officials for distribution to their health facilities, so that’s got to get restocked.”

COVID-19-related deaths reported in Kansas jumped by five Friday to 18. Three of those deaths were in Johnson County, two men in their 80s and a woman in her 70s, and one was in neighboring Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area. Leavenworth County also reported its first, a woman in her 50s.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases grew in a single day to 620, up 68, or 12%. Forty-five of the state’s 105 counties have a confirmed case.

Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Kansas has turned to private companies to help restock its protective equipment supplies, but Kelly said the state has seen orders diverted to other states or the federal government.

“We’re hoping though that at least some of that will reach Kansas by Tuesday, before we’re completely out,” she said.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Friday that state and local agencies have filed some of the roughly dozen complaints alleging price-gouging by providers of emergency supplies. State law limits price increases for necessary goods and services during an emergency.

Schmidt said his office has received more than 160 complaints since March 12, when Kelly declared a state of emergency. He said many came from consumers upset over retail prices.

Meanwhile, several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Midwest Innocence Project, urged Kansas to release medically fragile and older adult inmates from prison, to make social distancing easier and to protect inmates who have underlying health conditions.

Three staff members at the state prison in Lansing have tested positive for the coronavirus, and about 15 inmates are in isolation. A detention deputy at the Sedgwick County jail also has the virus.

The state has no plans to release inmates early, an option Schmidt described as “a last resort.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585941832643.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly answer questions during a Friday news conference." />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly answer questions during a Friday news conference.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas could run out of personal protective equipment for medical personnel and others dealing directly with the coronavirus pandemic by the middle of next week, Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday, as the state saw its largest spike in the number of COVID-19-related deaths since the outbreak began.The Democratic governor’s warning came a day after she sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s administration as unprepared. She said Kansas received a shipment of personal protective equipment from the federal government, including masks and gloves, late Thursday, but that six requests for more equipment have yet to be filled.Kelly and the state Department of Health and Environment didn’t say how much equipment Kansas had received or how much more it was requesting. But the governor said supplies will last only until Tuesday.“We will absolutely clear it out,” Kelly said during a daily coronavirus briefing at the Statehouse. “Everything will go down to our local county health officials for distribution to their health facilities, so that’s got to get restocked.”COVID-19-related deaths reported in Kansas jumped by five Friday to 18. Three of those deaths were in Johnson County, two men in their 80s and a woman in her 70s, and one was in neighboring Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area. Leavenworth County also reported its first, a woman in her 50s.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases grew in a single day to 620, up 68, or 12%. Forty-five of the state’s 105 counties have a confirmed case.Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.Kansas has turned to private companies to help restock its protective equipment supplies, but Kelly said the state has seen orders diverted to other states or the federal government.“We’re hoping though that at least some of that will reach Kansas by Tuesday, before we’re completely out,” she said.Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Friday that state and local agencies have filed some of the roughly dozen complaints alleging price-gouging by providers of emergency supplies. State law limits price increases for necessary goods and services during an emergency.Schmidt said his office has received more than 160 complaints since March 12, when Kelly declared a state of emergency. He said many came from consumers upset over retail prices.Meanwhile, several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Midwest Innocence Project, urged Kansas to release medically fragile and older adult inmates from prison, to make social distancing easier and to protect inmates who have underlying health conditions.Three staff members at the state prison in Lansing have tested positive for the coronavirus, and about 15 inmates are in isolation. A detention deputy at the Sedgwick County jail also has the virus.The state has no plans to release inmates early, an option Schmidt described as “a last resort.”___

Coronavirus crisis: Kan. could exhaust protective gear next week

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Ottawa County Health Department has announced that a second COVID-19 case has been confirmed in the county.

Following is a statement from the Ottawa County Health Department.

The Ottawa County Health Department received notification today confirming our second positive case of COVID-19 in the county. We are working closely with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment during this time.

The individual is currently maintaining in-home isolation and is stable. The Ottawa County Health Department has identified all contacts and will monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms. No further information will be given on the patient.

Our goal is to prevent and limit exposure to our population. We ask that Ottawa County residents respect Governor Kelly’s Stay at Home order. This directive states that residents should remain at home UNLESS you are:

• Going to work to perform an essential function

• Obtaining food, medicine or other household necessities

• Caring for children, pets, family members or a vulnerable person in another location

• Exercising outside while also abiding by the 10-person limit on gathering size and adhering to appropriate social distancing guidelines

Ottawa County residents can stay informed by visiting <a href="http://ottawacounty.org">ottawacounty.org</a> and the Ottawa County Health Department Facebook page. If you have any questions, please contact the Ottawa County Health Department or visits <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Ottawa County Health Department has announced that a second COVID-19 case has been confirmed in the county.Following is a statement from the Ottawa County Health Department.The Ottawa County Health Department received notification today confirming our second positive case of COVID-19 in the county. We are working closely with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment during this time.The individual is currently maintaining in-home isolation and is stable. The Ottawa County Health Department has identified all contacts and will monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms. No further information will be given on the patient.Our goal is to prevent and limit exposure to our population. We ask that Ottawa County residents respect Governor Kelly’s Stay at Home order. This directive states that residents should remain at home UNLESS you are:• Going to work to perform an essential function• Obtaining food, medicine or other household necessities• Seeking medical care• Caring for children, pets, family members or a vulnerable person in another location• Exercising outside while also abiding by the 10-person limit on gathering size and adhering to appropriate social distancing guidelinesOttawa County residents can stay informed by visiting <a href="http://ottawacounty.org">ottawacounty.org</a> and the Ottawa County Health Department Facebook page. If you have any questions, please contact the Ottawa County Health Department or visits <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

Second COVID-19 case identified in Ottawa County

SCOTT COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a second man in connection with alleged criminal threat involving coronavirus in Scott County.

Just before 10:30 a.m. Thursday, police with the assistance of the Scott County Sheriff's Office arrested Dominic Daniel Edson, 19, with Conspiracy to commit terrorism, criminal threat and assault.

This arrest was due to his involvement at the incident on March 31, at Dollar General involving a man telling an 11-year-old girl he was going to give her corona and coughed in her face, according to Police Chief David Post.

Just before 11p.m.&nbsp; Monday, officers arrested Chance Archie Seamans, 31, Scott City for Terrorism and Criminal Threat.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Edson and Seamans remain jailed in Scott County. Edson is being held on a bond of $100,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585969636955.png" alt="Edson -photo Scott Co." />
 <figcaption>Edson -photo Scott Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SCOTT COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a second man in connection with alleged criminal threat involving coronavirus in Scott County.Just before 10:30 a.m. Thursday, police with the assistance of the Scott County Sheriff's Office arrested Dominic Daniel Edson, 19, with Conspiracy to commit terrorism, criminal threat and assault.This arrest was due to his involvement at the incident on March 31, at Dollar General involving a man telling an 11-year-old girl he was going to give her corona and coughed in her face, according to Police Chief David Post.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585749576027.png" alt="Seamans photo Scott County" />
 <figcaption>Seamans photo Scott County</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 11p.m.&nbsp; Monday, officers arrested Chance Archie Seamans, 31, Scott City for Terrorism and Criminal Threat.&nbsp;&nbsp;Edson and Seamans remain jailed in Scott County. Edson is being held on a bond of $100,000.

2nd Kan. man jailed in threat to spread coronavirus to 11-year-old

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The president immediately said he had no intention of following the advice himself, saying, “I’m choosing not to do it.”

The new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people, especially in areas hit hard by the spread of the coronavirus, to use rudimentary coverings like T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks to cover their faces while outdoors.

The president exempted himself from his administration’s own guidelines, saying he could not envision himself covering his face while sitting in the Oval Office greeting world leaders.

“It’s a recommendation, they recommend it,” Trump said. “I just don’t want to wear one myself.”

The new guidance, announced at a time when states are bracing for critical shortfalls like those that other parts of the world have experienced, raises concern that it could cause a sudden run on masks if Americans turn to private industry to meet the expected surge in demand.

Trump and other administration officials sought to minimize any burden by stressing the recommendations did not amount to requirements and a variety of homemade coverings were perfectly acceptable. Federal officials stressed that surgical masks and N95 respirators should be left for those on the front lines of fighting the spread of the infection.

Friday’s announcement capped an evolution in messaging from the White House that officials acknowledged has at times been confusing.

First lady Melania Trump embodied the ever-changing messaging with a tweet saying, “As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing &amp; wearing a mask/face covering seriously.”

The administration has said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies, but it’s not clear if anyone is prepared for the potential rush that could ensue if people try to obtain medical masks for themselves.

In rural Florida, Okeechobee Discount Drugs has been sold out of face masks for almost two weeks, and “we don’t know where you can find any masks at this point,” said Stacey Nelson, one of the pharmacy’s owners.

“It’s very hard to get these products, but people want them,” Nelson said. “They’ve been getting mixed messages and people aren’t sure if they should be wearing masks in our daily lives. It’s very confusing. Wear them, or don’t wear them?”

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585952762163.png" alt="President Trump answered questions about face masks during Friday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing- White House courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answered questions about face masks during Friday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing- White House courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The president immediately said he had no intention of following the advice himself, saying, “I’m choosing not to do it.”The new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people, especially in areas hit hard by the spread of the coronavirus, to use rudimentary coverings like T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks to cover their faces while outdoors.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing &amp; wearing a mask/face covering seriously. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> is a virus that can spread to anyone - we can stop this together.&mdash; Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1246192228491558916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The president exempted himself from his administration’s own guidelines, saying he could not envision himself covering his face while sitting in the Oval Office greeting world leaders.“It’s a recommendation, they recommend it,” Trump said. “I just don’t want to wear one myself.”The new guidance, announced at a time when states are bracing for critical shortfalls like those that other parts of the world have experienced, raises concern that it could cause a sudden run on masks if Americans turn to private industry to meet the expected surge in demand.Trump and other administration officials sought to minimize any burden by stressing the recommendations did not amount to requirements and a variety of homemade coverings were perfectly acceptable. Federal officials stressed that surgical masks and N95 respirators should be left for those on the front lines of fighting the spread of the infection.Friday’s announcement capped an evolution in messaging from the White House that officials acknowledged has at times been confusing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584894001370.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>First lady Melania Trump embodied the ever-changing messaging with a tweet saying, “As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing &amp; wearing a mask/face covering seriously.”The administration has said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies, but it’s not clear if anyone is prepared for the potential rush that could ensue if people try to obtain medical masks for themselves.In rural Florida, Okeechobee Discount Drugs has been sold out of face masks for almost two weeks, and “we don’t know where you can find any masks at this point,” said Stacey Nelson, one of the pharmacy’s owners.“It’s very hard to get these products, but people want them,” Nelson said. “They’ve been getting mixed messages and people aren’t sure if they should be wearing masks in our daily lives. It’s very confusing. Wear them, or don’t wear them?”For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

First Lady: Take social distancing, wearing a mask seriously

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments on Friday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

CROWD CONTROL: Walmart still wants customers, just fewer of them at a time. The nation’s largest retailer said it will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly about 20% of the average store’s capacity. To oversee the restriction, workers will mark a queue at a single-entry door, and direct arriving customers there, where they’ll be admitted one by one. Walmart joins Target and others in trying to limit the number of customers in the store to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Hobby Lobby announced in a new release Friday they will, after careful consideration, close the remainder of its stores, and furlough nearly all store employees and a large portion of corporate and distribution employees, effective Friday, April 3rd, at 8:00 p.m. The stores will remain closed until further notice.

AIRLINES: Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue said they applied Friday for their share of $25 billion in federal grants designed to cover airline payrolls for the next six months. None disclosed the amount they are seeking.

The grant money was part of $2.2 trillion relief bill approved last week. Delta’s CEO says his airline is burning more than $60 million cash per day, and United’s president puts it at $100 million a day. Airline revenue has cratered during the coronavirus outbreak. Delta carried 38,000 passengers last Saturday. On a normal Saturday in late March it flies 600,000.

The number of travelers screened Thursday at airports nationwide was 124,000, a 95% drop from the same day last year.

And the global airline industry passed a milestone Friday: Half of all passenger jets are now grounded as airlines cut flights sharply. Aviation-data firm Cirium said that with another 530 parked since Thursday, there are now 12,635 jets in service and 13,655 grounded. The number of commercial flights is down 75%, according to tracking service

The Transportation Department, meanwhile, said it is getting more complaints from consumers who say airlines are giving travel vouchers instead of refunds after canceling flights. The department says vouchers aren’t easy to use because airlines are cutting so many flights due to the coronavirus outbreak. Airlines can offer vouchers — and usually do, even in normal times — but the Transportation Department said it is reminding carriers of a longstanding requirement to issue prompt refunds to passengers who want them.

COSTS MOUNT: The pandemic will cost the global economy as much as $4.1 trillion, or nearly 5% of all economic activity, according to new estimates from the Asian Development Bank.

The head of the International Monetary Fund said the recession sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is “way worse” than the 2008 global recession. At a press briefing in Geneva on Friday, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva described the situation as “a crisis like no other.”

SMALL BUSINESS: More than $875 million in loan applications had been processed through the new small business loan program, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said via&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/stevenmnuchin1/status/1246100166026936322" target="_blank">Twitter,&nbsp;</a>“almost all from community banks!” Mnuchin said in that tweet that big banks were also taking applications and would be submitting them shortly. However, there were signs that the program is off to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/edf614822fa34d70520b35e000f3b3ce">rough start</a>.

HEAVY INDUSTRY: Toyota is halting production at five of its 18 plants in Japan as sales evaporate. The stoppage will last three days for most of the plants, but one plant will close until mid-April.

The affected plants produce vehicles for export, including Lexus luxury models and the Prius hybrid. Other Japanese automakers, such as Honda Motor Co., have also suspended production.

The U.S. auto industry is completely shut down.

CORONA SIDELINED BY CORONAVIRUS: The coronavirus pandemic is even closing the taps on Corona beer — along with most other brews across Mexico.

Major breweries announced Friday they are suspending operations in response to government orders for non-essential businesses to keep their workers at home.

Grupo Modelo, maker of Corona among other popular brands, said it will suspend its operations at plants around the country by Sunday. The company pointed out in a statement that thousands of farmers depend on it buying their grain. It said it has a plan that would allow it to continue production with 75% of its workforce at home if the government decides to allow it to continue operating.

Some Mexican states have also imposed dry laws that restrict the sale of alcohol during the health crisis.

MARKETS: U.S. stocks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62144c864d3f7c3ef08f270e0b809c2d">fell&nbsp;</a>Friday, leaving the S&amp;P 500 down 26.5% since its record set in February.

The losses came after the government reported that U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/996e9504177861cb29dd77dadec5d873">employers cut 701,000 jobs</a>&nbsp;in March, the monthly decline in nearly a decade. Because of the timing of the spread of COVID-19, the March report did not capture the extend of the damage. Economists are warning policy makers to brace for worse.

ROUNDING IT OUT: The U.S. typically has a unique response to crisis, and the coronavirus is no different.

Firearm sales spiked 85% last month compared with the March last year, according an analysis of the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System by Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting.

The laws of supply and demand also apply to arming up, of course, and the cost of adding guns the the shopping list will cost you.

“Much of the industry’s inventory will have been depleted, so that we anticipate that weapons and ammunition prices increased as well,” said Jurgen Brauer, SAAF’s chief economist.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments on Friday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.CROWD CONTROL: Walmart still wants customers, just fewer of them at a time. The nation’s largest retailer said it will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly about 20% of the average store’s capacity. To oversee the restriction, workers will mark a queue at a single-entry door, and direct arriving customers there, where they’ll be admitted one by one. Walmart joins Target and others in trying to limit the number of customers in the store to curb the spread of the coronavirus.Hobby Lobby announced in a new release Friday they will, after careful consideration, close the remainder of its stores, and furlough nearly all store employees and a large portion of corporate and distribution employees, effective Friday, April 3rd, at 8:00 p.m. The stores will remain closed until further notice.AIRLINES: Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue said they applied Friday for their share of $25 billion in federal grants designed to cover airline payrolls for the next six months. None disclosed the amount they are seeking.The grant money was part of $2.2 trillion relief bill approved last week. Delta’s CEO says his airline is burning more than $60 million cash per day, and United’s president puts it at $100 million a day. Airline revenue has cratered during the coronavirus outbreak. Delta carried 38,000 passengers last Saturday. On a normal Saturday in late March it flies 600,000.The number of travelers screened Thursday at airports nationwide was 124,000, a 95% drop from the same day last year.And the global airline industry passed a milestone Friday: Half of all passenger jets are now grounded as airlines cut flights sharply. Aviation-data firm Cirium said that with another 530 parked since Thursday, there are now 12,635 jets in service and 13,655 grounded. The number of commercial flights is down 75%, according to tracking serviceThe Transportation Department, meanwhile, said it is getting more complaints from consumers who say airlines are giving travel vouchers instead of refunds after canceling flights. The department says vouchers aren’t easy to use because airlines are cutting so many flights due to the coronavirus outbreak. Airlines can offer vouchers — and usually do, even in normal times — but the Transportation Department said it is reminding carriers of a longstanding requirement to issue prompt refunds to passengers who want them.COSTS MOUNT: The pandemic will cost the global economy as much as $4.1 trillion, or nearly 5% of all economic activity, according to new estimates from the Asian Development Bank.The head of the International Monetary Fund said the recession sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is “way worse” than the 2008 global recession. At a press briefing in Geneva on Friday, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva described the situation as “a crisis like no other.”SMALL BUSINESS: More than $875 million in loan applications had been processed through the new small business loan program, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said via&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/stevenmnuchin1/status/1246100166026936322" target="_blank">Twitter,&nbsp;</a>“almost all from community banks!” Mnuchin said in that tweet that big banks were also taking applications and would be submitting them shortly. However, there were signs that the program is off to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/edf614822fa34d70520b35e000f3b3ce">rough start</a>.HEAVY INDUSTRY: Toyota is halting production at five of its 18 plants in Japan as sales evaporate. The stoppage will last three days for most of the plants, but one plant will close until mid-April.The affected plants produce vehicles for export, including Lexus luxury models and the Prius hybrid. Other Japanese automakers, such as Honda Motor Co., have also suspended production.The U.S. auto industry is completely shut down.CORONA SIDELINED BY CORONAVIRUS: The coronavirus pandemic is even closing the taps on Corona beer — along with most other brews across Mexico.Major breweries announced Friday they are suspending operations in response to government orders for non-essential businesses to keep their workers at home.Grupo Modelo, maker of Corona among other popular brands, said it will suspend its operations at plants around the country by Sunday. The company pointed out in a statement that thousands of farmers depend on it buying their grain. It said it has a plan that would allow it to continue production with 75% of its workforce at home if the government decides to allow it to continue operating.Some Mexican states have also imposed dry laws that restrict the sale of alcohol during the health crisis.MARKETS: U.S. stocks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62144c864d3f7c3ef08f270e0b809c2d">fell&nbsp;</a>Friday, leaving the S&amp;P 500 down 26.5% since its record set in February.The losses came after the government reported that U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/996e9504177861cb29dd77dadec5d873">employers cut 701,000 jobs</a>&nbsp;in March, the monthly decline in nearly a decade. Because of the timing of the spread of COVID-19, the March report did not capture the extend of the damage. Economists are warning policy makers to brace for worse.ROUNDING IT OUT: The U.S. typically has a unique response to crisis, and the coronavirus is no different.Firearm sales spiked 85% last month compared with the March last year, according an analysis of the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System by Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting.The laws of supply and demand also apply to arming up, of course, and the cost of adding guns the the shopping list will cost you.“Much of the industry’s inventory will have been depleted, so that we anticipate that weapons and ammunition prices increased as well,” said Jurgen Brauer, SAAF’s chief economist.Data on prices will be released soon.

Virus crowd control: Walmart limits store access

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Advocates are urging Kansas officials to release and safeguard inmates after the state prison system reported its first COVID-19 cases in three staff members and at least one jail worker in the state’s largest city was sickened.

At the Sedgwick County Jail, where officials confirmed Thursday that a detention deputy had tested positive, about 200 inmates have been released since mid-March over concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>. Positive cases statewide rose Thursday nearly 15% in a single day, to 552, with 13 deaths since early March.

Sheriff Jeff Easter said the deputy who tested positive is in isolation at home, and family members are quarantined at home. Coworkers who were around the deputy are still reporting to work. A second employee has also been sent home and will be tested after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Hospital staff said the deputy was presumptive positive Tuesday night, Easter said.

So far state officials have no plans to release prisoners ahead of scheduled release dates since corrections officials announced Tuesday that three staff members at the Lansing Correctional Facility had tested positive. Gov. Laura Kelly has said her office is “at the exploratory phase.”

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Rebecca Witte said in an email to The Kansas City Star that the agency already has closed facilities to visitors, limited transfers between facilities and added screening processes. Beginning Friday, she said, the office will isolate inmates upon intake at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Among those urging further changes are the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Kansas Board of Indigents Defense Services, the District of Kansas Federal Public Defenders office and the Midwest Innocence Project.

They are calling in a letter for Kansas to release medically fragile and older adults at high risk for COVID-19 complications, the release of anyone with six months or fewer left on their sentences and the release of anyone imprisoned for technical violations of probation or parole.

This release, the letter said, would make social distancing easier for those remaining in the jail. Additionally, it would protect the estimated 39-43% of inmates who have underlying health conditions.

The letter warned that failure to act would result in “dire” consequences.

“I’m sure the Department of Corrections and the governor are trying really hard, you can see it,” said Kansas Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers Legislative Chair Jennifer Roth. “But you have got to have fewer people.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582652138914.png" alt="Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter" />
 <figcaption>Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Advocates are urging Kansas officials to release and safeguard inmates after the state prison system reported its first COVID-19 cases in three staff members and at least one jail worker in the state’s largest city was sickened.At the Sedgwick County Jail, where officials confirmed Thursday that a detention deputy had tested positive, about 200 inmates have been released since mid-March over concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>. Positive cases statewide rose Thursday nearly 15% in a single day, to 552, with 13 deaths since early March.Sheriff Jeff Easter said the deputy who tested positive is in isolation at home, and family members are quarantined at home. Coworkers who were around the deputy are still reporting to work. A second employee has also been sent home and will be tested after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Hospital staff said the deputy was presumptive positive Tuesday night, Easter said.So far state officials have no plans to release prisoners ahead of scheduled release dates since corrections officials announced Tuesday that three staff members at the Lansing Correctional Facility had tested positive. Gov. Laura Kelly has said her office is “at the exploratory phase.”Department of Corrections spokeswoman Rebecca Witte said in an email to The Kansas City Star that the agency already has closed facilities to visitors, limited transfers between facilities and added screening processes. Beginning Friday, she said, the office will isolate inmates upon intake at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.Among those urging further changes are the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Kansas Board of Indigents Defense Services, the District of Kansas Federal Public Defenders office and the Midwest Innocence Project.They are calling in a letter for Kansas to release medically fragile and older adults at high risk for COVID-19 complications, the release of anyone with six months or fewer left on their sentences and the release of anyone imprisoned for technical violations of probation or parole.This release, the letter said, would make social distancing easier for those remaining in the jail. Additionally, it would protect the estimated 39-43% of inmates who have underlying health conditions.The letter warned that failure to act would result in “dire” consequences.“I’m sure the Department of Corrections and the governor are trying really hard, you can see it,” said Kansas Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers Legislative Chair Jennifer Roth. “But you have got to have fewer people.”

Advocates urge change as virus sickens Kan. jail, prison workers

The Kansas National Guard is working to dispel a rumor that is being shared on social media platforms.

According to a media release from the Adjutant General's Department, there is a letter circulating&nbsp; that falsely claims the Department of Homeland Security will mobilize the National Guard to enforce a national quarantine.  

The Department of Homeland Security does not have the authority to mobilize the National Guard as described in the graphic.  Additionally, there is no discussion of a nation-wide quarantine.

You may see National Guard men and women working in your communities. There are 72 Guardsmen on State Active Duty status currently supporting the COVID-19 response conducting warehouse operations, commodity distribution, planning, access control, mailroom support, and manning the State Emergency Operations Center with interagency partners. 

Members of the Kansas National Guard live, work and raise families in the communities they serve. It truly is neighbors helping neighbors. Any help you can provide in dispelling unfounded rumors would be helpful to all of us as we battle COVID-19 together.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585948342359.png" alt="Copy of the letter -image courtesy the Kansas Adjutant General's Department" />
 <figcaption>Copy of the letter -image courtesy the Kansas Adjutant General's Department</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas National Guard is working to dispel a rumor that is being shared on social media platforms.According to a media release from the Adjutant General's Department, there is a letter circulating&nbsp; that falsely claims the Department of Homeland Security will mobilize the National Guard to enforce a national quarantine. The Department of Homeland Security does not have the authority to mobilize the National Guard as described in the graphic. Additionally, there is no discussion of a nation-wide quarantine.You may see National Guard men and women working in your communities. There are 72 Guardsmen on State Active Duty status currently supporting the COVID-19 response conducting warehouse operations, commodity distribution, planning, access control, mailroom support, and manning the State Emergency Operations Center with interagency partners. Members of the Kansas National Guard live, work and raise families in the communities they serve. It truly is neighbors helping neighbors. Any help you can provide in dispelling unfounded rumors would be helpful to all of us as we battle COVID-19 together.

Kansas National Guard working to dispel pandemic rumor

Here is Friday's COVID-19 update from Saline County:

The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional positive cases of COVID-19 to report in Saline County residents. Saline County has 4 cases, as of 11 am there was a total of 620 cases in Kansas.

•KDHE issued guidance today for establishments that have self-service foods and beverages. This includes self-service foods and beverages at gas stations and grocery stores. Please see the attachment to this release on that information.

•The Saline County Health Department has developed some employee screening questions that employers are welcome to use in coordination with the KDHE guidance.

Here is Friday's COVID-19 update from Saline County:The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional positive cases of COVID-19 to report in Saline County residents. Saline County has 4 cases, as of 11 am there was a total of 620 cases in Kansas.Saline County continues to receive reports of alleged non-compliance with the Statewide Stay-at-Home order. Alleged violations can be reported through our online submission form at <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a>. It has always been and will continue to be our intention to ensure that businesses and individuals are educated on the statewide order. Stay-at-Home simply means Stay at Home. If you are not performing essential tasks, then you need to be at home. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”If you have a question about a business being essential or not, please visit the Governor’s website at <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/keff">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff</a> to see the order, list of essential functions, and frequently asked questions.Announcements:•KDHE issued guidance today for establishments that have self-service foods and beverages. This includes self-service foods and beverages at gas stations and grocery stores. Please see the attachment to this release on that information.•The Saline County Health Department has developed some employee screening questions that employers are welcome to use in coordination with the KDHE guidance.Help our community in slowing the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

Saline County COVID-19 update for April 3

NEW YORK (AP) — The federal government’s relief program for small businesses is off to a slow start Friday, with only some businesses able to apply and several banks either not accepting applications or seeing long waits to do approvals.

Millions of small businesses are expected to apply for these desperately needed rescue loans from the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which was put in place to help them retain workers and pay bills during the coronavirus pandemic. Roughly 5,200 loans valued at $.8 billion have been processed so far, said Jovita Carranza, administrator of the Small Business Administration., on Friday afternoon.

The program is being overseen by the SBA but banks are handling the application process. Some large lenders like Wells Fargo, Huntington Bank and Bank of America were ready to go at the program’s outset. BofA said its gotten 28,000 applications so far. But JPMorgan Chase only started accepting applications Friday afternoon after saying earlier that it wouldn’t.

Ted Stein, who operates a small software business in West Virginia, filled out an online form Thursday through PNC Bank, saying he was interested in applying. On Friday, a bank representative told Stein he was unaware that the form was on its website. After Stein explained to him where to find it, the representative told Stein the bank wasn’t accepting applications and that he should keep checking his online account for guidance in the coming hours and days, Stein said.

“It was almost comical, but heartbreaking. It’s tragicomedy, I guess,” he said.

Even those banks accepting applications were limited in who they could accept. Bank of America said the loans were available to customers who had business deposit accounts and business loans with the bank.

The program is part of the $2 trillion relief package signed into law last week, which was billed as a way to help local businesses that often form the fabric of communities stay afloat. The program will give businesses low-interest loans of about 2.5 times their average monthly payroll. The loans will be fully or partially forgiven if businesses show that the money was used to retain or rehire employees and pay some overhead expenses through June 30.

Despite the hiccups Friday, the loan program got praise from former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who served in the Obama administration.

“It is ok to make some mistakes here” because the key need is for speed, Lew said in an interview on CNBC.

“For these small businesses, it is a matter of life and death,” Lew said, adding that if the businesses can’t rehire workers it will impede the effort to get a recovery started once the virus is contained.

Going into the program’s launch Friday, the banking industry had been trying to temper expectations about how many businesses will get the cash they need on Friday. Banks large and small will have to process these loans as quickly as possible in order to get their customers a slice of the program.

The banks have moved employees into new departments — a logistical challenge given many employees are working remotely — just to potentially keep up with the flood of applications. Not only that, but thousands of their employees are either sick or quarantined because of the virus.

Although Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said money could be disbursed as early as Friday, at least some banks seemed to be hedging any bets on being able to deliver cash that quickly. When Jordan Gurrieri submitted his application to Bank of America, the receipt he got said, “we will process your application as soon as possible.”

Gurrieri, co-founder of New York-based app developer Blue Label Labs, called the process “rough.” It took him more than 30 minutes to submit his application to Bank of America, more than three times what some other owners have reported.

While Congress could approve more money later on, the program as it stands is expected to run out quickly. That could mean applicants who have the financial and legal expertise of a larger organization might be able to maximize their benefits, not leaving much for smaller businesses, especially those who wait or have problems applying.

Congress made the program as wide as possible. An expansive definition of “small business” in the law means that it will be open to much more than just Main Street shops as lenders start processing applications. Bankers recommend applying for the loans through the bank they already have accounts with to speed along the process as quickly as possible.

Independent contractors and the self-employed are not eligible to apply until April 10 under guidance from the Treasury Department. By then, banks could be overwhelmed with applications.

“It’s hard for me to say this: There is only $350 billion in this fund. Every big restaurant and hotel chain is going to be going after this money. It’s not going to last,” said Ron Feldman, chief development officer at ApplePie Capital, which has been helping businesses get ready to apply.

“If you want to get this loan, speed is your friend,” Feldman told 2,000 franchise industry officials on a conference call this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585947450768.png" alt="Jovita Carranza, administrator of the Small Business Administration during Thursday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>Jovita Carranza, administrator of the Small Business Administration during Thursday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The federal government’s relief program for small businesses is off to a slow start Friday, with only some businesses able to apply and several banks either not accepting applications or seeing long waits to do approvals.Millions of small businesses are expected to apply for these desperately needed rescue loans from the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which was put in place to help them retain workers and pay bills during the coronavirus pandemic. Roughly 5,200 loans valued at $.8 billion have been processed so far, said Jovita Carranza, administrator of the Small Business Administration., on Friday afternoon.The program is being overseen by the SBA but banks are handling the application process. Some large lenders like Wells Fargo, Huntington Bank and Bank of America were ready to go at the program’s outset. BofA said its gotten 28,000 applications so far. But JPMorgan Chase only started accepting applications Friday afternoon after saying earlier that it wouldn’t.Ted Stein, who operates a small software business in West Virginia, filled out an online form Thursday through PNC Bank, saying he was interested in applying. On Friday, a bank representative told Stein he was unaware that the form was on its website. After Stein explained to him where to find it, the representative told Stein the bank wasn’t accepting applications and that he should keep checking his online account for guidance in the coming hours and days, Stein said.“It was almost comical, but heartbreaking. It’s tragicomedy, I guess,” he said.Even those banks accepting applications were limited in who they could accept. Bank of America said the loans were available to customers who had business deposit accounts and business loans with the bank.The program is part of the $2 trillion relief package signed into law last week, which was billed as a way to help local businesses that often form the fabric of communities stay afloat. The program will give businesses low-interest loans of about 2.5 times their average monthly payroll. The loans will be fully or partially forgiven if businesses show that the money was used to retain or rehire employees and pay some overhead expenses through June 30.Despite the hiccups Friday, the loan program got praise from former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who served in the Obama administration.“It is ok to make some mistakes here” because the key need is for speed, Lew said in an interview on CNBC.“For these small businesses, it is a matter of life and death,” Lew said, adding that if the businesses can’t rehire workers it will impede the effort to get a recovery started once the virus is contained.Going into the program’s launch Friday, the banking industry had been trying to temper expectations about how many businesses will get the cash they need on Friday. Banks large and small will have to process these loans as quickly as possible in order to get their customers a slice of the program.The banks have moved employees into new departments — a logistical challenge given many employees are working remotely — just to potentially keep up with the flood of applications. Not only that, but thousands of their employees are either sick or quarantined because of the virus.Although Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said money could be disbursed as early as Friday, at least some banks seemed to be hedging any bets on being able to deliver cash that quickly. When Jordan Gurrieri submitted his application to Bank of America, the receipt he got said, “we will process your application as soon as possible.”Gurrieri, co-founder of New York-based app developer Blue Label Labs, called the process “rough.” It took him more than 30 minutes to submit his application to Bank of America, more than three times what some other owners have reported.While Congress could approve more money later on, the program as it stands is expected to run out quickly. That could mean applicants who have the financial and legal expertise of a larger organization might be able to maximize their benefits, not leaving much for smaller businesses, especially those who wait or have problems applying.Congress made the program as wide as possible. An expansive definition of “small business” in the law means that it will be open to much more than just Main Street shops as lenders start processing applications. Bankers recommend applying for the loans through the bank they already have accounts with to speed along the process as quickly as possible.Independent contractors and the self-employed are not eligible to apply until April 10 under guidance from the Treasury Department. By then, banks could be overwhelmed with applications.“It’s hard for me to say this: There is only $350 billion in this fund. Every big restaurant and hotel chain is going to be going after this money. It’s not going to last,” said Ron Feldman, chief development officer at ApplePie Capital, which has been helping businesses get ready to apply.“If you want to get this loan, speed is your friend,” Feldman told 2,000 franchise industry officials on a conference call this week.

Small biz rescue off to slow start; some banks not ready

Salina Area Technical College has canceled its graduation and pinning ceremonies that were scheduled for later this spring.

In an update this morning, Salina Tech President Gregory Nichols told the campus community, "The local and state health officials have been providing regular updates on the severity of this pandemic. As such, we realize the length of the stay at home order may be extended, or the social gathering restrictions may be extended beyond the normal graduation time. Therefore, we regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel the graduation ceremony originally scheduled for May 9, 2020 at the Stiefel Theatre and the Pinning Ceremony for Nursing and Dental programs."

According to the update, college personnel are working on a plan to provide a virtual graduation ceremony. Additionally, Salina Tech personnel also are working to resolve issues in end of program testing and certification testing created because the college is closed until April 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salina Area Technical College has canceled its graduation and pinning ceremonies that were scheduled for later this spring.In an update this morning, Salina Tech President Gregory Nichols told the campus community, "The local and state health officials have been providing regular updates on the severity of this pandemic. As such, we realize the length of the stay at home order may be extended, or the social gathering restrictions may be extended beyond the normal graduation time. Therefore, we regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel the graduation ceremony originally scheduled for May 9, 2020 at the Stiefel Theatre and the Pinning Ceremony for Nursing and Dental programs."According to the update, college personnel are working on a plan to provide a virtual graduation ceremony. Additionally, Salina Tech personnel also are working to resolve issues in end of program testing and certification testing created because the college is closed until April 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salina Tech cancels May graduation

ABILENE -- Home Health &amp; Hospice of Dickinson County will not hold any Caregiver Support Group meetings or Bereavement Support Group meetings until further notice due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis. However, bereavement services are still available, to those who may need it, by contacting the office.

Also, Hospice of Dickinson County regrets to announce that the Annual Ed Kuntz Memorial Golf Tournament has been canceled for 2020. The difficult decision to cancel the tournament was made because of the economic impact COVID-19 may have on our community. They absolutely plan to continue hosting the tournament again in 2021, and hope that the supporters will continue to be a part of it. Hospice of Dickinson County is very appreciative of everyone’s support over the previous years. 

If your organization has supported the tournament in the past, and would like to donate to Hospice of Dickinson County this year, those donations may be sent directly to their office. Donations will be placed in the hospice fund, which will allow them to continue providing care to their most vulnerable patients at no cost. However, they do understand the economic strain that our local businesses are facing at this unprecedented time, and in no way want any of their supporters to feel obligated to give.&nbsp;

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Home Health &amp; Hospice of Dickinson County at (785) 263-6630.

ABILENE -- Home Health &amp; Hospice of Dickinson County will not hold any Caregiver Support Group meetings or Bereavement Support Group meetings until further notice due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis. However, bereavement services are still available, to those who may need it, by contacting the office.Also, Hospice of Dickinson County regrets to announce that the Annual Ed Kuntz Memorial Golf Tournament has been canceled for 2020. The difficult decision to cancel the tournament was made because of the economic impact COVID-19 may have on our community. They absolutely plan to continue hosting the tournament again in 2021, and hope that the supporters will continue to be a part of it. Hospice of Dickinson County is very appreciative of everyone’s support over the previous years. If your organization has supported the tournament in the past, and would like to donate to Hospice of Dickinson County this year, those donations may be sent directly to their office. Donations will be placed in the hospice fund, which will allow them to continue providing care to their most vulnerable patients at no cost. However, they do understand the economic strain that our local businesses are facing at this unprecedented time, and in no way want any of their supporters to feel obligated to give.&nbsp;If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Home Health &amp; Hospice of Dickinson County at (785) 263-6630.

Dickinson County support groups canceled for now

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, as the president is aggressively defending his response to the public health crisis.

The recommendations, still being finalized Thursday, were expected to apply to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force’s discussion said officials would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home — for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly short-in-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposed guidance before its public release.

President Donald Trump, who was tested again for coronavirus Thursday using a new rapid test, indicated he would support such a recommendation. “If people wanted to wear them, they can,” he said.

“It’s not a bad idea, at least for a period of time,” Trump had said earlier in the week.

The White House said Trump’s latest test returned a negative result in 15 minutes, and said Trump was “healthy and without symptoms.”

Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force’s coordinator, told reporters the White House was concerned that the mask guidance would lead to a “false sense of security” for Americans. She said new data show that the administration’s social-distancing guidelines were not being followed to the extent necessary to keep virus-related deaths to a minimum.

The discussions on face masks came as the White House moved aggressively to defend its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its efforts to speed the distribution of ventilators and protective equipment needed by medical professionals.

Trump sent a politically tinged letter to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York objecting to his criticism of the administration’s response. “The Federal Government is merely a back-up for state governments,” Trump wrote. “Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.”

Trump said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies before the pandemic.

Vice President Mike Pence also announced Thursday that the White House was considering direct payments to hospitals to cover COVID-19 treatment costs for uninsured Americans.

The emerging guidance on masks appeared to be more limited than a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft of the guidance, which suggested the recommendation apply to nearly all Americans, all over the country, according to a federal official who has seen the draft but was not authorized to discuss it.

Officials were expected to limit its geographic scope to just those areas where the virus was spreading rapidly, the official said. The formal announcement was expected as soon as Friday.

Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks. The new proposal was driven by research showing that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

On Wednesday, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, urged his city’s 4 million residents to wear masks when they’re in public. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio followed suit in his city, the epicenter of the virus’ spread in the U.S.

In response to recent studies, the CDC on Wednesday changed how it was defining the risk of infection for Americans. It essentially says anyone may be a considered a carrier, whether they have symptoms or not.

The virus spreads mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, though experts stress that the germ is still not fully understood.

U.S. officials have been telling people to stay at home as much as possible, and keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others when they do go out. Other advice includes frequent hand washing and not touching your face.

But until now federal officials have stopped short of telling people to cover their faces out in public.

Scientists can’t rule out that infected people sometimes exhale COVID-19 virus particles, rather than just when coughing or sneezing, but there isn’t enough evidence to show if that can cause infection, according to a committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to advise the White House.

The question has to do with whether the new coronavirus spreads mostly by droplets that don’t linger for long in the air, or also by tinier “aerosolized” particles. Certain medical procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes, can create those tiny particles, which is why health care workers wear close-fitting N95 masks during such care.

The committee cited one study that detected airborne viral RNA in and just outside some hospital isolation rooms, but noted that it was unclear if that could infect someone.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has repeatedly admonished Americans not to wear face masks, saying they don’t prevent the people who wear them from catching the virus. He and other officials have stressed that surgical face masks and other protective medical equipment have been in short supply and must be prioritized for people such as health-care workers.

The World Health Organization on Monday reiterated its advice that the general population doesn’t need to wear masks unless they’re sick. Since the epidemic began in China, the WHO has said masks are for the sick and people caring for them.

“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit,” WHO’s epidemic chief Dr. Mike Ryan said during a news conference. “In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite,” he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask or improperly putting it on or taking it off.

That’s in addition to the problem that health care workers who do need masks are facing “a massive global shortage,” Ryan said. “The thought of them not having masks is horrific, so we have to be very careful on supply, but that is not the primary reason why WHO has advised against using masks.”

Many people have taken it upon themselves to make their own masks, but one North Carolina health system found that such DIY products vary in how well they work. Wake Forest Baptist Health doctors and scientists tested 13 different designs made by community volunteers. They found that some were better at filtering than off-the-shelf surgical masks but others were barely better than wearing no mask at all.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585909675405.png" alt="President Trump during Thursday's Coronavirus Task force briefing" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during Thursday's Coronavirus Task force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, as the president is aggressively defending his response to the public health crisis.The recommendations, still being finalized Thursday, were expected to apply to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force’s discussion said officials would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home — for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly short-in-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposed guidance before its public release.President Donald Trump, who was tested again for coronavirus Thursday using a new rapid test, indicated he would support such a recommendation. “If people wanted to wear them, they can,” he said.“It’s not a bad idea, at least for a period of time,” Trump had said earlier in the week.The White House said Trump’s latest test returned a negative result in 15 minutes, and said Trump was “healthy and without symptoms.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696207171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force’s coordinator, told reporters the White House was concerned that the mask guidance would lead to a “false sense of security” for Americans. She said new data show that the administration’s social-distancing guidelines were not being followed to the extent necessary to keep virus-related deaths to a minimum.The discussions on face masks came as the White House moved aggressively to defend its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its efforts to speed the distribution of ventilators and protective equipment needed by medical professionals.Trump sent a politically tinged letter to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York objecting to his criticism of the administration’s response. “The Federal Government is merely a back-up for state governments,” Trump wrote. “Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.”Trump said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies before the pandemic.Vice President Mike Pence also announced Thursday that the White House was considering direct payments to hospitals to cover COVID-19 treatment costs for uninsured Americans.The emerging guidance on masks appeared to be more limited than a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft of the guidance, which suggested the recommendation apply to nearly all Americans, all over the country, according to a federal official who has seen the draft but was not authorized to discuss it.Officials were expected to limit its geographic scope to just those areas where the virus was spreading rapidly, the official said. The formal announcement was expected as soon as Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696236815.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks. The new proposal was driven by research showing that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.On Wednesday, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, urged his city’s 4 million residents to wear masks when they’re in public. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio followed suit in his city, the epicenter of the virus’ spread in the U.S.In response to recent studies, the CDC on Wednesday changed how it was defining the risk of infection for Americans. It essentially says anyone may be a considered a carrier, whether they have symptoms or not.The virus spreads mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, though experts stress that the germ is still not fully understood.U.S. officials have been telling people to stay at home as much as possible, and keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others when they do go out. Other advice includes frequent hand washing and not touching your face.But until now federal officials have stopped short of telling people to cover their faces out in public.Scientists can’t rule out that infected people sometimes exhale COVID-19 virus particles, rather than just when coughing or sneezing, but there isn’t enough evidence to show if that can cause infection, according to a committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to advise the White House.The question has to do with whether the new coronavirus spreads mostly by droplets that don’t linger for long in the air, or also by tinier “aerosolized” particles. Certain medical procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes, can create those tiny particles, which is why health care workers wear close-fitting N95 masks during such care.The committee cited one study that detected airborne viral RNA in and just outside some hospital isolation rooms, but noted that it was unclear if that could infect someone.U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has repeatedly admonished Americans not to wear face masks, saying they don’t prevent the people who wear them from catching the virus. He and other officials have stressed that surgical face masks and other protective medical equipment have been in short supply and must be prioritized for people such as health-care workers.The World Health Organization on Monday reiterated its advice that the general population doesn’t need to wear masks unless they’re sick. Since the epidemic began in China, the WHO has said masks are for the sick and people caring for them.“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit,” WHO’s epidemic chief Dr. Mike Ryan said during a news conference. “In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite,” he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask or improperly putting it on or taking it off.That’s in addition to the problem that health care workers who do need masks are facing “a massive global shortage,” Ryan said. “The thought of them not having masks is horrific, so we have to be very careful on supply, but that is not the primary reason why WHO has advised against using masks.”Many people have taken it upon themselves to make their own masks, but one North Carolina health system found that such DIY products vary in how well they work. Wake Forest Baptist Health doctors and scientists tested 13 different designs made by community volunteers. They found that some were better at filtering than off-the-shelf surgical masks but others were barely better than wearing no mask at all.Separately, a 2013 study tested whether homemade masks might help during a flu pandemic. It found surgical masks were three times more effective in catching droplets from coughing people than masks made from cotton T-shirts, though it’s not clear if the new coronavirus behaves exactly like flu viruses.

Coronavirus Update