WASHINGTON (AP) — Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even more dire projections for the expanding coronavirus pandemic.

It was a stark shift in tone by the president, who only days ago mused about the country reopening in a few weeks. From the Rose Garden, he said his Easter revival hopes had only been “aspirational.”

The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by the federal government expires Monday and Trump had expressed interest in relaxing the national guidelines at least in parts of the country less afflicted by the pandemic. He instead decided to extend them through April 30, a tacit acknowledgment he’d been too optimistic. Many states and local governments have stiffer controls in place on mobility and gatherings.

Trump’s impulse to reopen the country met a sober reality check Sunday from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, who said the U.S. could experience more than 100,000 deaths and millions of infections from the pandemic. That warning hardened a recognition in Washington that the struggle against the coronavirus will not be resolved quickly even as Trump expressed a longing for normalcy.

“I want our life back again,” the president told reporters.

Trump, who has largely avoided talk of potential death and infection rates, cited projection models that said potentially 2.2 million people or more could have died had social distancing measures not been put in place. And he said the country would be doing well if it “can hold” the number of deaths “down to 100,000.” He said the best case for the country would be for the death rate to peak in about two weeks.

“It’s a horrible number,” Trump said, but added, “We all together have done a very good job.”

Brought forward by Trump at the outdoor briefing, Fauci said his projection of a potential 100,000 to 200,000 deaths is “entirely conceivable” if not enough is done to mitigate the crisis. He said that helped shape the extension of the guidelines, which he called “a wise and prudent decision.”

Americans are now being called on to prepare for another 30 days of severe economic and social disruption, as schools and businesses are closed and public life is upended. One in 3 Americans remain under state or local government orders to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus.

Trump acknowledged that he may be forced to extend the guidelines again at the end of April, but expressed hope that by June 1, “we should be well on our way to recovery.”

The federal guidelines recommend against group gatherings larger than 10 and urge older people and anyone with existing health problems to stay home. People are urged to work at home when possible and avoid restaurants, bars, non-essential travel and shopping trips.

For more than a week, Trump had been bombarded by calls from outside business leaders who urged him to begin re-opening the nation’s economy and warned of catastrophic consequences that could damage his re-election chances if it remained shuttered for much longer.

“The president is right. The cure can’t be worse than the disease, and we’re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs,” Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow had said last Monday, reflecting the thinking of his economic team.

That talk alarmed health experts, who urged Trump to keep encouraging people to stay home. The virus was still spreading, with the peak still weeks away, the experts warned.

In the end, Trump, in the face of dire projections and increasingly alarming images out of New York, sided with his health experts and backed off the idea of loosening recommended restrictions on less impacted parts of the country.

“They’re the best in the profession and they didn’t like that idea,” he said of Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force.

Trump was clearly moved by the scenes from New York, particularly hard-hit Elmhurst Hospital in his native Queens.

“I’ve been watching that for the last week on television,” he said. ”Body bags all over, in hallways. I’ve been watching them bring in trailer trucks — freezer trucks, they’re freezer trucks, because they can’t handle the bodies, there are so many of them. This is essentially in my community, in Queens, Queens, New York,” he continued. “I’ve seen things that I’ve never seen before.”

Phasing out the recommendations would have been a symbolic nod to business and an affront to public health experts, but may have had little practical impact. States across the country already have their own restrictions in place that, in many cases, are far stricter than the administration’s, and those would have remained in place.

Birx and Fauci said even those areas yet to face a significant outbreak must prepare for the eventuality that they will.

“This can happen anywhere,” Fauci said. “And that’s really one of the issues that we’re concerned about and why we were so reluctant to pull back at a time when we need to put our foot on the gas as opposed to on the brake.”

The U.S. had more than 139,000 COVID-19 cases reported by Sunday evening, with more than 2,400 deaths. During the course of the Rose Garden briefing, reported deaths grew by several dozen and the number of cases by several thousand.

Most people who contract COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems. Hospitals in the most afflicted areas are straining to handle patients and some are short of critical supplies.

Fauci’s prediction would take the death toll well past that of the average seasonal flu. Trump repeatedly cited the flu’s comparatively much higher cost in lives in playing down the severity of this pandemic.

Trump’s change in tone was previewed Saturday, when the president suggested then backed away from instituting an “enforceable” quarantine of hard-hit New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Instead, the White House task force recommended a travel advisory for residents of those states to limit non-essential travel to slow the spread of the virus to other parts of the U.S.

The quarantine notion was strongly opposed by the governors of those states, who argued it would cause panic.

Even as he opted against the quarantine, Trump on Sunday suggested without evidence that hospitals and hospital systems were “hoarding” ventilators and other medical supplies that were needed in other areas of the state. He also encouraged the Food and Drug Administration to streamline approvals for companies seeking to sanitize badly needed respirators so they can be reused.

For weeks, Trump minimized the gravity of the pandemic, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday accused Trump of “denial” in the crisis and called it “deadly.”

Asked whether she believes that attitude cost American lives, Pelosi told CNN: “Yes, I am. I’m saying that.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, said he wouldn’t go so far as to lay the blame for deaths on the president. “I think that’s a little too harsh,” he told NBC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585564615489.png" alt="President Trump listens to Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Sec. for Health and Human Services during Sunday's outdoor Coronavirus Task Force briefing- image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump listens to Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Sec. for Health and Human Services during Sunday's outdoor Coronavirus Task Force briefing- image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even more dire projections for the expanding coronavirus pandemic.It was a stark shift in tone by the president, who only days ago mused about the country reopening in a few weeks. From the Rose Garden, he said his Easter revival hopes had only been “aspirational.”The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by the federal government expires Monday and Trump had expressed interest in relaxing the national guidelines at least in parts of the country less afflicted by the pandemic. He instead decided to extend them through April 30, a tacit acknowledgment he’d been too optimistic. Many states and local governments have stiffer controls in place on mobility and gatherings.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585521942640.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump’s impulse to reopen the country met a sober reality check Sunday from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, who said the U.S. could experience more than 100,000 deaths and millions of infections from the pandemic. That warning hardened a recognition in Washington that the struggle against the coronavirus will not be resolved quickly even as Trump expressed a longing for normalcy.“I want our life back again,” the president told reporters.Trump, who has largely avoided talk of potential death and infection rates, cited projection models that said potentially 2.2 million people or more could have died had social distancing measures not been put in place. And he said the country would be doing well if it “can hold” the number of deaths “down to 100,000.” He said the best case for the country would be for the death rate to peak in about two weeks.“It’s a horrible number,” Trump said, but added, “We all together have done a very good job.”Brought forward by Trump at the outdoor briefing, Fauci said his projection of a potential 100,000 to 200,000 deaths is “entirely conceivable” if not enough is done to mitigate the crisis. He said that helped shape the extension of the guidelines, which he called “a wise and prudent decision.”Americans are now being called on to prepare for another 30 days of severe economic and social disruption, as schools and businesses are closed and public life is upended. One in 3 Americans remain under state or local government orders to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus.Trump acknowledged that he may be forced to extend the guidelines again at the end of April, but expressed hope that by June 1, “we should be well on our way to recovery.”The federal guidelines recommend against group gatherings larger than 10 and urge older people and anyone with existing health problems to stay home. People are urged to work at home when possible and avoid restaurants, bars, non-essential travel and shopping trips.For more than a week, Trump had been bombarded by calls from outside business leaders who urged him to begin re-opening the nation’s economy and warned of catastrophic consequences that could damage his re-election chances if it remained shuttered for much longer.“The president is right. The cure can’t be worse than the disease, and we’re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs,” Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow had said last Monday, reflecting the thinking of his economic team.That talk alarmed health experts, who urged Trump to keep encouraging people to stay home. The virus was still spreading, with the peak still weeks away, the experts warned.In the end, Trump, in the face of dire projections and increasingly alarming images out of New York, sided with his health experts and backed off the idea of loosening recommended restrictions on less impacted parts of the country.“They’re the best in the profession and they didn’t like that idea,” he said of Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force.Trump was clearly moved by the scenes from New York, particularly hard-hit Elmhurst Hospital in his native Queens.“I’ve been watching that for the last week on television,” he said. ”Body bags all over, in hallways. I’ve been watching them bring in trailer trucks — freezer trucks, they’re freezer trucks, because they can’t handle the bodies, there are so many of them. This is essentially in my community, in Queens, Queens, New York,” he continued. “I’ve seen things that I’ve never seen before.”Phasing out the recommendations would have been a symbolic nod to business and an affront to public health experts, but may have had little practical impact. States across the country already have their own restrictions in place that, in many cases, are far stricter than the administration’s, and those would have remained in place.Birx and Fauci said even those areas yet to face a significant outbreak must prepare for the eventuality that they will.“This can happen anywhere,” Fauci said. “And that’s really one of the issues that we’re concerned about and why we were so reluctant to pull back at a time when we need to put our foot on the gas as opposed to on the brake.”The U.S. had more than 139,000 COVID-19 cases reported by Sunday evening, with more than 2,400 deaths. During the course of the Rose Garden briefing, reported deaths grew by several dozen and the number of cases by several thousand.Most people who contract COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems. Hospitals in the most afflicted areas are straining to handle patients and some are short of critical supplies.Fauci’s prediction would take the death toll well past that of the average seasonal flu. Trump repeatedly cited the flu’s comparatively much higher cost in lives in playing down the severity of this pandemic.Trump’s change in tone was previewed Saturday, when the president suggested then backed away from instituting an “enforceable” quarantine of hard-hit New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Instead, the White House task force recommended a travel advisory for residents of those states to limit non-essential travel to slow the spread of the virus to other parts of the U.S.The quarantine notion was strongly opposed by the governors of those states, who argued it would cause panic.Even as he opted against the quarantine, Trump on Sunday suggested without evidence that hospitals and hospital systems were “hoarding” ventilators and other medical supplies that were needed in other areas of the state. He also encouraged the Food and Drug Administration to streamline approvals for companies seeking to sanitize badly needed respirators so they can be reused.For weeks, Trump minimized the gravity of the pandemic, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday accused Trump of “denial” in the crisis and called it “deadly.”Asked whether she believes that attitude cost American lives, Pelosi told CNN: “Yes, I am. I’m saying that.”Former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, said he wouldn’t go so far as to lay the blame for deaths on the president. “I think that’s a little too harsh,” he told NBC.

Trump extends virus guidelines, braces US for big death toll

Saline County now has one confirmed positive case of COVID-19. Here's today's report from Saline County:

The Saline County Health Department has been notified of a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Saline County. The positive case was identified through testing sent to a private lab.

The case is a female in their 50’s associated with recent travel to the Kansas City area. This case is the first known case in Saline County. Due to HIPAA, no other patient information will be released.

The Saline County Health Department is working to identify any close contacts of the individual.

Those that were exposed will be contacted by the Saline County Health Department as soon as possible. The individual is in isolation at home.

Governor Kelly’s Stay-at-Home order goes into effect at 12:01 am on Monday, March 30th.

Those with questions about essential businesses or functions are directed to email <a href="mailto:keff@ks.gov">keff@ks.gov</a> or visit their website https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/

As stated many times before, this is a rapidly changing situation. Our local government leaders are working hard and are making difficult decisions as it relates to the best interests of the health and safety of our citizens and employees. Please ensure that you are only following official sources: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/">http://www.kdheks.gov/</a>.

Saline County now has one confirmed positive case of COVID-19. Here's today's report from Saline County:The Saline County Health Department has been notified of a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Saline County. The positive case was identified through testing sent to a private lab.The case is a female in their 50’s associated with recent travel to the Kansas City area. This case is the first known case in Saline County. Due to HIPAA, no other patient information will be released.The Saline County Health Department is working to identify any close contacts of the individual.Those that were exposed will be contacted by the Saline County Health Department as soon as possible. The individual is in isolation at home.Governor Kelly’s Stay-at-Home order goes into effect at 12:01 am on Monday, March 30th.Those with questions about essential businesses or functions are directed to email <a href="mailto:keff@ks.gov">keff@ks.gov</a> or visit their website https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/As stated many times before, this is a rapidly changing situation. Our local government leaders are working hard and are making difficult decisions as it relates to the best interests of the health and safety of our citizens and employees. Please ensure that you are only following official sources: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/">http://www.kdheks.gov/</a>.

Saline County reports first positive case of COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) — Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads and honky-tonk singles like “Home” and “Pickup Man,” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61. He was to headline a performance at the Kansas State Fair with Logan Mize September 15.

Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a diagnosis. Diffie's publicist Scott Adkins said the singer died Sunday due to complications from the virus.

Diffie, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 25 years. His hits included “Honky Tonk Attitude," “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die," “Bigger Than the Beatles" and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets).”

His mid-90s albums “Honkey Tonk Attitude” and “Third Rock From the Sun” went platinum. Eighteen of Diffie's singles landed in the top 10, with five going No. 1. In his 2013 single “1994,” Jason Aldean name-checked the '90s country mainstay.

Diffie is survived by his wife, Theresa Crump, and five children from his four marriages.

NEW YORK (AP) — Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads and honky-tonk singles like “Home” and “Pickup Man,” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61. He was to headline a performance at the Kansas State Fair with Logan Mize September 15.Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a diagnosis. Diffie's publicist Scott Adkins said the singer died Sunday due to complications from the virus.Diffie, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 25 years. His hits included “Honky Tonk Attitude," “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die," “Bigger Than the Beatles" and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets).”His mid-90s albums “Honkey Tonk Attitude” and “Third Rock From the Sun” went platinum. Eighteen of Diffie's singles landed in the top 10, with five going No. 1. In his 2013 single “1994,” Jason Aldean name-checked the '90s country mainstay.Diffie is survived by his wife, Theresa Crump, and five children from his four marriages.

Country singer Joe Diffie dies of coronavirus complications

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans, the U.S. government’s top infectious-disease expert warned on Sunday as smoldering hot spots in nursing homes and a growing list of stricken cities heightened the sense of dread across the country.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, made the dire prediction of fatalities on CNN, adding that millions in the U.S. could become infected.

By evening, the U.S. had over 135,000 infections and 2,400 deaths, according to the running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, though the true number of cases is thought to be considerably higher because of testing shortages and mild illnesses that have gone unreported.

Worldwide, more than 710,000 infections were reported, and deaths topped 33,000, half of them in Italy and Spain, where hospitals are swamped and the health system is at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7ec91dc45d8d7c2ea86b0a97446a303a">breaking point</a>.

New York state — where the death toll closed in on 1,000, up by more than 200 from the day before — remained the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with the vast majority of the deaths in New York City. But spikes in infections were recorded around the country, not only in metropolitan areas but in Midwestern towns and Rocky Mountain ski havens.

“This is not going to get better soon,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

The virus is moving fast through nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other places that house elderly or otherwise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4310cabee8397f9af442660b37f430e4">vulnerable people</a>, spreading “like fire through dry grass,” Cuomo said.

Since the U.S. saw its first major outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this month — centered at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington — a stream of facilities have battled infections among residents and staff.

A week ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 147 nursing homes in 27 states had patients with COVID-19. The problem has only worsened since.

In Woodbridge, New Jersey, an entire nursing home relocated its residents after two dozen were confirmed infected and the rest were presumed to be. In Louisiana, at least 11 nursing homes, largely in the New Orleans area, have reported cases. In Mount Airy, Maryland, a death linked to the virus was recorded in a home where 66 people were confirmed infected.

Residents’ loved ones are being kept away to try to slow the spread of the virus.

“I have a feeling that I very likely may never see my mother again,” said James Preller, whose 94-year-old mother, Ann Preller, is a resident at Peconic Landing, a retirement community near Greenport on New York’s Long Island where seven have died in the past two weeks.

Brian Lee of Families for Better Care, an advocacy group for those living in long-term care facilities, said in a nursing home, “when we see an outbreak that’s uncontrolled, it’s practically a death sentence.” But he also said the way residents are being walled off from the outside world is as much of a concern as the virus itself.

In New York, the virus is overwhelming some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, with data showing high rates of infection in densely packed areas with big non-English-speaking populations.

Dr. Craig Smith, who heads the surgery department at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, said the hospital will probably be forced into “apocalyptic scenarios” in the coming weeks in which ventilators and intensive care unit beds will need to be rationed.

“Yesterday tried my soul,” he wrote in an online posting.

Worry for the poorest was being echoed around the world.

In India, a lockdown covering the country’s 1.3 billion people has put untold numbers out of work and left many families struggling to feed themselves. Tens of thousands in New Delhi were forced to flee their homes, with no way to pay the rent, journeying back to their native villages. Women in saris held babies on their hips. Others toted their belongings in bags normally used for cement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized for the hardships that the lockdown brought but said, “These tough measures were needed to win this battle.”

Though the U.S. leads the world in reported cases, five other countries have higher death tolls: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.

Italy reported more than 750 new fatalities Sunday, bringing the country’s total to nearly 10,800. But the number of new infections showed signs of easing, with officials expressing cautious optimism that the most severe shutdown in the industrialized West is showing results.

Italy’s civil protection agency said more than 5,200 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, the lowest number in four days, for a total of almost 98,000 infections.

Spain moved to tighten its lockdown and ban all nonessential work as it hit another daily record of almost 840 dead. The country’s overall official toll was more than 6,500.

Spain’s health emergencies chief, Fernando Simón, said the number of people in intensive care units keeps rising and hospitals are at their limits in several regions.

“That is why we have to strictly apply the control measures,” he said.

Egypt shut its beaches as cases in the Mideast surpassed 50,000. Police in the Philippines stepped up arrests of quarantine violators, and more tourists were evacuated from Mount Everest and the Indonesian island of Bali.

Poland is considering delaying its May 10 presidential election. Russia ordered borders to close on Monday, Moscow all but confined its 12 million residents to their homes, and the head of the Russian Orthodox called on believers to stay away from churches and pray at home instead.

A prominent French politician with the virus died, the country’s first death of a senior official.

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

About 150,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.

President Donald Trump on Saturday backtracked on a proposal to quarantine New York and neighboring states amid criticism and questions about the legality of such a move. But the CDC issued a travel advisory urging all residents of New York City and others in New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut to avoid all nonessential travel for 14 days.

Shocking as that is, it stopped short of the restrictions imposed in Europe or elsewhere. Parisians are fined if they try to leave the city, South Africans can’t buy liquor, and Serbians are upset over a ban on walking their dogs. In Italy, burials are being held with only one family member.

Some U.S. states began to try to limit exposure from visitors from harder-hit areas. Rhode Island National Guard troops went door to door in coastal communities to find New Yorkers. Florida is setting up checkpoints to screen visitors from Louisiana.

As others tightened controls, China continued to ease its restrictions, following the ruling Communist Party’s declaration of victory over the coronavirus. Flights from Hubei province at the epicenter of the country’s outbreak resumed Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585496965542.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci visits with Vice President Mike Pence prior to Wednesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci visits with Vice President Mike Pence prior to Wednesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans, the U.S. government’s top infectious-disease expert warned on Sunday as smoldering hot spots in nursing homes and a growing list of stricken cities heightened the sense of dread across the country.Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, made the dire prediction of fatalities on CNN, adding that millions in the U.S. could become infected.By evening, the U.S. had over 135,000 infections and 2,400 deaths, according to the running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, though the true number of cases is thought to be considerably higher because of testing shortages and mild illnesses that have gone unreported.Worldwide, more than 710,000 infections were reported, and deaths topped 33,000, half of them in Italy and Spain, where hospitals are swamped and the health system is at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7ec91dc45d8d7c2ea86b0a97446a303a">breaking point</a>.New York state — where the death toll closed in on 1,000, up by more than 200 from the day before — remained the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with the vast majority of the deaths in New York City. But spikes in infections were recorded around the country, not only in metropolitan areas but in Midwestern towns and Rocky Mountain ski havens.“This is not going to get better soon,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.The virus is moving fast through nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other places that house elderly or otherwise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4310cabee8397f9af442660b37f430e4">vulnerable people</a>, spreading “like fire through dry grass,” Cuomo said.Since the U.S. saw its first major outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this month — centered at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington — a stream of facilities have battled infections among residents and staff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585521942640.png" alt="Dr. Fauci during Sunday Coronavirus Task Force briefing -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Fauci during Sunday Coronavirus Task Force briefing -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>A week ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 147 nursing homes in 27 states had patients with COVID-19. The problem has only worsened since.In Woodbridge, New Jersey, an entire nursing home relocated its residents after two dozen were confirmed infected and the rest were presumed to be. In Louisiana, at least 11 nursing homes, largely in the New Orleans area, have reported cases. In Mount Airy, Maryland, a death linked to the virus was recorded in a home where 66 people were confirmed infected.Residents’ loved ones are being kept away to try to slow the spread of the virus.“I have a feeling that I very likely may never see my mother again,” said James Preller, whose 94-year-old mother, Ann Preller, is a resident at Peconic Landing, a retirement community near Greenport on New York’s Long Island where seven have died in the past two weeks.Brian Lee of Families for Better Care, an advocacy group for those living in long-term care facilities, said in a nursing home, “when we see an outbreak that’s uncontrolled, it’s practically a death sentence.” But he also said the way residents are being walled off from the outside world is as much of a concern as the virus itself.In New York, the virus is overwhelming some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, with data showing high rates of infection in densely packed areas with big non-English-speaking populations.Dr. Craig Smith, who heads the surgery department at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, said the hospital will probably be forced into “apocalyptic scenarios” in the coming weeks in which ventilators and intensive care unit beds will need to be rationed.“Yesterday tried my soul,” he wrote in an online posting.Worry for the poorest was being echoed around the world.In India, a lockdown covering the country’s 1.3 billion people has put untold numbers out of work and left many families struggling to feed themselves. Tens of thousands in New Delhi were forced to flee their homes, with no way to pay the rent, journeying back to their native villages. Women in saris held babies on their hips. Others toted their belongings in bags normally used for cement.Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized for the hardships that the lockdown brought but said, “These tough measures were needed to win this battle.”Though the U.S. leads the world in reported cases, five other countries have higher death tolls: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.Italy reported more than 750 new fatalities Sunday, bringing the country’s total to nearly 10,800. But the number of new infections showed signs of easing, with officials expressing cautious optimism that the most severe shutdown in the industrialized West is showing results.Italy’s civil protection agency said more than 5,200 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, the lowest number in four days, for a total of almost 98,000 infections.Spain moved to tighten its lockdown and ban all nonessential work as it hit another daily record of almost 840 dead. The country’s overall official toll was more than 6,500.Spain’s health emergencies chief, Fernando Simón, said the number of people in intensive care units keeps rising and hospitals are at their limits in several regions.“That is why we have to strictly apply the control measures,” he said.Egypt shut its beaches as cases in the Mideast surpassed 50,000. Police in the Philippines stepped up arrests of quarantine violators, and more tourists were evacuated from Mount Everest and the Indonesian island of Bali.Poland is considering delaying its May 10 presidential election. Russia ordered borders to close on Monday, Moscow all but confined its 12 million residents to their homes, and the head of the Russian Orthodox called on believers to stay away from churches and pray at home instead.A prominent French politician with the virus died, the country’s first death of a senior official.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.About 150,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.President Donald Trump on Saturday backtracked on a proposal to quarantine New York and neighboring states amid criticism and questions about the legality of such a move. But the CDC issued a travel advisory urging all residents of New York City and others in New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut to avoid all nonessential travel for 14 days.Shocking as that is, it stopped short of the restrictions imposed in Europe or elsewhere. Parisians are fined if they try to leave the city, South Africans can’t buy liquor, and Serbians are upset over a ban on walking their dogs. In Italy, burials are being held with only one family member.Some U.S. states began to try to limit exposure from visitors from harder-hit areas. Rhode Island National Guard troops went door to door in coastal communities to find New Yorkers. Florida is setting up checkpoints to screen visitors from Louisiana.As others tightened controls, China continued to ease its restrictions, following the ruling Communist Party’s declaration of victory over the coronavirus. Flights from Hubei province at the epicenter of the country’s outbreak resumed Sunday.___

Up to 200K US deaths foreseen as more cities stricken with virus

Here's another food option for children. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/catholiccharitiesofnorthernks/">Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas</a> Facebook page:

Here's another food option for children. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/catholiccharitiesofnorthernks/">Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcatholiccharitiesofnorthernks%2Fposts%2F2714072472021919&width=500" width="500" height="502" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Catholic Charities providing meals for children

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585505777706.jpeg" alt="" />
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KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

Salina USD 305 has closed all of its playgrounds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:

Salina USD 305 has closed all of its playgrounds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSD305%2Fposts%2F2839420219439784%3A0&width=500" width="500" height="594" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Salina USD 305 closes its playgrounds

TOPEKA —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Lee Norman is a grandfather and said Friday he enjoyed visiting with and answering the questions kids have on the virus.&nbsp;

TOPEKA —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Lee Norman is a grandfather and said Friday he enjoyed visiting with and answering the questions kids have on the virus.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This was fun! Let&#39;s do it again soon. Share your questions with me, kids. <a href="https://t.co/hd7OngyVBR">pic.twitter.com/hd7OngyVBR</a>&mdash; Lee Norman (@SecNorman) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecNorman/status/1243646784917909504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Kan. health secretary answers kids' questions about coronavirus

UPDATE: SM Hanson Music has canceled this year's Heartland Bluegrass festival because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music.

SM Hanson Music is bringing back bluegrass! A bluegrass festival, that is.

The SM Hanson Heartland Bluegrass Festival 2020 is scheduled for April 26. The event is scheduled at The Temple, 336 South Santa Fe Avenue, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. This venue is handicap accessible.

"The SM Hanson Heartland Bluegrass Festival 2020 will include several bluegrass bands from around the state, some general playing and picking sessions, an Instrument Petting Zoo (for kids and adults, open mic stage time, a few instrument vendors, and local food trucks," said Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music, Inc. "Attendees are encouraged to bring their instrument to join in the music community during the day."

Admission to the event will be by a suggested cash donation or canned food donation for the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank, Hanson said. 

"This will be our first bluegrass festival since the mid 1970s. We held several events in the '70s at Memorial Hall with bluegrass bands coming from Oklahoma and Arkansas," Hanson explained.

This year, however, the festival will be at The Temple.

"We will use the Grand Entrance on Santa Fe (big bronze doors," Hanson noted. "The steps can be a place to begin picking if the weather is nice. The foyer and second floor space will provide adequate room for performances, picking areas, petting zoo and vendors."

The schedule of performers will be released closer to the date of the event, Hanson said.

The Kansas Bluegrass Association also plans to participate in the festival, he said.

Additionally, The Temple will have volunteers on hand to discuss the  beautiful and historic facility that is being used for so many events. 

"This will be a great opportunity for the public to see The Temple and listen/participate in the bluegrass music event," Hanson said. 

According to Hanson, the festival is sponsored in part by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.

UPDATE: SM Hanson Music has canceled this year's Heartland Bluegrass festival because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583291607418.jpeg" alt="The Temple in Salina. Salina Post photo" />
 <figcaption>The Temple in Salina. Salina Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SM Hanson Music is bringing back bluegrass! A bluegrass festival, that is.The SM Hanson Heartland Bluegrass Festival 2020 is scheduled for April 26. The event is scheduled at The Temple, 336 South Santa Fe Avenue, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. This venue is handicap accessible."The SM Hanson Heartland Bluegrass Festival 2020 will include several bluegrass bands from around the state, some general playing and picking sessions, an Instrument Petting Zoo (for kids and adults, open mic stage time, a few instrument vendors, and local food trucks," said Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music, Inc. "Attendees are encouraged to bring their instrument to join in the music community during the day."Admission to the event will be by a suggested cash donation or canned food donation for the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank, Hanson said. "This will be our first bluegrass festival since the mid 1970s. We held several events in the '70s at Memorial Hall with bluegrass bands coming from Oklahoma and Arkansas," Hanson explained.This year, however, the festival will be at The Temple."We will use the Grand Entrance on Santa Fe (big bronze doors," Hanson noted. "The steps can be a place to begin picking if the weather is nice. The foyer and second floor space will provide adequate room for performances, picking areas, petting zoo and vendors."The schedule of performers will be released closer to the date of the event, Hanson said.The Kansas Bluegrass Association also plans to participate in the festival, he said.Additionally, The Temple will have volunteers on hand to discuss the beautiful and historic facility that is being used for so many events. "This will be a great opportunity for the public to see The Temple and listen/participate in the bluegrass music event," Hanson said. According to Hanson, the festival is sponsored in part by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.

UPDATE: SM Hanson cancels Heartland Bluegrass Festival

UPDATED with additional information from USD 305:

Wave to the bus drivers on SUNDAY! According to USD 305, students are not to gather as a group at bus stops. "Be on your own porch, be in your own vehicle, but do not gather as a group at a bus stop," USD 305 noted. This is for health and safety of all. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:

UPDATED with additional information from USD 305:Wave to the bus drivers on SUNDAY! According to USD 305, students are not to gather as a group at bus stops. "Be on your own porch, be in your own vehicle, but do not gather as a group at a bus stop," USD 305 noted. This is for health and safety of all. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSD305%2Fposts%2F2838795172835622%3A0&width=500" width="500" height="467" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

UPDATE: Durham buses on routes, honking, waving SUNDAY

Attorney General William Barr says the Justice Department has already launched investigations into people who are hoarding supplies and price gouging.&nbsp;&nbsp;Barr says, “If you are sitting on a warehouse with surgical masks, you will be hearing a knock on your door."

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thieves steal surgical masks. A clinic sells fake COVID-19 tests. Hate groups encourage sick members to infect law enforcement officers. Imposters pose as public health officials. Con artists peddle fake cures and financial scams.

As the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus pandemic&nbsp;</a>spreads, so too do the crimes related to it — transgressions that capitalize on fear, panic and the urge to lay blame, and add to the burden on law enforcement agencies trying to protect vulnerable citizens.

“It is really disheartening in a time like this that someone would take advantage of the community and take them in a time of need,” Tucson, Arizona, Police Sgt. Pete Dugan said.

Everyday life has essentially stopped in many countries in a bid to slow the virus, and some crimes have been declining. But reports of virus-related fraud are on the rise, along with concerns about hate crimes.

U.S. President Donald Trump and others have taken to calling the virus the “Chinese coronavirus,” even as scientists say the disease has nothing to do with Asian ethnicity. But the president dismissed the idea that his comments could fuel hate crimes.

<a href="https://apnews.com/a7c233f0b3bcdb72c06cca6271ba6713">“It’s not racist at all,”</a>&nbsp;Trump has said.

In Los Angeles, a 16-year-old boy of Asian descent said other students bullied him and accused him of carrying the virus. In New York, a man on the subway sprayed an Asian passenger with Febreze and verbally abused him. State Attorney General Letitia James set up a hotline for New Yorkers to report hate crimes in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/86ca5e1f6032314115176190c380818d">country’s outbreak epicenter</a>.

The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks hate groups, blames the virus for elevating racist and anti-Semitic messages, including suggesting that Jews are somehow responsible for the pandemic. Some hate groups have suggested tainting doorknobs or other surfaces with the virus so FBI and police officers fall ill.

“If any of you get this, I expect you to spend as much time as possible with our enemies,” one wrote.

Hundreds of masks have been stolen in Portland, Oregon, amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6d9382c1e8ee36f9ed1a4dfe7815ceb1">shortages for health care workers</a>. A Missouri man who was coughing told two store clerks he had a high fever. He was arrested after police said he threatened to give the employees coronavirus. People in Pennsylvania and Illinois were accused of similar crimes. Texas prosecutors brought charges against someone who falsely claimed on social media to have tested positive for COVID-19.

In a memo issued Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen told prosecutors they could charge people who threaten to spread the new coronavirus under U.S. terrorism statutes because the Justice Department considers it a “biological agent” under the law. In such cases, suspects could be charged with a number of offenses, including possessing or developing a biological agent as a weapon, he said.

“Threats or attempt to use COVID-19 as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated,” Rosen wrote in the memo to U.S. attorneys across the country and the heads of all Justice Department agencies, including the FBI.

Meanwhile, police in Bowie, Maryland, are investigating reports of a man wearing an orange vest and blue surgical mask who approached people at two homes claiming to be inspecting for coronavirus. He actually entered one home before a resident confronted him. A similar scam was sweeping through Germany.

The World Health Organization and other authorities are also working to debunk spurious claims about possible cures. They include false assertions that silver, bleach, and garlic could protect against the coronavirus, or that bananas prevent it.

In Uganda, the parliament speaker endorsed a businessman who said he had discovered a chemical that “instantly kills” the virus. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga announced that the businessman had offered to produce the “treatment” in Uganda and it would go on the market shortly.

Kadaga’s comments were widely mocked because the product is actually a disinfectant, according to the Ugandan firm that will produce the chemical, not to be ingested.

New York officials recently ordered the Jim Bakker television show to stop marketing colloidal silver products. Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1428c4f6bbc336f446bdb89af51bdad1">himself falsely suggested&nbsp;</a>a drug typically used to treat malaria patients had been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the coronavirus.

Fraudsters purport to collect contaminated banknotes in South Africa. And police busted a clinic selling false testing kits in Kenya.

The United Kingdom’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has received more than 100 reports of virus-related scams, with losses totaling more than $1.1 million (970,000 pounds).

“We have already seen fraudsters using the COVID-19 pandemic to scam people looking to buy medical supplies online ... and targeting people who may be vulnerable or increasingly isolated at home,” Graeme Biggar, director general of the National Economic Crime Center in the U.K., said in a statement.

In the U.S., the Justice Department created a central fraud hotline (1-866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov) and has ordered U.S. attorneys to appoint special coronavirus fraud coordinators.

Meanwhile, marketing schemers have quickly pivoted to offering “senior care packages” that include hand sanitizer or even a purported vaccine, which doesn’t exist. Some falsely claim that Trump has ordered that seniors get tested.

It’s all a trick to get personal information that can be used to bill federal and state health programs, health officials said.

“It’s a straight-up ruse to get your Medicare number or your Social Security number under the guise of having a test kit or a sanitary kit sent to you,” Christian Schrank, assistant inspector general for investigations at Health and Human Services.

The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 350,000 people and left more than 15,000 people dead. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The World Health Organization says criminals are increasingly posing as WHO officials in calls and phishing emails to swipe information or money. The United Nations also set up a website to help prevent fraud.

But the warning came too late for an 83-year-old woman in Mannheim, Germany, who was convinced by scammers to hand over a five-figure sum, claiming it was for a relative who had fallen ill. Police, who would not give an exact figure on the stolen euros, said the woman was told that a driver would pick up the money from outside her front door, to avoid possible infection.

By the time she got suspicious, the money was gone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585143176510.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Attorney General William Barr says the Justice Department has already launched investigations into people who are hoarding supplies and price gouging.&nbsp;&nbsp;Barr says, “If you are sitting on a warehouse with surgical masks, you will be hearing a knock on your door."WASHINGTON (AP) — Thieves steal surgical masks. A clinic sells fake COVID-19 tests. Hate groups encourage sick members to infect law enforcement officers. Imposters pose as public health officials. Con artists peddle fake cures and financial scams.As the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus pandemic&nbsp;</a>spreads, so too do the crimes related to it — transgressions that capitalize on fear, panic and the urge to lay blame, and add to the burden on law enforcement agencies trying to protect vulnerable citizens.“It is really disheartening in a time like this that someone would take advantage of the community and take them in a time of need,” Tucson, Arizona, Police Sgt. Pete Dugan said.Everyday life has essentially stopped in many countries in a bid to slow the virus, and some crimes have been declining. But reports of virus-related fraud are on the rise, along with concerns about hate crimes.U.S. President Donald Trump and others have taken to calling the virus the “Chinese coronavirus,” even as scientists say the disease has nothing to do with Asian ethnicity. But the president dismissed the idea that his comments could fuel hate crimes.<a href="https://apnews.com/a7c233f0b3bcdb72c06cca6271ba6713">“It’s not racist at all,”</a>&nbsp;Trump has said.In Los Angeles, a 16-year-old boy of Asian descent said other students bullied him and accused him of carrying the virus. In New York, a man on the subway sprayed an Asian passenger with Febreze and verbally abused him. State Attorney General Letitia James set up a hotline for New Yorkers to report hate crimes in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/86ca5e1f6032314115176190c380818d">country’s outbreak epicenter</a>.The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks hate groups, blames the virus for elevating racist and anti-Semitic messages, including suggesting that Jews are somehow responsible for the pandemic. Some hate groups have suggested tainting doorknobs or other surfaces with the virus so FBI and police officers fall ill.“If any of you get this, I expect you to spend as much time as possible with our enemies,” one wrote.Hundreds of masks have been stolen in Portland, Oregon, amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6d9382c1e8ee36f9ed1a4dfe7815ceb1">shortages for health care workers</a>. A Missouri man who was coughing told two store clerks he had a high fever. He was arrested after police said he threatened to give the employees coronavirus. People in Pennsylvania and Illinois were accused of similar crimes. Texas prosecutors brought charges against someone who falsely claimed on social media to have tested positive for COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585145128626.png" alt="Counterfeit COVID-19 test kits intercepted at Los Angeles International airport -photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection" />
 <figcaption>Counterfeit COVID-19 test kits intercepted at Los Angeles International airport -photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection</figcaption>
 </figure>In a memo issued Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen told prosecutors they could charge people who threaten to spread the new coronavirus under U.S. terrorism statutes because the Justice Department considers it a “biological agent” under the law. In such cases, suspects could be charged with a number of offenses, including possessing or developing a biological agent as a weapon, he said.“Threats or attempt to use COVID-19 as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated,” Rosen wrote in the memo to U.S. attorneys across the country and the heads of all Justice Department agencies, including the FBI.Meanwhile, police in Bowie, Maryland, are investigating reports of a man wearing an orange vest and blue surgical mask who approached people at two homes claiming to be inspecting for coronavirus. He actually entered one home before a resident confronted him. A similar scam was sweeping through Germany.The World Health Organization and other authorities are also working to debunk spurious claims about possible cures. They include false assertions that silver, bleach, and garlic could protect against the coronavirus, or that bananas prevent it.In Uganda, the parliament speaker endorsed a businessman who said he had discovered a chemical that “instantly kills” the virus. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga announced that the businessman had offered to produce the “treatment” in Uganda and it would go on the market shortly.Kadaga’s comments were widely mocked because the product is actually a disinfectant, according to the Ugandan firm that will produce the chemical, not to be ingested.New York officials recently ordered the Jim Bakker television show to stop marketing colloidal silver products. Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1428c4f6bbc336f446bdb89af51bdad1">himself falsely suggested&nbsp;</a>a drug typically used to treat malaria patients had been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the coronavirus.Fraudsters purport to collect contaminated banknotes in South Africa. And police busted a clinic selling false testing kits in Kenya.The United Kingdom’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has received more than 100 reports of virus-related scams, with losses totaling more than $1.1 million (970,000 pounds).“We have already seen fraudsters using the COVID-19 pandemic to scam people looking to buy medical supplies online ... and targeting people who may be vulnerable or increasingly isolated at home,” Graeme Biggar, director general of the National Economic Crime Center in the U.K., said in a statement.In the U.S., the Justice Department created a central fraud hotline (1-866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov) and has ordered U.S. attorneys to appoint special coronavirus fraud coordinators.Meanwhile, marketing schemers have quickly pivoted to offering “senior care packages” that include hand sanitizer or even a purported vaccine, which doesn’t exist. Some falsely claim that Trump has ordered that seniors get tested.It’s all a trick to get personal information that can be used to bill federal and state health programs, health officials said.“It’s a straight-up ruse to get your Medicare number or your Social Security number under the guise of having a test kit or a sanitary kit sent to you,” Christian Schrank, assistant inspector general for investigations at Health and Human Services.The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 350,000 people and left more than 15,000 people dead. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.The World Health Organization says criminals are increasingly posing as WHO officials in calls and phishing emails to swipe information or money. The United Nations also set up a website to help prevent fraud.But the warning came too late for an 83-year-old woman in Mannheim, Germany, who was convinced by scammers to hand over a five-figure sum, claiming it was for a relative who had fallen ill. Police, who would not give an exact figure on the stolen euros, said the woman was told that a driver would pick up the money from outside her front door, to avoid possible infection.By the time she got suspicious, the money was gone.___

Coronavirus-related crimes capitalize on global fear, panic

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

As of 5 pm, March 28th, 2020, Saline County does not have any residents that have a confirmed positive case of COVID-19. Just because no positive cases have been reported through our official channels, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a potential for a positive case to exist within our community. It is possible that a person hasn’t met the requirements for the testing set by KDHE and have been advised by their medical provider to self-quarantine. When a positive case is identified in Saline County, the Saline County Health Department will be the only official source to release that information.

On Saturday, March 28th, Governor Kelly issued a Statewide Stay-At-Home that takes priority over the Saline County Safer-At-Home order issued by the Saline County Health Officer. The Statewide order is in effect beginning 12:01 am, Monday, March 30th until April 19, 2020 unless extended or rescinded. The Saline County Safer-At-Home order would then go into effect on April 20th, 2020 unless sooner amended, superseded or rescinded.

A copy of the Governor’s Executive Order issuing the Statewide Stay-at-Home order and a copy of her Kansas Essential Functions are attached to this release. If there are any questions from our business community as to whether or not they are deemed essential or any activity is deemed essential, please email your questions to <a href="mailto:keff@ks.gov">keff@ks.gov</a> .

Our County website <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a> has been updated with the most current information.

As stated many times before, this is a rapidly changing situation. Our local government leaders are working hard and are making difficult decisions as it relates to the best interests of the health and safety of our citizens and employees.

Here is Saturday's COVID-19 update from Saline County:As of 5 pm, March 28th, 2020, Saline County does not have any residents that have a confirmed positive case of COVID-19. Just because no positive cases have been reported through our official channels, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a potential for a positive case to exist within our community. It is possible that a person hasn’t met the requirements for the testing set by KDHE and have been advised by their medical provider to self-quarantine. When a positive case is identified in Saline County, the Saline County Health Department will be the only official source to release that information.On Saturday, March 28th, Governor Kelly issued a Statewide Stay-At-Home that takes priority over the Saline County Safer-At-Home order issued by the Saline County Health Officer. The Statewide order is in effect beginning 12:01 am, Monday, March 30th until April 19, 2020 unless extended or rescinded. The Saline County Safer-At-Home order would then go into effect on April 20th, 2020 unless sooner amended, superseded or rescinded.A copy of the Governor’s Executive Order issuing the Statewide Stay-at-Home order and a copy of her Kansas Essential Functions are attached to this release. If there are any questions from our business community as to whether or not they are deemed essential or any activity is deemed essential, please email your questions to <a href="mailto:keff@ks.gov">keff@ks.gov</a> .Our County website <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a> has been updated with the most current information.As stated many times before, this is a rapidly changing situation. Our local government leaders are working hard and are making difficult decisions as it relates to the best interests of the health and safety of our citizens and employees.

Salina County COVID-19 update for Saturday

Saturday's report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment updated at at 10 a.m&nbsp;

Saturday's report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment updated at at 10 a.m&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585421418383.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 5th death reported

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department has announced the county's second and third confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Following is a news release from the McPherson County Health Department.

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department has announced the county's second and third confirmed cases of COVID-19.Following is a news release from the McPherson County Health Department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585421146016.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

McPherson County: Two more COVID-19 cases

As a child, I attended weekend classes at our local synagogue to learn about Judaism. I remember one lesson above all from those years: past Jewish experience of pogroms and the Holocaust demands that Jews speak out against authoritarianism in the present and future.

Government interference in Jewish religious life represents one common sign of creeping authoritarianism. Historically, when governments prohibited Jews from exercising their religious rights, arrests and death soon followed. But how should we respond when the government imposes restrictions on religion in order to protect life?

That is the question that ran through my head when I saw a video on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/YiddishNews/status/1240472711249494016" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;last week of New York City police officers dispersing a crowd of Jews in Crown Heights at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters who were gathered for evening prayers. Dissenters were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nypd-fdny-disperse-orthodox-jewish-groups-amid-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">threatened</a>&nbsp;with arrest. Again I considered the question when I saw&nbsp;<a href="https://collive.com/fdny-disbands-crowd-filled-jewish-wedding-in-williamsburg/" target="_blank">pictures</a>&nbsp;of the New York City Fire Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/nyregion/coronavirus-hasidic-weddings-brooklyn.html" target="_blank">disbanding</a>&nbsp;a Jewish wedding in Williamsburg.

Despite the negative visceral reaction I have to those images, and despite the reservations I would otherwise have as a religious liberty advocate who is grounded in Jewish history, I fully support the government’s decision to limit religious gatherings to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around the world, governments are implementing measures that enforce social distancing in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. For example, last week the New York government banned all gatherings of 50 or more people. The measure applies to all gatherings, religious or not.

Some religious communities have reacted with anger and defiance to action taken by towns, states and the federal government. Last week, three plaintiffs&nbsp;<a href="https://onenewsnow.com/ap/religion/new-hampshire-ban-on-large-gatherings-challenged-in-court" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;New Hampshire’s governor for issuing an order prohibiting gatherings of 50 people or more. In their complaint, the plaintiffs list disrupted activities in which they want to participate in person, including Baptist church services and Sunday school. Other religious leaders have openly defied state bans on large gatherings. On Twitter, a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/rhowardbrowne/status/1239295863173910529" target="_blank">video</a>&nbsp;shows&nbsp;Rodney Howard-Browne, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay church in Florida, inviting congregants to shake hands with one another. “This church will never close,” he declared. And in Louisiana, the Rev.&nbsp;Tony Spell&nbsp;brought together hundreds of people in Life Tabernacle Church,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/21cb04e62aba8144ee0672883dc6eddb" target="_blank">saying</a>, “We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says.”

But religious freedom — like all freedoms — is not absolute. As my colleague&nbsp;Lata Nott&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2020/03/19/in-crisis-times-balancing-safety-and-freedom/" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;last week, rights and government interests must be balanced. The government can enact laws that disrupt the free exercise of religion if the government can demonstrate a “compelling interest” for doing so. In this case, the government has a compelling interest to protect public safety and health in the midst of a pandemic by limiting large gatherings. The limits apply equally to religious and non-religious groups, so they are neutrally applicable — another key religious freedom test by courts. And the laws against gatherings are the least restrictive option available to the government to ensure public health.

Importantly, the government has not prohibited other types of religious activities that do not involve large public gatherings. Many houses of worship have chosen to live stream their services so that their members can still participate in religious life. For example, last week more than 25,000 people watched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/15/dc-churches-open-sunday-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank">live stream</a>&nbsp;of a service at the Washington National Cathedral. And religious groups around the country, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/churches-overcome-social-distancing-to-continue-outreach" target="_blank">Methodists</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jta.org/2020/03/11/united-states/preparing-for-the-worst-case-scenario-jewish-aid-groups-scramble-amid-the-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">Jews</a>, continue to provide critical social services like meal deliveries to the elderly and the food insecure.

In addition, despite handwringing by some religious leaders about government restrictions that disrupt gatherings, some religious institutions have elected to cancel their own services to protect the most vulnerable in their communities. Numerous Catholic dioceses chose to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/19/masses-cancelled-how-can-catholics-practice-their-faith-home" target="_blank">suspend</a>&nbsp;celebrations of the Mass. The ADAMS Center in Virginia — the second-biggest mosque in the country — decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/13/dilemma-facing-religious-leaders-when-close-doors-during-pandemic/" target="_blank">cancel</a>&nbsp;Friday prayer services. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/3/12/21177623/mormon-church-lds-meetings-canceled-worldwide-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">canceled</a>&nbsp;all meetings and activities worldwide. And many Jewish leaders have&nbsp;<a href="https://forward.com/news/441834/at-least-100-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-hasidic-brooklyn/" target="_blank">called for</a>&nbsp;synagogues and yeshivas to close — and thankfully, communities have begun to&nbsp;<a href="https://thecity.nyc/2020/03/hasidic-leaders-sound-the-alarm-a-fire-is-burning.html" target="_blank">take heed</a>.

Religious liberty advocates should nevertheless pay close attention to government action in the coming weeks and months. A pandemic does not give the government carte blanche to abridge fundamental rights. Thankfully, a number of governmental and civil society organizations are serving as watchdogs to ensure that governments do not cross any bright lines. For example, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has published a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2020%20Factsheet%20Covid-19%20and%20FoRB.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;about the global pandemic and its impact on religious practice and freedom. And a multi-national research group called&nbsp;<a href="https://diresom.net/" target="_blank">DiReSom</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;Diritto e Religione nelle Società Multiculturali, or Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies — is tracking legal regulations on religion during the COVID-19 outbreak.

But the best way to guard our rights, now as always, is for every person to read or watch the news, contact their representatives when necessary, and insist that we responsibly balance our individual rights and responsibilities to others. COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. Religious freedom will survive this pandemic if we are vigilant.

Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. His email address is:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576172282950.jpeg" alt="Benjamin Marcus. Photo courtesy Freedom Forum" />
 <figcaption>Benjamin Marcus. Photo courtesy Freedom Forum</figcaption>
 </figure>By BENJAMIN MARCUSAs a child, I attended weekend classes at our local synagogue to learn about Judaism. I remember one lesson above all from those years: past Jewish experience of pogroms and the Holocaust demands that Jews speak out against authoritarianism in the present and future.Government interference in Jewish religious life represents one common sign of creeping authoritarianism. Historically, when governments prohibited Jews from exercising their religious rights, arrests and death soon followed. But how should we respond when the government imposes restrictions on religion in order to protect life?That is the question that ran through my head when I saw a video on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/YiddishNews/status/1240472711249494016" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;last week of New York City police officers dispersing a crowd of Jews in Crown Heights at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters who were gathered for evening prayers. Dissenters were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nypd-fdny-disperse-orthodox-jewish-groups-amid-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">threatened</a>&nbsp;with arrest. Again I considered the question when I saw&nbsp;<a href="https://collive.com/fdny-disbands-crowd-filled-jewish-wedding-in-williamsburg/" target="_blank">pictures</a>&nbsp;of the New York City Fire Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/nyregion/coronavirus-hasidic-weddings-brooklyn.html" target="_blank">disbanding</a>&nbsp;a Jewish wedding in Williamsburg.Despite the negative visceral reaction I have to those images, and despite the reservations I would otherwise have as a religious liberty advocate who is grounded in Jewish history, I fully support the government’s decision to limit religious gatherings to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.Around the world, governments are implementing measures that enforce social distancing in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. For example, last week the New York government banned all gatherings of 50 or more people. The measure applies to all gatherings, religious or not.Some religious communities have reacted with anger and defiance to action taken by towns, states and the federal government. Last week, three plaintiffs&nbsp;<a href="https://onenewsnow.com/ap/religion/new-hampshire-ban-on-large-gatherings-challenged-in-court" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;New Hampshire’s governor for issuing an order prohibiting gatherings of 50 people or more. In their complaint, the plaintiffs list disrupted activities in which they want to participate in person, including Baptist church services and Sunday school. Other religious leaders have openly defied state bans on large gatherings. On Twitter, a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/rhowardbrowne/status/1239295863173910529" target="_blank">video</a>&nbsp;shows&nbsp;Rodney Howard-Browne, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay church in Florida, inviting congregants to shake hands with one another. “This church will never close,” he declared. And in Louisiana, the Rev.&nbsp;Tony Spell&nbsp;brought together hundreds of people in Life Tabernacle Church,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/21cb04e62aba8144ee0672883dc6eddb" target="_blank">saying</a>, “We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says.”But religious freedom — like all freedoms — is not absolute. As my colleague&nbsp;Lata Nott&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2020/03/19/in-crisis-times-balancing-safety-and-freedom/" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;last week, rights and government interests must be balanced. The government can enact laws that disrupt the free exercise of religion if the government can demonstrate a “compelling interest” for doing so. In this case, the government has a compelling interest to protect public safety and health in the midst of a pandemic by limiting large gatherings. The limits apply equally to religious and non-religious groups, so they are neutrally applicable — another key religious freedom test by courts. And the laws against gatherings are the least restrictive option available to the government to ensure public health.Importantly, the government has not prohibited other types of religious activities that do not involve large public gatherings. Many houses of worship have chosen to live stream their services so that their members can still participate in religious life. For example, last week more than 25,000 people watched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/15/dc-churches-open-sunday-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank">live stream</a>&nbsp;of a service at the Washington National Cathedral. And religious groups around the country, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/churches-overcome-social-distancing-to-continue-outreach" target="_blank">Methodists</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jta.org/2020/03/11/united-states/preparing-for-the-worst-case-scenario-jewish-aid-groups-scramble-amid-the-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">Jews</a>, continue to provide critical social services like meal deliveries to the elderly and the food insecure.In addition, despite handwringing by some religious leaders about government restrictions that disrupt gatherings, some religious institutions have elected to cancel their own services to protect the most vulnerable in their communities. Numerous Catholic dioceses chose to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/19/masses-cancelled-how-can-catholics-practice-their-faith-home" target="_blank">suspend</a>&nbsp;celebrations of the Mass. The ADAMS Center in Virginia — the second-biggest mosque in the country — decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/13/dilemma-facing-religious-leaders-when-close-doors-during-pandemic/" target="_blank">cancel</a>&nbsp;Friday prayer services. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/3/12/21177623/mormon-church-lds-meetings-canceled-worldwide-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">canceled</a>&nbsp;all meetings and activities worldwide. And many Jewish leaders have&nbsp;<a href="https://forward.com/news/441834/at-least-100-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-hasidic-brooklyn/" target="_blank">called for</a>&nbsp;synagogues and yeshivas to close — and thankfully, communities have begun to&nbsp;<a href="https://thecity.nyc/2020/03/hasidic-leaders-sound-the-alarm-a-fire-is-burning.html" target="_blank">take heed</a>.Religious liberty advocates should nevertheless pay close attention to government action in the coming weeks and months. A pandemic does not give the government carte blanche to abridge fundamental rights. Thankfully, a number of governmental and civil society organizations are serving as watchdogs to ensure that governments do not cross any bright lines. For example, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has published a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2020%20Factsheet%20Covid-19%20and%20FoRB.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;about the global pandemic and its impact on religious practice and freedom. And a multi-national research group called&nbsp;<a href="https://diresom.net/" target="_blank">DiReSom</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;Diritto e Religione nelle Società Multiculturali, or Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies — is tracking legal regulations on religion during the COVID-19 outbreak.But the best way to guard our rights, now as always, is for every person to read or watch the news, contact their representatives when necessary, and insist that we responsibly balance our individual rights and responsibilities to others. COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. Religious freedom will survive this pandemic if we are vigilant.Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. His email address is:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

First Five: Can religious freedom survive COVID-19?

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has added two new states to the quarantine list: Louisiana and Colorado. Previously, just certain counties in Colorado were included. This is effective for persons returning Friday, March 27, and moving forward.

A comprehensive list of those Kansans needing to quarantine for 14 days includes those who have:

Important Note:&nbsp;These mandates do not apply to critical infrastructure sectors needed to continue operations during this pandemic. Public health, including hospitals, clinics, etc. need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans. While KDHE strongly recommends these quarantine restrictions for everyone, we do recognize that medical care needs to continue and no healthcare facility should ever be to a point where it would need to close due to staff being quarantined. We ask facilities to ensure they have updated their Emergency Preparedness Plans and implement protocols to ensure that no employee comes to work symptomatic. Other examples of critical infrastructures include pharmaceutical and food supply, along with others defined by the Department of Homeland Security.

For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cc8ddda7c98114fdc4da508d7d29048a8%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637209389437160095&amp;sdata=IgaAggS9tuEdgdPIkLPHH5lJqypnkC%2Flw0WZAVkRN9c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:COVID-19@ks.gov">COVID-19@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has added two new states to the quarantine list: Louisiana and Colorado. Previously, just certain counties in Colorado were included. This is effective for persons returning Friday, March 27, and moving forward.A comprehensive list of those Kansans needing to quarantine for 14 days includes those who have:<ol>
 <li>Traveled to Louisiana or anywhere in Colorado on or after March 27.</li><li>Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (California, Florida, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15.</li><li>Traveled to Illinois or New Jersey on or after March 23.</li><li>Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado in the week of March 8 or after.</li><li>Traveled on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Traveled internationally on or after March 15.People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. You should quarantine at home for 14 days since your last contact with the case.&nbsp; (A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.)</li>
 </ol>Important Note:&nbsp;These mandates do not apply to critical infrastructure sectors needed to continue operations during this pandemic. Public health, including hospitals, clinics, etc. need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans. While KDHE strongly recommends these quarantine restrictions for everyone, we do recognize that medical care needs to continue and no healthcare facility should ever be to a point where it would need to close due to staff being quarantined. We ask facilities to ensure they have updated their Emergency Preparedness Plans and implement protocols to ensure that no employee comes to work symptomatic. Other examples of critical infrastructures include pharmaceutical and food supply, along with others defined by the Department of Homeland Security.For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cc8ddda7c98114fdc4da508d7d29048a8%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637209389437160095&amp;sdata=IgaAggS9tuEdgdPIkLPHH5lJqypnkC%2Flw0WZAVkRN9c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:COVID-19@ks.gov">COVID-19@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

KDHE adds states to travel quarantine list

Foods from farm animals also are considered safe from the virus

MANHATTAN – The director of a Kansas State University veterinary laboratory that responds to animal health issues across the state says that while coronavirus is a disease familiar to livestock producers, it is not the same strain of the virus that is grabbing headlines across the globe.

The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, is transmitted through humans. There is no evidence that livestock can transmit the disease to humans, and the food products from livestock cannot carry COVID-19 to humans.

“Producers are well aware that there is a (different strain of) coronavirus that is associated with neo-natal diarrhea, and there’s another one that we think is now associated with cattle respiratory disease,” said Gregg Hanzlicek, director of the production animal field investigations unit in K-State’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

“But I want to make it perfectly clear that our cattle coronavirus has no relationship to the coronavirus that is currently circulating in humans. These coronaviruses are very species-specific. There is absolutely no indication that livestock can be carriers of COVID-19 and be a source of infection to humans, either through carrying it on their skin or their hair or anywhere else.”

He added: “Milk, eggs, beef pork…whatever proteins that are produced by livestock are absolutely safe to eat. People do not have to worry about those products carrying COVID-19 to the population.”

Hanzlicek said that producers are safe to go about the business of taking care of animals: “They need to minimize the amount of exposure they have to humans. At this point, they should keep on doing what they do every day with their livestock.”

Livestock producers who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should see their medical professional. If their livestock begin showing signs of illness, as well, Hanzlicek said they should contact their local veterinarian.

“The local vet will call the state or federal veterinarian and then a decision will be made whether to test those animals for COVID-19,” Hanzlicek said. “We don’t want to just start blanket sampling all animals. Again, with this virus, we do not believe that livestock are associated with spreading the disease.”

Hanzlicek said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has relaxed its rules just a bit to allow producers to consult with a veterinarian through ‘tele-medicine’ – that is, communicating sickness to a veterinarian by phone or online technology.

“The veterinarian is not necessarily required to make a trip to actually look at the animals,” thus maintain ‘social distance’ guidelines for humans, Hanzlicek said.

The K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which tests samples for suspected livestock disease, remains open during the university’s limited operations status. Hanzlicek said the lab is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Hanzlicek and others also are still available to travel throughout Kansas to help local veterinarians diagnose suspected livestock disease. The staff can be contacted by calling 785-532-5650, or through its web site,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvdl.org/" target="_blank">www.ksvdl.org</a>.

Hanzlicek said the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fda.gov/coronavirus" target="_blank">FDA also maintains a useful site</a>&nbsp;with information for livestock owners regarding COVID-19.

<h2>Foods from farm animals also are considered safe from the virus</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585403028580.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy <a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu">KSRE</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy <a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu">KSRE</a></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – The director of a Kansas State University veterinary laboratory that responds to animal health issues across the state says that while coronavirus is a disease familiar to livestock producers, it is not the same strain of the virus that is grabbing headlines across the globe.The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, is transmitted through humans. There is no evidence that livestock can transmit the disease to humans, and the food products from livestock cannot carry COVID-19 to humans.“Producers are well aware that there is a (different strain of) coronavirus that is associated with neo-natal diarrhea, and there’s another one that we think is now associated with cattle respiratory disease,” said Gregg Hanzlicek, director of the production animal field investigations unit in K-State’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.“But I want to make it perfectly clear that our cattle coronavirus has no relationship to the coronavirus that is currently circulating in humans. These coronaviruses are very species-specific. There is absolutely no indication that livestock can be carriers of COVID-19 and be a source of infection to humans, either through carrying it on their skin or their hair or anywhere else.”He added: “Milk, eggs, beef pork…whatever proteins that are produced by livestock are absolutely safe to eat. People do not have to worry about those products carrying COVID-19 to the population.”Hanzlicek said that producers are safe to go about the business of taking care of animals: “They need to minimize the amount of exposure they have to humans. At this point, they should keep on doing what they do every day with their livestock.”Livestock producers who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should see their medical professional. If their livestock begin showing signs of illness, as well, Hanzlicek said they should contact their local veterinarian.“The local vet will call the state or federal veterinarian and then a decision will be made whether to test those animals for COVID-19,” Hanzlicek said. “We don’t want to just start blanket sampling all animals. Again, with this virus, we do not believe that livestock are associated with spreading the disease.”Hanzlicek said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has relaxed its rules just a bit to allow producers to consult with a veterinarian through ‘tele-medicine’ – that is, communicating sickness to a veterinarian by phone or online technology.“The veterinarian is not necessarily required to make a trip to actually look at the animals,” thus maintain ‘social distance’ guidelines for humans, Hanzlicek said.The K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which tests samples for suspected livestock disease, remains open during the university’s limited operations status. Hanzlicek said the lab is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.Hanzlicek and others also are still available to travel throughout Kansas to help local veterinarians diagnose suspected livestock disease. The staff can be contacted by calling 785-532-5650, or through its web site,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvdl.org/" target="_blank">www.ksvdl.org</a>.Hanzlicek said the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fda.gov/coronavirus" target="_blank">FDA also maintains a useful site</a>&nbsp;with information for livestock owners regarding COVID-19.

K-State vet: No evidence livestock can transmit COVID-19

Salina USD 305's free grab-and-go meals will be continuing. 

When originally announced, the end-date of the program was listed as Friday, however USD 305 announced Fridaynafternoon that the program will continue. Here's the information from USD 305:

Salina Public Schools will continue to communicate through parent notifications, its <a href="http://usd305.com">website</a>, local media outlets, and on social media.

Salina USD 305's free grab-and-go meals will be continuing. When originally announced, the end-date of the program was listed as Friday, however USD 305 announced Fridaynafternoon that the program will continue. Here's the information from USD 305:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585345066565.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Public Schools will continue to communicate through parent notifications, its <a href="http://usd305.com">website</a>, local media outlets, and on social media.

Coronavirus Update