9-14-20 Update: 663 Active Cases, 719 Recovered, 8 Deaths

&nbsp;Two COVID19-positive patients associated with the outbreak at Homestead Assisted Living in Manhattan, died over the weekend. Of the two most recent deaths, one patient was being cared for at Ascension Via Christi hospital in Manhattan and the second patient was being cared for at Stormont Vail in Topeka. A total of eight&nbsp;COVID19-positive&nbsp;Riley County residents have died since the pandemic began.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“All of our lives have been changed by this disease,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Losing loved ones, and sometimes not being able to visit them in their final moments, is truly heartbreaking. I am so sorry for all of the loss people have experienced. We will continue to work to keep our community safe and healthy, and we need your help to do that. Please stay home if you are sick, share information with contact tracing staff if they call, and follow safety guidelines from the CDC.”

Riley County has 43 new positive cases and no additional recoveries since Friday’s report. Case counts are preliminary and subject to change with further verification. Information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, via the EpiTrax system, has been delayed and will be reported as soon as it is available.&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 1 positive patient at this time. The patient has symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.

&nbsp;EOC Command Staff were present to observe several large events in Riley County over the weekend, including the K-State football game. Feedback from command staff indicates that safety plans for each event were well-executed.&nbsp;“Event staff communicated effectively and enforced requirements at the large events,” said Riley County Emergency Medical Services Director David Adams, who was on duty at the K-State football game.&nbsp; “The people in attendance were generally observed to be in compliance with safety regulations.”&nbsp;The only complaints sent to the Riley County Health Department related to the student section of the Bill Snyder Family stadium, which on-camera appeared to be overcrowded. EOC staff inspected the student section during the game, and found at least two empty rows between each row of students. 

The seating arrangement was consistent with the 25% capacity requirement for each section.&nbsp;“At the K-State football game, there was no tailgating, masks were worn throughout the stadium, and event staff did everything they were supposed to do to uphold the requirements for their special event permit,” said Adams.&nbsp;Local Health Order No. 18 requires a special event permit for any public or private event with more than 50 people. Permits are required for both indoor and outdoor events, and strict safety measures must be in place for an event to be approved.&nbsp;Businesses under normal operations must follow social distancing and/or barrier installation and other requirements in Order 18 and are exempt from the&nbsp;special event permit requirement, unless they plan to host a special event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

To apply for a special event permit, please submit the online form at least 14 days in advance of the event. Find a link to the form on the Riley County Coronavirus website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=dcb956577b&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;Test results for the free testing events held last week in Riley County are starting to come in. Contact tracing staff are making phone calls to participants as soon as information is available. Roughly 100 of the 567 test results have been received. Only 1 patient out of that first group of 100 results has been positive.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.&nbsp;Riley County Statistics for Monday, September 14, 2020:

&nbsp;For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit the Riley County website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=12b02871f5&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=8809c81284&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>&nbsp;and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.&nbsp;###

<h2>9-14-20 Update: 663 Active Cases, 719 Recovered, 8 Deaths</h2>By Vivian Uccello&nbsp;Two COVID19-positive patients associated with the outbreak at Homestead Assisted Living in Manhattan, died over the weekend. Of the two most recent deaths, one patient was being cared for at Ascension Via Christi hospital in Manhattan and the second patient was being cared for at Stormont Vail in Topeka. A total of eight&nbsp;COVID19-positive&nbsp;Riley County residents have died since the pandemic began.&nbsp;&nbsp;“All of our lives have been changed by this disease,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Losing loved ones, and sometimes not being able to visit them in their final moments, is truly heartbreaking. I am so sorry for all of the loss people have experienced. We will continue to work to keep our community safe and healthy, and we need your help to do that. Please stay home if you are sick, share information with contact tracing staff if they call, and follow safety guidelines from the CDC.”Riley County has 43 new positive cases and no additional recoveries since Friday’s report. Case counts are preliminary and subject to change with further verification. Information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, via the EpiTrax system, has been delayed and will be reported as soon as it is available.&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 1 positive patient at this time. The patient has symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.&nbsp;EOC Command Staff were present to observe several large events in Riley County over the weekend, including the K-State football game. Feedback from command staff indicates that safety plans for each event were well-executed.&nbsp;“Event staff communicated effectively and enforced requirements at the large events,” said Riley County Emergency Medical Services Director David Adams, who was on duty at the K-State football game.&nbsp; “The people in attendance were generally observed to be in compliance with safety regulations.”&nbsp;The only complaints sent to the Riley County Health Department related to the student section of the Bill Snyder Family stadium, which on-camera appeared to be overcrowded. EOC staff inspected the student section during the game, and found at least two empty rows between each row of students. The seating arrangement was consistent with the 25% capacity requirement for each section.&nbsp;“At the K-State football game, there was no tailgating, masks were worn throughout the stadium, and event staff did everything they were supposed to do to uphold the requirements for their special event permit,” said Adams.&nbsp;Local Health Order No. 18 requires a special event permit for any public or private event with more than 50 people. Permits are required for both indoor and outdoor events, and strict safety measures must be in place for an event to be approved.&nbsp;Businesses under normal operations must follow social distancing and/or barrier installation and other requirements in Order 18 and are exempt from the&nbsp;special event permit requirement, unless they plan to host a special event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To apply for a special event permit, please submit the online form at least 14 days in advance of the event. Find a link to the form on the Riley County Coronavirus website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=dcb956577b&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;Test results for the free testing events held last week in Riley County are starting to come in. Contact tracing staff are making phone calls to participants as soon as information is available. Roughly 100 of the 567 test results have been received. Only 1 patient out of that first group of 100 results has been positive.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.&nbsp;Riley County Statistics for Monday, September 14, 2020:<ol>
 <li>Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 1,390</li><li>Total active: 663</li><li>Total recovered: 719</li><li>Total deaths: 8</li><li>Pending test results: 1,054</li><li>Negative test results: 8,025</li>
 </ol>&nbsp;For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit the Riley County website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=12b02871f5&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=8809c81284&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>&nbsp;and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.&nbsp;###

Riley County health provides the latest COVID-19 report

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican said Saturday it was “necessary and urgent” to return to in-person Masses as soon as anti-coronavirus measures permit.

The head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, Cardinal Robert Sarah, said in a letter to bishops conferences that virtual liturgies, while useful, were no replacement for the real thing. He said physical presence by the faithful in churches was “vital, indispensable, irreplaceable.”

While some Catholic priests claimed coronavirus lockdowns that shuttered churches infringed on religious liberties, Pope Francis has adhered to Italy’s strict lockdown.

He halted all public Masses at the Vatican, livestreamed his morning liturgies during the peak of Italy’s outbreak, and at one point even admonished priests who balked at the measures for their “adolescent resistance.”

The Vatican said Saturday that Francis had approved Sarah’s letter to bishops conferences, which makes clear that government authorities cannot dictate liturgical practices.

Francis had urged the Catholic faithful to obey anti-COVID measures, saying government authorities were responsible for public health. He was seen this week wearing a face mask for the first time, and has been using hand sanitizer.

In recent weeks Francis has resumed public gatherings and has celebrated a handful of public Masses before limited, socially distanced groups.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican said Saturday it was “necessary and urgent” to return to in-person Masses as soon as anti-coronavirus measures permit.The head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, Cardinal Robert Sarah, said in a letter to bishops conferences that virtual liturgies, while useful, were no replacement for the real thing. He said physical presence by the faithful in churches was “vital, indispensable, irreplaceable.”While some Catholic priests claimed coronavirus lockdowns that shuttered churches infringed on religious liberties, Pope Francis has adhered to Italy’s strict lockdown.He halted all public Masses at the Vatican, livestreamed his morning liturgies during the peak of Italy’s outbreak, and at one point even admonished priests who balked at the measures for their “adolescent resistance.”The Vatican said Saturday that Francis had approved Sarah’s letter to bishops conferences, which makes clear that government authorities cannot dictate liturgical practices.Francis had urged the Catholic faithful to obey anti-COVID measures, saying government authorities were responsible for public health. He was seen this week wearing a face mask for the first time, and has been using hand sanitizer.In recent weeks Francis has resumed public gatherings and has celebrated a handful of public Masses before limited, socially distanced groups.___

Vatican urges return to in-person Mass as soon as possible

K-State provost Dr. Charles Taber has announced an adjustment to the spring 2021 academic calendar at&nbsp; the university. It was presented by the university calendar committee and approved by Faculty Senate.&nbsp;

The spring 2021 academic calendar will begin one week later on Jan. 25 and ends with previously scheduled commencement exercises on May 14-15.

According to a K-State Today report the altered spring schedule eliminates spring break.&nbsp;

Taber said K-State is making the adjustments to the spring 2021 academic calendar to reduce the risks related to the coronavirus pandemic by minimizing mass travel to and from the K-State campuses during the spring semester.

The spring semester is being planned as a residential semester similar to the fall semester with a focus on de-densification and offering multiple instructional modes. Course information, including whether a course will be in person, online or blended / hybrid will be posted in KSIS by Sept. 28. Course modalities will be finalized on Oct. 5. KSIS is where news about K-State's Student Information System is posted.

K-State provost Dr. Charles Taber has announced an adjustment to the spring 2021 academic calendar at&nbsp; the university. It was presented by the university calendar committee and approved by Faculty Senate.&nbsp;The spring 2021 academic calendar will begin one week later on Jan. 25 and ends with previously scheduled commencement exercises on May 14-15.According to a K-State Today report the altered spring schedule eliminates spring break.&nbsp;Taber said K-State is making the adjustments to the spring 2021 academic calendar to reduce the risks related to the coronavirus pandemic by minimizing mass travel to and from the K-State campuses during the spring semester.The spring semester is being planned as a residential semester similar to the fall semester with a focus on de-densification and offering multiple instructional modes. Course information, including whether a course will be in person, online or blended / hybrid will be posted in KSIS by Sept. 28. Course modalities will be finalized on Oct. 5. KSIS is where news about K-State's Student Information System is posted.

K-State cancels spring break

&nbsp;Riley County has 37 new positive cases and 14 additional recoveries since Wednesday’s report. The Riley County Health Department is transitioning to a new infectious-disease reporting system as new staff come on board. Additional information, such as the age group summary, will be included in the report on Monday, September 14. 

The new Emergency Preparedness Manager is scheduled to start the week of September 21.&nbsp;Contact tracing staff will continue to call any new positive patients.&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 3 positive patients and 1 Person Under Investigation (PUI) at this time. A PUI is someone who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.

&nbsp;“Information gathered from patients in Riley County indicates that the three most common symptoms have been cough, headache, and loss of taste and smell,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The majority of patients have been younger, and have tended to have milder cases of the disease.”&nbsp;Data also indicates that 42% of recent patients do not know where they contracted the virus. Contact with positive patients living in the same household represents 27% and close contact with known positive patients outside the household represents another 27%. Only 4% of positive patients in the county are linked to travel outside the area.&nbsp;

Testing continues to be one of the most important resources for the response. Test results indicate when positive patients need to isolate or when close contacts should remain in quarantine. These measures can help slow the spread of the disease.&nbsp;“The free testing events were very successful and we plan to work with KDHE and the Kansas National Guard again to offer additional events in the Manhattan area,” said Gibbs. “Giving people access to testing resources is an important tool and allows us to gather more data about how the virus is spreading in the community.”&nbsp;

A total of 567 people were tested at the free events this week: 310 in Manhattan, 76 in Randolph, and 81 in Ogden.&nbsp;When the testing schedule is finalized for future events, information will be posted on the Riley County Coronavirus website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=210734aa05&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, as well as the Riley County Health Department’s Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=5e6f5a2bdd&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.&nbsp;Riley County Statistics for Wednesday, September 11, 2020:

Case counts are preliminary and subject to verification.&nbsp;Percent positive information is updated each Monday and is also posted online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=7facec3053&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">Data &amp; Info</a>&nbsp;section of the Riley County Coronavirus web page at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=2dc9012f36&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">http://rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Riley County has 37 new positive cases and 14 additional recoveries since Wednesday’s report. The Riley County Health Department is transitioning to a new infectious-disease reporting system as new staff come on board. Additional information, such as the age group summary, will be included in the report on Monday, September 14. The new Emergency Preparedness Manager is scheduled to start the week of September 21.&nbsp;Contact tracing staff will continue to call any new positive patients.&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 3 positive patients and 1 Person Under Investigation (PUI) at this time. A PUI is someone who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.&nbsp;“Information gathered from patients in Riley County indicates that the three most common symptoms have been cough, headache, and loss of taste and smell,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The majority of patients have been younger, and have tended to have milder cases of the disease.”&nbsp;Data also indicates that 42% of recent patients do not know where they contracted the virus. Contact with positive patients living in the same household represents 27% and close contact with known positive patients outside the household represents another 27%. Only 4% of positive patients in the county are linked to travel outside the area.&nbsp;Testing continues to be one of the most important resources for the response. Test results indicate when positive patients need to isolate or when close contacts should remain in quarantine. These measures can help slow the spread of the disease.&nbsp;“The free testing events were very successful and we plan to work with KDHE and the Kansas National Guard again to offer additional events in the Manhattan area,” said Gibbs. “Giving people access to testing resources is an important tool and allows us to gather more data about how the virus is spreading in the community.”&nbsp;A total of 567 people were tested at the free events this week: 310 in Manhattan, 76 in Randolph, and 81 in Ogden.&nbsp;When the testing schedule is finalized for future events, information will be posted on the Riley County Coronavirus website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=210734aa05&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>, as well as the Riley County Health Department’s Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=5e6f5a2bdd&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.&nbsp;Riley County Statistics for Wednesday, September 11, 2020:<ol>
 <li>Total number of positive cases: 1,347</li><li>Total active: 623</li><li>Total recovered: 728</li><li>Total deaths: 6</li>
 </ol>Case counts are preliminary and subject to verification.&nbsp;Percent positive information is updated each Monday and is also posted online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=7facec3053&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">Data &amp; Info</a>&nbsp;section of the Riley County Coronavirus web page at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=2dc9012f36&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">http://rileycountyks.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;

Riley County Health officials provide a COVID-19 update

The Big 12 has secured access to COVID-19 antigen testing that produces rapid results and will be used the day before competition on players, coaches and staff. The conference announced a partnership with Virtual Care for Families. 

The testing program will use Quidel Rapid Antigen tests. The Pac-12 recently announced a partnership with Quidel that will provide its schools with the capacity to test daily and get results in about 15 minutes. The Big 12 said it expects the Quidel test to provide results that quickly.

The Big 12 has secured access to COVID-19 antigen testing that produces rapid results and will be used the day before competition on players, coaches and staff. The conference announced a partnership with Virtual Care for Families. The testing program will use Quidel Rapid Antigen tests. The Pac-12 recently announced a partnership with Quidel that will provide its schools with the capacity to test daily and get results in about 15 minutes. The Big 12 said it expects the Quidel test to provide results that quickly.

Big 12 to implement rapid COVID-19 tests day before games

By Crystal Malchose, PIO Pottawatomie County

This is an informational feature supported by the Pottawatomie County Commission to assist in providing educational information regarding the COVID-19 virus to citizens.

Modified Quarantine/Isolation, and back to school.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has compiled a guide for Modified Isolation and Quarantine Requirements in a situation where someone in a classroom has tested positive for COVID-19. Education is important for our youth, and health and safety is important for everyone. The modified quarantine for close contacts allows students and staffs in the exposed classroom to continue attending school physically during quarantine, while remaining quarantined outside of class. The preferred action would be for the close contacts of a case to continue lessons remotely. This is not always possible. Therefore KDHE set-up certain steps, once in place, allows for a modified quarantine. Detailed information is available at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1377/Guidance-for-Modified-Quarantine-in-K-12-Schools---7-28-2020.

The modified quarantine requirements are dependent upon the close contact(s) remaining asymptomatic. The following practices should be followed:

1. Close contacts should only travel to/from school with other close contacts in modified quarantine.

2. They should arrive/leave school at staggered times to ensure they do not interact with the general population.

3. Those in modified quarantine will be pre-screened each day. Checked for symptoms, including fever; and check-in with medical staff periodically through the day. Anyone showing symptoms should be sent home immediately.

4. All those in modified quarantine should wear face coverings at all times; and be kept separated from the general school population. All activities should be within the classroom.

5. A designated bathroom should be set aside for use by those in quarantine, or, if feasible, arrangements made to clean and sanitize the bathrooms after use by those in quarantine.

6. Quarantined students and staff should not participate in activities that involve interaction with non-quarantined individuals. This includes before and after-school, and all school-related activities.

7. When not at school, these individuals are required to follow regular quarantine procedures and remain at home.

Other rules regarding the cleaning and disinfecting of the classroom, materials, etc. is required as well.

Local health departments and school districts can decide the best approach for specific situations.

By Crystal Malchose, PIO Pottawatomie CountyThis is an informational feature supported by the Pottawatomie County Commission to assist in providing educational information regarding the COVID-19 virus to citizens.Modified Quarantine/Isolation, and back to school.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has compiled a guide for Modified Isolation and Quarantine Requirements in a situation where someone in a classroom has tested positive for COVID-19. Education is important for our youth, and health and safety is important for everyone. The modified quarantine for close contacts allows students and staffs in the exposed classroom to continue attending school physically during quarantine, while remaining quarantined outside of class. The preferred action would be for the close contacts of a case to continue lessons remotely. This is not always possible. Therefore KDHE set-up certain steps, once in place, allows for a modified quarantine. Detailed information is available at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1377/Guidance-for-Modified-Quarantine-in-K-12-Schools---7-28-2020.The modified quarantine requirements are dependent upon the close contact(s) remaining asymptomatic. The following practices should be followed:1. Close contacts should only travel to/from school with other close contacts in modified quarantine.2. They should arrive/leave school at staggered times to ensure they do not interact with the general population.3. Those in modified quarantine will be pre-screened each day. Checked for symptoms, including fever; and check-in with medical staff periodically through the day. Anyone showing symptoms should be sent home immediately.4. All those in modified quarantine should wear face coverings at all times; and be kept separated from the general school population. All activities should be within the classroom.5. A designated bathroom should be set aside for use by those in quarantine, or, if feasible, arrangements made to clean and sanitize the bathrooms after use by those in quarantine.6. Quarantined students and staff should not participate in activities that involve interaction with non-quarantined individuals. This includes before and after-school, and all school-related activities.7. When not at school, these individuals are required to follow regular quarantine procedures and remain at home.Other rules regarding the cleaning and disinfecting of the classroom, materials, etc. is required as well.Local health departments and school districts can decide the best approach for specific situations.

Covid Corner

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A football-starved nation is getting its games back with the start of the NFL season, but many worry that attending games or get-togethers will lead to a new surge in coronavirus infections. NFL football will kick off Thursday in Kansas City at a stadium that's allowing 17,000 fans inside. 

Those spectators may be able to physically distance in the stands, but whether they're able to do so at concessions or in bathrooms is a different story. Experts fear more outbreaks as the virus has started to slow its spread.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A football-starved nation is getting its games back with the start of the NFL season, but many worry that attending games or get-togethers will lead to a new surge in coronavirus infections. NFL football will kick off Thursday in Kansas City at a stadium that's allowing 17,000 fans inside. Those spectators may be able to physically distance in the stands, but whether they're able to do so at concessions or in bathrooms is a different story. Experts fear more outbreaks as the virus has started to slow its spread.

Concerns about COVID-19 surges with the return of football

TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;A Larned Correctional Facility resident who died Monday, September 7 had tested positive for COVID-19. This is the fifth resident death related to COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Junior Lee Chrismon, 68, tested positive for the virus on August 15 and was transferred to the hospital the same day. Chrismon had underlying medical concerns that contributed to his condition.&nbsp;The official manner of death for all COVID-19 deaths is natural causes.

Chrismon was serving a 52-month sentence for drug-related charges. He had been imprisoned with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) since May 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599748017069.png" alt="Chrismon-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Chrismon-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;A Larned Correctional Facility resident who died Monday, September 7 had tested positive for COVID-19. This is the fifth resident death related to COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.Junior Lee Chrismon, 68, tested positive for the virus on August 15 and was transferred to the hospital the same day. Chrismon had underlying medical concerns that contributed to his condition.&nbsp;The official manner of death for all COVID-19 deaths is natural causes.Chrismon was serving a 52-month sentence for drug-related charges. He had been imprisoned with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) since May 2019.

5th Kansas prison inmate dies; tested positive for COVID-19

Topeka —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Lee Norman, M.D. provided an update on clusters, testing and more during a Wednesday press conference.

On Wednesday afternoon, the state reported less than 500 new virus cases in Kansas since Monday and ten new deaths.

Norman said that due to the Labor Day holiday weekend, the KDHE had received few reports from county health departments and labs. "The numbers are running a little bit behind and are low."

When asked about giving a letter grade to the state on the response to the virus Norman said there are two groups. "One group gets a B+ and the other group gets a D. Some take the virus seriously and other say it's a bunch of hogwash. I think there will be very few naysayers eventually.&nbsp; There is going to be enough disease burden that everyone will be touched in some way by this(the virus).&nbsp;

Topeka —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Lee Norman, M.D. provided an update on clusters, testing and more during a Wednesday press conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F674403709835994%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>OnO</div>On Wednesday afternoon, the state reported less than 500 new virus cases in Kansas since Monday and ten new deaths.Norman said that due to the Labor Day holiday weekend, the KDHE had received few reports from county health departments and labs. "The numbers are running a little bit behind and are low."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599671229159.png" alt="Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>When asked about giving a letter grade to the state on the response to the virus Norman said there are two groups. "One group gets a B+ and the other group gets a D. Some take the virus seriously and other say it's a bunch of hogwash. I think there will be very few naysayers eventually.&nbsp; There is going to be enough disease burden that everyone will be touched in some way by this(the virus).&nbsp;

🎥 Dr. Norman on new virus report with less than 500 new cases



&nbsp;Riley County has 15 new positive cases and 143 recoveries since yesterday’s report.&nbsp;Limited testing was performed over the Labor Day weekend. Test results are now taking an average of 24-48 hours.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 3 positive patients at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.

“We are asking young people to make sacrifices and change their social behavior,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Changing social behavior can feel like something too small to make a major impact on the community, but it is vitally important right now.”

Finding safe ways to connect with friends and enjoy life without risking your health and safety will protect the entire community. Limiting your social circle to a few close friends, wearing masks, and meeting outdoors are all ways to help reduce your chances of contracting or spreading COVID-19. K-State shared information and advice about safe social behavior online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=fd81e35ae1&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=67583</a>

&nbsp;Riley County has 15 new positive cases and 143 recoveries since yesterday’s report.&nbsp;Limited testing was performed over the Labor Day weekend. Test results are now taking an average of 24-48 hours.Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 3 positive patients at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.“We are asking young people to make sacrifices and change their social behavior,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Changing social behavior can feel like something too small to make a major impact on the community, but it is vitally important right now.”Finding safe ways to connect with friends and enjoy life without risking your health and safety will protect the entire community. Limiting your social circle to a few close friends, wearing masks, and meeting outdoors are all ways to help reduce your chances of contracting or spreading COVID-19. K-State shared information and advice about safe social behavior online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=fd81e35ae1&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=67583</a>

 Riley County health officials provide a COVID-19 update

Today's free COVID-19 testing events will be held at new locations due to expected wind and rain.

This morning, drive-through testing occurred at Manhattan's Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park. . This evening, from 5-7 p.m., people can come to the Randolph United Methodist Church, located at 105 West Garrison Street in Randolph. If an alternate location is needed for tomorrow's testing events in Ogden, we'll announce the details as soon as possible.

Anyone can be tested. No appointment or symptoms are necessary. Please wear a mask and follow traffic directions when you arrive. Free take home meals are being provided in partnership with the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition.

These events are sponsored by the Riley County Health Department (RCHD), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas National Guard.

Today's free COVID-19 testing events will be held at new locations due to expected wind and rain.This morning, drive-through testing occurred at Manhattan's Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park. . This evening, from 5-7 p.m., people can come to the Randolph United Methodist Church, located at 105 West Garrison Street in Randolph. If an alternate location is needed for tomorrow's testing events in Ogden, we'll announce the details as soon as possible.Anyone can be tested. No appointment or symptoms are necessary. Please wear a mask and follow traffic directions when you arrive. Free take home meals are being provided in partnership with the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition.These events are sponsored by the Riley County Health Department (RCHD), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas National Guard.

New locations for free testing events

Late-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the company said its “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”

AstraZeneca didn’t reveal any information about the possible side effect except to call it “a potentially unexplained illness.” The health news site STAT first reported the pause in testing, saying the possible side effect occurred in the United Kingdom.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause in vaccinations covers studies in the U.S. and other countries. Late last month, AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine. It also is testing the vaccine, developed by Oxford University, in thousands of people in Britain, and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa.

Two other vaccines are in huge, final-stage tests in the United States, one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Those two vaccines work differently than AstraZeneca’s, and the studies already have recruited about two-thirds of the needed volunteers.

Temporary holds of large medical studies aren’t unusual, and investigating any serious or unexpected reaction is a mandatory part of safety testing. AstraZeneca pointed out that it’s possible the problem could be a coincidence; illnesses of all sorts could arise in studies of thousands of people.

“We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline,” the company statement said.

It’s likely the unexplained illness was serious enough to require hospitalization and not a mild side effect such as fever or muscle pain, said Deborah Fuller, a University of Washington researcher who is working on a different COVID-19 vaccine that has not yet started human testing.

“This is not something to be alarmed about,” Fuller said. Instead, it’s reassuring that the company is pausing the study to figure out what’s happening and carefully monitoring the health of study participants.

Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University said via Twitter that the significance of the interruption was unclear but that he was “still optimistic” that an effective vaccine will be found in the coming months.

“But optimism isn’t evidence,” he wrote. “Let’s let science drive this process.”

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, tweeted that the illness may be unrelated to the vaccine, “but the important part is that this is why we do trials before rolling out a vaccine to the general public.”

During the third and final stage of testing, researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research. Because of their large size, the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety.

The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn’t between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot.

The development came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f3c0d94fd9e9bcb645110c7d2e05a0">the same day</a>&nbsp;that AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers issued an unusual pledge, vowing to uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards in developing their vaccines.

The announcement follows worries that President Donald Trump will pressure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine before it’s proven to be safe and effective.

The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in efforts to quickly develop multiple vaccines against COVID-19. But public fears that a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective could be disastrous, derailing the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans.

Representatives for the FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening.

AstraZeneca’s U.S.-traded shares fell more than 6% in after-hours trading following reports of the trial being paused.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressLate-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot.In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the company said its “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”AstraZeneca didn’t reveal any information about the possible side effect except to call it “a potentially unexplained illness.” The health news site STAT first reported the pause in testing, saying the possible side effect occurred in the United Kingdom.An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause in vaccinations covers studies in the U.S. and other countries. Late last month, AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine. It also is testing the vaccine, developed by Oxford University, in thousands of people in Britain, and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa.Two other vaccines are in huge, final-stage tests in the United States, one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Those two vaccines work differently than AstraZeneca’s, and the studies already have recruited about two-thirds of the needed volunteers.Temporary holds of large medical studies aren’t unusual, and investigating any serious or unexpected reaction is a mandatory part of safety testing. AstraZeneca pointed out that it’s possible the problem could be a coincidence; illnesses of all sorts could arise in studies of thousands of people.“We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline,” the company statement said.It’s likely the unexplained illness was serious enough to require hospitalization and not a mild side effect such as fever or muscle pain, said Deborah Fuller, a University of Washington researcher who is working on a different COVID-19 vaccine that has not yet started human testing.“This is not something to be alarmed about,” Fuller said. Instead, it’s reassuring that the company is pausing the study to figure out what’s happening and carefully monitoring the health of study participants.Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University said via Twitter that the significance of the interruption was unclear but that he was “still optimistic” that an effective vaccine will be found in the coming months.“But optimism isn’t evidence,” he wrote. “Let’s let science drive this process.”Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, tweeted that the illness may be unrelated to the vaccine, “but the important part is that this is why we do trials before rolling out a vaccine to the general public.”During the third and final stage of testing, researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research. Because of their large size, the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety.The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn’t between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot.The development came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f3c0d94fd9e9bcb645110c7d2e05a0">the same day</a>&nbsp;that AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers issued an unusual pledge, vowing to uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards in developing their vaccines.The announcement follows worries that President Donald Trump will pressure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine before it’s proven to be safe and effective.The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in efforts to quickly develop multiple vaccines against COVID-19. But public fears that a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective could be disastrous, derailing the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans.Representatives for the FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening.AstraZeneca’s U.S.-traded shares fell more than 6% in after-hours trading following reports of the trial being paused.___

Late stage COVID-19 vaccine study paused after illness

Eight new positive COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday by officials in Pottawatomie County. There are currently 16 active cases in the county while 160 people have recovered. Test results for six cases are pending.

No one is hospitalized in Pottawatomie County with COVID-19.

Eight new positive COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday by officials in Pottawatomie County. There are currently 16 active cases in the county while 160 people have recovered. Test results for six cases are pending.No one is hospitalized in Pottawatomie County with COVID-19.

COVID-19 numbers are update for Pottawatomie County

Riley County has 121 new positive cases and 72 recoveries since Friday’s report. A total of 95, or 79%, of the new cases are patients between the ages of 18-24.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 4 positive patients at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. One of the positive patients is on a ventilator.

Riley County Health Department said they're partnering with KDHE and the Kansas National Guard to provide free testing events in Riley County this week. Due to expected rain and wind, the September 9, 7-10 a.m. testing event in&nbsp;Manhattan will now take place at Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park instead of in the parking lot at&nbsp;Manhattan Town Center. Participants will&nbsp;drive through the barn north of Pottorf Hall to get swabbed and volunteers will place the donated food in the trunk of the car.&nbsp;Alternative sites for the other testing locations will be announced if changes are needed. Please check the Riley County Coronavirus website&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=827b7b3485&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1857/Novel-Coronavirus-2019-nCoV</a>&nbsp;or the Riley County Health Department's Facebook page for updates.&nbsp;

Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.15 Active Outbreaks in Riley County:Fraternities:

Riley County Statistics for Tuesday, September 8, 2020:

Riley County has 121 new positive cases and 72 recoveries since Friday’s report. A total of 95, or 79%, of the new cases are patients between the ages of 18-24.Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 4 positive patients at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. One of the positive patients is on a ventilator.Riley County Health Department said they're partnering with KDHE and the Kansas National Guard to provide free testing events in Riley County this week. Due to expected rain and wind, the September 9, 7-10 a.m. testing event in&nbsp;Manhattan will now take place at Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park instead of in the parking lot at&nbsp;Manhattan Town Center. Participants will&nbsp;drive through the barn north of Pottorf Hall to get swabbed and volunteers will place the donated food in the trunk of the car.&nbsp;Alternative sites for the other testing locations will be announced if changes are needed. Please check the Riley County Coronavirus website&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=827b7b3485&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1857/Novel-Coronavirus-2019-nCoV</a>&nbsp;or the Riley County Health Department's Facebook page for updates.&nbsp;Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.15 Active Outbreaks in Riley County:Fraternities:<ol>
 <li>Delta Sigma Phi: 20</li><li>Phi Delta Theta: 21</li><li>Sigma Alpha Epsilon: 5</li><li>Theta Xi: 10</li>
 </ol>Sororities:<ol>
 <li>Alpha Delta Pi: 12</li><li>Alpha Xi Delta: 7</li><li>Chi Omega: 6</li><li>Gamma Phi Beta: 5</li><li>Kappa Delta: 7</li><li>Kappa Kappa Gamma: 9</li><li>Pi Beta Phi: 5</li><li>Sigma Kappa: 6</li>
 </ol>Homestead Assisted Living: 9KSU Football: 12USD 384 BoE/Administration Building: 7Riley County Statistics for Tuesday, September 8, 2020:<ol>
 <li>Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 1,295</li><li>Total active: 728</li><li>Total recovered: 561</li><li>Total deaths: 6</li><li>Pending test results: 183</li><li>Negative test results: 7,570</li><li>Average age: 26.8 years old</li><li>Gender: Female: 48.6% (630), Male 51.4% (665)</li>
 </ol>

Riley County has 121 new positive COVID-19 cases

Manhattan City Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to extend the ordinance requiring masks or other face coverings in city limits at their meeting on Tuesday, September 2.  The mask ordinance will remain in effect until December 31.&nbsp;

 The Riley County Police Department (RCOD) will continue to field complaints of ordinance violations by email at masks@rileycountypolice.org. Do not call 911 to report a violation of the mask ordinance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593900997079.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Manhattan City Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to extend the ordinance requiring masks or other face coverings in city limits at their meeting on Tuesday, September 2. The mask ordinance will remain in effect until December 31.&nbsp; The Riley County Police Department (RCOD) will continue to field complaints of ordinance violations by email at masks@rileycountypolice.org. Do not call 911 to report a violation of the mask ordinance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Face mask ordinance will continue for the remainder of the year

Pottawatomie County officials have noted that September means back-to-school, autumn is arriving, and with that, flu season. Getting your flu vaccine annually is a good idea for most people, but may be even more important this year. 

The same ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 can be used to stop and/or slow the spread of most diseases, including Influenza. Wash your hands often, stay away from others – especially when you are sick, and wear a mask if you cannot maintain physical distancing.

Pottawatomie County officials have noted that September means back-to-school, autumn is arriving, and with that, flu season. Getting your flu vaccine annually is a good idea for most people, but may be even more important this year. The same ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 can be used to stop and/or slow the spread of most diseases, including Influenza. Wash your hands often, stay away from others – especially when you are sick, and wear a mask if you cannot maintain physical distancing.

Advice issued for getting a flu shot

Pottawatomie County officials reported on Friday that there were five new positive COVID-19 cases. There were 19 active cases in the county.&nbsp; Test results on 22 cases are pending and 149 people have recovered.

Pottawatomie County officials reported on Friday that there were five new positive COVID-19 cases. There were 19 active cases in the county.&nbsp; Test results on 22 cases are pending and 149 people have recovered.

Pottawatomie County updates COVID-19 totals

Riley County has received an award of $132,000 from the Kansas Department of Commerce to be used to assist businesses in Riley County, but not within the city limits of Manhattan, with retaining jobs for low to moderate income people that may be lost due to the impact of COVID-19.&nbsp;

Funding of $5,000 per LMI job retained is available. Riley County will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, Sept. 9,&nbsp; at 8 a.m. Grants will be awarded to applicants submitting a completed application on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Riley County has received an award of $132,000 from the Kansas Department of Commerce to be used to assist businesses in Riley County, but not within the city limits of Manhattan, with retaining jobs for low to moderate income people that may be lost due to the impact of COVID-19.&nbsp;Funding of $5,000 per LMI job retained is available. Riley County will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, Sept. 9,&nbsp; at 8 a.m. Grants will be awarded to applicants submitting a completed application on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Grant allotted to assist businesses 

Riley County has 129 new positive cases and 42 recoveries since Wednesday’s report. A total of 113, or 88%, of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age range.&nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 3 positive patients at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.

&nbsp; At least eight classrooms, or “units,” at seven Riley County daycare facilities have been closed due to positive staff members, all of them in the 18-24 age range. A few of the facilities have made the choice to close completely. Each classroom or “unit” holds roughly 10 children. All of the kids and staff who have been identified as close contacts of the positive staff members must complete a 14-day quarantine. Children who have been identified as close contacts as part of a daycare exposure may not be admitted to other daycare facilities until their quarantine period is complete.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Two additional outbreaks have been declared in Riley County, one at Homestead Assisted Living Facility and the other at the Theta Xi fraternity. Residents and staff members at the assisted living facility have been tested and additional results are pending. One resident of the facility died in a Topeka hospital earlier this week after testing positive. The Homestead has been following guidelines issued by the American Health Care Association and suspended all non-essential visitation, including loved ones, earlier this year. &nbsp; All residents of Greek houses where outbreaks have been declared should complete a quarantine period. Residents of the Theta Zi fraternity should begin the 14-day quarantine starting today. They can choose to complete the quarantine at the house or at their permanent residence, but they should not go to work, participate in social activities, or attend in-person classes. &nbsp; Event permits for all Greek houses in Manhattan have been revoked and no new permits will be issued to them in September due to an increase of COVID-19 outbreaks associated with fraternities and sororities, as well as increased cases among Riley County adults aged 18-24. No events may take place at these locations during the month of September. &nbsp; “It is no longer deemed safe for Greek houses to host events and they may not take place,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Reducing the exposure opportunities from social contact is imperative for the 18-24 age group.” &nbsp; K-State shared information about safety practices for students who choose to interact socially during the pandemic. Advice includes reducing the size of your social circle, not sharing food or drinks, and staying home if you feel sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. More information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=aa2a88d859&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=67583</a>. &nbsp; Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 13 Active Outbreaks in Riley County:

Riley County has 129 new positive cases and 42 recoveries since Wednesday’s report. A total of 113, or 88%, of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age range.&nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 3 positive patients at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.&nbsp; At least eight classrooms, or “units,” at seven Riley County daycare facilities have been closed due to positive staff members, all of them in the 18-24 age range. A few of the facilities have made the choice to close completely. Each classroom or “unit” holds roughly 10 children. All of the kids and staff who have been identified as close contacts of the positive staff members must complete a 14-day quarantine. Children who have been identified as close contacts as part of a daycare exposure may not be admitted to other daycare facilities until their quarantine period is complete.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Two additional outbreaks have been declared in Riley County, one at Homestead Assisted Living Facility and the other at the Theta Xi fraternity. Residents and staff members at the assisted living facility have been tested and additional results are pending. One resident of the facility died in a Topeka hospital earlier this week after testing positive. The Homestead has been following guidelines issued by the American Health Care Association and suspended all non-essential visitation, including loved ones, earlier this year. &nbsp; All residents of Greek houses where outbreaks have been declared should complete a quarantine period. Residents of the Theta Zi fraternity should begin the 14-day quarantine starting today. They can choose to complete the quarantine at the house or at their permanent residence, but they should not go to work, participate in social activities, or attend in-person classes. &nbsp; Event permits for all Greek houses in Manhattan have been revoked and no new permits will be issued to them in September due to an increase of COVID-19 outbreaks associated with fraternities and sororities, as well as increased cases among Riley County adults aged 18-24. No events may take place at these locations during the month of September. &nbsp; “It is no longer deemed safe for Greek houses to host events and they may not take place,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Reducing the exposure opportunities from social contact is imperative for the 18-24 age group.” &nbsp; K-State shared information about safety practices for students who choose to interact socially during the pandemic. Advice includes reducing the size of your social circle, not sharing food or drinks, and staying home if you feel sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. More information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=aa2a88d859&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=67583</a>. &nbsp; Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 13 Active Outbreaks in Riley County:<ul>
 <li>KSU Football: 12</li><li>Homestead Assisted Living: 6</li><li>USD 384 School District Office: 7</li><li>Sororities:Alpha Delta Pi: 10Alpha Xi Delta: 7Chi Omega: 6Kappa Kappa Gamma: 8Kappa Delta: 7Pi Beta Phi: 5</li><li>Alpha Delta Pi: 10</li><li>Alpha Xi Delta: 7</li><li>Chi Omega: 6</li><li>Kappa Kappa Gamma: 8</li><li>Kappa Delta: 7</li><li>Pi Beta Phi: 5</li><li>Fraternities:Delta Sigma Phi: 20Phi Delta Theta: 21Sigma Alpha Epsilon: 5</li><li>Delta Sigma Phi: 20</li><li>Phi Delta Theta: 21</li><li>Sigma Alpha Epsilon: 5</li>
 </ul>

Riley County reports new positive COVID-19 cases

Isolation? Quarantine? KDHE offers guidance

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Hundreds are quarantined at several Kansas universities as a growing number of students test positive for the coronavirus, raising concerns that they could bring the virus home with them over the upcoming holiday weekend.

At Pittsburg State University, 96 positive COVID-19 cases have been recorded among students since the fall semester began Aug. 17, officials said during a media briefing Wednesday. Currently, 101 people are in isolation, or separated from people who are not sick, and about 600 are in quarantine, or separated for the monitoring of the development of symptoms.

Pittsburg State officials are “strongly suggesting” that students remain in Pittsburg over the coming Labor Day weekend.

“We feel we have a good handle on the situation here,” Tim Stebbins, the public health officer in Crawford County, where Pittsburg is located. “We don’t need the virus coming in and out due to student travel.”

At Emporia State University, officials announced Wednesday that all athletic activities were temporarily suspended. The school said in a news release that total of 14 student-athletes out of more than 400 spread across all teams had tested positive for COVID-19.

The University of Kansas announced Wednesday that the number of positive cases resulting from compulsory testing of students arriving on campus had grown to 546, for a 2.42% overall positivity rate, according to a&nbsp;<a href="http://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2020/sep2" target="_blank">news release</a>. Among fraternities and sororities, the percentage testing positive shrank from 10% to 8.38% as the houses added freshmen members who had lower rates of infection to their ranks. Nine Greek houses were places on quarantine last week.

At Benedictine College in Atchison, health officials in the county want to put all of the school’s 2,000 students in quarantine for 14 days. Under the plan, students would only leave their residential quarters to obtain packed meals from the cafeteria and participate in religious services.

Currently, 16 students are in isolation in the community after testing positive and 132 are in quarantine as a precaution because they may have been exposed, said college spokesman Steve Johnson. He said the school thinks it has adequate mitigation in place and quarantining all students is “not the best solution.” No final decision has been made.

Statewide, Kansas reported 1,328 new COVID-19 cases from Monday to Wednesday, bringing the state’s confirmed total to 43,940. That includes 15 sports clusters with 119 cases. Health officials also reported an additional 12 COVID-19-related deaths for a statewide death toll of 458.

One of the deadliest outbreaks was at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Wyandotte County, where 37 residents died, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-03/scathing-federal-inspection-pulls-curtain-back-on-one-of-kansas-deadliest-coronavirus-outbreaksKCUR" target="_blank">reports</a>. A newly released scathing federal report said that weeks into the outbreak, inspectors still saw health workers caring for COVID-19 patients without proper protective gear.

Riverbend argued a federal law shields it against 12 lawsuits that have been filed, but a federal judge rejected the argument two weeks ago.

“This report just confirms the allegations we’ve already made,” said Rachel Stahle, a lawyer representing families in seven of the lawsuits.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Hundreds are quarantined at several Kansas universities as a growing number of students test positive for the coronavirus, raising concerns that they could bring the virus home with them over the upcoming holiday weekend.At Pittsburg State University, 96 positive COVID-19 cases have been recorded among students since the fall semester began Aug. 17, officials said during a media briefing Wednesday. Currently, 101 people are in isolation, or separated from people who are not sick, and about 600 are in quarantine, or separated for the monitoring of the development of symptoms.Pittsburg State officials are “strongly suggesting” that students remain in Pittsburg over the coming Labor Day weekend.“We feel we have a good handle on the situation here,” Tim Stebbins, the public health officer in Crawford County, where Pittsburg is located. “We don’t need the virus coming in and out due to student travel.”At Emporia State University, officials announced Wednesday that all athletic activities were temporarily suspended. The school said in a news release that total of 14 student-athletes out of more than 400 spread across all teams had tested positive for COVID-19.The University of Kansas announced Wednesday that the number of positive cases resulting from compulsory testing of students arriving on campus had grown to 546, for a 2.42% overall positivity rate, according to a&nbsp;<a href="http://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2020/sep2" target="_blank">news release</a>. Among fraternities and sororities, the percentage testing positive shrank from 10% to 8.38% as the houses added freshmen members who had lower rates of infection to their ranks. Nine Greek houses were places on quarantine last week.At Benedictine College in Atchison, health officials in the county want to put all of the school’s 2,000 students in quarantine for 14 days. Under the plan, students would only leave their residential quarters to obtain packed meals from the cafeteria and participate in religious services.Currently, 16 students are in isolation in the community after testing positive and 132 are in quarantine as a precaution because they may have been exposed, said college spokesman Steve Johnson. He said the school thinks it has adequate mitigation in place and quarantining all students is “not the best solution.” No final decision has been made.Statewide, Kansas reported 1,328 new COVID-19 cases from Monday to Wednesday, bringing the state’s confirmed total to 43,940. That includes 15 sports clusters with 119 cases. Health officials also reported an additional 12 COVID-19-related deaths for a statewide death toll of 458.One of the deadliest outbreaks was at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Wyandotte County, where 37 residents died, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-03/scathing-federal-inspection-pulls-curtain-back-on-one-of-kansas-deadliest-coronavirus-outbreaksKCUR" target="_blank">reports</a>. A newly released scathing federal report said that weeks into the outbreak, inspectors still saw health workers caring for COVID-19 patients without proper protective gear.Riverbend argued a federal law shields it against 12 lawsuits that have been filed, but a federal judge rejected the argument two weeks ago.“This report just confirms the allegations we’ve already made,” said Rachel Stahle, a lawyer representing families in seven of the lawsuits.

Hundreds in quarantine after COVID-19 outbreaks at Kan. schools 

Riley County health officials have confirmed a sixth resident of&nbsp; the county, a 91-year old man who had tested positive for COVID-19 died Wednesday at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. The man had been a resident of Manhattan Assisted Living Facility.

The Homestead facility has not yet been declared an area of outbreak. Testing of staff and patients is ongoing.

Riley County reported 123 new positive COVID-19 cases and 53 recoveries since a report that they issued on Monday. A total of 108, or 88% of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age group.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for three positive patients at this time.

Riley County health officials have confirmed a sixth resident of&nbsp; the county, a 91-year old man who had tested positive for COVID-19 died Wednesday at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. The man had been a resident of Manhattan Assisted Living Facility.The Homestead facility has not yet been declared an area of outbreak. Testing of staff and patients is ongoing.Riley County reported 123 new positive COVID-19 cases and 53 recoveries since a report that they issued on Monday. A total of 108, or 88% of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age group.Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for three positive patients at this time.

Sixth Riley County resident who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away

A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.

AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.

Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.

“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.

NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."

AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.

Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.

Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.

Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.

The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.

There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.

“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.

There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.

They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.

Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.

For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:

The Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.

Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.

These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.

Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.

Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.

Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.

China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.

Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.

Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.

Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.

Novavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.

There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and CARLA K. JOHNSONAP Medical WritersA handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:GENETIC CODE VACCINESThe Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.TROJAN HORSE VACCINESBritain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.‘KILLED’ VACCINESMaking vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.PROTEIN VACCINESNovavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.___

Third virus vaccine reaches major hurdle: final US testing

We heard from many of you regarding the increase of COVID-19 cases in our communities. Two of our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/">key indicators</a>, active cases and positive testing rate, are being carefully monitored due to the rapid increases. While these numbers are concerning, our decision-making process takes a holistic approach to what is happening in our communities. Initial planning took into account an expected rise in cases when students returned to our campuses.&nbsp;

At this point, we still have significant capabilities when it comes to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. We also have significant capabilities for on-campus quarantining and isolation, ability to clean and disinfect our public spaces, hospital and clinic capacity, and personal protective equipment. The behaviors exhibited in our classrooms and university housing have helped manage the spread in areas we control. The determining factor in being able to continue in-person learning is likely the off-campus behaviors in our communities.&nbsp;

A decision to return to remote learning could be for a period of time or for the duration of the semester. The approach will be more nuanced than our spring shutdown — we've learned a lot about how to maintain some of our operations during this pandemic. Our leadership team is in daily discussions with medical and city, county and community officials. We will keep you apprised of decisions that affect our operations and your health.

Chuck Taber, provost and executive vice president&nbsp;

Thomas Lane, vice president for student life

Kyle Goerl, medical director for Lafene Health Center&nbsp;

Dear K-State Community:&nbsp;We heard from many of you regarding the increase of COVID-19 cases in our communities. Two of our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/">key indicators</a>, active cases and positive testing rate, are being carefully monitored due to the rapid increases. While these numbers are concerning, our decision-making process takes a holistic approach to what is happening in our communities. Initial planning took into account an expected rise in cases when students returned to our campuses.&nbsp;At this point, we still have significant capabilities when it comes to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. We also have significant capabilities for on-campus quarantining and isolation, ability to clean and disinfect our public spaces, hospital and clinic capacity, and personal protective equipment. The behaviors exhibited in our classrooms and university housing have helped manage the spread in areas we control. The determining factor in being able to continue in-person learning is likely the off-campus behaviors in our communities.&nbsp;A decision to return to remote learning could be for a period of time or for the duration of the semester. The approach will be more nuanced than our spring shutdown — we've learned a lot about how to maintain some of our operations during this pandemic. Our leadership team is in daily discussions with medical and city, county and community officials. We will keep you apprised of decisions that affect our operations and your health.Sincerely,&nbsp;Richard Myers, president&nbsp;Chuck Taber, provost and executive vice president&nbsp;Thomas Lane, vice president for student lifeKyle Goerl, medical director for Lafene Health Center&nbsp;

KSU leaders release statement on measures in response to COVID-19

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.

The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.

The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.

The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.

As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.

“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.

But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598927207022.png" alt="Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference" />
 <figcaption>Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference</figcaption>
 </figure>By BEATRICE DUPUY, Associated PressThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

Coronavirus Update