There was good news for the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office in the community update news release for the county on Friday.

All COVID-19 tests were negative for the selected employees and inmates tested on Wednesday of this week.&nbsp; Department officials are also continuing to follow the Health Department guidelines.

There was good news for the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office in the community update news release for the county on Friday.All COVID-19 tests were negative for the selected employees and inmates tested on Wednesday of this week.&nbsp; Department officials are also continuing to follow the Health Department guidelines.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office reports good news on COVID-19 testing

Pottawatomie County Commissioners have decided not to extend Public Health Order Number Six, and to phase out the County's restrictions and limitations.&nbsp;

They recommend citizens follow the governor's Ad Astra guidelines for re-opening, as well as industry rules and CDC/KDHE recommendations. Limit the number of people if you cannot maintain social distancing, sanitize and wear a mask.&nbsp;

The decision to phase out came after the Health Officer and the medical officer agreed that Public Health Order number six should be extended another 10 - 14 days. The Health Officer indicated the county has at least one cluster and possibly more.&nbsp; There was discussion about the number of positive cases in the county and the continued increase. Their hope was to see a slower increase in the number of positives, or a plateauing.

Commissioners noted that the county still has no hospitalizations and deaths, indicating the steps taken have worked to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed. There was support for publishing guidelines, a strong recommendation that people take precautions and to provide them with self-responsibility rather than government mandates.

There was commission support for front page information on COVID-19 and the steps people can take to mitigate the spread of the virus. They plan to reach out to media about creating a "Covid Corner" for weekly updates and recommendations.

Pottawatomie County Commissioners have decided not to extend Public Health Order Number Six, and to phase out the County's restrictions and limitations.&nbsp;They recommend citizens follow the governor's Ad Astra guidelines for re-opening, as well as industry rules and CDC/KDHE recommendations. Limit the number of people if you cannot maintain social distancing, sanitize and wear a mask.&nbsp;The decision to phase out came after the Health Officer and the medical officer agreed that Public Health Order number six should be extended another 10 - 14 days. The Health Officer indicated the county has at least one cluster and possibly more.&nbsp; There was discussion about the number of positive cases in the county and the continued increase. Their hope was to see a slower increase in the number of positives, or a plateauing.Commissioners noted that the county still has no hospitalizations and deaths, indicating the steps taken have worked to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed. There was support for publishing guidelines, a strong recommendation that people take precautions and to provide them with self-responsibility rather than government mandates.There was commission support for front page information on COVID-19 and the steps people can take to mitigate the spread of the virus. They plan to reach out to media about creating a "Covid Corner" for weekly updates and recommendations.

Pottawatomie County decides to phase out COVID-19 related limitations and restrictions

&nbsp; Victory with Honors ceremony for Col. Phil Brooks and Col. Andrew Gainey is set for 3 p.m. Friday at the 1st Infantry Division headquarters. According to a Fort Riley release the Commanding General of&nbsp; the Division, Major General John Kolasheski will host the ceremony to welcome Col. Andrew Gainey as the incoming Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver, and to recognize and thank Col. Phil Brooks as the outgoing Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only.&nbsp;

The ceremony can be viewed live at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/</a>

&nbsp; Victory with Honors ceremony for Col. Phil Brooks and Col. Andrew Gainey is set for 3 p.m. Friday at the 1st Infantry Division headquarters. According to a Fort Riley release the Commanding General of&nbsp; the Division, Major General John Kolasheski will host the ceremony to welcome Col. Andrew Gainey as the incoming Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver, and to recognize and thank Col. Phil Brooks as the outgoing Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver.Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only.&nbsp;

The ceremony can be viewed live at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/</a>

Victory with Honors ceremony will be held at Fort Riley

Covid-19 has resulted in the postponement of the 21st annual Casino Night for the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Manhattan. According to information released by the Club safety is their number one concern, and they're doing everything possible to ensure the safety of families, staff and volunteers to be protected from the COVID-19 virus.

Due to the continued spread of the virus and in accordance with the local health department they postponed the Casino Night initially scheduled for March 27th. A new date has not been selected at this time, in order to understand the wellness of the community over the next several weeks.

Covid-19 has resulted in the postponement of the 21st annual Casino Night for the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Manhattan. According to information released by the Club safety is their number one concern, and they're doing everything possible to ensure the safety of families, staff and volunteers to be protected from the COVID-19 virus.Due to the continued spread of the virus and in accordance with the local health department they postponed the Casino Night initially scheduled for March 27th. A new date has not been selected at this time, in order to understand the wellness of the community over the next several weeks.

Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan postpones Casino Night

WICHITA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday visited and toured Spirit AeroSystems’ new assembly line making ventilators for the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the public health crisis progressed, Spirit shifted their production to making ventilators to ensure hospitals would have the necessary lifesaving equipment to treat COVID-19 patients. The ventilators are portable and suitable for long-term care, ambulatory settings, and ICUs. They are providing the ventilators to local units, FEMA’s strategic stockpile, other states, and countries around the world.

“I applaud Spirit’s quick action to pivot their manufacturing capabilities to produce ventilators, the men and women I met today exemplify what it means to be a Kansan – innovative, courageous, and selfless,” said Governor Kelly. “This crisis has produced many challenges for our families, businesses, and communities. The staff at Spirit are working hard in anticipation of a possible second wave, and we appreciate them for helping not just Kansans, but people across the world.”

Vyaire Medical Inc and Spirit AeroSystems are collaborating to build ventilators at this facility in Wichita in response to COVID-19. Vyaire is the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care. This partnership will increase production of ventilators and other related respiratory equipment for COVID-19 patients who need it the most.

In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592516459782.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly at Spirit AeroSystems Thursday afternoon-photo courtesy office of Kansas governor" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly at Spirit AeroSystems Thursday afternoon-photo courtesy office of Kansas governor</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday visited and toured Spirit AeroSystems’ new assembly line making ventilators for the COVID-19 pandemic.As the public health crisis progressed, Spirit shifted their production to making ventilators to ensure hospitals would have the necessary lifesaving equipment to treat COVID-19 patients. The ventilators are portable and suitable for long-term care, ambulatory settings, and ICUs. They are providing the ventilators to local units, FEMA’s strategic stockpile, other states, and countries around the world.“I applaud Spirit’s quick action to pivot their manufacturing capabilities to produce ventilators, the men and women I met today exemplify what it means to be a Kansan – innovative, courageous, and selfless,” said Governor Kelly. “This crisis has produced many challenges for our families, businesses, and communities. The staff at Spirit are working hard in anticipation of a possible second wave, and we appreciate them for helping not just Kansans, but people across the world.”Vyaire Medical Inc and Spirit AeroSystems are collaborating to build ventilators at this facility in Wichita in response to COVID-19. Vyaire is the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care. This partnership will increase production of ventilators and other related respiratory equipment for COVID-19 patients who need it the most.In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles.

Gov. praises Spirit Aero Systems team for COVID-19 ventilator production

Geary County will receive $6.37 million dollars and Riley County $14.99 million under the first round of Coronavirus Relief fund distribution. State Sen.Tom Hawk provided those numbers during a virtual Town hall meeting with area elected officials and leaders Wednesday night. Clay County will  also receive $1.6 million dollars.

Hawk hosted the session to gain input from the region he represents so recommendations can be made to the State Finance Council on spending $1.25 billion in federal funding which will be distributed in three phases including $400 million in the first round to counties across Kansas for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements. Phase Two will total $525 million for use in areas ranging from revitalization and economic development to infrastructure.

Counties can use the funds in round one for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements.

During the input portion of the Town Hall, Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher said the counties need some guidelines on how to disperse the money and some criteria. "Our fear is that we do not want to be a clearinghouse per se."Ascher also touched on the figures provided by Sen. Hawk. "They're going to be beating our door down for that money and we need to have some kind of guideline of how we're going to process this."

Hawk said the money must be spent by the September - early October time frame or it must be returned to the state.

Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi observed that if Riley County receives $15 million there will have to be work done on  a resolution to allocate some of the money among cities and school districts in the region. She wants to look at some kind of formula to disburse the funds. "And to spend it by October. That's the other deadline we need to meet."

Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo told the Town Hall officials in his county have discussed the issue with Sedgwick and Johnson Counties about how to replicate use of the money. Those counties received their funds directly from the State.&nbsp;

Vargo said Riley County has a proposal for cost recovery and emergency management services from the same group hired by Sedgwick County.&nbsp; Vargo added Riley County has a budget and planning committee that has been working on this issue for the past week. "We're going to recommend to the Board (&nbsp;County Commission ) for that agreement."

Vargo noted the federal regulations are complicated and changing all the time for County staff to interpret. "So what we envision is taking the advice of this company that we're going to hire for their services to recommend how those funds be allocated because we're going to have to be able to survive a single audit by the federal government. "&nbsp;

The federal Coronavirus Relief funds are being funneled through the State to counties.&nbsp;

The Town Hall session dealt primarily with Riley, Geary and Clay Counties because those are counties represented by Sen. Hawk.

By Dewey TerrillJC Post&nbsp;Geary County will receive $6.37 million dollars and Riley County $14.99 million under the first round of Coronavirus Relief fund distribution. State Sen.Tom Hawk provided those numbers during a virtual Town hall meeting with area elected officials and leaders Wednesday night. Clay County will also receive $1.6 million dollars.Hawk hosted the session to gain input from the region he represents so recommendations can be made to the State Finance Council on spending $1.25 billion in federal funding which will be distributed in three phases including $400 million in the first round to counties across Kansas for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements. Phase Two will total $525 million for use in areas ranging from revitalization and economic development to infrastructure.Counties can use the funds in round one for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements.During the input portion of the Town Hall, Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher said the counties need some guidelines on how to disperse the money and some criteria. "Our fear is that we do not want to be a clearinghouse per se."Ascher also touched on the figures provided by Sen. Hawk. "They're going to be beating our door down for that money and we need to have some kind of guideline of how we're going to process this."Hawk said the money must be spent by the September - early October time frame or it must be returned to the state.Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi observed that if Riley County receives $15 million there will have to be work done on a resolution to allocate some of the money among cities and school districts in the region. She wants to look at some kind of formula to disburse the funds. "And to spend it by October. That's the other deadline we need to meet."Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo told the Town Hall officials in his county have discussed the issue with Sedgwick and Johnson Counties about how to replicate use of the money. Those counties received their funds directly from the State.&nbsp;Vargo said Riley County has a proposal for cost recovery and emergency management services from the same group hired by Sedgwick County.&nbsp; Vargo added Riley County has a budget and planning committee that has been working on this issue for the past week. "We're going to recommend to the Board (&nbsp;County Commission ) for that agreement."Vargo noted the federal regulations are complicated and changing all the time for County staff to interpret. "So what we envision is taking the advice of this company that we're going to hire for their services to recommend how those funds be allocated because we're going to have to be able to survive a single audit by the federal government. "&nbsp;The federal Coronavirus Relief funds are being funneled through the State to counties.&nbsp;The Town Hall session dealt primarily with Riley, Geary and Clay Counties because those are counties represented by Sen. Hawk.

Geary and Riley Counties are targeted to receive several million dollars under a Coronavirus Relief Fund distribution

&nbsp; The Riley County Health Department (RCHD) has received notice of 11 new positive COVID-19 patients since Monday’s report. The total for the county is now 91, with 26 active cases. None of the new positives are associated with a recent outbreak at the Leonardville Nursing Home. All residents and staff at Leonardville Nursing Home were re-tested this week as per infection control protocols. The test results have been received and there have been no additional positive patients since the five positives were identified last week. “The Leonardville Nursing Home outbreak has been contained, and that is something to celebrate,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The facility deployed a rapid and aggressive response and they were successful. This type of targeted strategy to control the spread of the virus will prevent the need for community-wide restrictions.” Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 2 positive patients who are Riley County residents, one of whom is on a ventilator. One Person Under Investigation is also currently hospitalized. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results. “Some increase of positive patients can expected as the community continues the reopening process,” said Gibbs. “We will continue to monitor the data closely, taking a comprehensive look at the totality of circumstances before taking action that will impact the entire Riley County area.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; The Riley County Health Department (RCHD) has received notice of 11 new positive COVID-19 patients since Monday’s report. The total for the county is now 91, with 26 active cases. None of the new positives are associated with a recent outbreak at the Leonardville Nursing Home. All residents and staff at Leonardville Nursing Home were re-tested this week as per infection control protocols. The test results have been received and there have been no additional positive patients since the five positives were identified last week. “The Leonardville Nursing Home outbreak has been contained, and that is something to celebrate,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The facility deployed a rapid and aggressive response and they were successful. This type of targeted strategy to control the spread of the virus will prevent the need for community-wide restrictions.” Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 2 positive patients who are Riley County residents, one of whom is on a ventilator. One Person Under Investigation is also currently hospitalized. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results. “Some increase of positive patients can expected as the community continues the reopening process,” said Gibbs. “We will continue to monitor the data closely, taking a comprehensive look at the totality of circumstances before taking action that will impact the entire Riley County area.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eleven new positive COVID-19 cases are being confirmed in Riley County

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 262 to a total of 11,681, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 262 to a total of 11,681, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 247<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592413557201.png" alt="Wednesday June 17, 2020 KDHE Image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday June 17, 2020 KDHE Image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

As travel advisories and warnings remain at elevated levels due to COVID-19,&nbsp;Kansas State University has canceled all fall 2020 semesterlong education abroad programs.&nbsp;

According to KSU, per&nbsp; K-State policy, university sponsored travel is not approved when the&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/">U.S State Department</a>&nbsp;has a Level 4 travel advisory and the&nbsp;<a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;have a Level 3 warning.&nbsp;

As travel advisories and warnings remain at elevated levels due to COVID-19,&nbsp;Kansas State University has canceled all fall 2020 semesterlong education abroad programs.&nbsp;According to KSU, per&nbsp; K-State policy, university sponsored travel is not approved when the&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/">U.S State Department</a>&nbsp;has a Level 4 travel advisory and the&nbsp;<a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;have a Level 3 warning.&nbsp;

K-State cancels Fall 2020 Education Abroad programs 

Manhattan, Kan. – The Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) will reopen on Tuesday, June 23.

Prior to the public opening, the FHDC will host two Member Exclusive Days to say thank you to members who have supported the Discovery Center during this time and over the years.&nbsp; &nbsp;The doors will be opened exclusively for FHDC Members on Saturday, June 20, from 10 AM - 3 PM&nbsp; and on Sunday, June 21.&nbsp; from 12 PM - 5 PM.&nbsp; The facility will be opened to the public on Tuesday, June 23.

The FHDC will be operating under limited hours until further notice to allow for additional cleaning and safety measures during this time. Hours of operation will be as follows: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM-5:00 PM. The FHDC will be closed to the public on Mondays for routine maintenance and additional cleaning.

“Our team is excited about welcoming guests in to the Discovery Center and have developed intense safety plans and are prepared for a safe return,” said Susan Adams, Director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “Our cleaning protocols have been heightened to keep all safe who visit. We have missed everyone and look forward to seeing guests very soon.”

The first floor permanent exhibits displaying the history and culture of the Flint Hills will remain open. The Horizon Ranch Immersive Theater will remain open with a limited capacity of 30 guests per showing. The second floor exhibit areas will be limited to 50 guests in the children’s Prairie Playscape and our traveling exhibit, American Adventure exhibit. The outdoor Prairie Garden Terrace and Trail will remain open.

Guests can expect to find extra safety precautions throughout the FHDC to ensure guest safety and comfort. Signs are located throughout to remind guests to practice social distancing and direct guests to hand sanitizing stations located on each floor. All high-contact touch points located throughout the facility will be disinfected multiple times a day. Toys in the Prairie Playscape will be limited. At the end of each day, used toys will be replaced with clean toys to be used the next day. Used toys will then be sanitized and placed in a secure area for 24 hours to disinfect. Currently the Underground Burrow and slide will be closed. The building will be open at 50% capacity.

FHDC staff and volunteers are required to maintain safe behavioral practices including social distancing, hand washing, hand sanitizing and it is highly recommended for staff and guests to wear face masks. The FHDC also encourages staff, volunteers and guests to stay at home if they are not feeling well.

FHDC Members who have current memberships or memberships that expired during the time of the closure will have the option to donate or extend their memberships for the time the FHDC was closed. Members will need to reach out by phone, in-person or visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/reopen to learn more about the options available.

“We want to make membership renewal fair and equitable,” said Kendra Kuhlman, Assistant Director/Development Officer of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “We can’t wait to welcome our members back to the Discovery Center safely. We are incredibly thankful for the continued community support we’ve received.”

In addition to reopening the facility this summer, the FHDC will be offering in-person Adventure Camps for children entering grades 1-6. Registration for Adventure Camp will open Thursday, June 18 at 8:00 AM. For dates, times, weekly themes and registration information visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/camp.

Manhattan, Kan. – The Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) will reopen on Tuesday, June 23.Prior to the public opening, the FHDC will host two Member Exclusive Days to say thank you to members who have supported the Discovery Center during this time and over the years.&nbsp; &nbsp;The doors will be opened exclusively for FHDC Members on Saturday, June 20, from 10 AM - 3 PM&nbsp; and on Sunday, June 21.&nbsp; from 12 PM - 5 PM.&nbsp; The facility will be opened to the public on Tuesday, June 23.The FHDC will be operating under limited hours until further notice to allow for additional cleaning and safety measures during this time. Hours of operation will be as follows: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM-5:00 PM. The FHDC will be closed to the public on Mondays for routine maintenance and additional cleaning.“Our team is excited about welcoming guests in to the Discovery Center and have developed intense safety plans and are prepared for a safe return,” said Susan Adams, Director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “Our cleaning protocols have been heightened to keep all safe who visit. We have missed everyone and look forward to seeing guests very soon.”The first floor permanent exhibits displaying the history and culture of the Flint Hills will remain open. The Horizon Ranch Immersive Theater will remain open with a limited capacity of 30 guests per showing. The second floor exhibit areas will be limited to 50 guests in the children’s Prairie Playscape and our traveling exhibit, American Adventure exhibit. The outdoor Prairie Garden Terrace and Trail will remain open.Guests can expect to find extra safety precautions throughout the FHDC to ensure guest safety and comfort. Signs are located throughout to remind guests to practice social distancing and direct guests to hand sanitizing stations located on each floor. All high-contact touch points located throughout the facility will be disinfected multiple times a day. Toys in the Prairie Playscape will be limited. At the end of each day, used toys will be replaced with clean toys to be used the next day. Used toys will then be sanitized and placed in a secure area for 24 hours to disinfect. Currently the Underground Burrow and slide will be closed. The building will be open at 50% capacity.FHDC staff and volunteers are required to maintain safe behavioral practices including social distancing, hand washing, hand sanitizing and it is highly recommended for staff and guests to wear face masks. The FHDC also encourages staff, volunteers and guests to stay at home if they are not feeling well.FHDC Members who have current memberships or memberships that expired during the time of the closure will have the option to donate or extend their memberships for the time the FHDC was closed. Members will need to reach out by phone, in-person or visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/reopen to learn more about the options available.“We want to make membership renewal fair and equitable,” said Kendra Kuhlman, Assistant Director/Development Officer of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “We can’t wait to welcome our members back to the Discovery Center safely. We are incredibly thankful for the continued community support we’ve received.”In addition to reopening the facility this summer, the FHDC will be offering in-person Adventure Camps for children entering grades 1-6. Registration for Adventure Camp will open Thursday, June 18 at 8:00 AM. For dates, times, weekly themes and registration information visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/camp.

Flint Hills Discovery Center to reopen to the public June 23

Pottawatomie County, Kansas&nbsp;&nbsp;– Last week the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office announced an employee had tested positive for COVID-19.&nbsp; The Sheriff’s Office followed the recommendations of the Pottawatomie County Health Officer as the Health Department conducted contact tracing.&nbsp; Any person identified to be in close contact with the employee has been directed to quarantine at home and monitor for symptoms.

The County Health Officer reached out to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). After a meeting with the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment the Pottawatomie County Health Department continued working closely with KDHE, and will begin testing select inmates and Corrections staff on Wednesday, June 17.

This marks the first Pottawatomie County government employee diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. We advise all employees, citizens, and guests to follow KDHE guidelines (<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/COVID-19_Resource_Center.htm" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/COVID-19_Resource_Center.htm</a>&nbsp; for additional recommendations and information.&nbsp; These guidelines are available on our website and Facebook page.&nbsp;

Pottawatomie County, Kansas&nbsp;&nbsp;– Last week the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office announced an employee had tested positive for COVID-19.&nbsp; The Sheriff’s Office followed the recommendations of the Pottawatomie County Health Officer as the Health Department conducted contact tracing.&nbsp; Any person identified to be in close contact with the employee has been directed to quarantine at home and monitor for symptoms.The County Health Officer reached out to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). After a meeting with the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment the Pottawatomie County Health Department continued working closely with KDHE, and will begin testing select inmates and Corrections staff on Wednesday, June 17.This marks the first Pottawatomie County government employee diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. We advise all employees, citizens, and guests to follow KDHE guidelines (<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/COVID-19_Resource_Center.htm" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/COVID-19_Resource_Center.htm</a>&nbsp; for additional recommendations and information.&nbsp; These guidelines are available on our website and Facebook page.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office employee tested positive for COVID-19

K-State has announced a revised plan to observe spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates in combined ceremonies on Nov. 20 for the Polytechnic campus and Nov. 23 and 24 for the Manhattan campus. The commencement ceremonies had initially been set for Dec. 11 and 12 but are now being moved up.

The earlier dates follow the university's efforts to reduce COVID-19 risk for students, their families and their communities by reducing the need for students to travel.

The working group that traditionally plans university commencement ceremonies will collaborate with students, college representatives, medical professionals and other stakeholders to plan ceremonies that honor the graduates and attend to the health and safety of the graduates and guests.

K-State has announced a revised plan to observe spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates in combined ceremonies on Nov. 20 for the Polytechnic campus and Nov. 23 and 24 for the Manhattan campus. The commencement ceremonies had initially been set for Dec. 11 and 12 but are now being moved up.The earlier dates follow the university's efforts to reduce COVID-19 risk for students, their families and their communities by reducing the need for students to travel.The working group that traditionally plans university commencement ceremonies will collaborate with students, college representatives, medical professionals and other stakeholders to plan ceremonies that honor the graduates and attend to the health and safety of the graduates and guests.

K-State schedules earlier commencement ceremonies

Kansas State University will implement additional emergency furloughs for eight employees in Information Technology Services beginning June 28. University Communications and Marketing said the action is estimated to save more than $100,000.

Since May, the university has furloughed 430 employees due to COVID-19 impacts to university operations saving nearly $2.75 million.

K-State's Division of Human Capital Services is working with the affected employees on options for federal and state benefits. Information concerning K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/">emergency and administrative furlough policies</a>&nbsp;can be found at the Human Capital Services website. Furloughed employees may qualify for state unemployment benefits.

Kansas State University will implement additional emergency furloughs for eight employees in Information Technology Services beginning June 28. University Communications and Marketing said the action is estimated to save more than $100,000.Since May, the university has furloughed 430 employees due to COVID-19 impacts to university operations saving nearly $2.75 million.K-State's Division of Human Capital Services is working with the affected employees on options for federal and state benefits. Information concerning K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/">emergency and administrative furlough policies</a>&nbsp;can be found at the Human Capital Services website. Furloughed employees may qualify for state unemployment benefits.

K-State furloughs eight more employees

Hundreds of K-Staters have supported the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund since it was established in March to address emerging needs of K-State students, faculty and staff as a result of COVID-19. In early May university leaders faced the decision to start implementing targeted emergency furloughs and now more than 400 employees are affected.&nbsp;

A few generous donors made significant gifts to the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund specifically to assist KSU employees affected by university furloughs. Those funds are dedicated to providing relief grants to furloughed K-State staff.

Employees experiencing financial hardships because of COVID-19 furloughs may apply for grant funds - up to $700 - online at ksufoundation.org/emergencyfund/ or in the KSU Foundation's lobby, 1800 Kimball Ave. Priority will be given to those demonstrating need and awards will be reviewed each business day in the order of application with notification of status within three to four business days. Eligible employees may choose to pick up a check at the foundation or have it mailed.

Emergency grants and loans are also available to students experiencing financial hardships, which can be accessed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The KSU Foundation is accepting donations to many of these emergency resources.

Hundreds of K-Staters have supported the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund since it was established in March to address emerging needs of K-State students, faculty and staff as a result of COVID-19. In early May university leaders faced the decision to start implementing targeted emergency furloughs and now more than 400 employees are affected.&nbsp;A few generous donors made significant gifts to the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund specifically to assist KSU employees affected by university furloughs. Those funds are dedicated to providing relief grants to furloughed K-State staff.Employees experiencing financial hardships because of COVID-19 furloughs may apply for grant funds - up to $700 - online at ksufoundation.org/emergencyfund/ or in the KSU Foundation's lobby, 1800 Kimball Ave. Priority will be given to those demonstrating need and awards will be reviewed each business day in the order of application with notification of status within three to four business days. Eligible employees may choose to pick up a check at the foundation or have it mailed.Emergency grants and loans are also available to students experiencing financial hardships, which can be accessed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The KSU Foundation is accepting donations to many of these emergency resources.

Emergency funds are available for furloughed K-State employees through the KSU Foundation

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp; discussed  current trends in the number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas counties during her press briefing on Monday.

Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment also joined the presentation and answered questions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592257031644.png" alt="The map used during Monday's press briefing -courtesy office of Kansas Governor" />
 <figcaption>The map used during Monday's press briefing -courtesy office of Kansas Governor</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp; discussed  current trends in the number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas counties during her press briefing on Monday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F695916957913310%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment also joined the presentation and answered questions.

🎥  Governor on  COVID-19 trends in Kansas counties

&nbsp; &nbsp;Riley County Health Department has received notice of six new positive patients since Friday’s report. The total for the county is now 80, with 16 active cases. Five of the new patients are men, ages 21, 22, 28, 37, and 61. One patient is a woman, age 19. None of these new patients are associated with the outbreak at Leonardville Nursing Home. The staff at Leonardville Nursing Home are following all guidance provided by RCHD, CMS, and CDC, and are continuing to follow infection control protocols. All residents and staff members will be re-tested this week. Five people tested positive last week. “Supplies for the second round of testing for Leonardville Nursing Home residents and staff were delivered to the facility this morning, and specimens will be sent to the state lab tomorrow,” said Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams. Staff at the Riley County Health Department reported that patients have been visiting more places in the community prior to symptom onset. If there is an outbreak with five or more positive cases associated with any location in Riley County, that info will be shared with the public. Riley County is trending upward overall, and most of the new patients are between the ages of 18-34. “Young people are not immune to the disease,” said Adams. “We all need to take personal responsibility for the health and safety of our community by following good hygiene practices and limiting contact with the public. This could be the new normal for a long time to come. The old way of doing things is gone, at least for now.” Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 1 positive patient who is also on a ventilator, and 1 Person Under Investigation currently hospitalized. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.

&nbsp; &nbsp;Riley County Health Department has received notice of six new positive patients since Friday’s report. The total for the county is now 80, with 16 active cases. Five of the new patients are men, ages 21, 22, 28, 37, and 61. One patient is a woman, age 19. None of these new patients are associated with the outbreak at Leonardville Nursing Home. The staff at Leonardville Nursing Home are following all guidance provided by RCHD, CMS, and CDC, and are continuing to follow infection control protocols. All residents and staff members will be re-tested this week. Five people tested positive last week. “Supplies for the second round of testing for Leonardville Nursing Home residents and staff were delivered to the facility this morning, and specimens will be sent to the state lab tomorrow,” said Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams. Staff at the Riley County Health Department reported that patients have been visiting more places in the community prior to symptom onset. If there is an outbreak with five or more positive cases associated with any location in Riley County, that info will be shared with the public. Riley County is trending upward overall, and most of the new patients are between the ages of 18-34. “Young people are not immune to the disease,” said Adams. “We all need to take personal responsibility for the health and safety of our community by following good hygiene practices and limiting contact with the public. This could be the new normal for a long time to come. The old way of doing things is gone, at least for now.” Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 1 positive patient who is also on a ventilator, and 1 Person Under Investigation currently hospitalized. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.

Six new postive COVID-19 cases are reported in Riley County

Manhattan City officials have announced the reopening of the Douglass Community Recreation Center. Limited services will be offered.

🏓&nbsp;Pickleball will be available from 8:30-11:30 AM, Monday thru Friday. 🏀&nbsp;Afternoon basketball will be available from 1:00-5:00 PM, Monday thru Friday - only shooting hoops, no games! 🏋️‍♀️&nbsp;Fitness classes and the annex gym will be available at a later date.

If you have questions call the main office at 785-587-2773.

Manhattan City officials have announced the reopening of the Douglass Community Recreation Center. Limited services will be offered.🏓&nbsp;Pickleball will be available from 8:30-11:30 AM, Monday thru Friday. 🏀&nbsp;Afternoon basketball will be available from 1:00-5:00 PM, Monday thru Friday - only shooting hoops, no games! 🏋️‍♀️&nbsp;Fitness classes and the annex gym will be available at a later date.If you have questions call the main office at 785-587-2773.

Douglass Community Recreation Center reopens with limited services 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Jeremy Rooks works the evening shift at a fast-food restaurant these days to avoid being on the street past dusk. He needs somewhere to go at night: He and his wife are homeless after the extended-stay motel where they had lived since Thanksgiving evicted them in April when they couldn’t pay their rent.

They should have been protected because the Georgia Supreme Court has effectively halted evictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Rooks said the owner still sent a man posing as a sheriff’s deputy, armed with a gun, to throw the couple out a few days after rent was due.

The pandemic has shut housing courts and prompted most states and federal authorities to initiate policies protecting renters from eviction. But not everyone is covered and a number of landlords -- some desperate to pay their mortgages themselves -- are turning to threats and harassment to force tenants out.

“Every day, they tried to basically get us out of there. It was basically like a game to them,” said Rooks, who wasn’t able to make his rent at the Marietta, Georgia, motel after his employer paid him late and his wife was laid off in the pandemic. “One of us had to stay in a room at all times because they wouldn’t redo the keys for us.”

The evictions threaten to exacerbate a problem that has plagued people&nbsp; like Rooks long before the pandemic, when landlords across the U.S. were filing about 300,000 eviction requests every month.

In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly says she is considering using part of Kansas’ share of federal coronavirus relief funds to help people struggling to pay their rent or mortgage because of economic problems tied to the pandemic. 

On May 26, Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions or lenders from starting to foreclose on home mortgages. She said she had to lift the order because keeping it in place would have stressed lenders and businesses that rent homes and apartments. But she said creating a new relief program would be a top priority.

Data and analytics real estate firm Amherst projects that 28 million renters, or about 22.5% of all households, are at risk of eviction. Tenant advocates expect that number to increase significantly unless protections are put in place, and project that many of those affected will be African Americans and households led by women, both of which historically are more likely to be evicted.

In a sign of what could happen nationally, Virginia has seen a crush of proceedings since eviction hearings resumed May 18. About 700 cases already have been heard statewide, according to Christie Marra, director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center. On top of that, 2,200 cases are on the docket for the end of June and early July in Richmond, which has one of the country’s highest eviction rates.

Rachel Garland, an attorney at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said her group has experienced a spike in calls from tenants who lost their jobs due to the lockdown and fear being evicted. Philadelphia had the fourth-highest eviction rate in the country.

“Even if they can’t be evicted right now, if the courts are closed, the landlords are sending threatening emails, text messages, asking for rent, threatening to lock tenants out,” Garland said.

Alieza Durana of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab said affected tenants face high rates of depression and suicide from the stress, along with mounting debt and homelessness. Additionally, court judgments and debt collection actions against renters are reported to credit bureaus, affecting their ability to access housing for years.

Jose Ortiz, deputy director of Essex/Newark Legal Services, which includes New Jersey’s largest city, said he’s heard complaints from tenants who have been asked to exchange sex for rent and instances where landlords have threatened to alert immigration authorities about tenants living in the country without legal permission if they don’t pay their rent.

“They are not working. They don’t have the income to pay their bills and they are afraid about what will happen once the eviction ban is lifted,” Ortiz said. “Are they going to be displaced? Is there going to be a mad rush to the courthouse to get these tenants evicted?”

Tenants also are complaining about landlords locking them out and shutting off utilities.

Unable to pay her April rent in full on her townhouse in Millersville, Maryland, Dawn McBride said she began getting texts from her landlord suggesting she find work at Walmart or Costco. She said the landlord then tried to get her to sign a rent-deferral agreement, but wouldn’t let her fully read it. She ultimately was handed a 30-day notice to vacate because her lease was month-to-month, a strategy landlords increasingly are using.

“Honestly, it stresses me out a lot because it’s me and my children,” said McBride, who lost her pet-sitting job. “And, you know, I’m just like, `Where are we going to go?’”

Some tenants facing eviction have turned the table on landlords and are organizing rent strikes. From New York to Chicago to San Francisco, tenants are banding together and demanding landlords negotiate with an eye toward forgiving their rent entirely until the pandemic ends.

Many like Diana Hou, who lost her job with a political campaign and has helped organized a rent strike in her Brooklyn building with her half-dozen roommates. are pushing for legislation at the state and federal level to provide rent and mortgage relief.

“Many of us are worried about our prospects of securing housing without income and with a looming debt of unpaid rent. For the majority of the house, not being able to secure housing would mean homelessness in the middle of a pandemic,” Hou said.

Jay Martin, executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, which represents 4,000 building owners in New York, said he doesn't condone rent strikes but sympathizes with tenants' plight.

“Renters need a bailout,” Martin said, adding that landlords are supporting federal proposals that would cover back rent and future payments. Without those measures, he predicted a drop in property and real estate taxes that would sap state and city budgets.

The federal government’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package includes eviction moratoriums for most people living in federally subsidized apartments, as well as homes covered by federally backed mortgages. A second $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in May by the U.S. House would provide about $175 billion to pay rents and mortgages, but has almost no chance of passing in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.

State and local lawmakers across the country also are stepping in with assistance and proposals aimed at averting a wave of evictions.

New Jersey lawmakers passed a $100 million rent relief bill, while in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation directing $175 million of the federal coronavirus rescue package to rent and mortgage relief. Boston is providing $8 million for rental assistance, Baltimore has designated $13 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to start a rental assistance program, and Philadelphia provided $10 million to help about 13,000 people with their rent.

Other proposals would offer long-term payment plans for those unable to afford rent and programs like mediation before cases head to housing court.

“We have to do something,” said Philadelphia Council member Helen Gym, whose bill would prevent evictions until two months after the state’s emergency order was lifted.

“We can’t go back to business as usual in a city that evicts 18,000 people a year,” she said. “That is just not sustainable.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590531890706.png" alt="In Kansas, Governor Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions." />
 <figcaption>In Kansas, Governor Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Jeremy Rooks works the evening shift at a fast-food restaurant these days to avoid being on the street past dusk. He needs somewhere to go at night: He and his wife are homeless after the extended-stay motel where they had lived since Thanksgiving evicted them in April when they couldn’t pay their rent.They should have been protected because the Georgia Supreme Court has effectively halted evictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Rooks said the owner still sent a man posing as a sheriff’s deputy, armed with a gun, to throw the couple out a few days after rent was due.The pandemic has shut housing courts and prompted most states and federal authorities to initiate policies protecting renters from eviction. But not everyone is covered and a number of landlords -- some desperate to pay their mortgages themselves -- are turning to threats and harassment to force tenants out.“Every day, they tried to basically get us out of there. It was basically like a game to them,” said Rooks, who wasn’t able to make his rent at the Marietta, Georgia, motel after his employer paid him late and his wife was laid off in the pandemic. “One of us had to stay in a room at all times because they wouldn’t redo the keys for us.”The evictions threaten to exacerbate a problem that has plagued people&nbsp; like Rooks long before the pandemic, when landlords across the U.S. were filing about 300,000 eviction requests every month.In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly says she is considering using part of Kansas’ share of federal coronavirus relief funds to help people struggling to pay their rent or mortgage because of economic problems tied to the pandemic. On May 26, Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions or lenders from starting to foreclose on home mortgages. She said she had to lift the order because keeping it in place would have stressed lenders and businesses that rent homes and apartments. But she said creating a new relief program would be a top priority.Data and analytics real estate firm Amherst projects that 28 million renters, or about 22.5% of all households, are at risk of eviction. Tenant advocates expect that number to increase significantly unless protections are put in place, and project that many of those affected will be African Americans and households led by women, both of which historically are more likely to be evicted.In a sign of what could happen nationally, Virginia has seen a crush of proceedings since eviction hearings resumed May 18. About 700 cases already have been heard statewide, according to Christie Marra, director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center. On top of that, 2,200 cases are on the docket for the end of June and early July in Richmond, which has one of the country’s highest eviction rates.Rachel Garland, an attorney at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said her group has experienced a spike in calls from tenants who lost their jobs due to the lockdown and fear being evicted. Philadelphia had the fourth-highest eviction rate in the country.“Even if they can’t be evicted right now, if the courts are closed, the landlords are sending threatening emails, text messages, asking for rent, threatening to lock tenants out,” Garland said.Alieza Durana of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab said affected tenants face high rates of depression and suicide from the stress, along with mounting debt and homelessness. Additionally, court judgments and debt collection actions against renters are reported to credit bureaus, affecting their ability to access housing for years.Jose Ortiz, deputy director of Essex/Newark Legal Services, which includes New Jersey’s largest city, said he’s heard complaints from tenants who have been asked to exchange sex for rent and instances where landlords have threatened to alert immigration authorities about tenants living in the country without legal permission if they don’t pay their rent.“They are not working. They don’t have the income to pay their bills and they are afraid about what will happen once the eviction ban is lifted,” Ortiz said. “Are they going to be displaced? Is there going to be a mad rush to the courthouse to get these tenants evicted?”Tenants also are complaining about landlords locking them out and shutting off utilities.Unable to pay her April rent in full on her townhouse in Millersville, Maryland, Dawn McBride said she began getting texts from her landlord suggesting she find work at Walmart or Costco. She said the landlord then tried to get her to sign a rent-deferral agreement, but wouldn’t let her fully read it. She ultimately was handed a 30-day notice to vacate because her lease was month-to-month, a strategy landlords increasingly are using.“Honestly, it stresses me out a lot because it’s me and my children,” said McBride, who lost her pet-sitting job. “And, you know, I’m just like, `Where are we going to go?’”Some tenants facing eviction have turned the table on landlords and are organizing rent strikes. From New York to Chicago to San Francisco, tenants are banding together and demanding landlords negotiate with an eye toward forgiving their rent entirely until the pandemic ends.Many like Diana Hou, who lost her job with a political campaign and has helped organized a rent strike in her Brooklyn building with her half-dozen roommates. are pushing for legislation at the state and federal level to provide rent and mortgage relief.“Many of us are worried about our prospects of securing housing without income and with a looming debt of unpaid rent. For the majority of the house, not being able to secure housing would mean homelessness in the middle of a pandemic,” Hou said.Jay Martin, executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, which represents 4,000 building owners in New York, said he doesn't condone rent strikes but sympathizes with tenants' plight.“Renters need a bailout,” Martin said, adding that landlords are supporting federal proposals that would cover back rent and future payments. Without those measures, he predicted a drop in property and real estate taxes that would sap state and city budgets.The federal government’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package includes eviction moratoriums for most people living in federally subsidized apartments, as well as homes covered by federally backed mortgages. A second $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in May by the U.S. House would provide about $175 billion to pay rents and mortgages, but has almost no chance of passing in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.State and local lawmakers across the country also are stepping in with assistance and proposals aimed at averting a wave of evictions.New Jersey lawmakers passed a $100 million rent relief bill, while in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation directing $175 million of the federal coronavirus rescue package to rent and mortgage relief. Boston is providing $8 million for rental assistance, Baltimore has designated $13 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to start a rental assistance program, and Philadelphia provided $10 million to help about 13,000 people with their rent.Other proposals would offer long-term payment plans for those unable to afford rent and programs like mediation before cases head to housing court.“We have to do something,” said Philadelphia Council member Helen Gym, whose bill would prevent evictions until two months after the state’s emergency order was lifted.“We can’t go back to business as usual in a city that evicts 18,000 people a year,” she said. “That is just not sustainable.”

Tenants behind on rent in pandemic face harassment, eviction

WASHINGTON (AP -RNS )— Each Sunday, Larry Little and his wife, Mary, get ready for church. They dress casually, fill two tumblers with water, climb into their golf cart and drive two miles to The Grove, a grassy field next to their church.

There they find a parking place, turn off the engine and settle in for a live service in front of a Jumbotron and a stage.

The Littles, who live in a retirement community called The Villages, about an hour’s drive northwest of Orlando, Florida, are among the lucky few.

Since mid-March, when state shutdowns forced churches, synagogues and mosques to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have had to mostly rely on online worship services.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.liveoakschurch.org/" target="_blank">Live Oaks Community Church</a>&nbsp;has been able to offer continuous outdoor services — one on Saturday and two on Sunday — with dozens, sometimes hundreds, arriving via their golf carts.

“The only negative is that you don’t have much interaction with the rest of the congregation,” said Larry Little, 77. “Our golf carts are 6 feet apart and they don’t want us outside the golf cart.”

For many, if not most, older congregants living in colder climates or with no access to outdoor services, such options are a luxury.

Unable to find spiritual sustenance or the comforts of community, many are isolated and lonely. They may struggle with using the technology required for viewing online services or connecting virtually with family, friends and community members.

“It’s becoming more of a challenge to figure out how we minister to, and with, these older adults,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Missy Buchanan</a>, a writer and speaker from Rockwall, Texas, with a focus on older adults.

Some congregations are making phone calls and writing letters to older members. Others have bought them tablets and are teaching the least technologically savvy how to connect to online platforms.

Now, as states begin loosening lockdown restrictions and churches contemplate how to reopen safely, clergy and other religious leaders face difficult decisions when it comes to their senior members.

For older people, there’s a cruel reality to those reopenings.

Mounting evidence suggests houses of worship are probably among the riskiest places for older people. Transmission is much more likely indoors where lots of people come into close contact and where droplets with viral particles might linger in the air for as long as eight minutes. Multiple coronavirus cases across the country have been linked to people attending church and synagogue services or events.

Older Americans are also among the most likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19. Eight out of 10 coronavirus deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults 65 years and older, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control.</a>

Many older people like the Littles may not see the insides of a church or synagogue for a very long time.

“When churches regather, older people may be the last to go back,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://amyhanson.org/" target="_blank">Amy Hanson</a>, an instructor in the gerontology department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has a consulting ministry to help churches engage older adults. “Some will want to return. But it will be hard for those who do go back. There’ll be no handshaking and hugging — things older adults are missing. They won’t feel all they’re hoping to feel.”

Older American were nearly twice as likely as younger Americans to attend church, synagogue and mosque before the shutdowns. A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;survey found that 61% of those born before 1945 (the so-called Silent Generation) attended religious services monthly or more, compared with 35% of millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).

In this in-between time, congregations should assess their older adult members, charting whether they live alone or have family nearby. Do they have hearing or vision impairments? Do they have access to chaplains at assisted living or nursing homes?

They would also do well to recognize that older Americans are not monolithic in their needs, said Buchanan, who writes devotionals for older adults. Buchanan has identified four basic groups of older adults: the “go-go’s,” those who are still very active and independent; the “slow-go’s,” those who may have some physical limitations; the “no-go’s,” those who are homebound; and the “not-gonna-make-me-go,” young Boomers who don’t attend religious services on a regular basis.

Many congregational ministries, Buchanan said, focus on only one or two of those groups.

Large churches, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johnsonferry.org/default.aspx?page=4378" target="_blank">Johnson Ferry Baptist Church</a>&nbsp;in Marietta, Georgia, can do a lot more. In the days after the shutdown, the 7,000-member church prepared meals for many isolated church members and made daily phone calls to those living alone.

Now the emphasis has shifted to finding ways to engage older adults and allow them to contribute to the life of the church.

“They’re not here to take up space,” said Peggy Fulghum, minister to older adults at Johnson Ferry. “We want to keep them serving. I try to create ministries for them to be active and serve and give back to the community.”

For example, after noticing that in-person high school graduations were canceled, Fulghum asked older members to write congratulatory cards to high school seniors, encouraging them on their journey to adulthood and sharing a bit of their wisdom.

The cards were mailed to the church and the church staff is now sending them to families with high school seniors.

The church has also started a Tuesday morning Zoom call for older members where they can greet each other, sing a song and pray as a group. They hope it encourages groups of older adults to start their own Zoom gatherings. And the church is retooling its “GrandCamp” ministry to allow grandparents and children to interact through online projects.

Live Oaks Community Church in Florida has recently announced it will resume indoor worship for up to 100 people with social distancing.

The Littles, however, have decided to continue worshipping outdoors — at least for the time being.

“We think the golf cart experience is unique and we enjoy it,” Larry Little said. “It’s completely open and there’s always a little breeze. You don’t feel that sense of isolation. Isolation is worse than the virus for old folks.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584278183206.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By YONAT SHIMRONWASHINGTON (AP -RNS )— Each Sunday, Larry Little and his wife, Mary, get ready for church. They dress casually, fill two tumblers with water, climb into their golf cart and drive two miles to The Grove, a grassy field next to their church.There they find a parking place, turn off the engine and settle in for a live service in front of a Jumbotron and a stage.The Littles, who live in a retirement community called The Villages, about an hour’s drive northwest of Orlando, Florida, are among the lucky few.Since mid-March, when state shutdowns forced churches, synagogues and mosques to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have had to mostly rely on online worship services.But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.liveoakschurch.org/" target="_blank">Live Oaks Community Church</a>&nbsp;has been able to offer continuous outdoor services — one on Saturday and two on Sunday — with dozens, sometimes hundreds, arriving via their golf carts.“The only negative is that you don’t have much interaction with the rest of the congregation,” said Larry Little, 77. “Our golf carts are 6 feet apart and they don’t want us outside the golf cart.”For many, if not most, older congregants living in colder climates or with no access to outdoor services, such options are a luxury.Unable to find spiritual sustenance or the comforts of community, many are isolated and lonely. They may struggle with using the technology required for viewing online services or connecting virtually with family, friends and community members.“It’s becoming more of a challenge to figure out how we minister to, and with, these older adults,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Missy Buchanan</a>, a writer and speaker from Rockwall, Texas, with a focus on older adults.Some congregations are making phone calls and writing letters to older members. Others have bought them tablets and are teaching the least technologically savvy how to connect to online platforms.Now, as states begin loosening lockdown restrictions and churches contemplate how to reopen safely, clergy and other religious leaders face difficult decisions when it comes to their senior members.For older people, there’s a cruel reality to those reopenings.Mounting evidence suggests houses of worship are probably among the riskiest places for older people. Transmission is much more likely indoors where lots of people come into close contact and where droplets with viral particles might linger in the air for as long as eight minutes. Multiple coronavirus cases across the country have been linked to people attending church and synagogue services or events.Older Americans are also among the most likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19. Eight out of 10 coronavirus deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults 65 years and older, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control.</a>Many older people like the Littles may not see the insides of a church or synagogue for a very long time.“When churches regather, older people may be the last to go back,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://amyhanson.org/" target="_blank">Amy Hanson</a>, an instructor in the gerontology department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has a consulting ministry to help churches engage older adults. “Some will want to return. But it will be hard for those who do go back. There’ll be no handshaking and hugging — things older adults are missing. They won’t feel all they’re hoping to feel.”Older American were nearly twice as likely as younger Americans to attend church, synagogue and mosque before the shutdowns. A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;survey found that 61% of those born before 1945 (the so-called Silent Generation) attended religious services monthly or more, compared with 35% of millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).In this in-between time, congregations should assess their older adult members, charting whether they live alone or have family nearby. Do they have hearing or vision impairments? Do they have access to chaplains at assisted living or nursing homes?They would also do well to recognize that older Americans are not monolithic in their needs, said Buchanan, who writes devotionals for older adults. Buchanan has identified four basic groups of older adults: the “go-go’s,” those who are still very active and independent; the “slow-go’s,” those who may have some physical limitations; the “no-go’s,” those who are homebound; and the “not-gonna-make-me-go,” young Boomers who don’t attend religious services on a regular basis.Many congregational ministries, Buchanan said, focus on only one or two of those groups.Large churches, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johnsonferry.org/default.aspx?page=4378" target="_blank">Johnson Ferry Baptist Church</a>&nbsp;in Marietta, Georgia, can do a lot more. In the days after the shutdown, the 7,000-member church prepared meals for many isolated church members and made daily phone calls to those living alone.Now the emphasis has shifted to finding ways to engage older adults and allow them to contribute to the life of the church.“They’re not here to take up space,” said Peggy Fulghum, minister to older adults at Johnson Ferry. “We want to keep them serving. I try to create ministries for them to be active and serve and give back to the community.”For example, after noticing that in-person high school graduations were canceled, Fulghum asked older members to write congratulatory cards to high school seniors, encouraging them on their journey to adulthood and sharing a bit of their wisdom.The cards were mailed to the church and the church staff is now sending them to families with high school seniors.The church has also started a Tuesday morning Zoom call for older members where they can greet each other, sing a song and pray as a group. They hope it encourages groups of older adults to start their own Zoom gatherings. And the church is retooling its “GrandCamp” ministry to allow grandparents and children to interact through online projects.Live Oaks Community Church in Florida has recently announced it will resume indoor worship for up to 100 people with social distancing.The Littles, however, have decided to continue worshipping outdoors — at least for the time being.“We think the golf cart experience is unique and we enjoy it,” Larry Little said. “It’s completely open and there’s always a little breeze. You don’t feel that sense of isolation. Isolation is worse than the virus for old folks.”

As they reopen, congregations grapple with including seniors

The Army has announced that Fort Riley Chapels are re-opened, beginning Sunday, June 14, since Fort Riley is operating at HPCON level B, effective June 12.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fort-Riley-Religious-Support-2332674223669555/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARB34ze15YBC5h9QkQyrZDh-H2WHv6ErzBHDiv4bY5O0y5PhEdhxmgRnZ4HfFcyBBvdpr5Pwq-iE6aJd&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Fort Riley Religious Support</a>&nbsp;services will continue to be distributed via Facebook.

All attendees must follow protocols, including hand-washing, facemask wear, temperature screening and following allowed capacities. Families may sit together, individuals and family groups must be physically separate.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MainPostChapelFortRiley/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARCCPfsBpayccHeEjiNghxxkslDeZalmhzH2YXul96mtY0KDoSSiRrr4gtw5kyAWv1eOswDqMVNtEQph&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Main Post Chapel Fort Riley</a>&nbsp;(30 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victory-Chapel/687142254684598?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARBq3OhMEF-pG0QleIm_vvIwpME4t9lRt_2LISlRE5X438za-V1hTXrAM5UHV-RQRlglxZh68kK6Bq2J&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Victory Chapel</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHGSFRKS/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARByiDfPXM5YAgSEH7k5KTXL4ralpYi5FAj6_CyT35bxqa0EnZ9yu35cb_WMvk7h676IRxQRuOIQmHzX&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Morris Hill Chapel Gospel Service Fort Riley, KS</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity). Catholic Mass will be conducted at Victory Chapel in 2 sessions: 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Army has announced that Fort Riley Chapels are re-opened, beginning Sunday, June 14, since Fort Riley is operating at HPCON level B, effective June 12.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fort-Riley-Religious-Support-2332674223669555/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARB34ze15YBC5h9QkQyrZDh-H2WHv6ErzBHDiv4bY5O0y5PhEdhxmgRnZ4HfFcyBBvdpr5Pwq-iE6aJd&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Fort Riley Religious Support</a>&nbsp;services will continue to be distributed via Facebook.All attendees must follow protocols, including hand-washing, facemask wear, temperature screening and following allowed capacities. Families may sit together, individuals and family groups must be physically separate.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MainPostChapelFortRiley/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARCCPfsBpayccHeEjiNghxxkslDeZalmhzH2YXul96mtY0KDoSSiRrr4gtw5kyAWv1eOswDqMVNtEQph&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Main Post Chapel Fort Riley</a>&nbsp;(30 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victory-Chapel/687142254684598?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARBq3OhMEF-pG0QleIm_vvIwpME4t9lRt_2LISlRE5X438za-V1hTXrAM5UHV-RQRlglxZh68kK6Bq2J&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Victory Chapel</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHGSFRKS/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARByiDfPXM5YAgSEH7k5KTXL4ralpYi5FAj6_CyT35bxqa0EnZ9yu35cb_WMvk7h676IRxQRuOIQmHzX&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Morris Hill Chapel Gospel Service Fort Riley, KS</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity). Catholic Mass will be conducted at Victory Chapel in 2 sessions: 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Fort Riley Chapels reopen Sunday, June 14

NEW YORK (AP) — Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym.

These are some of the tips <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">in long-awaited guidance</a> from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of normal life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday, along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as includes concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies.

But the guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event,” the CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters.

The staging and attendance of such events should be in accordance with what local health officials are advising, based on much the coronavirus is spreading in a particular community, he added.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">The guidelines </a>are long overdue, some health experts say.

Julia Marcus, an infectious disease researcher at Harvard Medical School, has likened stay-at-home suggestions to “abstinence-only” messaging and has pressed for advice to help people minimize risk. She said she was delighted by the CDC’s tips.

“I think it’s a huge step in the right direction,” Marcus said. “These guidelines are really directed toward ordinary Americans trying to make decisions about risk every day.”

But there are notable omissions. There’s nothing about precautions to take before going to church, no guidance about dating and sex and no explicit advice on a topic that some doctors say they get asked all the time: Is it OK to take the kids to visit grandparents?

“Visiting grandma is something I must address three times a week,“ said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert.

“My empathy goes out to the CDC. It’s very, very difficult to have a precise answer for every circumstance,” he added.

Stay-at-home orders, school shutdowns and business closings were followed by a national flattening in the rate of new cases. In recent weeks, many states have started reopening as they face pressure to get the pandemic-damaged economy going again. And cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The CDC has put out many sets of guidelines, including some for churches, camps, schools and transit agencies. But until now, the organization hasn’t offered specific advice to people trying to decide whether to take vacations, get their nails done, host barbecues, visit a bank or library, go out to eat or exercise at a gym.

The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, called the new guidelines “common sense suggestions,” not mandates. State or local governments may want to reimpose stricter measures if new outbreaks occur, but that’s a call for them to make, CDC officials said.

The guidelines repeat earlier advice about wearing face coverings, especially if it’s difficult to keep at least 6 feet away from other people.

They also offers a list of questions people should consider before going out, and some things to think about in particular situations. For example, it suggests that house parties be held outside, guests be greeted with a wave instead of a hug and that everyone bring their own food and drinks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586545924801.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman demonstrates how to wear a face mask during a press briefing last month in Topeka." />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman demonstrates how to wear a face mask during a press briefing last month in Topeka.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym.These are some of the tips <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">in long-awaited guidance</a> from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of normal life.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday, along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as includes concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies.But the guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event,” the CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters.The staging and attendance of such events should be in accordance with what local health officials are advising, based on much the coronavirus is spreading in a particular community, he added.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">The guidelines </a>are long overdue, some health experts say.Julia Marcus, an infectious disease researcher at Harvard Medical School, has likened stay-at-home suggestions to “abstinence-only” messaging and has pressed for advice to help people minimize risk. She said she was delighted by the CDC’s tips.“I think it’s a huge step in the right direction,” Marcus said. “These guidelines are really directed toward ordinary Americans trying to make decisions about risk every day.”But there are notable omissions. There’s nothing about precautions to take before going to church, no guidance about dating and sex and no explicit advice on a topic that some doctors say they get asked all the time: Is it OK to take the kids to visit grandparents?“Visiting grandma is something I must address three times a week,“ said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert.“My empathy goes out to the CDC. It’s very, very difficult to have a precise answer for every circumstance,” he added.Stay-at-home orders, school shutdowns and business closings were followed by a national flattening in the rate of new cases. In recent weeks, many states have started reopening as they face pressure to get the pandemic-damaged economy going again. And cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis.The CDC has put out many sets of guidelines, including some for churches, camps, schools and transit agencies. But until now, the organization hasn’t offered specific advice to people trying to decide whether to take vacations, get their nails done, host barbecues, visit a bank or library, go out to eat or exercise at a gym.The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, called the new guidelines “common sense suggestions,” not mandates. State or local governments may want to reimpose stricter measures if new outbreaks occur, but that’s a call for them to make, CDC officials said.The guidelines repeat earlier advice about wearing face coverings, especially if it’s difficult to keep at least 6 feet away from other people.They also offers a list of questions people should consider before going out, and some things to think about in particular situations. For example, it suggests that house parties be held outside, guests be greeted with a wave instead of a hug and that everyone bring their own food and drinks.

CDC posts long-awaited tips for minimizing everyday coronavirus risk

Riley County has 3 new COVID-19 positive patients, for a cumulative total of 74. The Health Department said the new patients are a 21 year-old man, 90 year-old woman, and a 95 year-old woman associated with an outbreak at the Leonardville Nursing Home. There are now a total of 5 positive cases associated with that location. All residents and employees of the facility have been tested. Roughly two-thirds of the 150 test results have been received and staff are waiting for notification about the remaining tests.

The Riley County Health Department has been working alongside the Leonardville facility, with assistance from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE, to investigate, test, trace contacts, and isolate all positive cases there.

“The facility has been taking every precaution, from limiting access to visitors to monitoring of staff and residents for symptoms, and following recommendations from both the health department and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for several months.” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs.

There are 12 active cases in Riley County, with 59 recovered, and 3 fatalities.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 1 positive patient on a ventilator, and 2 Persons Under Investigation at this time. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.

“This outbreak underscores the importance of collaboration and open communication between partners, and serves as a reminder that COVID-19 is still a pressing issue in Riley County and should continue to be taken very seriously,” said Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams. “We will continue to work closely with the Leonardville Nursing Home, and all other long-term care facilities, to keep Riley County healthy.”

Riley County has 3 new COVID-19 positive patients, for a cumulative total of 74. The Health Department said the new patients are a 21 year-old man, 90 year-old woman, and a 95 year-old woman associated with an outbreak at the Leonardville Nursing Home. There are now a total of 5 positive cases associated with that location. All residents and employees of the facility have been tested. Roughly two-thirds of the 150 test results have been received and staff are waiting for notification about the remaining tests.The Riley County Health Department has been working alongside the Leonardville facility, with assistance from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE, to investigate, test, trace contacts, and isolate all positive cases there.“The facility has been taking every precaution, from limiting access to visitors to monitoring of staff and residents for symptoms, and following recommendations from both the health department and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for several months.” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs.There are 12 active cases in Riley County, with 59 recovered, and 3 fatalities.Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 1 positive patient on a ventilator, and 2 Persons Under Investigation at this time. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.“This outbreak underscores the importance of collaboration and open communication between partners, and serves as a reminder that COVID-19 is still a pressing issue in Riley County and should continue to be taken very seriously,” said Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams. “We will continue to work closely with the Leonardville Nursing Home, and all other long-term care facilities, to keep Riley County healthy.”

Five positive COVID-19 cases connected to the Leonardville Nursing Home

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Health officials in suburban Kansas City have linked a new coronavirus case to Memorial Day weekend parties at the Lake of the Ozarks. Epidemiologist Elizabeth Holzschuh told the Johnson County, Kansas, board of commissioners Thursday that the infected resident visited the same bar as a resident of Boone County in mid-Missouri who previously tested positive. 

Social media postings of the event showed large crowds of mostly young people without masks and not adhering to social distancing guidelines at pools along the central Missouri lake that is a popular weekend getaway spot. Health officials urged anyone who attended the parties to self-quarantine for 14 days.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591911691981.png" alt="Snap Chat image of the crowded pool party" />
 <figcaption>Snap Chat image of the crowded pool party</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Health officials in suburban Kansas City have linked a new coronavirus case to Memorial Day weekend parties at the Lake of the Ozarks. Epidemiologist Elizabeth Holzschuh told the Johnson County, Kansas, board of commissioners Thursday that the infected resident visited the same bar as a resident of Boone County in mid-Missouri who previously tested positive. Social media postings of the event showed large crowds of mostly young people without masks and not adhering to social distancing guidelines at pools along the central Missouri lake that is a popular weekend getaway spot. Health officials urged anyone who attended the parties to self-quarantine for 14 days.&nbsp;

2nd COVID-19 case tied to Memorial weekend lake parties

Governor Laura Kelly will discuss her administration’s&nbsp;statewide COVID-19 testing strategy.

The Governor will be joined&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Governor Laura Kelly will discuss her administration’s&nbsp;statewide COVID-19 testing strategy.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F181713886602771%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The Governor will be joined&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

🎥  Gov. Kelly on statewide COVID-19 testing strategy

NEW YORK (AP) — States are rolling back lockdowns, but the coronavirus isn’t done with the U.S.

Cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis, a worrying trend that could worsen as people return to work and venture out during the summer.

In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst. Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before. And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools or businesses.

There is no single reason to explain all the surges. In some cases, more testing has revealed more cases. In others, local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher. But experts think at least some are due to lifting stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions put in place during the spring to stem the virus’s spread.

“It is a disaster that spreads,” said Dr. Jay Butler, who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s not like there’s an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591208066312.png" alt="Photo Sedgwick County Health Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sedgwick County Health Department</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — States are rolling back lockdowns, but the coronavirus isn’t done with the U.S.Cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis, a worrying trend that could worsen as people return to work and venture out during the summer.In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst. Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before. And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools or businesses.There is no single reason to explain all the surges. In some cases, more testing has revealed more cases. In others, local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher. But experts think at least some are due to lifting stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions put in place during the spring to stem the virus’s spread.The virus is also gradually fanning out.“It is a disaster that spreads,” said Dr. Jay Butler, who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s not like there’s an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once.”The virus first landed on the U.S. coasts, carried by international travelers infected abroad. For months, the epicenter was in northeastern states. More recently, the biggest increases have been in the South and the West.The AP analyzed data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus testing data in the United States. The analysis found that in 21 states as of Monday, the rolling seven-day average of new cases per capita was higher than the average seven days earlier.Here’s what’s driving increases in some of the states with notable upticks:MISSOURI&nbsp;Missouri health officials reported 179 in new confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday as the state continues to see daily triple-digit increases.The state's COVID-19 death toll increased to 848 on Wednesday, which was 29 more than on Monday.&nbsp;ARIZONARepublican Gov. Doug Ducey ended Arizona’s stay-at-home order on May 15 and eased restrictions on businesses. Arizona residents who were cooped up for six weeks flooded Phoenix-area bar districts, ignoring social distancing guidelines.The state began seeing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations about 10 days later.“It seems pretty clear to me that what we’re seeing is directly related to the end of the stay-at-home order,” said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association.It wasn’t just that the order ended: There were no requirements to wear face masks, no major increases in contact tracing to spot and stop evolving outbreaks, and no scale-up of infection control at nursing homes, he said.“Those are missed opportunities that, if implemented today, could still make a big difference,” said Humble, a former director of the state Department of Health Services.Testing has been increasing in Arizona, which increases the chance of finding new cases. But the proportion of tests that come back positive has also been on the rise.The AP analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of fewer than 400 new cases a day at the time the shutdown was lifted, but it shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week. Hospitalizations have also risen dramatically, hitting the 1,200 mark last week.The state also passed another grim milestone last week, recording it’s 1,000th death.Meanwhile Arizona hospitals on Tuesday reported they were at 83% of capacity, up from 78% the previous day. That could force affected hospitals to cancel elective surgeries. Rules established under an executive order Ducey issued in April said hospitals wanting to resume elective surgeries had to have at least 20% of their beds available.NORTH CAROLINAIn North Carolina, more testing plus more people out and about during reopening seem to be the main drivers of recent case upticks, said Kimberly Powers, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.On Saturday, the state recorded its highest single-day increase, with 1,370. While testing has grown in the last two weeks, so has the rate of tests coming back positive.“These trends moving in the wrong direction is a signal we need to take very seriously,” said North Carolina’s top health official, Mandy Cohen, who along with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has urged the public to take precautions to protect themselves.But some state residents are not on board.“I think they should start opening stuff a little bit more,” said Jason Denton, an electrician from Greenville who said one of his main concerns was getting to the gym.“That’s like my therapy,” he said.TEXASFew states are rebooting faster than Texas, where hospitalizations surged past 2,100 on Wednesday for the first time during the pandemic. That’s a 42% increase in patients since Memorial Day weekend, when restless beachgoers swarmed Texas’ coastline and a water park near Houston opened to big crowds in defiance of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders.Texas’ percentage of tests coming back positive has also jumped to levels that are among the nation’s highest. State officials point to hot spots at meatpacking plants and prisons in rural counties, where thousands of new cases have cropped up, but have not offered explanations for a rise in numbers elsewhere.Abbott, who has recently begun wearing a mask in public, has shown no intention of pumping the brake on reopening a state where conservative protesters in May pressured him to speed up the timeline on getting hair salons back in business.On Friday, Texas is set to lift even more restrictions and let restaurant dining rooms reopen at nearly full capacity.ALABAMAIn Alabama, outbreaks in nursing homes and poultry plants helped drive state numbers upward, though there was a drop more recently. But that may change — there is evidence of community transmission in the capital, Montgomery, which has become an emerging hot spot, said State Health Officer Scott Harris.“I think reopening the economy gave a lot of people the wrong impression … that, ‘Hey everything is fine. Let’s go back to normal,’” Harris said. “Clearly, it is not that way. Really, now more than ever we need people to stay 6 feet apart, wear face coverings and wash their hands.”Montgomery hospital intensive care units are as busy as during flu season.“I can assure you that Montgomery’s cases are not going down, and if our community does not take this seriously, the virus will continue to spread, and at some point, our medical capacity will reach its limit,” Dr. David Thrasher, director of respiratory therapy at Jackson Hospital, said in a statement.ARKANSASArkansas has also seen increases — in cases, hospitalizations and the percentage of tests that come back positive. But the state’s situation is a complicated story of different outbreaks at different times, said Dr. Nate Smith, director of the Arkansas Department of Health.After a peak in April, levels were low until spikes began about three weeks ago — mainly in the cities of Rogers and Springdale in the northwest and in De Queen further south. The cases have been concentrated among Hispanics and those who work in chicken production facilities.The chicken plants never were closed, Smith said. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday said the state will move into a new phase of reopening, starting Monday.LOOKING AHEADExperts are wondering what will happen in the next week or so, in the wake of nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.The protests were outdoors, which reduces the likelihood of virus spread, and many participants have worn masks and taken other precautions. But it’s a lot of people close together, chanting, singing and yelling.“Hopefully we won’t see a big spike. But those data aren’t in yet,” Humble said.

Coronavirus Update