SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Church of the Magdalen,&nbsp;12626 E 21st St N in Wichita is temporarily close for at least two weeks after a priest reported he tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Diocese of Wichita, the priest&nbsp;woke up feeling ill on Wednesday and after speaking with a doctor, went in for a test and received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. 

Since the priest live together in the rectory, a second priest is now also required to quarantine for 14 days.

Out of an abundance of&nbsp;caution, the priest and the church staff have determined the following measures need to be taken, effective immediately. All Masses—including Sunday Masses, confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration are temporarily suspended

Livestreams are temporarily discontinued (Magdalen website will have recommended alternatives shortly)

First Communion, originally scheduled for this weekend, is postponed until further notice

The entire Magdalen campus is temporarily closed

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584219029698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Church of the Magdalen,&nbsp;12626 E 21st St N in Wichita is temporarily close for at least two weeks after a priest reported he tested positive for COVID-19.According to the Diocese of Wichita, the priest&nbsp;woke up feeling ill on Wednesday and after speaking with a doctor, went in for a test and received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Since the priest live together in the rectory, a second priest is now also required to quarantine for 14 days.Out of an abundance of&nbsp;caution, the priest and the church staff have determined the following measures need to be taken, effective immediately. All Masses—including Sunday Masses, confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration are temporarily suspendedLivestreams are temporarily discontinued (Magdalen website will have recommended alternatives shortly)First Communion, originally scheduled for this weekend, is postponed until further noticeThe entire Magdalen campus is temporarily closed

Coronavirus shuts down Kan. church after priest tests positive

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 162 to a total of 10,812, 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 162 to a total of 10,812, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 240<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/2020/6/1591809929925.png" alt="June 10, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>June 10, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

WASHINGTON —U.S. meatpacking facilities are operating at more than 95 percent of average capacity when compared to 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the data, attributing the operations to the safe reopening of the facilities. 

USDA says beef facilities are operating at 98 percent, pork facilities are operating at 95 percent, and poultry facilities are operating at 98 percent of their capacity compared to the same time last year. 

Secretary Perdue thanked the industry and its workers, for "quickly getting their operations back up and running." USDA says the facilities are safely resuming operations following an executive order by President Donald Trump to implement safety guidelines to protect workers from COVID-19. 

The closures led to shortages at grocery stores and a backlog of animals ready to slaughter, creating depressed prices for farmers, yet higher prices for consumers. USDA says it will continue to work with safety officials to keep the facilities open while maintaining worker safety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589997636847.png" alt="Workers wearing protective clothing -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Workers wearing protective clothing -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —U.S. meatpacking facilities are operating at more than 95 percent of average capacity when compared to 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the data, attributing the operations to the safe reopening of the facilities. USDA says beef facilities are operating at 98 percent, pork facilities are operating at 95 percent, and poultry facilities are operating at 98 percent of their capacity compared to the same time last year. Secretary Perdue thanked the industry and its workers, for "quickly getting their operations back up and running." USDA says the facilities are safely resuming operations following an executive order by President Donald Trump to implement safety guidelines to protect workers from COVID-19. The closures led to shortages at grocery stores and a backlog of animals ready to slaughter, creating depressed prices for farmers, yet higher prices for consumers. USDA says it will continue to work with safety officials to keep the facilities open while maintaining worker safety.

USDA: Meatpacking facilities near full operation of 2019 capacity

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas will offer voluntary buyout packages to some faculty members as it grapples with financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor Douglas Girod has said the university faces a budget shortfall of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/96e7e3cfef7e6d0041dfe3c908fd4389">at least $120</a>&nbsp;million in the fiscal year that begins July 1 due to virus-related shutdowns.

Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said in a Monday message to faculty and staff members that eligible employees must be age 62 or older and meet other requirements.

“This was not an easy decision, however, it is one that will help enable the university to plan and forecast its continued capacity to provide high-quality educational experiences and exceptional research on our Lawrence and Edwards campuses long into the future,” Bichelmeyer said.

Applicants accepted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program will receive a lump-sum cash payment of $100,000 or their fiscal year 2021 budgeted base salary, whichever is lower. They must retire by Dec. 31 and would not be eligible for rehire at the university for 12 months.

Between 500 and 600 faculty and staff are likely eligible for the program, said university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas will offer voluntary buyout packages to some faculty members as it grapples with financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic.Chancellor Douglas Girod has said the university faces a budget shortfall of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/96e7e3cfef7e6d0041dfe3c908fd4389">at least $120</a>&nbsp;million in the fiscal year that begins July 1 due to virus-related shutdowns.Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said in a Monday message to faculty and staff members that eligible employees must be age 62 or older and meet other requirements.“This was not an easy decision, however, it is one that will help enable the university to plan and forecast its continued capacity to provide high-quality educational experiences and exceptional research on our Lawrence and Edwards campuses long into the future,” Bichelmeyer said.Applicants accepted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program will receive a lump-sum cash payment of $100,000 or their fiscal year 2021 budgeted base salary, whichever is lower. They must retire by Dec. 31 and would not be eligible for rehire at the university for 12 months.Between 500 and 600 faculty and staff are likely eligible for the program, said university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson.

University of Kansas offers buyouts amid pandemic losses

TOPEKA–The KDHE confirmed the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at Lansing Correctional Facility is contained. As a result, the Guardsmen who have supported logistics, food and medical services at the facility concluded their mission on June 4.

“The Kansas National Guard is full of highly trained, professional public servants who are ready at a moment’s notice to serve their fellow Kansans,”&nbsp;Secretary Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.

“We were extremely impressed with their willingness and ability to adapt to their new surroundings and face each task with strength and dignity. On behalf of the department, I want to sincerely thank them for their work.”

The first four Kansas National Guard members arrived at Lansing on April 15 and grew to more than 40 in support of LCF’s COVID-19 response. The Guardsmen were instrumental in monitoring residents for symptoms, carrying out mass testing for the virus and conducting twice-daily health checks. Additional members also provided support in food service, as residents who normally prepare meals were unable to do so while they were quarantined and assisted with the move to the new buildings at the reconstructed facility. Their contributions allowed Lansing employees to remain focused on safety and security tasks with confidence that these services were continuing.

KDHE began assisting KDOC with their COVID-19 preparations in early March and when the situation at LCF escalated, they dedicated a full-time staff member to assist with ensuring the health and safety of the residents. As the agency moves into a new phase of response, the two agencies will continue to partner to determine what additional steps may need to be taken in the future.

“Secretary Lee Norman and Phil Griffin, Director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention at KDHE, have been amazing partners to our agency,” Zmuda said. “They have brought the health expertise that we needed to make sure that our staff received the most up-to-date information on the virus and how to keep the men, women and youth in our care safe.”

With the virus contained, residents, staff and contractors at the facility are moving forward with the resumption of many activities. This includes residents returning to their jobs in food service, laundry and maintenance activities as well as essential private industry jobs. In addition, the contracted medical provider will continue providing all services under the terms of their contract. Activities that expose residents to the community, including visitation, volunteers, mentors, and non-essential private industry jobs will not be resumed at this time.

“While we are resuming many activities, we fully recognize that this virus will still be present for the foreseeable future, so we plan to maintain the mitigation strategies that have been implemented at each of our facilities,” Zmuda said. “This resumption of activities is a first step to normalizing operations at Lansing, but one we will do with an abundance of caution and care.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591738839534.png" alt="Kansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are assisting at Lansing Correctional Facility on May 5 supplementing kitchen staff by preparing sack lunches for distribution to residents throughout the facility- photo courtesy Kansas National Guard" />
 <figcaption>Kansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are assisting at Lansing Correctional Facility on May 5 supplementing kitchen staff by preparing sack lunches for distribution to residents throughout the facility- photo courtesy Kansas National Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA–The KDHE confirmed the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at Lansing Correctional Facility is contained. As a result, the Guardsmen who have supported logistics, food and medical services at the facility concluded their mission on June 4.“The Kansas National Guard is full of highly trained, professional public servants who are ready at a moment’s notice to serve their fellow Kansans,”&nbsp;Secretary Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.“We were extremely impressed with their willingness and ability to adapt to their new surroundings and face each task with strength and dignity. On behalf of the department, I want to sincerely thank them for their work.”The first four Kansas National Guard members arrived at Lansing on April 15 and grew to more than 40 in support of LCF’s COVID-19 response. The Guardsmen were instrumental in monitoring residents for symptoms, carrying out mass testing for the virus and conducting twice-daily health checks. Additional members also provided support in food service, as residents who normally prepare meals were unable to do so while they were quarantined and assisted with the move to the new buildings at the reconstructed facility. Their contributions allowed Lansing employees to remain focused on safety and security tasks with confidence that these services were continuing.KDHE began assisting KDOC with their COVID-19 preparations in early March and when the situation at LCF escalated, they dedicated a full-time staff member to assist with ensuring the health and safety of the residents. As the agency moves into a new phase of response, the two agencies will continue to partner to determine what additional steps may need to be taken in the future.“Secretary Lee Norman and Phil Griffin, Director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention at KDHE, have been amazing partners to our agency,” Zmuda said. “They have brought the health expertise that we needed to make sure that our staff received the most up-to-date information on the virus and how to keep the men, women and youth in our care safe.”With the virus contained, residents, staff and contractors at the facility are moving forward with the resumption of many activities. This includes residents returning to their jobs in food service, laundry and maintenance activities as well as essential private industry jobs. In addition, the contracted medical provider will continue providing all services under the terms of their contract. Activities that expose residents to the community, including visitation, volunteers, mentors, and non-essential private industry jobs will not be resumed at this time.“While we are resuming many activities, we fully recognize that this virus will still be present for the foreseeable future, so we plan to maintain the mitigation strategies that have been implemented at each of our facilities,” Zmuda said. “This resumption of activities is a first step to normalizing operations at Lansing, but one we will do with an abundance of caution and care.”

KDHE: Coronavirus outbreak at Kansas prison is contained

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University will resume in-person classes for the fall 2020 semester, but is moving the start and end dates of the semester up one week. The university also will have on-campus housing and dining available for students, but will incorporate extra health and safety measures. Fall academic calendar adjustments

Under the adjusted fall 2020 semester academic calendar, the first day of classes will be Monday, Aug. 17. The last day of classes will be Friday, Dec. 4, with finals week from Dec. 7-11. The last day for in-person on-campus instruction will be on Nov. 20, right before the student Thanksgiving break. Following the break, the last two weeks of the semester, including final exams, will be completed using distance methods. <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=65721" target="_blank">Read more about updates to the academic calendar.</a> Residence hall and dining center updates Residence halls and dining centers will be open for the fall 2020 semester and K-State is incorporating extra health and safety measures for on-campus housing and dining. These updates to housing and dining plans aim to enhance student safety and mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. The housing and dining updates include safety measures in several areas: reducing housing density; staggering the move-in schedule to reduce the size of gatherings; additional conduct standards and protocols for residents; modifying dining operations; and enhancing sanitation and cleaning in residence halls, dining centers and other shared spaces. <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=65705" target="_blank">Read more about housing and dining updates for the fall 2020 semester.</a>

K-State News and Communications Services Division of Communications and Marketing

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University will resume in-person classes for the fall 2020 semester, but is moving the start and end dates of the semester up one week. The university also will have on-campus housing and dining available for students, but will incorporate extra health and safety measures. Fall academic calendar adjustmentsUnder the adjusted fall 2020 semester academic calendar, the first day of classes will be Monday, Aug. 17. The last day of classes will be Friday, Dec. 4, with finals week from Dec. 7-11. The last day for in-person on-campus instruction will be on Nov. 20, right before the student Thanksgiving break. Following the break, the last two weeks of the semester, including final exams, will be completed using distance methods. <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=65721" target="_blank">Read more about updates to the academic calendar.</a> Residence hall and dining center updates Residence halls and dining centers will be open for the fall 2020 semester and K-State is incorporating extra health and safety measures for on-campus housing and dining. These updates to housing and dining plans aim to enhance student safety and mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. The housing and dining updates include safety measures in several areas: reducing housing density; staggering the move-in schedule to reduce the size of gatherings; additional conduct standards and protocols for residents; modifying dining operations; and enhancing sanitation and cleaning in residence halls, dining centers and other shared spaces. <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=65705" target="_blank">Read more about housing and dining updates for the fall 2020 semester.</a> K-State News and Communications Services Division of Communications and Marketing

K-State adjusts academic calendar, provides housing updates for fall semester

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas counties “shouldn’t feel pressure” to loosen restrictions if they aren’t seeing a decline in new coronavirus cases or new hospitalizations, Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday, with cases increasing faster in the four most populous counties than the state as a whole.

Kelly said she’s feeling hopeful because Kansas is making enough progress in containing the novel coronavirus for most of the state’s 105 counties to loosen restrictions further. Her office and the state Department of Health and Environment are advising local officials that as of Monday they can allow mass gatherings of up to 45 people, permit non-essential travel and open swimming pools and summer camps.

But she and Dr. Lee Norman, the health department’s top administrator, acknowledged there are counties not seeing a drop in new cases and hospitalizations or are likely to see declines halt. Norman listed three of the state’s four most populous counties — Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte — as examples.

The state health department reported Monday that Kansas saw coronavirus cases increase 2.5% from Friday, up 257 to a total of 10,650 since the pandemic reached the state in early March. The three counties Norman mentioned, plus Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, together accounted for 55% of the new cases since last week.

“Counties that have plateaued or that are trending in the wrong direction should’t feel pressure,” Kelly said, adding that they’re encouraged to keep current restrictions in place “until they see improvement.”

The Democratic governor imposed a statewide stay-at-home order from March 30 through May 3, then mandated a phased reopening of the state’s economy. However, she converted her requirements into guidelines for local officials on May 26, lifting statewide restrictions in favor of letting counties set their own rules.

Her action was a major concession to the Republican-controlled Legislature after many GOP members had complained for weeks that Kelly was moving too slowly to reopen the economy. The governor also agreed to some limits on her power to direct the state’s response to the pandemic to help persuade lawmakers to extend a state of emergency until at least Sept. 15.

Kelly signed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">approved by lawmakers last week.</a>&nbsp;It limits Kelly’s power to close businesses statewide again and gives legislative leaders some oversight of the pandemic response, including how the state will spend $1.25 billion in federal relief funds.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2016_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The legislation&nbsp;</a>is expected to take effect later this week.

As of Monday, 62% of the state’s 236 reported COVID-19-related deaths were in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in the Kansas City area, the state’s first virus hot spot. Both counties are seeing cases increase faster than in the state as a whole.

The state health department said Wyandotte County had 52 new cases since Friday, an increase of 3.4%, to make the total 1,560, and the county is reporting 75 COVID-19-related deaths. Johnson County saw another 38 cases since Friday, to bring its total to 977 for an increase of 4%, with a total of 71 deaths since the pandemic began.

Sedgwick County, home to the state’s largest city of Wichita, saw a 5.8% jump in cases, up 36 to 660. It is reporting 22 deaths.

Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, had 15 more cases since Friday, an increase of 4.1% to 384 total. It reported seven deaths.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas counties “shouldn’t feel pressure” to loosen restrictions if they aren’t seeing a decline in new coronavirus cases or new hospitalizations, Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday, with cases increasing faster in the four most populous counties than the state as a whole.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F592899934976032%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>Kelly said she’s feeling hopeful because Kansas is making enough progress in containing the novel coronavirus for most of the state’s 105 counties to loosen restrictions further. Her office and the state Department of Health and Environment are advising local officials that as of Monday they can allow mass gatherings of up to 45 people, permit non-essential travel and open swimming pools and summer camps.But she and Dr. Lee Norman, the health department’s top administrator, acknowledged there are counties not seeing a drop in new cases and hospitalizations or are likely to see declines halt. Norman listed three of the state’s four most populous counties — Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte — as examples.The state health department reported Monday that Kansas saw coronavirus cases increase 2.5% from Friday, up 257 to a total of 10,650 since the pandemic reached the state in early March. The three counties Norman mentioned, plus Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, together accounted for 55% of the new cases since last week.“Counties that have plateaued or that are trending in the wrong direction should’t feel pressure,” Kelly said, adding that they’re encouraged to keep current restrictions in place “until they see improvement.”The Democratic governor imposed a statewide stay-at-home order from March 30 through May 3, then mandated a phased reopening of the state’s economy. However, she converted her requirements into guidelines for local officials on May 26, lifting statewide restrictions in favor of letting counties set their own rules.Her action was a major concession to the Republican-controlled Legislature after many GOP members had complained for weeks that Kelly was moving too slowly to reopen the economy. The governor also agreed to some limits on her power to direct the state’s response to the pandemic to help persuade lawmakers to extend a state of emergency until at least Sept. 15.Kelly signed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">approved by lawmakers last week.</a>&nbsp;It limits Kelly’s power to close businesses statewide again and gives legislative leaders some oversight of the pandemic response, including how the state will spend $1.25 billion in federal relief funds.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2016_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The legislation&nbsp;</a>is expected to take effect later this week.As of Monday, 62% of the state’s 236 reported COVID-19-related deaths were in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in the Kansas City area, the state’s first virus hot spot. Both counties are seeing cases increase faster than in the state as a whole.The state health department said Wyandotte County had 52 new cases since Friday, an increase of 3.4%, to make the total 1,560, and the county is reporting 75 COVID-19-related deaths. Johnson County saw another 38 cases since Friday, to bring its total to 977 for an increase of 4%, with a total of 71 deaths since the pandemic began.Sedgwick County, home to the state’s largest city of Wichita, saw a 5.8% jump in cases, up 36 to 660. It is reporting 22 deaths.Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, had 15 more cases since Friday, an increase of 4.1% to 384 total. It reported seven deaths.___

🎥  Governor: Kansas counties shouldn't feel push to ease rules

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Coronavirus cases are increasing faster in Kansas’ four most populous counties than they are in the state as a whole, accounting Monday for the majority of new cases reported since last week.

The state Department of Health and Environment said that Kansas has had 10,650 coronavirus cases since the pandemic arrived in early March, up 257 or 2.5% since Friday. The number of COVID-19-related deaths rose by four to 236 total since early March, the department said.

The number of cases is growing faster in the state’s portion of the Kansas City metropolitan area, the first hot spot for the state and where the first novel coronavirus cases were confirmed.

The state said Wyandotte County had 52 new cases since Friday, an increase of 3.4%, to make the total 1,560. Neighboring Johnson County saw another 38 cases since Friday, to bring its total to 977 for an increase of 4%.

Sedgwick County, home to the state’s largest city of Wichita, saw a 5.8% jump in cases, up 36 to 660. Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, had 15 more cases since Friday, an increase of 4.1% to 384 total.

Those four most-populous counties had 55% of the new cases since Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591654770731.png" alt="KDHE Sec. Dr. Lee Norman during Monday's press briefing" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Sec. Dr. Lee Norman during Monday's press briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Coronavirus cases are increasing faster in Kansas’ four most populous counties than they are in the state as a whole, accounting Monday for the majority of new cases reported since last week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591636362685.png" alt="KDHE Map June 8, 2020" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Map June 8, 2020</figcaption>
 </figure>The state Department of Health and Environment said that Kansas has had 10,650 coronavirus cases since the pandemic arrived in early March, up 257 or 2.5% since Friday. The number of COVID-19-related deaths rose by four to 236 total since early March, the department said.The number of cases is growing faster in the state’s portion of the Kansas City metropolitan area, the first hot spot for the state and where the first novel coronavirus cases were confirmed.The state said Wyandotte County had 52 new cases since Friday, an increase of 3.4%, to make the total 1,560. Neighboring Johnson County saw another 38 cases since Friday, to bring its total to 977 for an increase of 4%.Sedgwick County, home to the state’s largest city of Wichita, saw a 5.8% jump in cases, up 36 to 660. Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, had 15 more cases since Friday, an increase of 4.1% to 384 total.Those four most-populous counties had 55% of the new cases since Friday.

Populous counties outpace Kansas for rise in COVID-19 cases

&nbsp; Riley County has three new positive COVID-19&nbsp; patients, for a cumulative total of 71. &nbsp;The new patients are all men, ages 32, 55, and 88. One case is associated with an outbreak in another county. Disease investigation is ongoing for the other two patients. There are currently three Riley County positive patients who are hospitalized, including two who are on ventilators at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. &nbsp;

Via Christi has 2 positive patients and 2 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) currently hospitalized. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; Riley County has three new positive COVID-19&nbsp; patients, for a cumulative total of 71. &nbsp;The new patients are all men, ages 32, 55, and 88. One case is associated with an outbreak in another county. Disease investigation is ongoing for the other two patients. There are currently three Riley County positive patients who are hospitalized, including two who are on ventilators at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. &nbsp;Via Christi has 2 positive patients and 2 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) 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 releases the latest positive COVID-19 numbers

Kansas State University has moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/reopening/phase-3/">phase 3 of the university's reopening plan</a>&nbsp;until at least June 22.

According to a K-State Today release under phase 3 gatherings of up to 45 people are allowed if individuals maintain social distancing and proper hygiene such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes. Employees are asked to regularly clean high-touch surfaces, avoid shaking hands and complete the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/safety/covid-19/training/">EHS Slow the Spread training</a>. Employees are encouraged to wear face masks when social distancing is not possible and continue working remotely as much as possible.

All employees who feel sick should follow public health official's guidance. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 10 days from the start of symptoms or until free from fever for 72 hours — whichever is longer — along with improvement in other symptoms. Anyone who is still waiting for test results must remain isolated. Anyone who has close contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19 must remain in quarantine for 14 days.

Kansas State University has moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/reopening/phase-3/">phase 3 of the university's reopening plan</a>&nbsp;until at least June 22.According to a K-State Today release under phase 3 gatherings of up to 45 people are allowed if individuals maintain social distancing and proper hygiene such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes. Employees are asked to regularly clean high-touch surfaces, avoid shaking hands and complete the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/safety/covid-19/training/">EHS Slow the Spread training</a>. Employees are encouraged to wear face masks when social distancing is not possible and continue working remotely as much as possible.All employees who feel sick should follow public health official's guidance. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 10 days from the start of symptoms or until free from fever for 72 hours — whichever is longer — along with improvement in other symptoms. Anyone who is still waiting for test results must remain isolated. Anyone who has close contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19 must remain in quarantine for 14 days.

K-State moves to Phase Three of their reopening plan

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Lansing Correctional Facility is largest single source of Kansas’ 10,393 coronavirus cases, followed by a Tyson Foods meatpacking plant near Garden City, according to a report by state health officials.

The Kansas public health report on the outbreak was generated from Columbia University’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation, which has been gathering government documents related to the coronavirus from around the country. The confidential report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lists details of every outbreak in the state as of May 19.

The Lansing prison is linked to at least 846 cases of the virus and six deaths. The Tyson plant had 571 virus cases and one death, according to the report. Several other meatpacking plants in the state also had sizable coronavirus outbreaks.

State officials provided the report to county health departments and left it up to local officials to decide whether to release details of outbreaks in their areas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman acknowledged that some states routinely release details of outbreaks.

“You could argue that that’s a good idea as well because you may not be able to ... contact trace everyone,” Norman said. “So an argument could be made both ways. We prefer to let that go to the county.”

The confined conditions at the Lansing prison made it easy for the virus to spread among inmates, but state health officials have said the facility has made significant progress at containing the coronavirus.

“What we’re seeing … is the good result from cohorting inmates away from those that aren’t (positive,” Norman told reporters last week.

Meatpacking plants in Kansas have been linked to at least 2,767 cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths. The report says those cases include the Tyson plant near Garden City in Finney County, 503 cases at a National Beef plant in Ford County, 342 cases at a Cargill facility in Ford County and 317 cases at a National beef plant in Seward County

Before the state report was released, local officials were reluctant to release details of the outbreaks at meatpacking plants.

“We have not been publicly reporting on private business or private business COVID-19 status,” Ford County administrator Jonathan Gilbert wrote in an email. “Ford County is a relatively small community and commenting on any cases/number of cases related to a private business can allow for the identification of individual COVID-19 status and we want to avoid that.”

Tyson spokeswoman Liz Croston said the company’s Kansas facilities are “operating near capacity” but would not provide an update on the number of cases currently associated with the plants.

She said Tyson has implemented a number of safety measures, including employee temperature checks before each shift, providing mandatory face masks, and putting physical barriers between workstations and in break rooms.

National Beef spokesman Keith Welty declined to comment on details of safety measures the company has taken at its plants and did not respond to questions about the level of production at each facility.

“Our focus throughout this COVID-19 situation has been to take the necessary steps to protect the health, wellness and safety of our employees while operating our processing plants producing high quality products to meet the demand of our customers across the United States,” Welty wrote in an email.

Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan said the facility is currently operating at about 80% capacity. He said Cargill has implemented temperature checks, installed protective barriers at the plant and has been providing masks to workers. The company is also giving employees up to 80 hours of paid leave for absences related to COVID-19

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589303013090.png" alt="Coronavirus testing in Wichita&nbsp; -image courtesy&nbsp;HealthCore Clinic" />
 <figcaption>Coronavirus testing in Wichita&nbsp; -image courtesy&nbsp;HealthCore Clinic</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Lansing Correctional Facility is largest single source of Kansas’ 10,393 coronavirus cases, followed by a Tyson Foods meatpacking plant near Garden City, according to a report by state health officials.The Kansas public health report on the outbreak was generated from Columbia University’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation, which has been gathering government documents related to the coronavirus from around the country. The confidential report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lists details of every outbreak in the state as of May 19.The Lansing prison is linked to at least 846 cases of the virus and six deaths. The Tyson plant had 571 virus cases and one death, according to the report. Several other meatpacking plants in the state also had sizable coronavirus outbreaks.State officials provided the report to county health departments and left it up to local officials to decide whether to release details of outbreaks in their areas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman acknowledged that some states routinely release details of outbreaks.“You could argue that that’s a good idea as well because you may not be able to ... contact trace everyone,” Norman said. “So an argument could be made both ways. We prefer to let that go to the county.”The confined conditions at the Lansing prison made it easy for the virus to spread among inmates, but state health officials have said the facility has made significant progress at containing the coronavirus.“What we’re seeing … is the good result from cohorting inmates away from those that aren’t (positive,” Norman told reporters last week.Meatpacking plants in Kansas have been linked to at least 2,767 cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths. The report says those cases include the Tyson plant near Garden City in Finney County, 503 cases at a National Beef plant in Ford County, 342 cases at a Cargill facility in Ford County and 317 cases at a National beef plant in Seward CountyBefore the state report was released, local officials were reluctant to release details of the outbreaks at meatpacking plants.“We have not been publicly reporting on private business or private business COVID-19 status,” Ford County administrator Jonathan Gilbert wrote in an email. “Ford County is a relatively small community and commenting on any cases/number of cases related to a private business can allow for the identification of individual COVID-19 status and we want to avoid that.”Tyson spokeswoman Liz Croston said the company’s Kansas facilities are “operating near capacity” but would not provide an update on the number of cases currently associated with the plants.She said Tyson has implemented a number of safety measures, including employee temperature checks before each shift, providing mandatory face masks, and putting physical barriers between workstations and in break rooms.National Beef spokesman Keith Welty declined to comment on details of safety measures the company has taken at its plants and did not respond to questions about the level of production at each facility.“Our focus throughout this COVID-19 situation has been to take the necessary steps to protect the health, wellness and safety of our employees while operating our processing plants producing high quality products to meet the demand of our customers across the United States,” Welty wrote in an email.Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan said the facility is currently operating at about 80% capacity. He said Cargill has implemented temperature checks, installed protective barriers at the plant and has been providing masks to workers. The company is also giving employees up to 80 hours of paid leave for absences related to COVID-19For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.

Confidential report details virus outbreaks in Kansas 

Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas is among a small contingent of combined House and Senate members that have introduced legislation to provide veterans with training for in-demand jobs to help veterans who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

In 2019 the veteran unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, but following the COVID-19 pandemic, veteran unemployment rose to 11.7 percent, totaling more than one million veterans currently unemployed. This legislation would provide additional funding to current training programs and create a rapid re-training program and other wraparound transitional programs to provide unemployed veterans and reservists with benefits to pursue training in high-demand occupations, and training them for careers following the pandemic.

"The Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020 will provide retraining opportunities to help our veterans and their spouses find meaningful jobs so they can provide for themselves and their families," said Chairman Moran.

Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas is among a small contingent of combined House and Senate members that have introduced legislation to provide veterans with training for in-demand jobs to help veterans who are unemployed due to COVID-19.In 2019 the veteran unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, but following the COVID-19 pandemic, veteran unemployment rose to 11.7 percent, totaling more than one million veterans currently unemployed. This legislation would provide additional funding to current training programs and create a rapid re-training program and other wraparound transitional programs to provide unemployed veterans and reservists with benefits to pursue training in high-demand occupations, and training them for careers following the pandemic."The Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020 will provide retraining opportunities to help our veterans and their spouses find meaningful jobs so they can provide for themselves and their families," said Chairman Moran.

Proposed legislation would help Veterans who are unemployed due to COVID-19

A second corrections officer with the Geary County Sheriff's department has tested positive for COVID-19. The Department announced the test result for the second officer Thursday afternoon.&nbsp; That individual had been tested as result of direct contact with a previous corrections officer who tested positive.

Testing and contact tracing is ongoing and the Department said they will continue to update with information as it changes.

The Geary County Sheriff's Office had a correction officer who had a test come back positive for Covid-19 Thursday at approximately 1230 hours.

According to a social media post from the Department they are following the recommendations of the Geary County Health Officer and are currently assisting the Health Department with contact tracing. There haven't been any other positive tests results at this time.

The Department is asking the public to be patient as there are changes being made to accommodate the necessary precautions.

A second corrections officer with the Geary County Sheriff's department has tested positive for COVID-19. The Department announced the test result for the second officer Thursday afternoon.&nbsp; That individual had been tested as result of direct contact with a previous corrections officer who tested positive.Testing and contact tracing is ongoing and the Department said they will continue to update with information as it changes.---The Geary County Sheriff's Office had a correction officer who had a test come back positive for Covid-19 Thursday at approximately 1230 hours.According to a social media post from the Department they are following the recommendations of the Geary County Health Officer and are currently assisting the Health Department with contact tracing. There haven't been any other positive tests results at this time.The Department is asking the public to be patient as there are changes being made to accommodate the necessary precautions.

Two Geary County Corrections Officers test positive for COVID-19

By ELLE MOXLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2020-06-03/kansas-school-districts-funding-looks-good-on-paper-but-deep-cuts-are-expected-this-fall-due-to-the-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>

Kansas school districts are trying to budget for some pretty big unknowns right now.

No
 one knows if it will even be safe to have students in schools in 
August, and everyone’s worried about the $650 million hole COVID-19 blew
 in the state’s budget. Administrators are worried that if the state’s 
economy doesn’t rebound soon, they’ll have to make deep cuts in the 
middle of next school year.

“There’s not a superintendent that 
isn’t preparing for something like that,” said Glen Suppes, the 
superintendent of the Smoky Valley Public Schools in Lindsborg. “We 
continue to hear optimism from (state education) Commissioner Randy 
Watson, and that schools are a priority for the governor.

“But I’m anxious to see how the tax revenues are going to come in.”

The
 fiscal year 2021 budget that Kansas lawmakers passed in March, before 
the pandemic hit, looked pretty good for public education. K-12 schools 
got an additional $120 million, money that the state’s high court has 
said needs to be spent on schools following <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2019-03-29/times-nearly-up-for-kansas-lawmakers-to-resolve-school-spending" target="_blank">a years-long funding battle</a>.

“The
 problem is that budget, when it was passed, was based on numbers last 
November that have dramatically changed,” said Mark Tallman with the 
Kansas Association of School Boards.

Because of the pandemic, 
Kansas is facing a huge budget shortfall. In an April 20 memo, the 
Kansas Legislative Research Department forecasted an 8% overall decline 
in revenue for the coming fiscal year.

Tallman said in a state that spends more than half its revenue on education, there’s no way cuts won’t touch K-12 schools.

“There
 are certainly things the governor and legislature could do, but all of 
those are kind of bad choices. In a simple world, if you just ... cut 8%
 out of the budget, you're taking very major cuts,” Tallman said.

In
 a big district like Shawnee Mission in Johnson County, an 8% cut would 
be the difference between ending the school year with a $7 million 
surplus — and a $13 million deficit.

And that’s before factoring 
in raises, which are top-of-mind in Shawnee Mission after a protracted 
contract dispute with the teachers union that dragged on for most of the
 school year that just ended.

“I guess I’m one of those that’s 
really concerned about the revenue,” board member Brad Stratton said 
during a budget workshop last week.

Stratton, who was first 
elected to the school board in 2015, wants to budget cautiously for the 
upcoming school year because he knows what happens when revenue 
collections fall short: Education pays the price.

“KSDE (the 
Kansas Department of Education) is presenting one number, and then 
there’s the reality our legislators and governor are going to have to 
face,” Stratton said.

Until
 lawmakers tell the state Department of Education otherwise, though, 
schools are stuck with the optimistic, pre-pandemic numbers.

But 
Kansas school superintendents can’t afford to be quite so optimistic. 
Suppes, the Smoky Valley superintendent, needs to make decisions about 
staffing now before the fiscal year resets July 1.

“Are we going 
to be paying coaches that may not coach a sport in the fall if we're 
shut down? Are we going to be paying bus drivers? And if we don't, yes, 
the district saves money, but on the other hand, there's another family 
without an income,” he said.

On top of that, Suppes says 
superintendents still don’t know what school will look like in the fall 
after the pandemic wiped out the final two months of this past school 
year. 

“Can we touch the playground equipment? Can we sit in the 
lunch room together where we have plexiglass between us at all times?” 
Suppes said. “And how will we even pass through the corridor safely?”

In
 a normal budget year, Wichita Public Schools Chief Financial Officer 
Susan Willis runs four or five budget scenarios. This year, she said 
she’s running 15.

Not only is Willis trying to account for how 
school might be changed by the coronavirus, but she also is trying to 
factor in the timing of potential budget cuts.

“What does it mean 
if they let us start the year with the increase that is due under the 
formula, but they come in with a cut in December? What are our options 
at that point?” Willis said.

Willis
 said Kansas schools are used to dealing with financial uncertainty. 
There was the Great Recession, the tax cuts imposed by former Gov. Sam 
Brownback and the prolonged school funding fight.

“But what makes 
this extremely challenging is we’re not as familiar with how we adapt 
the academic school year ... if we have to social distance,” Willis 
said.

Kansas has gotten $2 billion dollars from the federal 
government to pay for coronavirus-related expenses, like protective gear
 and ventilators. But that money isn’t meant to shore up state budgets. 
That kind of aid could still come — it did during the Great Recession — 
but according to Marguerite Roza, states shouldn’t count on it.

“We
 can’t even sort of look back at the last recession and say, ‘Here’s how
 we know this plays out’ because this is different,” said Roza, who runs
 the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, a research center for 
education financial policy.

Roza said states that delay making 
inevitable budget cuts could fare worse than states that act now to 
restrict spending. Missouri has already slashed K-12 funding by more 
than $130 million. Colorado has warned schools that significant cuts are
 coming.

But Kansas lawmakers have historically waited for the revenue consensus to come out in November before balancing the budgets.

“If
 states wait longer to revise their budget projections or announce any 
K-12 funding impact, that will send districts further into the future 
before making any spending changes, which could require deeper cuts,” 
Roza said. “The idea is if you can’t start saving money now, you’ll have
 to save more and more suddenly.”

Elle Moxley covers education for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591215691151.png" alt="Kansas schools face major uncertainty entering the 2020-21 school year, with many school administrators expecting drastic cuts in the fall once the state's budget fully absorbs the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Kansas schools face major uncertainty entering the 2020-21 school year, with many school administrators expecting drastic cuts in the fall once the state's budget fully absorbs the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By ELLE MOXLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2020-06-03/kansas-school-districts-funding-looks-good-on-paper-but-deep-cuts-are-expected-this-fall-due-to-the-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>Kansas school districts are trying to budget for some pretty big unknowns right now.No
 one knows if it will even be safe to have students in schools in 
August, and everyone’s worried about the $650 million hole COVID-19 blew
 in the state’s budget. Administrators are worried that if the state’s 
economy doesn’t rebound soon, they’ll have to make deep cuts in the 
middle of next school year.“There’s not a superintendent that 
isn’t preparing for something like that,” said Glen Suppes, the 
superintendent of the Smoky Valley Public Schools in Lindsborg. “We 
continue to hear optimism from (state education) Commissioner Randy 
Watson, and that schools are a priority for the governor.“But I’m anxious to see how the tax revenues are going to come in.”<h2>‘You’re talking very major cuts’</h2>The
 fiscal year 2021 budget that Kansas lawmakers passed in March, before 
the pandemic hit, looked pretty good for public education. K-12 schools 
got an additional $120 million, money that the state’s high court has 
said needs to be spent on schools following <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2019-03-29/times-nearly-up-for-kansas-lawmakers-to-resolve-school-spending" target="_blank">a years-long funding battle</a>.“The
 problem is that budget, when it was passed, was based on numbers last 
November that have dramatically changed,” said Mark Tallman with the 
Kansas Association of School Boards.Because of the pandemic, 
Kansas is facing a huge budget shortfall. In an April 20 memo, the 
Kansas Legislative Research Department forecasted an 8% overall decline 
in revenue for the coming fiscal year.Tallman said in a state that spends more than half its revenue on education, there’s no way cuts won’t touch K-12 schools.“There
 are certainly things the governor and legislature could do, but all of 
those are kind of bad choices. In a simple world, if you just ... cut 8%
 out of the budget, you're taking very major cuts,” Tallman said.In
 a big district like Shawnee Mission in Johnson County, an 8% cut would 
be the difference between ending the school year with a $7 million 
surplus — and a $13 million deficit.And that’s before factoring 
in raises, which are top-of-mind in Shawnee Mission after a protracted 
contract dispute with the teachers union that dragged on for most of the
 school year that just ended.“I guess I’m one of those that’s 
really concerned about the revenue,” board member Brad Stratton said 
during a budget workshop last week.Stratton, who was first 
elected to the school board in 2015, wants to budget cautiously for the 
upcoming school year because he knows what happens when revenue 
collections fall short: Education pays the price.“KSDE (the 
Kansas Department of Education) is presenting one number, and then 
there’s the reality our legislators and governor are going to have to 
face,” Stratton said.<h2>Factoring in cuts and the coronavirus</h2>Until
 lawmakers tell the state Department of Education otherwise, though, 
schools are stuck with the optimistic, pre-pandemic numbers.But 
Kansas school superintendents can’t afford to be quite so optimistic. 
Suppes, the Smoky Valley superintendent, needs to make decisions about 
staffing now before the fiscal year resets July 1.“Are we going 
to be paying coaches that may not coach a sport in the fall if we're 
shut down? Are we going to be paying bus drivers? And if we don't, yes, 
the district saves money, but on the other hand, there's another family 
without an income,” he said.On top of that, Suppes says 
superintendents still don’t know what school will look like in the fall 
after the pandemic wiped out the final two months of this past school 
year. “Can we touch the playground equipment? Can we sit in the 
lunch room together where we have plexiglass between us at all times?” 
Suppes said. “And how will we even pass through the corridor safely?”In
 a normal budget year, Wichita Public Schools Chief Financial Officer 
Susan Willis runs four or five budget scenarios. This year, she said 
she’s running 15.Not only is Willis trying to account for how 
school might be changed by the coronavirus, but she also is trying to 
factor in the timing of potential budget cuts.“What does it mean 
if they let us start the year with the increase that is due under the 
formula, but they come in with a cut in December? What are our options 
at that point?” Willis said.<h2>A new kind of challenge</h2>Willis
 said Kansas schools are used to dealing with financial uncertainty. 
There was the Great Recession, the tax cuts imposed by former Gov. Sam 
Brownback and the prolonged school funding fight.“But what makes 
this extremely challenging is we’re not as familiar with how we adapt 
the academic school year ... if we have to social distance,” Willis 
said.Kansas has gotten $2 billion dollars from the federal 
government to pay for coronavirus-related expenses, like protective gear
 and ventilators. But that money isn’t meant to shore up state budgets. 
That kind of aid could still come — it did during the Great Recession — 
but according to Marguerite Roza, states shouldn’t count on it.“We
 can’t even sort of look back at the last recession and say, ‘Here’s how
 we know this plays out’ because this is different,” said Roza, who runs
 the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, a research center for 
education financial policy.Roza said states that delay making 
inevitable budget cuts could fare worse than states that act now to 
restrict spending. Missouri has already slashed K-12 funding by more 
than $130 million. Colorado has warned schools that significant cuts are
 coming.But Kansas lawmakers have historically waited for the revenue consensus to come out in November before balancing the budgets.“If
 states wait longer to revise their budget projections or announce any 
K-12 funding impact, that will send districts further into the future 
before making any spending changes, which could require deeper cuts,” 
Roza said. “The idea is if you can’t start saving money now, you’ll have
 to save more and more suddenly.”Elle Moxley covers education for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.

Kan. school funding looks good on paper, but deep cuts expected

&nbsp;Riley County has 1 new positive COVIZD-19 patient, for a cumulative total of 67. &nbsp;The Health Department said the patient is a man, age 61, and is a household contact of another positive patient. &nbsp;&nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 2 positive patients.&nbsp; One of the positive patients is on a ventilator.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Riley County has 1 new positive COVIZD-19 patient, for a cumulative total of 67. &nbsp;The Health Department said the patient is a man, age 61, and is a household contact of another positive patient. &nbsp;&nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 2 positive patients.&nbsp; One of the positive patients is on a ventilator.&nbsp;&nbsp;

One new COVID-19 positive case reported in Riley County

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City paper plant has infected more than 200 people, health officials announced Tuesday.

The Kansas City Health Department said the first employee at Aspen Paper Products tested positive in mid-May. As cases continued to increase, Aspen tested all its employees on Friday and Saturday. The Kansas City plant employs about 850 people.

Health officials are working with Aspen to increase cleaning and personal protection equipment.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City paper plant has infected more than 200 people, health officials announced Tuesday.The Kansas City Health Department said the first employee at Aspen Paper Products tested positive in mid-May. As cases continued to increase, Aspen tested all its employees on Friday and Saturday. The Kansas City plant employs about 850 people.Health officials are working with Aspen to increase cleaning and personal protection equipment.

Virus outbreak at Kansas City paper plant infects 200-plus

The Geary County Health Department has confirmed the first COVID-19 death in Geary County. The victim was a 65-year old man who had tested positive, and had been a patient at Geary Community Hospital. He passed away on Tuesday.

"We are saddened by his death and encourage everyone to take this virus seriously by following the guidelines put out by the CDC, KDHE and the Health Department, said Tammy VonBusch, Geary County Health Officer.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has released guidelines for quarantine and isolation of travelers who visited locations in the United States where large numbers of people have contracted the disease.&nbsp;

If you are experiencing symptoms such as a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately. Do not visit in-person before receiving confirmation from that healthcare provider.

So far since the pandemic began there have been 22 positive COVID-19 cases in Geary County.

The Geary County Health Department has confirmed the first COVID-19 death in Geary County. The victim was a 65-year old man who had tested positive, and had been a patient at Geary Community Hospital. He passed away on Tuesday."We are saddened by his death and encourage everyone to take this virus seriously by following the guidelines put out by the CDC, KDHE and the Health Department, said Tammy VonBusch, Geary County Health Officer.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has released guidelines for quarantine and isolation of travelers who visited locations in the United States where large numbers of people have contracted the disease.&nbsp;If you are experiencing symptoms such as a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately. Do not visit in-person before receiving confirmation from that healthcare provider.So far since the pandemic began there have been 22 positive COVID-19 cases in Geary County.

COVID-19 claims the life of a Geary County resident

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has forced sports teams and their leagues to evaluate how they will welcome back fans. Social distancing is very likely whenever it happens. 

In Taiwan, a limited number of fans have been allowed into baseball games and told to sit three seats apart. U.S. colleges and pro leagues are assessing how to handle fans for fall sports, including football. Already Iowa State and Notre Dame are among schools planning for stadiums far less than full. 

Teams are also trying to figure out ways to prevent crowds entering or leaving, and limiting people on concourses.&nbsp;

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has forced sports teams and their leagues to evaluate how they will welcome back fans. Social distancing is very likely whenever it happens. In Taiwan, a limited number of fans have been allowed into baseball games and told to sit three seats apart. U.S. colleges and pro leagues are assessing how to handle fans for fall sports, including football. Already Iowa State and Notre Dame are among schools planning for stadiums far less than full. Teams are also trying to figure out ways to prevent crowds entering or leaving, and limiting people on concourses.&nbsp;

Empty seats could be prevalent at stadiums when sports returns

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health authorities have received reports of nearly 26,000 nursing home residents dying from COVID-19, according to materials prepared for the nation’s governors. That number is partial and likely to go higher.

A letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 60,000 cases of coronavirus illness among nursing home residents. A copy of the letter to governors and an accompanying chart were provided to The Associated Press.

The toll among nursing home staffers was sobering, with more than 34,400 getting sick and nearly 450 dying from the coronavirus.

“This data, and anecdotal reports across the country, clearly show that nursing homes have been devastated by the virus,” wrote CDC Director Robert Redfield and CMS Administrator Seema Verma to governors.

The numbers had been promised by the end of May, but they’re not a complete picture. The letter said the data are based on reports received as of May 24 from about 80% of the nation’s 15,400 nursing homes.

The nationwide data collection is part of an effort to assess and respond to the pandemic’s heavy toll on nursing homes. Facilities are also being required to report COVID cases to the families of residents.

CMS, which is responsible for nursing home quality standards, also told the governors it is increasing penalties for nursing homes failing to comply with longstanding infection control requirements.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d16f87a77e39f6521d3e4c59e1713a2c">federal watchdog report</a>&nbsp;last month found a “persistent” pattern of infection control problems in nursing homes even before the coronavirus. The Government Accountability Office said that about 40% of the nursing homes inspected in each of the past two years were cited for problems with infection control and prevention.

Although the first wave of the pandemic may be easing in much of the country, that doesn’t mean nursing homes are in any less danger. Experts say in a virus rebound they can again become the stage for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0e8c1c97df30f81321fdc114437f268f">tragic scenes of death and despair</a>, as well as a risk for the broader community.

“What is going on in a nursing home can be a barometer for where the virus is,” said Tamara Konetzka, a research professor at the University of Chicago, who specializes in long-term care issues. “You’ve got to be watching out and expecting a lot of cases in that community as well.”

It’s widely agreed that prompt, methodical, ongoing testing of residents and staff is the key to making nursing homes safer, but a White House recommendation for states to test all residents within two weeks failed to produce desired results.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">A recent AP review found a patchwork of progress</a>, with only a handful of states meeting the goal. Nationwide, about 1.4 million elderly and disabled residents live in some 15,400 facilities.

The nursing home industry says money is one of the main obstacles to widespread testing, particularly to pay for testing of staff, who number more than 1 million people. An industry trade group, the American Health Care Association, estimates it would cost $672 million for a one-time test for all residents and staff in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. And that would not solve the problem, since public health experts recommend ongoing testing.

Another hurdle is that many nursing homes don’t have established relationships with medical labs to quickly turn around results.

Mark Parkinson, head of the nursing home association, says the cost of a well-designed national testing program could reach into the billions of dollars.

“It’s very important in the next stimulus bill not to just order testing,” said Parkinson, adding that Congress needs to provide the money as well.

Federal officials at CMS have recommended a one-time test for all residents and staff, as well as weekly retesting of staff. Facilities should retest residents weekly until none test positive. CMS administrator Verma says states should use “extreme caution” before reopening nursing homes to visitors.

Some policy experts are hoping that the loss of life in nursing homes will lead state and national leaders to overhaul policies toward the industry, long a stepchild of the health care system.

“This is not a nursing home problem; this is a health system problem,” said Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, which works to improve care for older adults. “Every system produces the outcome it is set up for. If you set up a system where the sickest and frailest people are in locations that are forgotten about and ignored, where the staff is paid less, why should that surprise anyone?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589905440854.png" alt="There were 76 positive cases and 14 deaths reported as of May 18 at Brighton Gardens in Prairie Village, Kansas -google image" />
 <figcaption>There were 76 positive cases and 14 deaths reported as of May 18 at Brighton Gardens in Prairie Village, Kansas -google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health authorities have received reports of nearly 26,000 nursing home residents dying from COVID-19, according to materials prepared for the nation’s governors. That number is partial and likely to go higher.A letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 60,000 cases of coronavirus illness among nursing home residents. A copy of the letter to governors and an accompanying chart were provided to The Associated Press.The toll among nursing home staffers was sobering, with more than 34,400 getting sick and nearly 450 dying from the coronavirus.“This data, and anecdotal reports across the country, clearly show that nursing homes have been devastated by the virus,” wrote CDC Director Robert Redfield and CMS Administrator Seema Verma to governors.The numbers had been promised by the end of May, but they’re not a complete picture. The letter said the data are based on reports received as of May 24 from about 80% of the nation’s 15,400 nursing homes.The nationwide data collection is part of an effort to assess and respond to the pandemic’s heavy toll on nursing homes. Facilities are also being required to report COVID cases to the families of residents.CMS, which is responsible for nursing home quality standards, also told the governors it is increasing penalties for nursing homes failing to comply with longstanding infection control requirements.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d16f87a77e39f6521d3e4c59e1713a2c">federal watchdog report</a>&nbsp;last month found a “persistent” pattern of infection control problems in nursing homes even before the coronavirus. The Government Accountability Office said that about 40% of the nursing homes inspected in each of the past two years were cited for problems with infection control and prevention.Although the first wave of the pandemic may be easing in much of the country, that doesn’t mean nursing homes are in any less danger. Experts say in a virus rebound they can again become the stage for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0e8c1c97df30f81321fdc114437f268f">tragic scenes of death and despair</a>, as well as a risk for the broader community.“What is going on in a nursing home can be a barometer for where the virus is,” said Tamara Konetzka, a research professor at the University of Chicago, who specializes in long-term care issues. “You’ve got to be watching out and expecting a lot of cases in that community as well.”It’s widely agreed that prompt, methodical, ongoing testing of residents and staff is the key to making nursing homes safer, but a White House recommendation for states to test all residents within two weeks failed to produce desired results.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">A recent AP review found a patchwork of progress</a>, with only a handful of states meeting the goal. Nationwide, about 1.4 million elderly and disabled residents live in some 15,400 facilities.The nursing home industry says money is one of the main obstacles to widespread testing, particularly to pay for testing of staff, who number more than 1 million people. An industry trade group, the American Health Care Association, estimates it would cost $672 million for a one-time test for all residents and staff in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. And that would not solve the problem, since public health experts recommend ongoing testing.Another hurdle is that many nursing homes don’t have established relationships with medical labs to quickly turn around results.Mark Parkinson, head of the nursing home association, says the cost of a well-designed national testing program could reach into the billions of dollars.“It’s very important in the next stimulus bill not to just order testing,” said Parkinson, adding that Congress needs to provide the money as well.Federal officials at CMS have recommended a one-time test for all residents and staff, as well as weekly retesting of staff. Facilities should retest residents weekly until none test positive. CMS administrator Verma says states should use “extreme caution” before reopening nursing homes to visitors.Some policy experts are hoping that the loss of life in nursing homes will lead state and national leaders to overhaul policies toward the industry, long a stepchild of the health care system.“This is not a nursing home problem; this is a health system problem,” said Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, which works to improve care for older adults. “Every system produces the outcome it is set up for. If you set up a system where the sickest and frailest people are in locations that are forgotten about and ignored, where the staff is paid less, why should that surprise anyone?”

Nearly 26,000 nursing home COVID-19 deaths reported to feds

Politically, it appears that chances are good that the Kansas Legislature, all members of which stand for re-election this year, will be handed a new vehicle this week to challenge Gov. Laura Kelly’s leadership in battling coronavirus in Kansas.

Just where that vehicle goes? Well, we’ll learn later this week after lawmakers have had time to consider new legislation dealing with the governor’s authority to declare an emergency in the state and just what from a 30,000-foot level she can do to return Kansans to the lifestyles they have had for decades.

She’s already shed some of her authority to establish strict limits on just what Kansans can and can’t do while the disease is spreading. Her plan for beating the disease has been loosened, and she’s given to county health officers — and the county commissions that hire them – more authority.

It turns out that the land looks different from 30,000-feet over a county with no known cases of coronavirus and those that have had sizable outbreaks either at nursing homes or at industries that provide the paychecks that drive those counties’ economies.

Basically, look for lawmakers, who have already seen some counties stick with the governor’s recommendations to gradually reopen the economy, to have to weigh just what’s happening to their constituents – voters – and whether local control that is a key phrase for many lawmakers is going to work safely.

Oh, there are some other issues, like making sure that health care and first-responders have some logical protections from liability for assisting those stricken, or those in danger of catching, the disease. Oh, and delaying property taxes and state income tax deadlines.

But it really comes down to a couple simple issues. Lawmakers need to find the best course to allow someone – that’s someone else – to contain this pandemic while allowing cities and counties to reopen for business, to bring back jobs, to make it possible for everyone to make their house and car payments and get on with life in a social-distanced environment.

Now, if you are a legislator, it makes sense to hand that return to Kansas as we know it to someone else. And the choices go two ways. It’s either gubernatorial level control over reducing the dangers of the disease, or it is bringing that control down to the local level. Kelly has already reduced her plan to “suggestions.”

And local control sounds good. But if one county opens the restaurants and bars and the neighboring county doesn’t, or has made it so difficult to operate at a profitable level with the distancing and masks and shields that you have to drive across a county line for that anniversary dinner, have you really dealt with the statewide issue of containing COVID-19?

That’s likely to be the choice for lawmakers later this week. Every member has his/her own district and constituents, but they all live in the same state.

Oh, there are some controversial issues to be dealt with, but they aren’t generally headline-grabbers. Like liability, always a hot dinner-table topic. Can you not return to work and still get unemployment benefits if it’s dangerous or your employer doesn’t demand masks and gloves and social distancing? Can you really delay your county property tax and state income tax payments until you are working again?

And, of course, what comes down to public health and what comes down to local political/business issues of voters and campaign contributors.

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/" target="_blank">www.hawvernews.com</a>

By Martin HawverPolitically, it appears that chances are good that the Kansas Legislature, all members of which stand for re-election this year, will be handed a new vehicle this week to challenge Gov. Laura Kelly’s leadership in battling coronavirus in Kansas.Just where that vehicle goes? Well, we’ll learn later this week after lawmakers have had time to consider new legislation dealing with the governor’s authority to declare an emergency in the state and just what from a 30,000-foot level she can do to return Kansans to the lifestyles they have had for decades.She’s already shed some of her authority to establish strict limits on just what Kansans can and can’t do while the disease is spreading. Her plan for beating the disease has been loosened, and she’s given to county health officers — and the county commissions that hire them – more authority.It turns out that the land looks different from 30,000-feet over a county with no known cases of coronavirus and those that have had sizable outbreaks either at nursing homes or at industries that provide the paychecks that drive those counties’ economies.Basically, look for lawmakers, who have already seen some counties stick with the governor’s recommendations to gradually reopen the economy, to have to weigh just what’s happening to their constituents – voters – and whether local control that is a key phrase for many lawmakers is going to work safely.Oh, there are some other issues, like making sure that health care and first-responders have some logical protections from liability for assisting those stricken, or those in danger of catching, the disease. Oh, and delaying property taxes and state income tax deadlines.But it really comes down to a couple simple issues. Lawmakers need to find the best course to allow someone – that’s someone else – to contain this pandemic while allowing cities and counties to reopen for business, to bring back jobs, to make it possible for everyone to make their house and car payments and get on with life in a social-distanced environment.Now, if you are a legislator, it makes sense to hand that return to Kansas as we know it to someone else. And the choices go two ways. It’s either gubernatorial level control over reducing the dangers of the disease, or it is bringing that control down to the local level. Kelly has already reduced her plan to “suggestions.”And local control sounds good. But if one county opens the restaurants and bars and the neighboring county doesn’t, or has made it so difficult to operate at a profitable level with the distancing and masks and shields that you have to drive across a county line for that anniversary dinner, have you really dealt with the statewide issue of containing COVID-19?That’s likely to be the choice for lawmakers later this week. Every member has his/her own district and constituents, but they all live in the same state.Oh, there are some controversial issues to be dealt with, but they aren’t generally headline-grabbers. Like liability, always a hot dinner-table topic. Can you not return to work and still get unemployment benefits if it’s dangerous or your employer doesn’t demand masks and gloves and social distancing? Can you really delay your county property tax and state income tax payments until you are working again?And, of course, what comes down to public health and what comes down to local political/business issues of voters and campaign contributors.We’ll see how this goes…Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/" target="_blank">www.hawvernews.com</a>

At the Rail

Swimming pools are expected to be open on Fort Riley this summer. Garrison Commander Col. Stephen Shrader told a Town Hall audience this week that the Army is not planning on opening pools on the installation. "Obviously we're going to continue to assess the situation as we go forward in conjunction with the state and the environment here. But right now no!"

Shrader noted that Corvias will not open their community pools in the five housing areas. "Our Custer Hill pool has got some maintenance work that we've got to do on it anyway so even if we were going to fire it up we would keep that one closed because it's got some warranty repairs that need to be executed on it."

Shrader added that Eyester Pool and Long Pool on Custer Hill will also stay closed for the forseeable future. "That's not something that we're comfortable yet based off the environment to open back up to family members and service members on the installation.

Swimming pools are expected to be open on Fort Riley this summer. Garrison Commander Col. Stephen Shrader told a Town Hall audience this week that the Army is not planning on opening pools on the installation. "Obviously we're going to continue to assess the situation as we go forward in conjunction with the state and the environment here. But right now no!"Shrader noted that Corvias will not open their community pools in the five housing areas. "Our Custer Hill pool has got some maintenance work that we've got to do on it anyway so even if we were going to fire it up we would keep that one closed because it's got some warranty repairs that need to be executed on it."Shrader added that Eyester Pool and Long Pool on Custer Hill will also stay closed for the forseeable future. "That's not something that we're comfortable yet based off the environment to open back up to family members and service members on the installation.

Fort Riley swimming pools are scheduled to remain closed this summer

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Great Clips has temporarily closed its salons in Springfield, Missouri, after threatening messages that followed news that two hairstylists potentially exposed 140 clients to the coronavirus.

Great Clips Inc., which has thousands of franchises in the U.S. and Canada, said in a statement Thursday that its locations in Springfield decided to close after “repeated threats.”

“To protect the safety of everyone, the local franchisees made the decision to temporarily close salons in the Springfield area," the statement read. "They are working closely with law enforcement officials as the officials conduct a thorough investigation of these threats.”

It wasn't immediately clear how many stores were closed or when they'll reopen. The company didn't respond to emails seeking further information.

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Great Clips has temporarily closed its salons in Springfield, Missouri, after threatening messages that followed news that two hairstylists potentially exposed 140 clients to the coronavirus.Great Clips Inc., which has thousands of franchises in the U.S. and Canada, said in a statement Thursday that its locations in Springfield decided to close after “repeated threats.”“To protect the safety of everyone, the local franchisees made the decision to temporarily close salons in the Springfield area," the statement read. "They are working closely with law enforcement officials as the officials conduct a thorough investigation of these threats.”It wasn't immediately clear how many stores were closed or when they'll reopen. The company didn't respond to emails seeking further information.The Springfield-Greene County Health Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0abab24fa86efb702a259185e3074273">announced last week</a>&nbsp;that a hairstylist at Great Clips served 84 clients over eight days in mid-May while experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.A co-worker of that stylist is now sick, and the health department said 56 other clients were potentially exposed by the second stylist from May 16 to May 20.The stylists and all of their clients wore face masks, health officials said. All of the clients were being tested and Goddard said some results were expected to be announced Friday.Springfield police spokeswoman Jasmine Bailey said the first threat came from a Facebook message to an employee on Saturday. The second threat was phoned to a salon Wednesday.Bailey said that in both cases, the messages “were threatening to shut the place down" because the stylists potentially exposed people to the virus. She declined to give further details.Bailey said it was too soon the know if the threats came from the same person.Salons were allowed to reopen in Missouri under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9282e2eb4a4b53871dc1f0103c12ab9a">Gov. Mike Parson’s order&nbsp;</a>that went into effect May 5, despite concerns from some about the close proximity required for barbers and hairstylists to work with their clients.In Michigan, an appeals court on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/04017ef299916dad882b3afa8782df37">ordered a barber to close</a>&nbsp;and to stop defying that state’s coronavirus restrictions. The barber, 77-year-old Karl Manke, said he didn’t intend to comply.Greene County, which includes Springfield, has had 128 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths during the pandemic, according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.About 27,000 Missourians applied for unemployment benefits last week, according to data released Thursday. Nationally, about 2.1 million Americans applied for benefits, a sign that companies are still slashing jobs, even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees.Mayor Quinton Lucas announced updated guidelines that relax rules for businesses, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article243055216.html">Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;reported. The new guidance begins Sunday and expires July 5.Lucas said during a news conference that his order means any Kansas City business can reopen unless barred by state guidelines. He said there is no limit on the size of outdoor gatherings, but indoor gatherings must not exceed 50% of a building's capacity.Also in Kansas City, about 30 protesters outside the Jackson County Courthouse staged a “die-in” to raise concerns about evictions during the pandemic.Tenants urged Presiding Circuit Court Judge David Byrn to extend protections to renters,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article243057936.html">the Kansas City Star&nbsp;</a>reported. Earlier Thursday, Lucas said his staff had also contacted Byrn’s office, pushing for an extension of the court’s eviction moratorium.Deaths from the coronavirus in Missouri have topped 700. The state health department on Thursday cited 11 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to 707. It also reported 181 new confirmed cases, bringing the state's total to 12,673.Parson said he was extending the first phase of his reopening plan through June 15. It was originally scheduled to expire Sunday. He said the decision was not because of any setback but to ensure that the state is ready to move to the next phase.The first phase of the plan requires social distancing, typically 6 feet of space, though with some exceptions. Some businesses also are required to put limits on indoor occupancy. The governor has not outlined what the next phase will entail.___

Coronavirus Update