WASHINGTON (AP) — A $500 billion federal aid package for companies and governments hurt by the coronavirus includes rules aimed at ensuring that the taxpayer money is used in ways that would help sustain the economy. But questions are being raised about whether those guardrails will prevent the kinds of abuses that have marked some corporate bailouts of the past.

In return for the emergency loans, which could be spun by the Federal Reserve into up to $4.5 trillion, companies will face temporary limits on what they can pay executives. They’ll also need to keep their workforces stable or at least not lay off more than 10% for several months. And they’ll face restrictions on stock buybacks and dividend increases.

Yet loopholes may lurk in the legislation.

“On paper, it looks like we learned the lessons,’’ said James Angel, an associate professor of finance at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “But the devil is in the details. ... There’s a lot of room around the edges.”

The legislation establishes a system of oversight on how companies use the rescue money. The oversight is widely thought to exceed the standards for the bailouts of banks and automakers in the 2008-09 financial crisis. Critics have long attacked those bailouts as an unwarranted giveaway to corporations whose conduct contributed directly to the crisis.

Under the just-enacted $2.2 trillion package, a government watchdog and a panel appointed by Congress will monitor how the billions in aid are deployed and whether its corporate recipients are meeting the restrictions.

President Donald Trump wasted little time, though, in throwing the oversight system into question. After signing the relief package Friday, Trump issued a statement that seemed to reject the independence of a new inspector general’s office. He said he wouldn't recognize the inspector general's right to report to Congress without “presidential supervision.” Trump's statement went on to dispute other aspects of the oversight rules, including that Congress should be consulted in the allocation of relief money.

It will be up to Trump to appoint the special inspector general for the bailout fund, who will have to be confirmed by the Senate.

By any standards, the overall package is a staggering pot of money — by far the largest in the history of crisis relief for industries and local governments. About $425 billion is to be used by the Treasury Department to support the Fed's emergency lending programs. These include loans for small and medium-sized businesses. Because the companies, states and cities are deemed likely to repay the loans, the Fed is able to to leverage the money into up to roughly $4 trillion in actual lending.

“A program of this scale and scope ... when things are moving so fast, will need vigorous scrutiny,” said Phil Angelides, a former California state treasurer who led the 10-member congressional oversight panel for the financial-crisis bailout.

Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University and a former Justice Department attorney, notes that the bailout program gives wide latitude to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

“Secretary Mnuchin has authority to basically negotiate any kind of loan that he wants," Henning said. “We'll see who gets favored and who doesn't."

For companies that receive emergency aid, there may be wiggle room in the conditions attached to it. While they can’t shrink their workforce by more than 10% through the fall, there’s no prohibition against cutting employee wages — except for airlines that receive direct grants. These grants must be used for employee pay and benefits.

Companies could also reduce workers’ hours and overtime without running afoul of a ban on breaching union contracts.

“A lot of people are going to see their compensation fall even though they still have a job,” Georgetown’s Angel said. “Just the fear of that puts the brakes on the economy.”

In addition, some corporate recipients of aid will likely find ways to bypass limits on executive compensation, Angel suggested, through how stock options are valued or through non-financial perks like housing and travel expenses.

During the financial crisis, public advocates railed against revelations of excessive pay packages for executives at some banks and automakers that received billions in taxpayer aid. The Treasury did take equity stakes in the companies in exchange for emergency loans — an idea that Trump has endorsed for the new aid program. This is likely to be the case for airlines that receive direct federal grants.

Another condition is that recipient companies cannot buy back their own shares from investors for at least a year after the loan term ends. This restriction may be easier than others to monitor because of public reporting requirements for stock transactions.

Buybacks tend to inflate stock prices by reducing the number of shares in circulation. This can produce a bonanza for executives whose compensation comes mainly in stock awards and options rather than salary. Better to use the aid, critics say, to preserve employee jobs or wages, invest in expansion or build cash reserves for future emergencies.

Four big airlines — American, United, Delta and Southwest — spent a combined $39 billion in the past five years on share buybacks, according to S&amp;P Global. The new $500 billion relief fund earmarks up to $50 billion for loans and grants to airlines; $8 billion for cargo carriers; and up to $17 billion for “businesses critical to maintaining national security" — regarded as a life vest for Boeing. The struggles of the aircraft giant, reeling from the grounding of its 737 Max jet, have deepened as air travel has nearly halted.

In addition to airlines, the distressed industries that have pleaded for federal help include hotels, restaurants, retailers and manufacturers.

The emergency loans for corporations, to run up to five years, bar executives at recipient companies who earned over $425,000 last year from receiving compensation that would exceed their 2019 total. Nor will “golden parachutes” payments for senior executives who are let go be allowed to exceed twice an executive's 2019 compensation if it topped $425,000. And executives who earned over $3 million last year cannot receive compensation exceeding $3 million plus half of any 2019 pay over $3 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584462219509.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A $500 billion federal aid package for companies and governments hurt by the coronavirus includes rules aimed at ensuring that the taxpayer money is used in ways that would help sustain the economy. But questions are being raised about whether those guardrails will prevent the kinds of abuses that have marked some corporate bailouts of the past.In return for the emergency loans, which could be spun by the Federal Reserve into up to $4.5 trillion, companies will face temporary limits on what they can pay executives. They’ll also need to keep their workforces stable or at least not lay off more than 10% for several months. And they’ll face restrictions on stock buybacks and dividend increases.Yet loopholes may lurk in the legislation.“On paper, it looks like we learned the lessons,’’ said James Angel, an associate professor of finance at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “But the devil is in the details. ... There’s a lot of room around the edges.”The legislation establishes a system of oversight on how companies use the rescue money. The oversight is widely thought to exceed the standards for the bailouts of banks and automakers in the 2008-09 financial crisis. Critics have long attacked those bailouts as an unwarranted giveaway to corporations whose conduct contributed directly to the crisis.Under the just-enacted $2.2 trillion package, a government watchdog and a panel appointed by Congress will monitor how the billions in aid are deployed and whether its corporate recipients are meeting the restrictions.President Donald Trump wasted little time, though, in throwing the oversight system into question. After signing the relief package Friday, Trump issued a statement that seemed to reject the independence of a new inspector general’s office. He said he wouldn't recognize the inspector general's right to report to Congress without “presidential supervision.” Trump's statement went on to dispute other aspects of the oversight rules, including that Congress should be consulted in the allocation of relief money.It will be up to Trump to appoint the special inspector general for the bailout fund, who will have to be confirmed by the Senate.By any standards, the overall package is a staggering pot of money — by far the largest in the history of crisis relief for industries and local governments. About $425 billion is to be used by the Treasury Department to support the Fed's emergency lending programs. These include loans for small and medium-sized businesses. Because the companies, states and cities are deemed likely to repay the loans, the Fed is able to to leverage the money into up to roughly $4 trillion in actual lending.“A program of this scale and scope ... when things are moving so fast, will need vigorous scrutiny,” said Phil Angelides, a former California state treasurer who led the 10-member congressional oversight panel for the financial-crisis bailout.Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University and a former Justice Department attorney, notes that the bailout program gives wide latitude to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.“Secretary Mnuchin has authority to basically negotiate any kind of loan that he wants," Henning said. “We'll see who gets favored and who doesn't."For companies that receive emergency aid, there may be wiggle room in the conditions attached to it. While they can’t shrink their workforce by more than 10% through the fall, there’s no prohibition against cutting employee wages — except for airlines that receive direct grants. These grants must be used for employee pay and benefits.Companies could also reduce workers’ hours and overtime without running afoul of a ban on breaching union contracts.“A lot of people are going to see their compensation fall even though they still have a job,” Georgetown’s Angel said. “Just the fear of that puts the brakes on the economy.”In addition, some corporate recipients of aid will likely find ways to bypass limits on executive compensation, Angel suggested, through how stock options are valued or through non-financial perks like housing and travel expenses.During the financial crisis, public advocates railed against revelations of excessive pay packages for executives at some banks and automakers that received billions in taxpayer aid. The Treasury did take equity stakes in the companies in exchange for emergency loans — an idea that Trump has endorsed for the new aid program. This is likely to be the case for airlines that receive direct federal grants.Another condition is that recipient companies cannot buy back their own shares from investors for at least a year after the loan term ends. This restriction may be easier than others to monitor because of public reporting requirements for stock transactions.Buybacks tend to inflate stock prices by reducing the number of shares in circulation. This can produce a bonanza for executives whose compensation comes mainly in stock awards and options rather than salary. Better to use the aid, critics say, to preserve employee jobs or wages, invest in expansion or build cash reserves for future emergencies.Four big airlines — American, United, Delta and Southwest — spent a combined $39 billion in the past five years on share buybacks, according to S&amp;P Global. The new $500 billion relief fund earmarks up to $50 billion for loans and grants to airlines; $8 billion for cargo carriers; and up to $17 billion for “businesses critical to maintaining national security" — regarded as a life vest for Boeing. The struggles of the aircraft giant, reeling from the grounding of its 737 Max jet, have deepened as air travel has nearly halted.In addition to airlines, the distressed industries that have pleaded for federal help include hotels, restaurants, retailers and manufacturers.The emergency loans for corporations, to run up to five years, bar executives at recipient companies who earned over $425,000 last year from receiving compensation that would exceed their 2019 total. Nor will “golden parachutes” payments for senior executives who are let go be allowed to exceed twice an executive's 2019 compensation if it topped $425,000. And executives who earned over $3 million last year cannot receive compensation exceeding $3 million plus half of any 2019 pay over $3 million.__

Conditions for companies that get virus aid: Room for abuse?

TOPEKA –&nbsp;People who attended the Kansas East Jurisdiction’s 2020 Ministers and Workers Conference at the Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ located at 2106 Quindaro Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66104 from March 16-22, may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Health.

This event has been identified as a place of exposure for multiple people in Kansas who have since become ill and tested positive for COVID-19.

Symptoms for COVID-19 appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other rarer symptoms that may develop include malaise, sore throat and diarrhea.

If you develop any of these symptoms, but are not ill enough to seek medical care, you must stay home for at least 7 days after symptom started or for 72 hours after fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and with a significant improvement in symptoms, whichever is longer. If you develop these symptoms and need to seek medical care, call your healthcare provider beforehand to inform them that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and require medical attention.

If you attended this event and develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 between 2 and 14 days later, please call your local health department as they will conduct a confidential investigation to prevent further transmission of COVID-19.

For more information about COVID-19 in Kansas, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C042a1edf1de145d374d508d7d5b47766%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637212843374682280&amp;sdata=qleGonZO74ZQP%2FUtHLm5kLVzOSHE6pVERomGOC8e%2FeE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. For questions regarding isolation and quarantine for COVID-19, please contact your local health department or KDHE’s Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;People who attended the Kansas East Jurisdiction’s 2020 Ministers and Workers Conference at the Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ located at 2106 Quindaro Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66104 from March 16-22, may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Health.This event has been identified as a place of exposure for multiple people in Kansas who have since become ill and tested positive for COVID-19.Symptoms for COVID-19 appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other rarer symptoms that may develop include malaise, sore throat and diarrhea.If you develop any of these symptoms, but are not ill enough to seek medical care, you must stay home for at least 7 days after symptom started or for 72 hours after fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and with a significant improvement in symptoms, whichever is longer. If you develop these symptoms and need to seek medical care, call your healthcare provider beforehand to inform them that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and require medical attention.If you attended this event and develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 between 2 and 14 days later, please call your local health department as they will conduct a confidential investigation to prevent further transmission of COVID-19.For more information about COVID-19 in Kansas, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C042a1edf1de145d374d508d7d5b47766%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637212843374682280&amp;sdata=qleGonZO74ZQP%2FUtHLm5kLVzOSHE6pVERomGOC8e%2FeE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. For questions regarding isolation and quarantine for COVID-19, please contact your local health department or KDHE’s Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317.

KDHE: Attendees at church conference may have been exposed to virus

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed an Executive Order Tuesday that will provide temporary relief from certain unemployment insurance requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

The governor addressed the issues during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO-20-17-Executed.pdf">Click here to read</a> details on the new executive order 20-17.

&nbsp;It will ensure Kansans can draw down millions in federal dollars under the federal CARES Act.

The federal stimulus will expand unemployment insurance to include self-employed, 1099-independent contractors, gig and low-wage workers who can no longer work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement also increases weekly benefits for all unemployed workers by $600 a week for up to four months.

"Certain provisions of Kansas employment security law will impede Kansas’ ability to draw down millions in federal funds for unemployment insurance programs,” Kelly said. “This order will allow flexibility to ensure Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis.”

Executive Order 20-17 makes three, temporary changes to Kansas employment security law:

“This flexibility will ensure that our Department of Labor can keep up with the surge of unemployment claims our state is experiencing and that Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis,” Kelly said.

Kelly also addressed the unprecedented volume of calls coming into the Kansas Department of Labor. Just yesterday, the agency received over 877,000 calls to their unemployment line. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the agency received an average of 1,100 calls per week.

“Labor Secretary Delia Garcia and her team are working quickly to expand capacity at the call centers,” Kelly said. “They have added phone lines, hired additional employees and are working with employers to speed up the benefit process. The website remains the fastest and most efficient way to file for benefits, but if you must call in, please be patient. This is an incredibly stressful time for everybody, and the Department of Labor is working hard to get applications processed and benefits distributed.”

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed an Executive Order Tuesday that will provide temporary relief from certain unemployment insurance requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The governor addressed the issues during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F210912297003625%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><a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO-20-17-Executed.pdf">Click here to read</a> details on the new executive order 20-17.&nbsp;It will ensure Kansans can draw down millions in federal dollars under the federal CARES Act.The federal stimulus will expand unemployment insurance to include self-employed, 1099-independent contractors, gig and low-wage workers who can no longer work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement also increases weekly benefits for all unemployed workers by $600 a week for up to four months."Certain provisions of Kansas employment security law will impede Kansas’ ability to draw down millions in federal funds for unemployment insurance programs,” Kelly said. “This order will allow flexibility to ensure Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis.”Executive Order 20-17 makes three, temporary changes to Kansas employment security law:<ol>
 <li>The waiting week requirement for unemployment benefits is temporarily waived for all claimants;</li><li>The requirement that Kansans receiving unemployment benefits actively seek work each week is temporarily waived for all claimants to allow Kansans to continue the necessary social distancing practices;</li><li>All Kansas employers, as required by the federal Department of Labor, must notify separated employees if they qualify for unemployment insurance.</li>
 </ol>“This flexibility will ensure that our Department of Labor can keep up with the surge of unemployment claims our state is experiencing and that Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis,” Kelly said.Kelly also addressed the unprecedented volume of calls coming into the Kansas Department of Labor. Just yesterday, the agency received over 877,000 calls to their unemployment line. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the agency received an average of 1,100 calls per week.“Labor Secretary Delia Garcia and her team are working quickly to expand capacity at the call centers,” Kelly said. “They have added phone lines, hired additional employees and are working with employers to speed up the benefit process. The website remains the fastest and most efficient way to file for benefits, but if you must call in, please be patient. This is an incredibly stressful time for everybody, and the Department of Labor is working hard to get applications processed and benefits distributed.”

 🎥 New executive order will help Kansans with unemployment insurance

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. Monday's report indicated the youngest coronavirus patient as a 4-year-old old. Tuesday's report includes a patient less than a year-old.

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. Monday's report indicated the youngest coronavirus patient as a 4-year-old old. Tuesday's report includes a patient less than a year-old.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585681530635.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Latest coronavirus numbers in Kan. includes infant to 95-year-old

&nbsp;The Riley County Health Department just received confirmation that a Kansas State University student has tested positive for the new coronavirus. This makes three confirmed positives today. The 22 year-old student was in the group with the K-State professor who recently traveled to England. So far, the professor and one student have tested positive. The professor was released from&nbsp;the hospital last week and is recovering at home.

This student followed protocol and has been in quarantine in their Manhattan home since their return to the community on March 18, 2020. The Riley County Health Department has been in daily contact with them. The student has been sick for the last few days and is now in isolation at home.

"This virus presents a life and death situation for our community. The time to take action is now. If everyone does their part to limit the spread, we have a fighting chance," said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, should call a medical professional immediately. A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.

The Q&amp;A hotline at 785-587-4526 will remain active for voicemail only. Please email general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County to rileycountycovid19@gmail.com.

Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3DREQL6RgGrYyBzQYwH8gVBNLjkoFfy0pkhNxfJ8uYk3Dyg2FvMJnYUhk&amp;h=AT1adLXsMqhfzURm_DYSDijp7MvX9wZ5z9Lh8dSArf9HzTQ519Zf3jXCADEuiU7iPbPO7kjC4UlU_PFjAjZUC4WbwrmwuMPZhnnQL1rEONvJyQGhYWq_WZLEk6rq0IRno3Jax7h1ydMWl3IVvRrakABO9aHMhrBCVGzT-dO9mMP1lhUArBcu1yXmBOUYDhVphnDGB-9LCXjkku3l1zRTxw1Cxj_Wp8UyfIhXF0jKqpxRO7Pf2ucet4QP_xDnH0k92vnO-7meIQL2TD0Zu8xt74iRwoRWw9OzLxTrNU66LR10tUUKLVWNZAUR3rKMUNDJH_EFPjTXzrQq-AHyaN3EIcZ1xpiwE33b3hURNytKYxnWCArR6FLMj8FpYVSJyLn7HRbPOlj1T6rnsr2bciSUDmSwnhmxPfp9HnXmjxEnIaQRrcqcTZ-aiIBRDpMF-_dtUbEmhhNU_v38XQ9mSUp9YIL2wR_fgjg5-HdsrfTZLSXHXD0jIqLOGKiv5OLzHpFuU9YZAnPcg8zJYoJ4YKQ-kV5n-hOVWfhU7TTIni6Aii_icq5aGOqgzCefOlDIAJ2lsjae1PZlRSchbqVShfWR0a6QXTDqpH157JYR9NWBxEswQbwe1Qbaz1n3ti90Hy1XloLS" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>.

The Riley County Health Department will continue to hold live updates at 4:15 p.m. daily on Facebook, except for Sundays.

For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, visit the Riley County website at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19?fbclid=IwAR0iEHXusMvgs1dB_m29i1Hu0tJOjbyiNbvBL04870noQxehbgi6jjdM9ok" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARAyNxzzTIgxfq_g3dn1PdftibwOkuQWVCa5iEM8ktCdFQcceOw-EWC16sh5tUi0_jJZ4gfae9POtnKa&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDMDDPC3-PiJHhE1ZvyOdhYaM-O_BmRjUQIKCzwJww2rjYeFrqYiwXK0xgFt0mq-VHgL1mXjggbVZSX40Yh25LaVkavVLwq3XDSyB6UH8BDuH2yB4z9J1PFBLBcFpzG6SSXl68cW4QNCl-2IExR9rmeMdmrew-P-W5EDZZbZY0WaT44UZRBwuMQsM_to3MQUp8ovNtLPWBsLMFQBXmjE2WRm--hB0QcBRXyyhl5FplXcNa1DIROniIjw5NJm1Ecrx8s2u2RS3jegW16q8dkn0wPwYHRnipWSFcLS2qTv7AykLmwbE5hIeWnjK6D8w62KWc3J7MLeOvrJSbyaq1sz2r_mA">https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>&nbsp;and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.

Riley County health authorities were in the process Tuesday afternoon of finding out more information on the 29-year old man diagnosed with COVID-19. He is the fourth resident of Riley County with that confirmed diagnosis.

Julie Gibbs, Health Officer, said 23 people were being monitored in Riley County, "and we still have 10 tests pending. This number includes tests pending on Fort Riley. We have had a total of 50 negative tests so far in the county."

Another Riley County resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus today ( Tuesday , bringing Riley County’s total to four (4). This patient is a 29 year old male who was tested at KSTAT. The Riley County Health Department is conducting contact tracing and following up with the patient and all close contacts.

No other further details about the patient are available at this time but that information will be shared when it becomes available.

“It is crucial that everyone do their part to help stop the spread,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Make the choice to stay home to protect yourself, your family, your friends, and neighbors. Make social and business contacts virtually instead of in person. We all have to work together to flatten the curve. The time to take action is now.”

Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3FEoOlQF21CTI52meXSfsqLzGrsTLRR46vVeeUrPNtAAD3X7MdQHytM7A&amp;h=AT0WsTe1AeFJ5VDzKb_bjqgaLZyKN2pSzNhf4nnAbfksN7IqOTXCYuaEY-QWU6ZLJbd_2R2FnP-DyZgO75GRPppBFqyxUNR3CCWhVFXmBfHp2OQMfnyZbX1MtSmNXHt4aG_xvobYQjF6Fbeg3x6b0CD3Vv_3U8995XIGwqhm1Yl5why71yBwEd4_bEuluhfsiycpw0rG1B2dvgcNTg8xQJ30R4E184H08BaSt3HX7FZnajswQ9daJ4vmGVs_9Qq_kpVgZmVn1T2rAqGTYT0fYQV1xmLbBLra28pypSp63m0rRDTnJ2wMF58RljJzQGdd_XHcRLJyNEJauil3uDGHw5FIKpLMy1W5uMAU-o07On4CDxiWbAUvCGHKJvJzTWIlRk2RAr7zUV-EZL8oIFlw5K59rV6TAlOOntNfEqBwXdDs_K8LL7kjDbU_eySmyOxNOxehcn6RIQorfc9WCdXnKkyAxPsrlgIMM0ZQFRYoON2DOsRyUZy7RedaRzGqVRSA1009abij1bPmvgq-KuzKM8EQOKHKduKoT-LJ3KQhQQOKbBiChdm1086xhPtcgoWaG9MTQSFhZWXXI-cqlfR9wasQsbM0JLyxTIY8PsKmXcuTNTwU2_9PuU9ToNi4rbpzAOhi" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>.

The Riley County Health Department was notified late last night that another local resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus. The patient, a 57 year old man, presented with symptoms at the Emergency Room at Ascension Via Christi Hospital on March 27 and was tested the same day. The results of the test were just released from the Oklahoma facility where the sample was sent.

The 57 year old man is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Via Christi Hospital. He is considered an imported case, and not an instance of community spread. The patient had recently traveled with his family to a church meeting in the Kansas City area. His family members are currently in quarantine at their home in Riley County.

The Riley County Health Department is completing contact tracing for the family and will notify anyone who may have had close contact with them. While this patient will be added to Riley County’s list, it appears he was exposed to the virus elsewhere in Kansas.

UPDATE:&nbsp;The Riley County Health Department just received confirmation that a Kansas State University student has tested positive for the new coronavirus. This makes three confirmed positives today. The 22 year-old student was in the group with the K-State professor who recently traveled to England. So far, the professor and one student have tested positive. The professor was released from&nbsp;the hospital last week and is recovering at home.This student followed protocol and has been in quarantine in their Manhattan home since their return to the community on March 18, 2020. The Riley County Health Department has been in daily contact with them. The student has been sick for the last few days and is now in isolation at home."This virus presents a life and death situation for our community. The time to take action is now. If everyone does their part to limit the spread, we have a fighting chance," said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs.Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, should call a medical professional immediately. A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.The Q&amp;A hotline at 785-587-4526 will remain active for voicemail only. Please email general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County to rileycountycovid19@gmail.com.Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3DREQL6RgGrYyBzQYwH8gVBNLjkoFfy0pkhNxfJ8uYk3Dyg2FvMJnYUhk&amp;h=AT1adLXsMqhfzURm_DYSDijp7MvX9wZ5z9Lh8dSArf9HzTQ519Zf3jXCADEuiU7iPbPO7kjC4UlU_PFjAjZUC4WbwrmwuMPZhnnQL1rEONvJyQGhYWq_WZLEk6rq0IRno3Jax7h1ydMWl3IVvRrakABO9aHMhrBCVGzT-dO9mMP1lhUArBcu1yXmBOUYDhVphnDGB-9LCXjkku3l1zRTxw1Cxj_Wp8UyfIhXF0jKqpxRO7Pf2ucet4QP_xDnH0k92vnO-7meIQL2TD0Zu8xt74iRwoRWw9OzLxTrNU66LR10tUUKLVWNZAUR3rKMUNDJH_EFPjTXzrQq-AHyaN3EIcZ1xpiwE33b3hURNytKYxnWCArR6FLMj8FpYVSJyLn7HRbPOlj1T6rnsr2bciSUDmSwnhmxPfp9HnXmjxEnIaQRrcqcTZ-aiIBRDpMF-_dtUbEmhhNU_v38XQ9mSUp9YIL2wR_fgjg5-HdsrfTZLSXHXD0jIqLOGKiv5OLzHpFuU9YZAnPcg8zJYoJ4YKQ-kV5n-hOVWfhU7TTIni6Aii_icq5aGOqgzCefOlDIAJ2lsjae1PZlRSchbqVShfWR0a6QXTDqpH157JYR9NWBxEswQbwe1Qbaz1n3ti90Hy1XloLS" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>.The Riley County Health Department will continue to hold live updates at 4:15 p.m. daily on Facebook, except for Sundays.For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, visit the Riley County website at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19?fbclid=IwAR0iEHXusMvgs1dB_m29i1Hu0tJOjbyiNbvBL04870noQxehbgi6jjdM9ok" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARAyNxzzTIgxfq_g3dn1PdftibwOkuQWVCa5iEM8ktCdFQcceOw-EWC16sh5tUi0_jJZ4gfae9POtnKa&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDMDDPC3-PiJHhE1ZvyOdhYaM-O_BmRjUQIKCzwJww2rjYeFrqYiwXK0xgFt0mq-VHgL1mXjggbVZSX40Yh25LaVkavVLwq3XDSyB6UH8BDuH2yB4z9J1PFBLBcFpzG6SSXl68cW4QNCl-2IExR9rmeMdmrew-P-W5EDZZbZY0WaT44UZRBwuMQsM_to3MQUp8ovNtLPWBsLMFQBXmjE2WRm--hB0QcBRXyyhl5FplXcNa1DIROniIjw5NJm1Ecrx8s2u2RS3jegW16q8dkn0wPwYHRnipWSFcLS2qTv7AykLmwbE5hIeWnjK6D8w62KWc3J7MLeOvrJSbyaq1sz2r_mA">https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>&nbsp;and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.-----Riley County health authorities were in the process Tuesday afternoon of finding out more information on the 29-year old man diagnosed with COVID-19. He is the fourth resident of Riley County with that confirmed diagnosis.Julie Gibbs, Health Officer, said 23 people were being monitored in Riley County, "and we still have 10 tests pending. This number includes tests pending on Fort Riley. We have had a total of 50 negative tests so far in the county."---Another Riley County resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus today ( Tuesday , bringing Riley County’s total to four (4). This patient is a 29 year old male who was tested at KSTAT. The Riley County Health Department is conducting contact tracing and following up with the patient and all close contacts.No other further details about the patient are available at this time but that information will be shared when it becomes available.“It is crucial that everyone do their part to help stop the spread,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Make the choice to stay home to protect yourself, your family, your friends, and neighbors. Make social and business contacts virtually instead of in person. We all have to work together to flatten the curve. The time to take action is now.”Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, should call a medical professional immediately. A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.The Q&amp;A hotline at 785-587-4526 will remain active for voicemail only. Please email general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County to rileycountycovid19@gmail.com.Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3FEoOlQF21CTI52meXSfsqLzGrsTLRR46vVeeUrPNtAAD3X7MdQHytM7A&amp;h=AT0WsTe1AeFJ5VDzKb_bjqgaLZyKN2pSzNhf4nnAbfksN7IqOTXCYuaEY-QWU6ZLJbd_2R2FnP-DyZgO75GRPppBFqyxUNR3CCWhVFXmBfHp2OQMfnyZbX1MtSmNXHt4aG_xvobYQjF6Fbeg3x6b0CD3Vv_3U8995XIGwqhm1Yl5why71yBwEd4_bEuluhfsiycpw0rG1B2dvgcNTg8xQJ30R4E184H08BaSt3HX7FZnajswQ9daJ4vmGVs_9Qq_kpVgZmVn1T2rAqGTYT0fYQV1xmLbBLra28pypSp63m0rRDTnJ2wMF58RljJzQGdd_XHcRLJyNEJauil3uDGHw5FIKpLMy1W5uMAU-o07On4CDxiWbAUvCGHKJvJzTWIlRk2RAr7zUV-EZL8oIFlw5K59rV6TAlOOntNfEqBwXdDs_K8LL7kjDbU_eySmyOxNOxehcn6RIQorfc9WCdXnKkyAxPsrlgIMM0ZQFRYoON2DOsRyUZy7RedaRzGqVRSA1009abij1bPmvgq-KuzKM8EQOKHKduKoT-LJ3KQhQQOKbBiChdm1086xhPtcgoWaG9MTQSFhZWXXI-cqlfR9wasQsbM0JLyxTIY8PsKmXcuTNTwU2_9PuU9ToNi4rbpzAOhi" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>.-----The Riley County Health Department was notified late last night that another local resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus. The patient, a 57 year old man, presented with symptoms at the Emergency Room at Ascension Via Christi Hospital on March 27 and was tested the same day. The results of the test were just released from the Oklahoma facility where the sample was sent.The 57 year old man is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Via Christi Hospital. He is considered an imported case, and not an instance of community spread. The patient had recently traveled with his family to a church meeting in the Kansas City area. His family members are currently in quarantine at their home in Riley County.The Riley County Health Department is completing contact tracing for the family and will notify anyone who may have had close contact with them. While this patient will be added to Riley County’s list, it appears he was exposed to the virus elsewhere in Kansas.

There is a fifth positive case of COVID-19 in Riley County

Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and out of concern for our Veterans, Eastern Kansas is honoring current social isolation and distancing guidelines,” said Joseph Burks, Spokesman.&nbsp; “Through VA’s virtual care tools, we are able to leverage available technology to make sure our patients and staff are as safe as possible during this time.

To help us address&nbsp; Veterans’ most-urgent needs first, the Leavenworth and Topeka VA Medical Centers, along with their eight community-based outpatient clinics including one in Junction City are asking that Veterans use our online tools for routine or non-urgent questions.

Telephone or Video Appointments&nbsp;– Veterans can receive care at home — either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. To set up telephone or video appointments, Veterans can send their provider a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">myhealth.va.gov</a>.&nbsp; Veterans may also call, but VA is requesting that Veterans only call with urgent needs at this time. To learn more about VA Video Connect, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect</a>.

Prescription Refills&nbsp;– Veterans can request prescription refills and order and ship medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill</a>.

Text Message Reminders&nbsp;– Veterans can use Annie’s Coronavirus Precautions protocol to send automated text messages with information about COVID-19. This application helps Veterans monitor for symptoms and can assist if they need to contact their VA facility for care. Enroll at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/annie" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/annie</a>.

Secure Messaging&nbsp;– With My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, Veterans can send online secure messages to your VA health care team to ask them nonurgent health questions.&nbsp; Register at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">www.myhealth.va.gov</a>.

Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and out of concern for our Veterans, Eastern Kansas is honoring current social isolation and distancing guidelines,” said Joseph Burks, Spokesman.&nbsp; “Through VA’s virtual care tools, we are able to leverage available technology to make sure our patients and staff are as safe as possible during this time.To help us address&nbsp; Veterans’ most-urgent needs first, the Leavenworth and Topeka VA Medical Centers, along with their eight community-based outpatient clinics including one in Junction City are asking that Veterans use our online tools for routine or non-urgent questions.Here are some examples:Telephone or Video Appointments&nbsp;– Veterans can receive care at home — either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. To set up telephone or video appointments, Veterans can send their provider a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">myhealth.va.gov</a>.&nbsp; Veterans may also call, but VA is requesting that Veterans only call with urgent needs at this time. To learn more about VA Video Connect, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect</a>.Prescription Refills&nbsp;– Veterans can request prescription refills and order and ship medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill</a>.Text Message Reminders&nbsp;– Veterans can use Annie’s Coronavirus Precautions protocol to send automated text messages with information about COVID-19. This application helps Veterans monitor for symptoms and can assist if they need to contact their VA facility for care. Enroll at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/annie" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/annie</a>.Secure Messaging&nbsp;– With My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, Veterans can send online secure messages to your VA health care team to ask them nonurgent health questions.&nbsp; Register at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">www.myhealth.va.gov</a>.

Veterans are asked to use online tools for routine or non-urgent questions

&nbsp;On Tuesday the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) confirmed the second positive case of COVID-19 in Pottawatomie County. This patient, currently at Ascension Via Christi hospital in Manhattan, is a 71 year old female, a resident of Wamego, and her travel history is being researched at this time.&nbsp; 

The Pottawatomie County Health Department is working to identify any close contacts of the individual and those who were exposed will be contacted as soon as possible. They will be monitoring these contacts for symptoms associated with COVID-19 and quarantined following CDC guidelines.&nbsp; No further information about the patient will be released.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stay home unless performing an essential activity.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No gatherings greater than 10 people.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you do need to go out in public, ensure you maintain six feet from other people.

Health Department Director/County Health Officer, Lisa Kenworthy, said “let’s take care of each other.&nbsp; Stay home, that is the best thing we can do to decrease the spread and potentially the mortality rate in our county. STAY HOME.”

&nbsp;On Tuesday the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) confirmed the second positive case of COVID-19 in Pottawatomie County. This patient, currently at Ascension Via Christi hospital in Manhattan, is a 71 year old female, a resident of Wamego, and her travel history is being researched at this time.&nbsp; The Pottawatomie County Health Department is working to identify any close contacts of the individual and those who were exposed will be contacted as soon as possible. They will be monitoring these contacts for symptoms associated with COVID-19 and quarantined following CDC guidelines.&nbsp; No further information about the patient will be released.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stay home unless performing an essential activity.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No gatherings greater than 10 people.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you do need to go out in public, ensure you maintain six feet from other people.Health Department Director/County Health Officer, Lisa Kenworthy, said “let’s take care of each other.&nbsp; Stay home, that is the best thing we can do to decrease the spread and potentially the mortality rate in our county. STAY HOME.”

Second Pottawatomie County resident tests positive for Coronavirus

NEW YORK (AP) — When will the money arrive?

That’s the urgent question for small business owners who have been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They’re awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that’s all but shut down, owners are worried about survival.

Millions of owners face April 1 due dates for rent, mortgage, credit card and other payments. Some have been granted leniency from landlords and lenders. But even then, there are other business and personal bills that are owed. And employees — at least those who haven’t been laid off — must be paid.

“How quick can we get these funds?” says Adam Rammel, co-owner of Brewfontaine, a bar and restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio, that’s now limited to takeout and delivery service. His revenue is down 60%. Yet he has eight staffers, down from his usual 25, whom he must pay.

“Relief can’t come soon enough — we’re a cash business with small margins,” says Rammel, who is looking to Small Business Administration loans. He needs the money despite receiving some concessions from his banker.

Freelancers and people whose gig work has vanished are also anxious about having to wait.

“I need to pay my electric bill and the mortgage,” says Krista Kowalcyzk, whose Southwest Florida photography business has come to a halt as weddings have been canceled and customers have decided against having portraits shot.

She feels somewhat reassured that she can receive unemployment benefits. But while she waits, “I am terrified that not only do I have no revenue coming in, I have also been asked for thousands of dollars in refunds.”

At companies small and large, from restaurants and retailers to sports and entertainment venues, revenue has essentially dried up. The same for the businesses that support those companies. Even employers that are still operating have lost business as their customers have became too cautious to continue doing business.

The rescue package signed into law Friday provides for Small Business Administration loans to companies as well as to sole proprietors and freelancers. The loans can be used for payroll, mortgages, rent and utilities, with those amounts forgiven and payments deferred. It will also supply small loans that can, depending on an owner’s credit score, be approved quickly. Employers can receive tax credits for retaining workers, though not if they have obtained one of the SBA loans.

Many owners are also seeking separate SBA economic injury disaster loans. And the Federal Reserve plans to set up a program to lend directly to small business owners.

In addition, freelancers are now eligible for unemployment benefits. And owners can be eligible for the $1,200 per person payment that’s available to many Americans depending on their income.

Whatever the source of funding, how fast it arrives at businesses across the country is sure to have a significant impact on the economy. Slightly more than half of American workers are employed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Every lost job means another person will struggle to pay rent or other bills. Unpaid bills, in turn, cut revenue for other businesses.

Layoffs are mounting, and most analysts forecast that the economy will shrink significantly in the April-June quarter, with some estimating a a 30% annual plunge for the quarter. That would be deepest economic contraction for any quarter in records dating to Word War II. In the week that ended March 21, roughly 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits — more than 10 times the number for the previous week and nearly five times the prior record high.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the small loans would be available starting Friday, and in an interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said he hoped to release loan forms later Monday.

Katie Vliestra, an executive at the National Association for the Self-Employed, an advocacy group, says she’s concerned about the lag time between application and approval for even the small loans that are intended to have the fastest turnaround. Most small companies have only 15 to 30 days of cash on hand, she said.

There are also worries about potential logjams at the SBA. The agency’s inspector general’s office found that the SBA failed to quickly turn around thousands of loans after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area in 2017. (The SBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for information about handling an influx of applications.)

John Arensmeyer, CEO of the advocacy group Small Business Majority, says he’s concerned that the loans will be processed through the SBA’s traditional business loan program, which relies on banks to handle the initial applications.

“Banks have to retool their technology to do this,” Arensmeyer says. “It’s going to be months before this money gets out there. How many people are going to be able to maintain payroll, hoping to get this money?”

On its face, the rescue aid appears to address some of the most vital needs of small businesses, notably their ability to maintain or hire back furloughed workers eventually. The issue is whether it will come quickly enough.

“The challenge is cash flow,” says Jason Duff, owner of Six Hundred Downtown, a restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has a staff of eight, down from 27, handling deliveries and pickups.

Duff has less than a week of working capital funds available. He is seeking loans from family and friends as well as some patience from vendors while he awaits federal help.

Don Allison has bills coming due this week for his business, a publisher of books about the Civil War and northwest Ohio history. He and his wife are looking forward to a combined $2,400. But the royalty checks he must send out require a bigger cash infusion. And he’s concerned about being in a long line of owners hoping to receive SBA loans.

“They’re going to be slammed,” Allison says of the SBA. “How big a delay is there going to be?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342982232.png" alt="President Trump signed the $2.2T virus aid package Friday -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the $2.2T virus aid package Friday -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — When will the money arrive?That’s the urgent question for small business owners who have been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They’re awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that’s all but shut down, owners are worried about survival.Millions of owners face April 1 due dates for rent, mortgage, credit card and other payments. Some have been granted leniency from landlords and lenders. But even then, there are other business and personal bills that are owed. And employees — at least those who haven’t been laid off — must be paid.“How quick can we get these funds?” says Adam Rammel, co-owner of Brewfontaine, a bar and restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio, that’s now limited to takeout and delivery service. His revenue is down 60%. Yet he has eight staffers, down from his usual 25, whom he must pay.“Relief can’t come soon enough — we’re a cash business with small margins,” says Rammel, who is looking to Small Business Administration loans. He needs the money despite receiving some concessions from his banker.Freelancers and people whose gig work has vanished are also anxious about having to wait.“I need to pay my electric bill and the mortgage,” says Krista Kowalcyzk, whose Southwest Florida photography business has come to a halt as weddings have been canceled and customers have decided against having portraits shot.She feels somewhat reassured that she can receive unemployment benefits. But while she waits, “I am terrified that not only do I have no revenue coming in, I have also been asked for thousands of dollars in refunds.”At companies small and large, from restaurants and retailers to sports and entertainment venues, revenue has essentially dried up. The same for the businesses that support those companies. Even employers that are still operating have lost business as their customers have became too cautious to continue doing business.The rescue package signed into law Friday provides for Small Business Administration loans to companies as well as to sole proprietors and freelancers. The loans can be used for payroll, mortgages, rent and utilities, with those amounts forgiven and payments deferred. It will also supply small loans that can, depending on an owner’s credit score, be approved quickly. Employers can receive tax credits for retaining workers, though not if they have obtained one of the SBA loans.Many owners are also seeking separate SBA economic injury disaster loans. And the Federal Reserve plans to set up a program to lend directly to small business owners.In addition, freelancers are now eligible for unemployment benefits. And owners can be eligible for the $1,200 per person payment that’s available to many Americans depending on their income.Whatever the source of funding, how fast it arrives at businesses across the country is sure to have a significant impact on the economy. Slightly more than half of American workers are employed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Every lost job means another person will struggle to pay rent or other bills. Unpaid bills, in turn, cut revenue for other businesses.Layoffs are mounting, and most analysts forecast that the economy will shrink significantly in the April-June quarter, with some estimating a a 30% annual plunge for the quarter. That would be deepest economic contraction for any quarter in records dating to Word War II. In the week that ended March 21, roughly 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits — more than 10 times the number for the previous week and nearly five times the prior record high.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the small loans would be available starting Friday, and in an interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said he hoped to release loan forms later Monday.Katie Vliestra, an executive at the National Association for the Self-Employed, an advocacy group, says she’s concerned about the lag time between application and approval for even the small loans that are intended to have the fastest turnaround. Most small companies have only 15 to 30 days of cash on hand, she said.There are also worries about potential logjams at the SBA. The agency’s inspector general’s office found that the SBA failed to quickly turn around thousands of loans after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area in 2017. (The SBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for information about handling an influx of applications.)John Arensmeyer, CEO of the advocacy group Small Business Majority, says he’s concerned that the loans will be processed through the SBA’s traditional business loan program, which relies on banks to handle the initial applications.“Banks have to retool their technology to do this,” Arensmeyer says. “It’s going to be months before this money gets out there. How many people are going to be able to maintain payroll, hoping to get this money?”On its face, the rescue aid appears to address some of the most vital needs of small businesses, notably their ability to maintain or hire back furloughed workers eventually. The issue is whether it will come quickly enough.“The challenge is cash flow,” says Jason Duff, owner of Six Hundred Downtown, a restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has a staff of eight, down from 27, handling deliveries and pickups.Duff has less than a week of working capital funds available. He is seeking loans from family and friends as well as some patience from vendors while he awaits federal help.Don Allison has bills coming due this week for his business, a publisher of books about the Civil War and northwest Ohio history. He and his wife are looking forward to a combined $2,400. But the royalty checks he must send out require a bigger cash infusion. And he’s concerned about being in a long line of owners hoping to receive SBA loans.“They’re going to be slammed,” Allison says of the SBA. “How big a delay is there going to be?”

Urgent question from small businesses: When will aid arrive?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City-area officials have cracked down on businesses that remain open despite stay-at-home orders as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri surpassed 1,000.

Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday that Kansas City issued citations to about 200 businesses for violating the city's order.&nbsp; Breaking the social distancing rule is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.

Residents of the Jackson County and Wyandotte and Johnson counties in neighboring Kansas have also been ordered to stay home for anything other than “essential needs.” That includes child care, health care, grocery stores, pharmacies and delivery/carry-out/drive-thru services from restaurants.

For most people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the virus</a>&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

Jackson County health officials on Monday ordered a Bass Pro Shops store in Independence to close, despite the business' belief that the public has the right to access guns and ammunition during an emergency, the newspaper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241625496.html">reported</a>.

Health officials said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbaf230a8b184912a846261bff73e5ce">as of Monday afternoon</a>, 1,031 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Missouri. That is an increase of 128 from Sunday. Thirteen have died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585236316648.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City-area officials have cracked down on businesses that remain open despite stay-at-home orders as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri surpassed 1,000.Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday that Kansas City issued citations to about 200 businesses for violating the city's order.&nbsp; Breaking the social distancing rule is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.Residents of the Jackson County and Wyandotte and Johnson counties in neighboring Kansas have also been ordered to stay home for anything other than “essential needs.” That includes child care, health care, grocery stores, pharmacies and delivery/carry-out/drive-thru services from restaurants.For most people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the virus</a>&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.Jackson County health officials on Monday ordered a Bass Pro Shops store in Independence to close, despite the business' belief that the public has the right to access guns and ammunition during an emergency, the newspaper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241625496.html">reported</a>.Health officials said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbaf230a8b184912a846261bff73e5ce">as of Monday afternoon</a>, 1,031 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Missouri. That is an increase of 128 from Sunday. Thirteen have died.

Kansas City cracks down on stores breaking stay-at-home rule

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas nursing home chain linked to a coronavirus death in the Kansas City area has reported that 18 staffers and residents tested positive for the virus at another facility.

Life Care Centers of America <a href="https://lcca.com/announcement/covid-19">said Monday that </a>11 residents and seven workers were confirmed to have COVID-19 at the home in Burlington, about 60 miles south of Topeka.

A resident at the Life Care Center in Kansas City, Kansas, was the first COVID-19-related fatality reported in the state on March 12. Both are operated by a company that also runs a Washington state nursing home linked to 22 deaths.

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

As a statewide stay-at-home order took effect Monday and President Donald Trump granted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/db8902e8e65561405a85bcf9ed556c87">a major disaster declaration</a>&nbsp;for the state, the number of cases grew. At last count Monday, state health officials said that Kansas has 368 cases, up from 319 on Sunday.

State and local officials reported nine deaths, including four in Wyandotte County. The latest two victims are a Sedgwick County man over 60 with underlying health conditions and a woman in her 40s in Crawford County. The deaths are the first in the state’s southern half. Most others were in the Kansas City area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585657534018.png" alt="Life Care Center in Burlington, Kansas -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Life Care Center in Burlington, Kansas -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas nursing home chain linked to a coronavirus death in the Kansas City area has reported that 18 staffers and residents tested positive for the virus at another facility.Life Care Centers of America <a href="https://lcca.com/announcement/covid-19">said Monday that </a>11 residents and seven workers were confirmed to have COVID-19 at the home in Burlington, about 60 miles south of Topeka.A resident at the Life Care Center in Kansas City, Kansas, was the first COVID-19-related fatality reported in the state on March 12. Both are operated by a company that also runs a Washington state nursing home linked to 22 deaths.For most people,&nbsp;the coronavirus&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.As a statewide stay-at-home order took effect Monday and President Donald Trump granted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/db8902e8e65561405a85bcf9ed556c87">a major disaster declaration</a>&nbsp;for the state, the number of cases grew. At last count Monday, state health officials said that Kansas has 368 cases, up from 319 on Sunday.State and local officials reported nine deaths, including four in Wyandotte County. The latest two victims are a Sedgwick County man over 60 with underlying health conditions and a woman in her 40s in Crawford County. The deaths are the first in the state’s southern half. Most others were in the Kansas City area.

Kansas nursing home reports 18 coronavirus cases

Senator Jerry Moran's Office has released information on the federal CARES ACT, which is designed to help Americans during the COVID-19 period.

On Friday President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The legislation builds on the administration’s ongoing efforts to use the full power of the federal government to provide necessary aid to individuals, small businesses, rural health care providers and other essential employers and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The CARES Act delivers assistance to individuals, employers and their communities,” said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall. “We must protect rural America by supporting our small businesses, keeping our hospitals open and supporting those who lose their job, through no fault of their own, during this pandemic. This bill is not perfect but it includes the assistance our ranchers, manufacturers and health care providers so desperately need right now.”

For the communities of Junction City and Fort Riley this legislation provides additional funding for Geary Community Hospital for any COVID-19 admissions and allows for the production and distribution of additional personal protective equipment for healthcare staff. It also provides additional aid for the Army’s operation and maintenance as it relates to the COVID-19 impact and funding for Irwin Army Community Hospital to purchase equipment and testing supplies to test and treat and coronavirus cases on base. Finally, it provides assistance for the agriculture community, which continues to struggle under adverse market conditions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342982232.png" alt="President Trump signed the legislation Friday afternoon -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the legislation Friday afternoon -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Senator Jerry Moran's Office has released information on the federal CARES ACT, which is designed to help Americans during the COVID-19 period.On Friday President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The legislation builds on the administration’s ongoing efforts to use the full power of the federal government to provide necessary aid to individuals, small businesses, rural health care providers and other essential employers and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.“The CARES Act delivers assistance to individuals, employers and their communities,” said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall. “We must protect rural America by supporting our small businesses, keeping our hospitals open and supporting those who lose their job, through no fault of their own, during this pandemic. This bill is not perfect but it includes the assistance our ranchers, manufacturers and health care providers so desperately need right now.”For the communities of Junction City and Fort Riley this legislation provides additional funding for Geary Community Hospital for any COVID-19 admissions and allows for the production and distribution of additional personal protective equipment for healthcare staff. It also provides additional aid for the Army’s operation and maintenance as it relates to the COVID-19 impact and funding for Irwin Army Community Hospital to purchase equipment and testing supplies to test and treat and coronavirus cases on base. Finally, it provides assistance for the agriculture community, which continues to struggle under adverse market conditions.The CARES Act provides funding for:<ol>
 <li>Airports:&nbsp;Support for Small Airports:&nbsp;Provides $100 million for general aviation airports and $56 million for Essential Air Service (EAS, keeping small and regional airports operational during the crisis.</li><li>Schools:&nbsp;Provides $31 billion to support K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to help our students continue to learn.</li><li>Cities and Towns:&nbsp;Provides $5 billion for Community Development Block Grants that help our cities and towns across Kansas remain strong.</li><li>Community Banks:&nbsp;Will help banks quickly provide loans to those who need them by lowering the Community Bank Leverage Ratio, enabling banks to dip further into their capital reserves for increased lending during these times of stress.</li><li>Farmers and Ranchers:&nbsp;Provides $9.5 billion for Secretary Perdue to provide support to farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19 including livestock producers; and includes an additional $14 billion to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to address low commodity prices and trade disruptions.</li><li>Health Care Providers:&nbsp;Provides $100 billion in direct assistance to health care providers on the front lines of the crisis.</li><li>Small Business Owners:&nbsp;Increases the number of eligible businesses, nonprofits, and lenders that can participate in the SBA’s 7(a) loan program, providing temporary flexibility in the use of the loan, and allows for loan forgiveness measures to keep employees on the payroll during this uncertain time.</li><li>Older Americans: Allows full transfer between congregate and home-delivered meal funding and provides additional flexibility in the type of food that can be served.</li><li>Displaced Employees: Expanded unemployment insurance eligibility to support more individuals and employees laid off during the pandemic.</li><li>Colleges: Assists community and four-year colleges in responding to the impact of the crisis</li>
 </ol>

CARES ACT details are outlined for the public

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Monday afternoon and does not include the most recent death reported of a Sedgwick County man over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions. A woman in her 40s in Crawford County is also a recent victim of the virus.

The deaths are the first in the southern part of the state. Most of the others were in the Kansas City area.

Monday's KDHE report also does not include the positive test on a patient in Barton County that health officials confirmed late Monday morning.

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Monday afternoon and does not include the most recent death reported of a Sedgwick County man over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions. A woman in her 40s in Crawford County is also a recent victim of the virus.The deaths are the first in the southern part of the state. Most of the others were in the Kansas City area.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F591358111723593%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="420" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Monday's KDHE report also does not include the positive test on a patient in Barton County that health officials confirmed late Monday morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585591559319.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

 🎥 Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 9th death reported

&nbsp;Governor Kelly’s Stay at Home Order went into effect this morning and will remain in effect until at least April 19. The statewide order supersedes the previous Stay at Home Order issued by Riley County and all questions about the order should be directed to the Governor’s Office.

“Our modeling continues to suggest that the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases in Kansas could reach as high as 900 over the next week,” Kelly said. “While I left these decisions to local health departments as long as possible, the reality is that the patchwork approach that has developed is inconsistent and is a recipe for chaos and, ultimately, for failure in our statewide fight to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

The Riley County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will continue to meet daily and provide guidance for emergency planning and preparations. Live updates for the public will now happen each Monday at 4:15 p.m. on the Riley County Health Department Facebook page, instead of every day. If the situation changes, that schedule will be adjusted.

“We will work with local health care providers, first responders, and everyone in the community to keep people safe, and will follow all procedures outlined by the Governor,” said Julie Gibbs, Local Health Officer.

The Riley County Police Department will enforce the Governor’s Order at the local level. To report a Riley County business that is in violation of the Governor’s Order, please email rileycountycovid19@gmail.com.

Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2gsH9gcREIT-P54IfEOV6KQJlssmg9dWhTivTgW2qqx5oP8bQN5lagFeU&amp;h=AT0Ia9y1brAmYfcQIYCsZkwYGXrT8k2AQk5qioBhcw_bbPTqjVPCfMIfVyjwDQ_3Gi8EhkjnNSU9424h6qu0wCduxS3CuBpVijz3ukvkQyxmcjEz_lr4Chk844bmp7abnu6Ep3Lhr4HVKqbB-yinPg3y8c2tHRx4G7Q2jdX_m_9g6Yql_kkmsIZMjuh4OCtiYDY0w52nbt1k-brF8T9RsxiqlgkGQR6lk4ge5dYXrbP19sl5s9i_piTbWh2hlnOJt-Z3wfR1fe-ptHqz0tt2GPUcxPc48k2DtbuaxPQpDFYdFbTZfhsmUX4yllkzTrdd7kh9OKRkaMXL-mWm9rrOIPdq1U96FQv9L1OFcY_UIwYowqpMplh4aRd9rhwoS_OGa_as_C_5BcfWZ09cj47vpS8fxVTxpklXKra6uNKM7wornRGpqFptf_Sq5YUoNw5eXRgfyAFfKBhrl4W_7adQxlxBSN_2qYD-e4w-SZ21k_rsoBtQWKRxJBocWIliTwpBSlfW7558tLTQn8vxDnn721fGrv1tQ5rkrgYLdxp-TAfK4NQ8Pzo2esVRkaMVuuwm8MdXOpmqmjXvZxZwLB38scvir-neU1asa7VHE9xss3D1OFO7JXspX9lo1v-uUQm-4M6k" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>.

Understandably, the Governor’s office is experiencing a high volume of calls and questions related to the KEFF. The online portal is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1IcucqRWhMtN4psJ1-5pFz_eO7tktRriubG9vOZz2BymHFDfmxeDYg2Ds&amp;h=AT09jgYmLEXL3q7OywKAHE6Rnl2BMvluWr144R5aa8E90f_2U7fTEojqcK5cYKEjKtXGP9-FivbreLbdRTAtq_WWH9XW0ZDuGu8LZRoElU904vOIcFIvQaiMQOGQ_ZhgHtVIcWrlTNk2KGwkaQoW6a4qJ8SmEiYEhuaqDD-E3J-XdaJrX2Bh6bEoSpgrYdzHxRkOYW_r73ma7QgIwK7BXo_ClTK3x2OVskEaQhsUBSkuSJ6Ql4xMKqr4u5fN_zo8Psm7IsoAWBoLJBoPdAVdaaUdmlok_rKU8pZwfVOEfDwQ-cyWyiD-z8iDbc4gCQztvDXlLaAscv4vJ_THqCjTSYmqlxiI8X366Z91E-S0FQGQlWNcwNsCmkz4ptewyZMxRjN516GjA3mnh-QoDgwNBobTRNMEBGRejyBD431qqMZ9l5J8bUNgBbumN7EJKcyVf1lkzgvFqRtuYQKdaqnbaBf3aROL_j7Ux3BcvrFX_RjT2_iM3p_ulL3G7CkwAAsj_i-u8-rxRX1omQ2qacnqaJH4lM9QPTYdjzbR5FHQSeT8oFzgpc4qEgMQGIkzquvqeX5UUVE0x5n0Kb47jka2BeHQKwdyE2wR5YeWEBA0Jzxn8qqU8Xu-LWTbEfMMydUaJ18B" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>&nbsp;and offers a form for businesses that want to be reconsidered under the KEFF guidelines.

A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.

For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, visit the Riley County website at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fcovid19%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0uKTWPa_PpP2As1FMxHl_f1b2o-k9UXu6Yjc7MrwJsQjdtmrf0Li1QGNQ&amp;h=AT3uRzD6X3q0kqY77qWDJxST52lsV0etOqGW4rhysnvQMT6W1k54sRbZ75n_FapK2pVvQRfMmMkxQmJorRXrxYUNDYRcgiCs1ibrSpvdewTIrZg6-Zg811jnDXscG-wesh6Qd9vqOlo43CE9gSJXcN-UlJXbet32m7f8CooOHzMcBpMJfTwK5VcW0Bk5DDwuUHnam4JbfMDVmEHm_n-0BOdDKbaewe7tOgC2W3WYC0mM7qd2KiVB9MyuMV8CJINm8JfQJvzzV-VzMVkX_OY1kHU4eJH2mv1Nn9r6IK4eC41PjDsNKyAfCjtG8l6oj3FY6NIFhLe_5rpL3hU472GW_fscha-wnUWrmSUJXnOUXIV2B2UV86WN0b2ZG-q1KoTsRM_UyYMItMmtJIPTo73JCohxuTnByM4kMFZjS8YbTVZww_oXJQguHaHgkhVFMZQDF1hHW9ONDm3Q2cTHkq0iFWSX_ZzQqX6P4PlVAmR2w01FWK_ILsG6G2ty27hFPzOABMTP0CJxicowRcEz5V25EZXYgFauhj1ju5b0Ou7n3hqS3KQsTqe0ZtiJPMMSvOsJCuL9W76ICFRv94cRC9O06pgxqeS4jFZxKPdTWqJGL0O7kol2UurRKqZdMjzJxKu8pblT" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARD16vzLfDjYsvJ8o2s6RJNDeuFpge9gPmq0rlbT1qDX4JKXiATY5s_h9Ctjhlp6k0aAmhdQ1gAHXHnX&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAQmsSyo2aUQqXroHsvECyv_JBjhMi207ExAeDhnR3OlDH6C2OyPaDKAxD-nRIPdVNrcYCLZ6Ew27IzGRDpKPBnr79gFBTw9QFY5ERM8n9DdROhAVFYOOvkEeCyC36Z81m8n-T_0vO40VS_hcTmQPmZYPS17-_Oa1v1ul2T2P7IRCxmg-pX1SQM8H3fzKFlOpOMKivn2FwFF09cxzbl2L-nOxCeGkUO4S-tigyIeGa83zKo1tRt65O32dCaMGwVAW4mIQ88nMtzku_QVheNT-QRdb3aAC1w81hc87iKdAVJUXqJaZn-kpir24KDTaFO36u0qNMpBj44Ba8YsgDOUt2yhQ">https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>&nbsp;and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585592238924.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Governor Kelly’s Stay at Home Order went into effect this morning and will remain in effect until at least April 19. The statewide order supersedes the previous Stay at Home Order issued by Riley County and all questions about the order should be directed to the Governor’s Office.“Our modeling continues to suggest that the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases in Kansas could reach as high as 900 over the next week,” Kelly said. “While I left these decisions to local health departments as long as possible, the reality is that the patchwork approach that has developed is inconsistent and is a recipe for chaos and, ultimately, for failure in our statewide fight to slow the spread of COVID-19.”The Riley County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will continue to meet daily and provide guidance for emergency planning and preparations. Live updates for the public will now happen each Monday at 4:15 p.m. on the Riley County Health Department Facebook page, instead of every day. If the situation changes, that schedule will be adjusted.“We will work with local health care providers, first responders, and everyone in the community to keep people safe, and will follow all procedures outlined by the Governor,” said Julie Gibbs, Local Health Officer.The Riley County Police Department will enforce the Governor’s Order at the local level. To report a Riley County business that is in violation of the Governor’s Order, please email rileycountycovid19@gmail.com.Please refer to the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) for information and guidance about what businesses remain open to the public. That information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2gsH9gcREIT-P54IfEOV6KQJlssmg9dWhTivTgW2qqx5oP8bQN5lagFeU&amp;h=AT0Ia9y1brAmYfcQIYCsZkwYGXrT8k2AQk5qioBhcw_bbPTqjVPCfMIfVyjwDQ_3Gi8EhkjnNSU9424h6qu0wCduxS3CuBpVijz3ukvkQyxmcjEz_lr4Chk844bmp7abnu6Ep3Lhr4HVKqbB-yinPg3y8c2tHRx4G7Q2jdX_m_9g6Yql_kkmsIZMjuh4OCtiYDY0w52nbt1k-brF8T9RsxiqlgkGQR6lk4ge5dYXrbP19sl5s9i_piTbWh2hlnOJt-Z3wfR1fe-ptHqz0tt2GPUcxPc48k2DtbuaxPQpDFYdFbTZfhsmUX4yllkzTrdd7kh9OKRkaMXL-mWm9rrOIPdq1U96FQv9L1OFcY_UIwYowqpMplh4aRd9rhwoS_OGa_as_C_5BcfWZ09cj47vpS8fxVTxpklXKra6uNKM7wornRGpqFptf_Sq5YUoNw5eXRgfyAFfKBhrl4W_7adQxlxBSN_2qYD-e4w-SZ21k_rsoBtQWKRxJBocWIliTwpBSlfW7558tLTQn8vxDnn721fGrv1tQ5rkrgYLdxp-TAfK4NQ8Pzo2esVRkaMVuuwm8MdXOpmqmjXvZxZwLB38scvir-neU1asa7VHE9xss3D1OFO7JXspX9lo1v-uUQm-4M6k" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>.Understandably, the Governor’s office is experiencing a high volume of calls and questions related to the KEFF. The online portal is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.kansas.gov%2Fkeff%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1IcucqRWhMtN4psJ1-5pFz_eO7tktRriubG9vOZz2BymHFDfmxeDYg2Ds&amp;h=AT09jgYmLEXL3q7OywKAHE6Rnl2BMvluWr144R5aa8E90f_2U7fTEojqcK5cYKEjKtXGP9-FivbreLbdRTAtq_WWH9XW0ZDuGu8LZRoElU904vOIcFIvQaiMQOGQ_ZhgHtVIcWrlTNk2KGwkaQoW6a4qJ8SmEiYEhuaqDD-E3J-XdaJrX2Bh6bEoSpgrYdzHxRkOYW_r73ma7QgIwK7BXo_ClTK3x2OVskEaQhsUBSkuSJ6Ql4xMKqr4u5fN_zo8Psm7IsoAWBoLJBoPdAVdaaUdmlok_rKU8pZwfVOEfDwQ-cyWyiD-z8iDbc4gCQztvDXlLaAscv4vJ_THqCjTSYmqlxiI8X366Z91E-S0FQGQlWNcwNsCmkz4ptewyZMxRjN516GjA3mnh-QoDgwNBobTRNMEBGRejyBD431qqMZ9l5J8bUNgBbumN7EJKcyVf1lkzgvFqRtuYQKdaqnbaBf3aROL_j7Ux3BcvrFX_RjT2_iM3p_ulL3G7CkwAAsj_i-u8-rxRX1omQ2qacnqaJH4lM9QPTYdjzbR5FHQSeT8oFzgpc4qEgMQGIkzquvqeX5UUVE0x5n0Kb47jka2BeHQKwdyE2wR5YeWEBA0Jzxn8qqU8Xu-LWTbEfMMydUaJ18B" target="_blank">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff/</a>&nbsp;and offers a form for businesses that want to be reconsidered under the KEFF guidelines.A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.The Q&amp;A hotline at 785-587-4526 will remain active for voicemail only. Please email general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County to rileycountycovid19@gmail.com.For more information about Riley County’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, visit the Riley County website at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rileycountyks.gov%2Fcovid19%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0uKTWPa_PpP2As1FMxHl_f1b2o-k9UXu6Yjc7MrwJsQjdtmrf0Li1QGNQ&amp;h=AT3uRzD6X3q0kqY77qWDJxST52lsV0etOqGW4rhysnvQMT6W1k54sRbZ75n_FapK2pVvQRfMmMkxQmJorRXrxYUNDYRcgiCs1ibrSpvdewTIrZg6-Zg811jnDXscG-wesh6Qd9vqOlo43CE9gSJXcN-UlJXbet32m7f8CooOHzMcBpMJfTwK5VcW0Bk5DDwuUHnam4JbfMDVmEHm_n-0BOdDKbaewe7tOgC2W3WYC0mM7qd2KiVB9MyuMV8CJINm8JfQJvzzV-VzMVkX_OY1kHU4eJH2mv1Nn9r6IK4eC41PjDsNKyAfCjtG8l6oj3FY6NIFhLe_5rpL3hU472GW_fscha-wnUWrmSUJXnOUXIV2B2UV86WN0b2ZG-q1KoTsRM_UyYMItMmtJIPTo73JCohxuTnByM4kMFZjS8YbTVZww_oXJQguHaHgkhVFMZQDF1hHW9ONDm3Q2cTHkq0iFWSX_ZzQqX6P4PlVAmR2w01FWK_ILsG6G2ty27hFPzOABMTP0CJxicowRcEz5V25EZXYgFauhj1ju5b0Ou7n3hqS3KQsTqe0ZtiJPMMSvOsJCuL9W76ICFRv94cRC9O06pgxqeS4jFZxKPdTWqJGL0O7kol2UurRKqZdMjzJxKu8pblT" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/covid19</a>, follow RCHD on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARD16vzLfDjYsvJ8o2s6RJNDeuFpge9gPmq0rlbT1qDX4JKXiATY5s_h9Ctjhlp6k0aAmhdQ1gAHXHnX&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAQmsSyo2aUQqXroHsvECyv_JBjhMi207ExAeDhnR3OlDH6C2OyPaDKAxD-nRIPdVNrcYCLZ6Ew27IzGRDpKPBnr79gFBTw9QFY5ERM8n9DdROhAVFYOOvkEeCyC36Z81m8n-T_0vO40VS_hcTmQPmZYPS17-_Oa1v1ul2T2P7IRCxmg-pX1SQM8H3fzKFlOpOMKivn2FwFF09cxzbl2L-nOxCeGkUO4S-tigyIeGa83zKo1tRt65O32dCaMGwVAW4mIQ88nMtzku_QVheNT-QRdb3aAC1w81hc87iKdAVJUXqJaZn-kpir24KDTaFO36u0qNMpBj44Ba8YsgDOUt2yhQ">https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>&nbsp;and Twitter @RileyCoHealth.

Riley County Emergency Operations Center responds to Governor's stay at Home Order

The Barton County Health Department reports the first positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Barton County. Testing was confirmed just after 11a.m. on Monday, according to a media release from the department.

The case involves a female patient over the age of age 60 with a travel history. The patient has been in quarantine for a week, is in isolation at home and expects a full recovery.

The Barton County Health Department is doing patient contact investigation to learn who the patient may have had contact with while symptomatic. Any individuals who are at of risk exposure will be contacted as soon as possible. The Health Department will monitor all contacts for fever and respiratory symptoms. No further information about the patient will be released.

"Please practice good hygiene by coughing into your sleeve, frequently washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, disinfect high touch areas continually and practice social distancing by maintaining a 6-foot perimeter.

We will continue to provide further information as it becomes available."

The Barton County Health Department reports the first positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Barton County. Testing was confirmed just after 11a.m. on Monday, according to a media release from the department.The case involves a female patient over the age of age 60 with a travel history. The patient has been in quarantine for a week, is in isolation at home and expects a full recovery.The Barton County Health Department is doing patient contact investigation to learn who the patient may have had contact with while symptomatic. Any individuals who are at of risk exposure will be contacted as soon as possible. The Health Department will monitor all contacts for fever and respiratory symptoms. No further information about the patient will be released."Please practice good hygiene by coughing into your sleeve, frequently washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, disinfect high touch areas continually and practice social distancing by maintaining a 6-foot perimeter.We will continue to provide further information as it becomes available."

Woman in her 60s is first coronavirus patient in Barton County

TONGANOXIE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas school district is suspending its grab-and-go sack lunch program for a week after a worker with the district’s drive-thu program tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The Tonganoxie school district said in a statement that it is placing staff members who came in contact with the fellow worker in a 14-day quarantine. 

The district said it also is following all infection control protocols, including thoroughly sanitizing the meal preparation area before and after meal preparations. District officials say that the person did not come in direct contact with students or families and was only involved with meal preparations.

TONGANOXIE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas school district is suspending its grab-and-go sack lunch program for a week after a worker with the district’s drive-thu program tested positive for the coronavirus. The Tonganoxie school district said in a statement that it is placing staff members who came in contact with the fellow worker in a 14-day quarantine. The district said it also is following all infection control protocols, including thoroughly sanitizing the meal preparation area before and after meal preparations. District officials say that the person did not come in direct contact with students or families and was only involved with meal preparations.

Kan. school food prep worker tests positive for the coronavirus

The Army has announced action on a Stay at Home Order for Fort Riley.

In coordination with the Kansas Governor’s executive order mandating statewide “stay home,” the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, has issued a General Order mandating Stay-at-Home for all military personnel and Department of the Army Civilians (DAC) assigned or attached to Fort Riley. 

Although essential activities as directed by the first O-5 level commander for military personnel and O-6 level commander for DAC are permitted, there are punitive restrictions placed on travel, visitation, physical fitness, and reiterates restrictions placed on Soldiers ordered into quarantine and isolation. All Fort Riley personnel are strongly encouraged to restrict movement between the hours of 2200-0500.

 Commanders will counsel and support their service members and DACs regarding the execution of this order.

A PDF of the signed order is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/my-fort/all-services/coronavirus-information?fbclid=IwAR2caQDwVXbPWLvNcRySK9OOGRIT_Wwi_uWQsq1i8ktOI2BdMhhUlX5KGLM" target="_blank">https://home.army.mil/…/all-services/coronavirus-information</a>

Consult your chain of command or supervisor for details. The effective date of this order is 30 March 2020 and remains in effect until 19 April 2020, unless rescinded by the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, or modified in conjunction with local, state, or DoD guidance.

The Army has announced action on a Stay at Home Order for Fort Riley.In coordination with the Kansas Governor’s executive order mandating statewide “stay home,” the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, has issued a General Order mandating Stay-at-Home for all military personnel and Department of the Army Civilians (DAC) assigned or attached to Fort Riley. Although essential activities as directed by the first O-5 level commander for military personnel and O-6 level commander for DAC are permitted, there are punitive restrictions placed on travel, visitation, physical fitness, and reiterates restrictions placed on Soldiers ordered into quarantine and isolation. All Fort Riley personnel are strongly encouraged to restrict movement between the hours of 2200-0500. Commanders will counsel and support their service members and DACs regarding the execution of this order.A PDF of the signed order is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/my-fort/all-services/coronavirus-information?fbclid=IwAR2caQDwVXbPWLvNcRySK9OOGRIT_Wwi_uWQsq1i8ktOI2BdMhhUlX5KGLM" target="_blank">https://home.army.mil/…/all-services/coronavirus-information</a>Consult your chain of command or supervisor for details. The effective date of this order is 30 March 2020 and remains in effect until 19 April 2020, unless rescinded by the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, or modified in conjunction with local, state, or DoD guidance.

Stay at Home Order issued for Fort Riley

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump approved a request Sunday for a federal disaster declaration for the state of Kansas.

The president ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020 and continuing, according to a media release from the White House.

<a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4504">Click here </a>to read more on the declaration.

Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Kansas impacted by COVID-19.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, named Paul Taylor as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further assessments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585525191374.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump approved a request Sunday for a federal disaster declaration for the state of Kansas.The president ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020 and continuing, according to a media release from the White House.<a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4504">Click here </a>to read more on the declaration.Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Kansas impacted by COVID-19.Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, named Paul Taylor as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further assessments.

Coronavirus battle: President approves Kansas disaster declaration 

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University faculty, students and staff are doing more than showing they can keep teaching and keep learning during the transition to remote learning. They also can rise to the challenge and become worldwide leaders.To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all K-State classes transitioned to online and other forms of distance learning beginning March 23. That transition led to the creation of valuable resources and partnerships:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching/" target="_blank">Keep Teaching</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keeplearning/" target="_blank">Keep Learning</a>&nbsp;websites; the&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;online community; and partnerships with rural internet providers.

One impressive achievement: The free online community&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;that K-State Global Campus created has more than 1,500 people involved from across the U.S. and from more than 15 countries. The online community is among the first of its kind in the U.S. and provides a place for higher education peers to share knowledge and resources to support academic continuity."Through these new initiatives, K-State has truly established itself as a cyber land-grant university leader," said Charles Taber, K-State provost and executive vice president. "I have been impressed with how quickly and efficiently units across the university have collaborated and created ways to transition to virtual instruction. We have learned so much about what a cyber land-grant university is and will be."

On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=62821" target="_blank">March 6</a>, Taber established a working group of collaborators to develop a COVID-19 continuity plan. Within 10 days, the group had developed an array of valuable resources for faculty, staff and students.The efforts have involved more than 30 K-State collaborators from K-State Global Campus, the Office of the Provost, the Teaching and Learning Center, Information Technology Services, K-State Libraries, the Student Access Center, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, the College of Education and the College of Agriculture.

Keep Teaching initiatives began at universities several years ago in response to disruptive events, such as wildfires or hurricanes, said Katie Linder, executive director for program development with K-State Global Campus. Keep Teaching initiatives help universities maintain academic continuity and the COVID-19 pandemic marked K-State's first Keep Teaching initiative.K-State's Keep Teaching online community is an innovative approach to a Keep Teaching initiative, Linder said. 

The online community extends beyond K-State and includes faculty, library staff, information technology professionals and administrators who are from universities around the world and are sharing valuable information on teaching and learning remotely.Through the online space, K-State is gathering information, organizing it and creating groups. It's a way to share information with people who may feel isolated and to help them make connections across the world, Linder said."K-State is truly following the principle of generosity in these challenging times," Linder said. "We're not trying to hoard information and resources. We're opening the conversation and saying, 'We can solve these problems together.' That openness to listening to others and sharing information is a true example of being a leader in the cyber land-grant space."

The university's ability to transition quickly to online learning is the result of another recent disruption: the Hale Library fire. The fire caused significant damage to the university's data center, and K-State took on a Cloud First initiative and quickly moved to a cloud-based system in a few months."Because we have moved all of our key applications and services to the cloud, we have experienced very little, if any, slowdowns and no downtime," said Gary Pratt, K-State chief information officer. "With students, staff and faculty accessing these services from home internet connections, and the systems residing in the cloud, very little bandwidth is being accessed using our on-campus connection, which significantly reduces any connectivity issues."

Pratt also has worked with more than 12 internet providers to offer free or discounted services for students and faculty during this time of remote teaching and learning. The providers have signed the Federal Communications Commission's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected" target="_blank">Keep Americans Connected Pledge</a>&nbsp;that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.K-State's work isn't over. The collaborative team continues to update the Keep Teaching and Keep Learning websites and add new valuable information."At K-State, we pride ourselves on providing excellent educational experiences for our students.&nbsp;Our goal was to keep doing that," said Donald Saucier, faculty associate director of the Teaching and Learning Center. "I am proud to contribute to this amazing collective effort. K-State has a lot of superheroes behind the scenes who made this possible."For information about K-State's online learning initiatives, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching" target="_blank">k-state.edu/keepteaching</a>. People also are encouraged to&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/feed?autojoin=1" target="_blank">join the Keep Teaching online community</a>

Division of Communications and Marketing



MANHATTAN — Kansas State University faculty, students and staff are doing more than showing they can keep teaching and keep learning during the transition to remote learning. They also can rise to the challenge and become worldwide leaders.To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all K-State classes transitioned to online and other forms of distance learning beginning March 23. That transition led to the creation of valuable resources and partnerships:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching/" target="_blank">Keep Teaching</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keeplearning/" target="_blank">Keep Learning</a>&nbsp;websites; the&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;online community; and partnerships with rural internet providers.One impressive achievement: The free online community&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;that K-State Global Campus created has more than 1,500 people involved from across the U.S. and from more than 15 countries. The online community is among the first of its kind in the U.S. and provides a place for higher education peers to share knowledge and resources to support academic continuity."Through these new initiatives, K-State has truly established itself as a cyber land-grant university leader," said Charles Taber, K-State provost and executive vice president. "I have been impressed with how quickly and efficiently units across the university have collaborated and created ways to transition to virtual instruction. We have learned so much about what a cyber land-grant university is and will be."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=62821" target="_blank">March 6</a>, Taber established a working group of collaborators to develop a COVID-19 continuity plan. Within 10 days, the group had developed an array of valuable resources for faculty, staff and students.The efforts have involved more than 30 K-State collaborators from K-State Global Campus, the Office of the Provost, the Teaching and Learning Center, Information Technology Services, K-State Libraries, the Student Access Center, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, the College of Education and the College of Agriculture.Keep Teaching initiatives began at universities several years ago in response to disruptive events, such as wildfires or hurricanes, said Katie Linder, executive director for program development with K-State Global Campus. Keep Teaching initiatives help universities maintain academic continuity and the COVID-19 pandemic marked K-State's first Keep Teaching initiative.K-State's Keep Teaching online community is an innovative approach to a Keep Teaching initiative, Linder said. The online community extends beyond K-State and includes faculty, library staff, information technology professionals and administrators who are from universities around the world and are sharing valuable information on teaching and learning remotely.Through the online space, K-State is gathering information, organizing it and creating groups. It's a way to share information with people who may feel isolated and to help them make connections across the world, Linder said."K-State is truly following the principle of generosity in these challenging times," Linder said. "We're not trying to hoard information and resources. We're opening the conversation and saying, 'We can solve these problems together.' That openness to listening to others and sharing information is a true example of being a leader in the cyber land-grant space."The university's ability to transition quickly to online learning is the result of another recent disruption: the Hale Library fire. The fire caused significant damage to the university's data center, and K-State took on a Cloud First initiative and quickly moved to a cloud-based system in a few months."Because we have moved all of our key applications and services to the cloud, we have experienced very little, if any, slowdowns and no downtime," said Gary Pratt, K-State chief information officer. "With students, staff and faculty accessing these services from home internet connections, and the systems residing in the cloud, very little bandwidth is being accessed using our on-campus connection, which significantly reduces any connectivity issues."Pratt also has worked with more than 12 internet providers to offer free or discounted services for students and faculty during this time of remote teaching and learning. The providers have signed the Federal Communications Commission's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected" target="_blank">Keep Americans Connected Pledge</a>&nbsp;that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.K-State's work isn't over. The collaborative team continues to update the Keep Teaching and Keep Learning websites and add new valuable information."At K-State, we pride ourselves on providing excellent educational experiences for our students.&nbsp;Our goal was to keep doing that," said Donald Saucier, faculty associate director of the Teaching and Learning Center. "I am proud to contribute to this amazing collective effort. K-State has a lot of superheroes behind the scenes who made this possible."For information about K-State's online learning initiatives, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching" target="_blank">k-state.edu/keepteaching</a>. People also are encouraged to&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/feed?autojoin=1" target="_blank">join the Keep Teaching online community</a>Written by Jennifer TidballK-State News and Communications ServicesDivision of Communications and Marketing

Keep Teaching, Keep Learning: K-State demonstrates cyber land-grant university leadership

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coronavirus Update