TOPEKA, Kan. – The Secretary of Corrections announced Friday that visitation will be suspended at all Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) facilities, effective immediately, as a measure of precaution to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to our residents and staff.

We will reevaluate on an on-going basis and will communicate any changes as soon as possible.

Families are encouraged to utilize e-mail, phone and video visits to stay in touch with their loved ones.

For more information and resources related to COVID-19, including symptoms and tips for prevention, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7c7f0e3d945f4c72010d08d7c78d604a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637197282908733988&amp;sdata=kyCYKEZLPalwydp3DMLuB9R22dKND5rFqCDFB10pUEI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Secretary of Corrections announced Friday that visitation will be suspended at all Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) facilities, effective immediately, as a measure of precaution to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to our residents and staff.We will reevaluate on an on-going basis and will communicate any changes as soon as possible.Families are encouraged to utilize e-mail, phone and video visits to stay in touch with their loved ones.For more information and resources related to COVID-19, including symptoms and tips for prevention, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7c7f0e3d945f4c72010d08d7c78d604a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637197282908733988&amp;sdata=kyCYKEZLPalwydp3DMLuB9R22dKND5rFqCDFB10pUEI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

KDOC: Visitation cancelled at all corrections facilities due to coronavirus

By FRANK MORRIS <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-towns-are-insulated-coronavirus-now-they-may-take-harder-hit-later#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

Remote rural towns are a good place to be early in a pandemic, 
according to epidemiologists, but that flips as the people in those 
towns begin to get sick.

Fredonia, Kansas, and other rural towns 
tend to be more spread out, lowering the chances that people are in 
close enough contact to catch the novel coronavirus.

“I always 
say it’s a hundred miles from anywhere,” quips Cassie Edson, with the 
Wilson County Health Department. “It’s a hundred miles from Wichita, a 
hundred miles to Joplin, a hundred miles to Tulsa.”

By 
definition, rural areas are removed from major seaports, airports and 
often even big highways, so it generally takes longer for new viruses to
 show up, but when they do, that distance can make treatment 
challenging.

Fredonia had an estimated population of 2,264 in 2018.

Destany
 Wheeler, director of the Wilson County health department, says all the 
miles of farm fields between Fredonia and the next big town are a plus 
right now.

“It gives us a little bit more time to prepare and to educate people on, especially, social distancing,” Wheeler says.

That
 is the practice of avoiding large crowds and close contact with others,
 which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing can be easier in small towns without mass transit, long lines or dense crowds.

“I
 think it’s accurate that where you have more individuals you increase 
the likelihood of transmission of infections,” says Allison Aiello, a 
professor of social epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.

That said, no one believes rural communities will be permanently shielded from the spread of the coronavirus.

“I
 think it’s just a matter of time,” says Andy Pekosz, a professor of 
molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School 
of Public Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most remote rural towns don’t get many 
outside visitors, but the people who live there often drive to larger 
cities for everything from work to medical treatment to a night on the 
town.

Pekosz says that unless containment efforts succeed beyond 
his expectations, it will be increasingly likely that rural residents 
will be exposed to the coronavirus on those trips.

“As case 
numbers increase, then, there's more of a likelihood of people moving 
from those urban areas to all sorts of other parts of the country,” says
 Pekosz. “And so, therefore, the rest (of the country) is really going 
to increase exponentially.”

Alex
 Navarro, a medical historian at the University of Michigan, says 
Spanish Flu swept the entire country in 1918. There were a few notable 
exceptions, including Gunnison, Colorado.

“You have the story of a
 town that literally barricaded the roads and forced everyone who did 
come into town into quarantine,” says Navarro.

In fact, all of 
Gunnison County sealed itself off from the outside world for four 
months. It worked. At the height of the pandemic, the county recorded 
just two cases of the Spanish Flu, both in isolation.

Navarro says people keep asking him if a remote, little town could pull off the same trick today.

“It's
 a very highly qualified maybe. I mean, I think there's probably no 
doubt that it can work if it's done properly,” says Navarro. “You have 
to do it really early. You have to do it as strictly as possible, and it
 has to last long enough for community transmission outside of that area
 to end.”

It turned out that even the four-month shutdown in 
Gunnison wasn’t long enough. More than 100 people got sick, and several 
died when the city finally lifted its barricades.&nbsp;

In
 Fredonia, Kansas, Wheeler has planned for coronavirus by stockpiling 
masks and other supplies, but she fears that a local outbreak could be 
devastating.

Wilson County, like most rural communities, skews 
older than the national average. Additionally, Wheeler says residents 
are more likely to be smokers or have chronic health issues, increasing 
the likelihood of life-threatening cases of COVID-19.

Fredonia is fortunate to have a hospital in town, but it’s small with only 25 beds and one ventilator.

Edson says a serious outbreak could quickly overwhelm the local health system.

“If
 enough people need more hospitalization, well, they'll have to go 
elsewhere, and that’s a fact. It'll be challenging to everybody,” says 
Edson.

Frank Morris is a national correspondent and senior editor at KCUR&nbsp;89.3. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/franknewsman">@FrankNewsman</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584118532944.png" alt=" Destany Wheeler, the director of the health department in Wilson County, Kansas, waves at a pedestrian. Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Destany Wheeler, the director of the health department in Wilson County, Kansas, waves at a pedestrian. Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By FRANK MORRIS <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-towns-are-insulated-coronavirus-now-they-may-take-harder-hit-later#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>Remote rural towns are a good place to be early in a pandemic, 
according to epidemiologists, but that flips as the people in those 
towns begin to get sick.Fredonia, Kansas, and other rural towns 
tend to be more spread out, lowering the chances that people are in 
close enough contact to catch the novel coronavirus.“I always 
say it’s a hundred miles from anywhere,” quips Cassie Edson, with the 
Wilson County Health Department. “It’s a hundred miles from Wichita, a 
hundred miles to Joplin, a hundred miles to Tulsa.”By 
definition, rural areas are removed from major seaports, airports and 
often even big highways, so it generally takes longer for new viruses to
 show up, but when they do, that distance can make treatment 
challenging.<h2>Already isolated</h2>Fredonia had an estimated population of 2,264 in 2018.Destany
 Wheeler, director of the Wilson County health department, says all the 
miles of farm fields between Fredonia and the next big town are a plus 
right now.“It gives us a little bit more time to prepare and to educate people on, especially, social distancing,” Wheeler says.That
 is the practice of avoiding large crowds and close contact with others,
 which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
to slow the spread of COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584118576638.png" alt=" Destany Wheeler stocks face masks and other supplies likely to be needed in a pandemic. Credit Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Destany Wheeler stocks face masks and other supplies likely to be needed in a pandemic. Credit Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>Social distancing can be easier in small towns without mass transit, long lines or dense crowds.“I
 think it’s accurate that where you have more individuals you increase 
the likelihood of transmission of infections,” says Allison Aiello, a 
professor of social epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.That said, no one believes rural communities will be permanently shielded from the spread of the coronavirus.“I
 think it’s just a matter of time,” says Andy Pekosz, a professor of 
molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School 
of Public Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most remote rural towns don’t get many 
outside visitors, but the people who live there often drive to larger 
cities for everything from work to medical treatment to a night on the 
town.Pekosz says that unless containment efforts succeed beyond 
his expectations, it will be increasingly likely that rural residents 
will be exposed to the coronavirus on those trips.“As case 
numbers increase, then, there's more of a likelihood of people moving 
from those urban areas to all sorts of other parts of the country,” says
 Pekosz. “And so, therefore, the rest (of the country) is really going 
to increase exponentially.”<h2>The town that blocked the Spanish Flu</h2>Alex
 Navarro, a medical historian at the University of Michigan, says 
Spanish Flu swept the entire country in 1918. There were a few notable 
exceptions, including Gunnison, Colorado.“You have the story of a
 town that literally barricaded the roads and forced everyone who did 
come into town into quarantine,” says Navarro.In fact, all of 
Gunnison County sealed itself off from the outside world for four 
months. It worked. At the height of the pandemic, the county recorded 
just two cases of the Spanish Flu, both in isolation.Navarro says people keep asking him if a remote, little town could pull off the same trick today.“It's
 a very highly qualified maybe. I mean, I think there's probably no 
doubt that it can work if it's done properly,” says Navarro. “You have 
to do it really early. You have to do it as strictly as possible, and it
 has to last long enough for community transmission outside of that area
 to end.”It turned out that even the four-month shutdown in 
Gunnison wasn’t long enough. More than 100 people got sick, and several 
died when the city finally lifted its barricades.&nbsp;<h2>A challenge for the local health system</h2>In
 Fredonia, Kansas, Wheeler has planned for coronavirus by stockpiling 
masks and other supplies, but she fears that a local outbreak could be 
devastating.Wilson County, like most rural communities, skews 
older than the national average. Additionally, Wheeler says residents 
are more likely to be smokers or have chronic health issues, increasing 
the likelihood of life-threatening cases of COVID-19.Fredonia is fortunate to have a hospital in town, but it’s small with only 25 beds and one ventilator.Edson says a serious outbreak could quickly overwhelm the local health system.“If
 enough people need more hospitalization, well, they'll have to go 
elsewhere, and that’s a fact. It'll be challenging to everybody,” says 
Edson.Frank Morris is a national correspondent and senior editor at KCUR&nbsp;89.3. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/franknewsman">@FrankNewsman</a>.

Kan. towns insulated from coronavirus now — but may take harder hit later 

WICHITA —Sedgwick County officials announced recommendations related to public gatherings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference Friday morning in Wichita.

"Until further notice, there is a ban on public gatherings of more than 250 attendees in Sedgwick County," said Local Health Officer Garold Minns, M.D.&nbsp;

"Under state statute, the local health officer has the authority to cancel public events when there is a broad public health concern."

Watch the news <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI4EhXdTqz8">conference here.</a>

"As we continue to learn more about Coronavirus, we will revisit these recommendations and adjust as necessary."

For more information on the virus go to the<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/COVID-19_One_Pager.pdf"> KDHE web site.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584117475311.png" alt="County Commissioner Pete Meitzner, Local Health Officer Garold Minns, MD.&nbsp; who is also the Dean of the KU School of Medicine in Wichita and Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne during Friday's news conference-photo courtesy Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>County Commissioner Pete Meitzner, Local Health Officer Garold Minns, MD.&nbsp; who is also the Dean of the KU School of Medicine in Wichita and Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne during Friday's news conference-photo courtesy Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Sedgwick County officials announced recommendations related to public gatherings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference Friday morning in Wichita."Until further notice, there is a ban on public gatherings of more than 250 attendees in Sedgwick County," said Local Health Officer Garold Minns, M.D.&nbsp;"Under state statute, the local health officer has the authority to cancel public events when there is a broad public health concern."Watch the news <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI4EhXdTqz8">conference here.</a>"As we continue to learn more about Coronavirus, we will revisit these recommendations and adjust as necessary."For more information on the virus go to the<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/COVID-19_One_Pager.pdf"> KDHE web site.</a>

Coronavirus: Sedgwick County bans public gatherings over 250 people

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is announcing a sixth case of COVID-19 in Kansas. 

According to a media release, the presumptive positive case was identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.

The case is in a Butler County man in his 70s who had travel outside the U.S. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patient is in isolation. No other information will be provided about the patient.

“Kansans should remain vigilant,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary said. “It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”

People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/">website.</a>

If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is announcing a sixth case of COVID-19 in Kansas. According to a media release, the presumptive positive case was identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.The case is in a Butler County man in his 70s who had travel outside the U.S. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patient is in isolation. No other information will be provided about the patient.“Kansans should remain vigilant,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary said. “It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/">website.</a>If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Kansas finds 1st coronavirus case outside Kansas City metro

During a Thursday evening news conference, Governor Laura Kelly reported that Kansas has the first death due to coronavirus.

The victim was a man in his 70s from Wyandotte County.

Governor Laura Kelly has also issued an emergency declaration for the State of Kansas in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).&nbsp; The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.

"The safety and well-being of Kansans is our priority, first and foremost," Kelly said. "The landscape of COVID-19 is fast-changing. Today is evidence of that."

Tonight, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the first COVID-19 related death in Kansas. A man in his 70s was brought to the hospital and died shortly after arrival. Testing done post-mortem came back positive for COVID-19. He was living in a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County.

"We are working on identifying contacts right now," Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. "We understand the concern and encourage Kansans to remain vigilant."

"To prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population, it's important to follow the recommended guidelines of screening and restricting visitors to our long-term care facilities," Department for Children and Families and Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard said.&nbsp;

The Governor issued the emergency declaration Thursday afternoon. &nbsp;

"Our state is well prepared," Kelly said. "With this emergency declaration we can activate our response and coordinate fully. This is part of the process and will make access to important resources more accessible. We continue to work closely with our local, state and federal partners to respond to the potential spread of the virus - or any situation that may arise."

COVID-19 can be found at the following sources:

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE's website and Frequently Asked Questions at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=3u0ejmwwe6q32%2FMk1f1hi2CpVhRMT1RCrMQUZEQ5VOk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=ykRqpB1cCOCWVqlTcEU4NWYLXl6%2BwvCuIZJi0VAHgro%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus</a>.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials say they have identified three new cases of the coronavirus, making four cases in the state. Mary Beverly, the interim director of the Johnson County Health Department, says the cases are three men between the ages of 35 and 65 who all attended a conference in Florida. 

Beverly says the men did not have symptoms until after they returned from the conference and they are not seriously ill. The announcement comes after the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Emporia State University joined colleges across the country in shifting classes online to mitigate the spread of the virus.&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is confirming three presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. The possible cases were identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). KHEL, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.

The cases are in Johnson County and involve three people who attended the same conference in Florida. It is believed they contracted COVID-19 in Florida.&nbsp; They were not symptomatic when traveling home and sought care once they began feeling ill. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patients are all males and in isolation. These cases are not connected to the earlier case in Johnson County. No other information will be provided about the patients.

“Right now, there is no community spread,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “The cases in Kansas are here because of transmission elsewhere. However, Kansans should remain vigilant. It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”

“Kansas is working alongside local and federal public health partners in addressing presumptive positive cases in our state, and the potential spread of the virus,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is our highest priority to keep all Kansans healthy and safe. Everyone should continue to practice safe habits such as hand washing and staying home when sick. The KDHE website, www.<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkdheks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477178260&amp;sdata=3ZsIvAC9n9u%2FdowCO%2FQmie2VBJ0U6uMWZFKkqkDiw2k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">kdheks.gov</a>, has daily updates and other resources to keep Kansans educated on COVID-19."

People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s website,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477188217&amp;sdata=V5ag3QGvNXe5jpJ2ghFTJeaOx%2BYIdAqqRd%2Bi4jpiSrY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/ and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

During a Thursday evening news conference, Governor Laura Kelly reported that Kansas has the first death due to coronavirus.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F529643674624712%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The victim was a man in his 70s from Wyandotte County.Governor Laura Kelly has also issued an emergency declaration for the State of Kansas in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).&nbsp; The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria."The safety and well-being of Kansans is our priority, first and foremost," Kelly said. "The landscape of COVID-19 is fast-changing. Today is evidence of that."Tonight, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the first COVID-19 related death in Kansas. A man in his 70s was brought to the hospital and died shortly after arrival. Testing done post-mortem came back positive for COVID-19. He was living in a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County."We are working on identifying contacts right now," Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. "We understand the concern and encourage Kansans to remain vigilant.""To prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population, it's important to follow the recommended guidelines of screening and restricting visitors to our long-term care facilities," Department for Children and Families and Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard said.&nbsp;The Governor issued the emergency declaration Thursday afternoon. &nbsp;"Our state is well prepared," Kelly said. "With this emergency declaration we can activate our response and coordinate fully. This is part of the process and will make access to important resources more accessible. We continue to work closely with our local, state and federal partners to respond to the potential spread of the virus - or any situation that may arise."COVID-19 can be found at the following sources:<ol>
 <li><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2Findex.htm&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891596507&amp;sdata=80eCy5q8uxHf%2Fjc3lC8iNJEoqGtWCDaC0N%2F8PpldB08%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health and Environment</a></li><li><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891606463&amp;sdata=2bh6QxhCkh9jOxgHw8bJiF9cFqHiYVnnY1M7abCB8IA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Center for Disease Control and Prevention</a></li><li><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.who.int%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891606463&amp;sdata=IVwTAAwt0Clz6a9wJiKtyC0GDBlS0LTIHY0tNBYlrTY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a></li>
 </ol>If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE's website and Frequently Asked Questions at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=3u0ejmwwe6q32%2FMk1f1hi2CpVhRMT1RCrMQUZEQ5VOk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=ykRqpB1cCOCWVqlTcEU4NWYLXl6%2BwvCuIZJi0VAHgro%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus</a>.------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials say they have identified three new cases of the coronavirus, making four cases in the state. Mary Beverly, the interim director of the Johnson County Health Department, says the cases are three men between the ages of 35 and 65 who all attended a conference in Florida. Beverly says the men did not have symptoms until after they returned from the conference and they are not seriously ill. The announcement comes after the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Emporia State University joined colleges across the country in shifting classes online to mitigate the spread of the virus.&nbsp;-------------The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is confirming three presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. The possible cases were identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). KHEL, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.The cases are in Johnson County and involve three people who attended the same conference in Florida. It is believed they contracted COVID-19 in Florida.&nbsp; They were not symptomatic when traveling home and sought care once they began feeling ill. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patients are all males and in isolation. These cases are not connected to the earlier case in Johnson County. No other information will be provided about the patients.“Right now, there is no community spread,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “The cases in Kansas are here because of transmission elsewhere. However, Kansans should remain vigilant. It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”“Kansas is working alongside local and federal public health partners in addressing presumptive positive cases in our state, and the potential spread of the virus,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is our highest priority to keep all Kansans healthy and safe. Everyone should continue to practice safe habits such as hand washing and staying home when sick. The KDHE website, www.<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkdheks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477178260&amp;sdata=3ZsIvAC9n9u%2FdowCO%2FQmie2VBJ0U6uMWZFKkqkDiw2k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">kdheks.gov</a>, has daily updates and other resources to keep Kansans educated on COVID-19."People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s website,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477188217&amp;sdata=V5ag3QGvNXe5jpJ2ghFTJeaOx%2BYIdAqqRd%2Bi4jpiSrY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/ and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

🎥 Kan. reports 1st coronavirus death; governor declares emergency

MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">McCain Performances Series</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University is canceling four upcoming shows because of concerns with the coronavirus pandemic."Our top priority is the health and safety of our artists, volunteers, staff and audience members," said Todd Holmberg, executive director of the McCain Performance Series. "We feel this step to cancel these upcoming performances is an important way to mitigate the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus."

The following shows have been canceled and Holmberg said there are no current plans to reschedule them:• George Orwell’s "1984" on March 18.• Homer's "The Odyssey" on March 19.• "One Night of Queen" on March 21.• Susan Werner on March 27, both shows.Patrons will be issued a refund for the ticket price, facility surcharge and tax to a valid credit card or they may opt to refund the value to a gift certificate for future shows. 

To obtain a refund, patrons should contact the McCain ticket office at 785-532-6428 during regular ticket office hours, which are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.Events not listed above are currently taking place as scheduled."As the situation evolves,&nbsp;we will continue to work with campus and community leaders to evaluate additional measures and impacts," Holmberg said." "If additional event changes are needed to protect the health and safety of the campus and community, we will update our website and contact patrons immediately."

Division of Communications and Marketing



MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">McCain Performances Series</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University is canceling four upcoming shows because of concerns with the coronavirus pandemic."Our top priority is the health and safety of our artists, volunteers, staff and audience members," said Todd Holmberg, executive director of the McCain Performance Series. "We feel this step to cancel these upcoming performances is an important way to mitigate the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus."The following shows have been canceled and Holmberg said there are no current plans to reschedule them:• George Orwell’s "1984" on March 18.• Homer's "The Odyssey" on March 19.• "One Night of Queen" on March 21.• Susan Werner on March 27, both shows.Patrons will be issued a refund for the ticket price, facility surcharge and tax to a valid credit card or they may opt to refund the value to a gift certificate for future shows. To obtain a refund, patrons should contact the McCain ticket office at 785-532-6428 during regular ticket office hours, which are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.Events not listed above are currently taking place as scheduled."As the situation evolves,&nbsp;we will continue to work with campus and community leaders to evaluate additional measures and impacts," Holmberg said." "If additional event changes are needed to protect the health and safety of the campus and community, we will update our website and contact patrons immediately."K-State News and Communications ServicesDivision of Communications and Marketing

McCain Performance Series cancels four shows

UPDATE 8:45 p.m. Thursday:&nbsp;According to the Kansas High School Activities Association&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshsaa.org/">website</a>, "After the conclusion of the quarterfinal round, the 2020 KSHSAA State Basketball Tournament will be canceled. Given the escalating concerns regarding COVID-19, the best decision for the safety of the student-athletes and spectators was to cancel the remainder of this championship tournament. The KSHSAA regrets the lost opportunity for teams and players that have worked to achieve their goals."

Currently all tournament sites are proceeding as scheduled with fans. We encourage everyone attending a state basketball tournament to continue to take the proper precautions in preventing illness transmission including proper and frequent hand washing with soap or sanitizer, covering the face when coughing or sneezing and keeping your hands away from your face. Anyone who is feeling sick or suffers from a significant health issue should stay home.

KSHSAA is continuing to monitor the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas State Department of Education regarding the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation.

All state basketball tournament sites are working diligently and taking additional precautions to provide the safest possible environment for the teams, fans and workers. We will continue to monitor new information from our public health organizations as it becomes available and make any changes to the state basketball tournaments if needed. Any updates will be provided at www.kshsaa.org and through Twitter (@KSHSAA).

<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm">KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center</a>

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC Coronavirus Information</a>

UPDATE 8:45 p.m. Thursday:&nbsp;According to the Kansas High School Activities Association&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshsaa.org/">website</a>, "After the conclusion of the quarterfinal round, the 2020 KSHSAA State Basketball Tournament will be canceled. Given the escalating concerns regarding COVID-19, the best decision for the safety of the student-athletes and spectators was to cancel the remainder of this championship tournament. The KSHSAA regrets the lost opportunity for teams and players that have worked to achieve their goals."KSHSAACurrently all tournament sites are proceeding as scheduled with fans. We encourage everyone attending a state basketball tournament to continue to take the proper precautions in preventing illness transmission including proper and frequent hand washing with soap or sanitizer, covering the face when coughing or sneezing and keeping your hands away from your face. Anyone who is feeling sick or suffers from a significant health issue should stay home.KSHSAA is continuing to monitor the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas State Department of Education regarding the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation.All state basketball tournament sites are working diligently and taking additional precautions to provide the safest possible environment for the teams, fans and workers. We will continue to monitor new information from our public health organizations as it becomes available and make any changes to the state basketball tournaments if needed. Any updates will be provided at www.kshsaa.org and through Twitter (@KSHSAA).Additional Resources:<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm">KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center</a><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC Coronavirus Information</a>

UPDATE: Kansas cancels state basketball tournaments

NEW YORK ( AP) — The stock market had its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987 as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis deepened. The Dow industrials plunged more than 2,300 points, or 10%. The sell-of came despite action from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. 

The steep drops over the last month have wiped out most of the big run-up on Wall Street since President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Markets have turned turbulent amid a cascade of shutdowns across the globe and rising worries that the White House and other authorities around the world can’t or won’t help the weakening economy any time soon.

The deepening coronavirus crisis sent stocks into another alarming slide Thursday, extending a sell-off that has wiped out most of the big run-up on Wall Street since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 2,000 points, or 8.7%, in late afternoon trading. The broader S&amp;P 500 was off 8.4% and set to fall into a bear market by the close of trading, ending the longest bull market in Wall Street history — nearly 11 years.

European markets lost 12% in one of their worst days ever, even after the European Central Bank pledged to buy more bonds and offer more help for the economy.

The heavy losses came amid a cascade of cancellations and shutdowns across the globe — including Trump’s suspension of most travel to the U.S. from Europe — and rising worries that the White House and other authorities around the world can’t or won’t counter the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic any time soon.

“The news just continues to get worse, and the travel ban puts an exclamation point on the weakness we’re going to see in global GDP and, in turn, the U.S.,“ said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. “We’re starting to get a sense of how dire the impact on the economy is going to be. Each day the news doesn’t get better, it gets worse. It’s now has hit Main Street to a more significant degree.”

Stocks fell so fast on Wall Street at the opening bell that they triggered an automatic, 15-minute trading halt for the second time this week. The so-called circuit breakers were first adopted after the 1987 crash, and until this week hadn’t been tripped since 1997.

The Dow briefly turned upward and halved its losses at one point in the afternoon after the Federal Reserve announced it would step in to ease “highly unusual disruptions” in the Treasury market. But the burst of momentum quickly faded.

Trump often points proudly to the big rise on Wall Street under his administration and warned a crowd at a rally last August that “whether you love me or hate, you gotta vote for me,“ or else your 401(k) will go “down the tubes.”

Just last month, the Dow was boasting a nearly 50% gain since Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2017. By midafternoon Thursday, the Dow was clinging to an 8% gain, though it was still up 17.3% since just before Trump’s election in November 2016.

On Wednesday, the Dow finished the day down more than 20% from its all-time high, set just last month, officially entering what is known as a bear market for the first time in over a decade. The S&amp;P 500 was likewise in danger of finishing the day Thursday in bear market territory.

The combined health and financial crisis heightened fears of a recession.

“This is bad. The worst and fastest stock market correction in our career,“ Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union, said in a research note overnight. “The economy is doomed to recession if the country stops working and takes the next 30 days off. The stock market knows it.”

NEW YORK (AP) — An early plunge of 7% on Wall Street Thursday triggered a trading halt as a sell-off slamming global markets continued. The Dow Jones industrials dropped more than 1,600 points, or 7%, the S&amp;P 500 fell a similar amount. 

Trading resumed after 15 minutes, approximately 8:50a.m. CDT.

 The rout came after President Trump imposed a travel ban on most of Europe and offered few new measures to contain the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. 

Benchmarks in Europe fell more than 7% even after the European Central Bank announced more stimulus measures. World markets are enduring violent swings amid uncertainty about how badly the outbreak will hit the economy.

NEW YORK ( AP) — The stock market had its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987 as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis deepened. The Dow industrials plunged more than 2,300 points, or 10%. The sell-of came despite action from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. The steep drops over the last month have wiped out most of the big run-up on Wall Street since President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Markets have turned turbulent amid a cascade of shutdowns across the globe and rising worries that the White House and other authorities around the world can’t or won’t help the weakening economy any time soon.The deepening coronavirus crisis sent stocks into another alarming slide Thursday, extending a sell-off that has wiped out most of the big run-up on Wall Street since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 2,000 points, or 8.7%, in late afternoon trading. The broader S&amp;P 500 was off 8.4% and set to fall into a bear market by the close of trading, ending the longest bull market in Wall Street history — nearly 11 years.European markets lost 12% in one of their worst days ever, even after the European Central Bank pledged to buy more bonds and offer more help for the economy.The heavy losses came amid a cascade of cancellations and shutdowns across the globe — including Trump’s suspension of most travel to the U.S. from Europe — and rising worries that the White House and other authorities around the world can’t or won’t counter the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic any time soon.“The news just continues to get worse, and the travel ban puts an exclamation point on the weakness we’re going to see in global GDP and, in turn, the U.S.,“ said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. “We’re starting to get a sense of how dire the impact on the economy is going to be. Each day the news doesn’t get better, it gets worse. It’s now has hit Main Street to a more significant degree.”Stocks fell so fast on Wall Street at the opening bell that they triggered an automatic, 15-minute trading halt for the second time this week. The so-called circuit breakers were first adopted after the 1987 crash, and until this week hadn’t been tripped since 1997.The Dow briefly turned upward and halved its losses at one point in the afternoon after the Federal Reserve announced it would step in to ease “highly unusual disruptions” in the Treasury market. But the burst of momentum quickly faded.Trump often points proudly to the big rise on Wall Street under his administration and warned a crowd at a rally last August that “whether you love me or hate, you gotta vote for me,“ or else your 401(k) will go “down the tubes.”Just last month, the Dow was boasting a nearly 50% gain since Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2017. By midafternoon Thursday, the Dow was clinging to an 8% gain, though it was still up 17.3% since just before Trump’s election in November 2016.On Wednesday, the Dow finished the day down more than 20% from its all-time high, set just last month, officially entering what is known as a bear market for the first time in over a decade. The S&amp;P 500 was likewise in danger of finishing the day Thursday in bear market territory.The combined health and financial crisis heightened fears of a recession.“This is bad. The worst and fastest stock market correction in our career,“ Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union, said in a research note overnight. “The economy is doomed to recession if the country stops working and takes the next 30 days off. The stock market knows it.”----------NEW YORK (AP) — An early plunge of 7% on Wall Street Thursday triggered a trading halt as a sell-off slamming global markets continued. The Dow Jones industrials dropped more than 1,600 points, or 7%, the S&amp;P 500 fell a similar amount. Trading resumed after 15 minutes, approximately 8:50a.m. CDT. The rout came after President Trump imposed a travel ban on most of Europe and offered few new measures to contain the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Benchmarks in Europe fell more than 7% even after the European Central Bank announced more stimulus measures. World markets are enduring violent swings amid uncertainty about how badly the outbreak will hit the economy.

Worst day on Wall Street since 1987 as virus fears spread

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;In concert with the Big 12 Conference and Kansas State University President&nbsp;Richard Myers, K-State Athletics Director&nbsp;Gene Taylor&nbsp;has announced the following measures for K-State Athletics events due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“We must put the safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and University community first in this situation,” Taylor said. “We will continue to work closely with appropriate medical professionals, the Big 12 Conference and our University administration to monitor the situation and make changes as we see fit. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this very serious and delicate situation.”

The department will continue to monitor the situation and announce any changes to this plan as decisions are made.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;In concert with the Big 12 Conference and Kansas State University President&nbsp;Richard Myers, K-State Athletics Director&nbsp;Gene Taylor&nbsp;has announced the following measures for K-State Athletics events due to the COVID-19 pandemic:<ol>
 <li>All in-season competition (home and away) is cancelled until Monday, March 30.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>All out-of-season practices are suspended until Monday, March 30.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>All recruiting travel for coaches is suspended until Monday, March 30.</li>
 </ol>“We must put the safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and University community first in this situation,” Taylor said. “We will continue to work closely with appropriate medical professionals, the Big 12 Conference and our University administration to monitor the situation and make changes as we see fit. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this very serious and delicate situation.”The department will continue to monitor the situation and announce any changes to this plan as decisions are made.

K-State implements athletic event measures due to the Coronavirus

Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.

Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: <a href="https://t.co/qzKAS4McEI">https://t.co/qzKAS4McEI</a> <a href="https://t.co/G6XreZx35E">pic.twitter.com/G6XreZx35E</a>&mdash; NCAA (@NCAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/1238197201928667136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

NCAA cancels March Madness, all winter and spring championships

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Health officials say a nursing home resident who become Kansas' first COVID-19-related death was infected at the Life Care Center of Kansas City, which is owned by the same company that owns the facility in Washington state linked to 22 fatalities. 

Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman said a focus of the investigation is whether there has been any personnel sharing between the nursing homes in Kirkland, Washington, and the one in Kansas. 

The state also reported its sixth COVID-19 case on Friday. Norman says no other residents at the Life Center nursing home are showing symptoms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584135906321.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during Thursday&nbsp; press conference -image courtesy office of Kansas Governor" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during Thursday&nbsp; press conference -image courtesy office of Kansas Governor</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Health officials say a nursing home resident who become Kansas' first COVID-19-related death was infected at the Life Care Center of Kansas City, which is owned by the same company that owns the facility in Washington state linked to 22 fatalities. Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman said a focus of the investigation is whether there has been any personnel sharing between the nursing homes in Kirkland, Washington, and the one in Kansas. The state also reported its sixth COVID-19 case on Friday. Norman says no other residents at the Life Center nursing home are showing symptoms.

Owner of facility tied to Kansas virus death runs Washington state home

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball delays opening day by at least 2 weeks, suspends spring training schedule.

NEW YORK (AP) — People familiar with the discussions tell The Associated Press that Major League Baseball is likely to cancel the rest of its spring training game schedule due to the coronavirus and probably will announce that the start of the season will be delayed. 

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no decision had been announced. They said baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred planned a conference call with his executive council to discuss the situation and then a call with controlling owners of the 30 clubs. An announcement would follow. The season had been scheduled to start March 26.

UPDATE:NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball delays opening day by at least 2 weeks, suspends spring training schedule.---NEW YORK (AP) — People familiar with the discussions tell The Associated Press that Major League Baseball is likely to cancel the rest of its spring training game schedule due to the coronavirus and probably will announce that the start of the season will be delayed. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no decision had been announced. They said baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred planned a conference call with his executive council to discuss the situation and then a call with controlling owners of the 30 clubs. An announcement would follow. The season had been scheduled to start March 26.

MLB announces delays - cancellations

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Kansas City is banning all public events with more than 1,000 attendees as cancellations mounted around the state because of concerns over the new coronavirus.

Mayor Quinton Lucas made the announcement Thursday, shortly after organizers cancelled a St. Patrick's Day parade in the city. St. Louis and Springfield also canceled their parades.

“Protecting all of our residents remains our top priority, which means that how we interact over the weeks and months ahead will need to change dramatically as we confront our current public health challenge,” Lucas said. “I appreciate our community’s understanding during this ever-changing time and encourage all residents to continue exercising good judgment.”

So far, Missouri has one confirmed case of COVID-19.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e97e57301f2a4e57d927f6b87510e0d">A woman in her 20s&nbsp;</a>who had been studying in Italy tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home to the area.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

Several universities in the state have been moving classes online due to the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/52e12ca90c55b6e0c398d134a2cc286e">that WHO has now labelled&nbsp;</a>a pandemic, while Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden said on Twitter late Wednesday that the chamber was cancelling its session next week.

Meanwhile, the German agribusiness giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d7efc608c9aa8f7a7cb744649e3e667c">Bayer&nbsp;</a>AG has reopened a suburban St. Louis campus after an employee who was tested for the new coronavirus found out the results were negative.

The campus in Creve Coeur, which is Bayer's North American headquarters for its Crop Science Division, reopened Thursday after undergoing precautionary cleaning. But the nearby office of its tech-focused subsidiary, The Climate Corporation, remains closed for cleaning, as do Bayer's campuses in Whippany and Morristown, New Jersey. The Whippany office is the company’s U.S. headquarters for all of its divisions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584040882361.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City Country Club Plaza" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City Country Club Plaza</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — Kansas City is banning all public events with more than 1,000 attendees as cancellations mounted around the state because of concerns over the new coronavirus.Mayor Quinton Lucas made the announcement Thursday, shortly after organizers cancelled a St. Patrick's Day parade in the city. St. Louis and Springfield also canceled their parades.“Protecting all of our residents remains our top priority, which means that how we interact over the weeks and months ahead will need to change dramatically as we confront our current public health challenge,” Lucas said. “I appreciate our community’s understanding during this ever-changing time and encourage all residents to continue exercising good judgment.”So far, Missouri has one confirmed case of COVID-19.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e97e57301f2a4e57d927f6b87510e0d">A woman in her 20s&nbsp;</a>who had been studying in Italy tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home to the area.For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.Several universities in the state have been moving classes online due to the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/52e12ca90c55b6e0c398d134a2cc286e">that WHO has now labelled&nbsp;</a>a pandemic, while Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden said on Twitter late Wednesday that the chamber was cancelling its session next week.Meanwhile, the German agribusiness giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d7efc608c9aa8f7a7cb744649e3e667c">Bayer&nbsp;</a>AG has reopened a suburban St. Louis campus after an employee who was tested for the new coronavirus found out the results were negative.The campus in Creve Coeur, which is Bayer's North American headquarters for its Crop Science Division, reopened Thursday after undergoing precautionary cleaning. But the nearby office of its tech-focused subsidiary, The Climate Corporation, remains closed for cleaning, as do Bayer's campuses in Whippany and Morristown, New Jersey. The Whippany office is the company’s U.S. headquarters for all of its divisions.___

Kansas City bans all public events with more than 1K people

Let’s add one more list to the various check-offs from the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, employers and others on how to
 deal with COVID-19: Tools and tips for getting good information about 
dealing with the virus from sources you trust.

In times of crisis, from natural disasters to 9/11 and more, a free 
press has consistently delivered the goods, saving lives and asking the 
necessary and often inevitable challenging questions of the public 
officials on whom we depend for safety and security.

Put aside for now the blather about “fake news” — so politicized as 
to have no real meaning any longer. Discount President Trump’s claim 
that it’s the news media that’s leading the world’s stock markets into 
“yo-yo Dow” days. And pay less attention to the cable TV punditry and 
focus on the news reports from reporters with sources who appear by name
 in print, online or on TV.

The virus and its threat to our health is real. The market is down — 
and up and down — regardless of what’s causing it. Look for facts. Don’t
 be too accepting of information from any source, particularly on social
 media. Blog posts, tweets and public forums provide valued means of 
sharing individual information and experiences, as well as provide 
real-time data of how well government services are performing.

In the first such major crisis in which social media tools were more 
widely available, during 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, the then-fledgling 
online efforts by the web alternative to New Orleans’ Times-Picayune
 newspaper provided essential information on what was happening “now.” 
Even police and Coast Guard rescuers said they had monitored <a href="https://www.nola.com/" target="_blank">NOLA.com</a>, at times sending in teams to help those posting that they were in danger. NOLA.com later won a Pulitzer Prize for its efforts.

While some are upset that what they are hearing from the 
administration and what they are reading or viewing seem to differ, a 
free press response to that situation is: “So what’s new?” Nearly 100 
years ago, President Herbert Hoover’s administration first responded to 
the 1929 stock market crash by calling it a market reset or passing 
adjustment — or at worst, part of a passing recession that would soon be
 over. Understandable perhaps as an effort to stave off worse news. But 
it’s Variety’s headline a day after “Black Tuesday” — the huge,
 one-day drop in the Dow — that let Americans know what really happened:
 “Wall Street Lays an Egg!”

From the Vietnam War — with its infamous “credibility gap” between 
what journalists saw in combat and what military leaders were saying, to
 what we now know about out-of-proportion government surveillance 
programs across decades of our nation’s history, it’s a free press that 
over time gives us the facts we need.

My colleague Barbara McCormack, who oversees the 
Freedom Forum’s Newseum Education initiative, has this advice on turning
 to a free press for information and avoiding disinformation: “Break out
 of your content bubble and make sure you’re engaging with diverse 
ideas. That includes ideas you disagree with. With a nearly infinite 
supply of information at our fingertips, it can be all too easy to start
 gravitating to sources that reinforce our beliefs and make us feel 
validated, but the less likely we are to spot propaganda that is trying 
to exploit our beliefs and biases.”

Her advice: Break out of your media rut. Try this: Create a list of 
five news sources to consult on a regular basis — not necessarily every 
day, but every week or so.

The CDC has its basic instructions on handwashing. Here’s something 
similar for getting good information you can use about COVID-19:

McCormack’s advice: “It’s OK for your sources to display a bias in 
their coverage, but make sure that all five are real, fact-based news 
and opinion organizations. If you’re not sure, you can use a resource 
like the Freedom Forum’s <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/newstrition/" target="_blank">Newstrition</a>® or the website <a href="https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news" target="_blank">AllSides</a>
 to evaluate your sources. Check them on a regular basis to help you see
 the world in all its complexity, not just from a single vantage point.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Seattle Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Tampa Bay Times and others have removed paywalls for information about the virus crisis, or placed critical information outside their pay sites. USA TODAY, The Washington Post, The New York Times,
 CNN and the broadcast networks and many other major news outlets are 
offering COVID-19&nbsp; newsletters and medical tips on a daily basis.

A part of responding to any crisis is having enough good information 
on which to make decisions — whether you are making those for yourself 
or others. And in such times, throughout our nation’s history, a free 
press — if we care to use it — has been there on our behalf to obtain 
and report the facts we need.

For more information:&nbsp;<a href="https://newseumed.org/fact-finder-guide" target="_blank">https://newseumed.org/fact-finder-guide</a>.

Gene Policinski is president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. He can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573872297806.png" alt="Gene Policinski is president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute." />
 <figcaption>Gene Policinski is president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute.</figcaption>
 </figure>Let’s add one more list to the various check-offs from the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, employers and others on how to
 deal with COVID-19: Tools and tips for getting good information about 
dealing with the virus from sources you trust.In times of crisis, from natural disasters to 9/11 and more, a free 
press has consistently delivered the goods, saving lives and asking the 
necessary and often inevitable challenging questions of the public 
officials on whom we depend for safety and security.Put aside for now the blather about “fake news” — so politicized as 
to have no real meaning any longer. Discount President Trump’s claim 
that it’s the news media that’s leading the world’s stock markets into 
“yo-yo Dow” days. And pay less attention to the cable TV punditry and 
focus on the news reports from reporters with sources who appear by name
 in print, online or on TV.The virus and its threat to our health is real. The market is down — 
and up and down — regardless of what’s causing it. Look for facts. Don’t
 be too accepting of information from any source, particularly on social
 media. Blog posts, tweets and public forums provide valued means of 
sharing individual information and experiences, as well as provide 
real-time data of how well government services are performing.In the first such major crisis in which social media tools were more 
widely available, during 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, the then-fledgling 
online efforts by the web alternative to New Orleans’ Times-Picayune
 newspaper provided essential information on what was happening “now.” 
Even police and Coast Guard rescuers said they had monitored <a href="https://www.nola.com/" target="_blank">NOLA.com</a>, at times sending in teams to help those posting that they were in danger. NOLA.com later won a Pulitzer Prize for its efforts.While some are upset that what they are hearing from the 
administration and what they are reading or viewing seem to differ, a 
free press response to that situation is: “So what’s new?” Nearly 100 
years ago, President Herbert Hoover’s administration first responded to 
the 1929 stock market crash by calling it a market reset or passing 
adjustment — or at worst, part of a passing recession that would soon be
 over. Understandable perhaps as an effort to stave off worse news. But 
it’s Variety’s headline a day after “Black Tuesday” — the huge,
 one-day drop in the Dow — that let Americans know what really happened:
 “Wall Street Lays an Egg!”From the Vietnam War — with its infamous “credibility gap” between 
what journalists saw in combat and what military leaders were saying, to
 what we now know about out-of-proportion government surveillance 
programs across decades of our nation’s history, it’s a free press that 
over time gives us the facts we need.My colleague Barbara McCormack, who oversees the 
Freedom Forum’s Newseum Education initiative, has this advice on turning
 to a free press for information and avoiding disinformation: “Break out
 of your content bubble and make sure you’re engaging with diverse 
ideas. That includes ideas you disagree with. With a nearly infinite 
supply of information at our fingertips, it can be all too easy to start
 gravitating to sources that reinforce our beliefs and make us feel 
validated, but the less likely we are to spot propaganda that is trying 
to exploit our beliefs and biases.”Her advice: Break out of your media rut. Try this: Create a list of 
five news sources to consult on a regular basis — not necessarily every 
day, but every week or so.The CDC has its basic instructions on handwashing. Here’s something 
similar for getting good information you can use about COVID-19:<ol>
 <li>Identify two general news sources you already look at on a regular basis and usually agree with;</li><li>Find two general news sources you don’t usually agree with;</li><li>Find one source that covers news from a specific perspective, such 
as the views of a particular demographic, religious group or profession;</li><li>Read and listen to each of them.</li>
 </ol>McCormack’s advice: “It’s OK for your sources to display a bias in 
their coverage, but make sure that all five are real, fact-based news 
and opinion organizations. If you’re not sure, you can use a resource 
like the Freedom Forum’s <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/newstrition/" target="_blank">Newstrition</a>® or the website <a href="https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news" target="_blank">AllSides</a>
 to evaluate your sources. Check them on a regular basis to help you see
 the world in all its complexity, not just from a single vantage point.”The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Seattle Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Tampa Bay Times and others have removed paywalls for information about the virus crisis, or placed critical information outside their pay sites. USA TODAY, The Washington Post, The New York Times,
 CNN and the broadcast networks and many other major news outlets are 
offering COVID-19&nbsp; newsletters and medical tips on a daily basis.A part of responding to any crisis is having enough good information 
on which to make decisions — whether you are making those for yourself 
or others. And in such times, throughout our nation’s history, a free 
press — if we care to use it — has been there on our behalf to obtain 
and report the facts we need.For more information:&nbsp;<a href="https://newseumed.org/fact-finder-guide" target="_blank">https://newseumed.org/fact-finder-guide</a>.Gene Policinski is president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. He can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

FIRST FIVE: Getting good information as virus crisis unfolds

:KANSAS CITY, Mo. -&nbsp;The Big 12 Conference has announced the immediate suspension of all Conference championships until April 15, resulting in the cancellation of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in Kansas City, along with its upcoming gymnastics and equestrian championships.&nbsp; Conducting future Big 12 championships this season will be evaluated and determined by April 15.

“After consultation with our Board of Directors it was decided that cancelling these championships was in the best interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes,” said Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.&nbsp;

Details will be forthcoming on full refunds of ticket purchases for these championships.

:KANSAS CITY, Mo. -&nbsp;The Big 12 Conference has announced the immediate suspension of all Conference championships until April 15, resulting in the cancellation of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in Kansas City, along with its upcoming gymnastics and equestrian championships.&nbsp; Conducting future Big 12 championships this season will be evaluated and determined by April 15.“After consultation with our Board of Directors it was decided that cancelling these championships was in the best interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes,” said Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.&nbsp;Details will be forthcoming on full refunds of ticket purchases for these championships.

Big 12 cancels remaining tournament games

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is urging consumers to use caution against scams involving COVID-19.

“In any unsettled times, whether it be the aftermath of a devastating storm or in this case the spread of a new virus, there are those who choose to take advantage of the public’s apprehension and uncertainty,” Schmidt said in a news release Thursday. “With all the discussion and disruption in reaction to COVID-19, Kansans should be particularly vigilant for scammers and should know that our office is here to help if needed.”

Kansans should be on alert for scams related to the COVID-19 virus, more commonly known as the coronavirus, which originated in the Wuhan province of China and has now spread to the United States. These scams could include bogus products advertised as coronavirus prevention measures or treatments as well as bogus charities purporting to raise money for coronavirus research or to support coronavirus patients. Schmidt said his office has received reports of these sorts of scams circulating in Kansas.

Any Kansans who have problems with scams may file a complaint with the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division at<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or call (800) 432-2310 for more information.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583409290272.jpeg" alt="Kansas AG Derek Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Kansas AG Derek Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is urging consumers to use caution against scams involving COVID-19.“In any unsettled times, whether it be the aftermath of a devastating storm or in this case the spread of a new virus, there are those who choose to take advantage of the public’s apprehension and uncertainty,” Schmidt said in a news release Thursday. “With all the discussion and disruption in reaction to COVID-19, Kansans should be particularly vigilant for scammers and should know that our office is here to help if needed.”Kansans should be on alert for scams related to the COVID-19 virus, more commonly known as the coronavirus, which originated in the Wuhan province of China and has now spread to the United States. These scams could include bogus products advertised as coronavirus prevention measures or treatments as well as bogus charities purporting to raise money for coronavirus research or to support coronavirus patients. Schmidt said his office has received reports of these sorts of scams circulating in Kansas.Any Kansans who have problems with scams may file a complaint with the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division at<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or call (800) 432-2310 for more information.&nbsp;

Kansas AG warns against coronavirus scams

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is shutting the Capitol and all House and Senate office buildings to the public until April in reaction to the coronavirus outbreak. The House and Senate sergeants at arms said in a statement the closure will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern time Thursday. Lawmakers, aides, journalists and official visitors will be allowed into the buildings. 

The statement says officials are acting “out of concern for the health and safety" of congressional employees and the public. The officials say they're responding to the advice of District of Columbia health officials and of Congress' own doctors. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers are expressing alarm after a private briefing on Capitol Hill with public health officials. Lawmakers are particularly frustrated that U.S. officials have tested relatively few patients suspected to be infected. 

“We’re basically, in my opinion, flying blind," said Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev. Others described the meeting as heated, testy with many lawmakers leaving flooded with graver concerns about the administration's response.

“We should be exuding confidence nationally,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “The confusion is damaging.”

The House is expected to vote later Thursday on a multibillion-dollar aid package. It aims to provide free testing for the coronavirus, paid sick leave and strengthened unemployment insurance. Congress has decided to shut the Capitol to the public until April. And White House tours have been temporarily suspended.&nbsp;

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is shutting the Capitol and all House and Senate office buildings to the public until April in reaction to the coronavirus outbreak. The House and Senate sergeants at arms said in a statement the closure will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern time Thursday. Lawmakers, aides, journalists and official visitors will be allowed into the buildings. The statement says officials are acting “out of concern for the health and safety" of congressional employees and the public. The officials say they're responding to the advice of District of Columbia health officials and of Congress' own doctors. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.------------WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers are expressing alarm after a private briefing on Capitol Hill with public health officials. Lawmakers are particularly frustrated that U.S. officials have tested relatively few patients suspected to be infected. “We’re basically, in my opinion, flying blind," said Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev. Others described the meeting as heated, testy with many lawmakers leaving flooded with graver concerns about the administration's response.“We should be exuding confidence nationally,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “The confusion is damaging.”The House is expected to vote later Thursday on a multibillion-dollar aid package. It aims to provide free testing for the coronavirus, paid sick leave and strengthened unemployment insurance. Congress has decided to shut the Capitol to the public until April. And White House tours have been temporarily suspended.&nbsp;

White House tours suspended and Capitol to close to public

KANSAS CITY —Due to rising concerns over coronavirus, organizers&nbsp; made the difficult decision early Thursday to cancel the 2020 Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade, according the parade web site.

"For 48 years, the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a tradition for families, businesses, organizations and so many more. But, with the rapid developments that have occurred over the last 24 hours including the announcement from the World Health Organization and the President’s address to the nation, we feel that the most responsible thing we can do is cancel the parade.

We will spend the next 24 hours regrouping and discussing the plan for moving forward."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584013193851.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Due to rising concerns over coronavirus, organizers&nbsp; made the difficult decision early Thursday to cancel the 2020 Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade, according the parade web site."For 48 years, the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a tradition for families, businesses, organizations and so many more. But, with the rapid developments that have occurred over the last 24 hours including the announcement from the World Health Organization and the President’s address to the nation, we feel that the most responsible thing we can do is cancel the parade.We will spend the next 24 hours regrouping and discussing the plan for moving forward."

Organizers cancel Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade over coronavirus

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is suspending all travel between the U.S. and Europe for 30 days beginning Friday as he seeks to combat a viral pandemic.

Trump made the announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation, blaming the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the “foreign virus” and saying U.S. clusters were “seeded” by European travelers.

“We made a lifesaving move with early action on China,” Trump said. “Now we must take the same action with Europe.”

Trump said the restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom and the U.S. would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.

Trump said he was also directing agencies to provide unspecified financial relief for “for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus,” and asked Congress to take action to extend it.

Trump said the U.S. will will defer tax payments for some individual and business filers for three months to lessen the impacts of the virus outbreak. He said the Small Business Administration will also make low-interest loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm.

“This is not a financial crisis,” he said. “This just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.”

Trump also reiterated his call on Congress to pass a cut to the federal payroll tax in order to stimulate the economy.

Trump said “we are marshaling the full power” of the government and private sector to protect the American people.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583975573611.png" alt="President Trump during Wednesday's Oval Office address -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during Wednesday's Oval Office address -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is suspending all travel between the U.S. and Europe for 30 days beginning Friday as he seeks to combat a viral pandemic.Trump made the announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation, blaming the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the “foreign virus” and saying U.S. clusters were “seeded” by European travelers.“We made a lifesaving move with early action on China,” Trump said. “Now we must take the same action with Europe.”Trump said the restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom and the U.S. would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.Trump said he was also directing agencies to provide unspecified financial relief for “for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus,” and asked Congress to take action to extend it.Trump said the U.S. will will defer tax payments for some individual and business filers for three months to lessen the impacts of the virus outbreak. He said the Small Business Administration will also make low-interest loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm.“This is not a financial crisis,” he said. “This just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.”Trump also reiterated his call on Congress to pass a cut to the federal payroll tax in order to stimulate the economy.Trump said “we are marshaling the full power” of the government and private sector to protect the American people.

Coronavirus battle: Trump suspends travel between US and Europe

A message from University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod and Provost Barbara A. Bichelmeyer to students, faculty and staff

KU leaders have been closely monitoring the spread of&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.ku.edu/">COVID-19</a>. We know that some members of the Jayhawk community have been in areas with reported cases, and we don’t expect to be immune from this virus. We have a strong team that is assessing conditions regionally and across the nation and is making recommendations guided by the following principles:

Delayed Resumption of In-person Classes Until March 23

To help protect the health of all members of our community, including those who may be at higher risk of the effects of COVID-19,&nbsp;the resumption of in-person classes will be delayed until March 23.

Next week, March 16-22, we ask that faculty prepare to transition their course content, including lectures, to online instructional platforms, such as Blackboard. Every KU course already has an existing Blackboard shell available for faculty to start the process. Beginning the week of March 23, courses will be taught remotely using online tools. We anticipate needing to stay online for several weeks, however, our team will reassess the need to continue remote-only instruction each week, starting March 28.&nbsp;There will be no schedule change to courses already online.

This approach limits in-person exposure after spring break to align with the estimated COVID-19 incubation period, and allows faculty members a modest amount of time to prepare and begin the transition to online instruction. It also keeps the university functioning and helps students continue toward their educational goals.

We understand moving instruction to a solely online format will be a heavy lift for some faculty. Resources are available so no faculty member needs to make this online transition alone. KU Information Technology’s Ed Tech team, Center for Teaching Excellence, Center for Online and Distance Learning, and Office of Faculty Development and Mentoring are engaged in this process and will be available with guidance, instruction and tutorials. The team has created a new site —&nbsp;<a href="http://remote.ku.edu/">remote.ku.edu</a>&nbsp;— that provides guidance for those who are new to Blackboard, as well as next steps for faculty who are ready to do more. Individual guidance will also be available. Instructors and staff are encouraged to use Skype or Zoom to interact with students for office hours or appointments.

Faculty and instructional staff:&nbsp;You can get help to start online adaptation of courses by contacting KU IT Educational Technology Support,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:itedtech@ku.edu">itedtech@ku.edu</a>, 785-864-2600. The team will assess each faculty member’s situation and either assist with Blackboard migration or refer instructors to more specialized consulting available through the Center for Online and Distance Learning.

Students:&nbsp;In the days ahead, look for a message from your instructors about what you might expect for your courses. If online learning is new to you, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://remote.ku.edu/guide">remote.ku.edu</a>&nbsp;for a basic guide and resources to get you started. Instructors and advisors may also use tech tools, such as Skype or Zoom as an alternative for in-person meetings or office hours.

While we move courses online, it is important to know we are keeping campus open and operating normally so we can continue to provide services to students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders.

All KU Student Housing buildings (residence halls, scholarship halls, apartments) and KU Dining venues will be open. We are encouraging students to stay home as they work on their courses. We recognize some students may need to remain on campus because they are prevented from returning home due to travel restrictions, or they need access to computers and reliable Internet service needed to complete work.

Students,&nbsp;do not return to campus if:

A message from University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod and Provost Barbara A. Bichelmeyer to students, faculty and staff<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Due to coronavirus concerns, KU is delaying the resumption of in-person classes following spring break. Starting Monday, March 23, all classes will be held online until further notice. Details at <a href="https://t.co/raPttxxz8z">https://t.co/raPttxxz8z</a>.&mdash; The University of Kansas (@UnivOfKansas) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnivOfKansas/status/1237921278532694016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>KU leaders have been closely monitoring the spread of&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.ku.edu/">COVID-19</a>. We know that some members of the Jayhawk community have been in areas with reported cases, and we don’t expect to be immune from this virus. We have a strong team that is assessing conditions regionally and across the nation and is making recommendations guided by the following principles:<ol>
 <li>Keep KU open so it can provide services to the fullest extent possible given unprecedented circumstances.</li><li>Maintain continuity of operations that support the academic and research missions of the university.</li><li>Prevent the spread of the disease at KU and beyond.</li><li>Protect members of the KU community through self-quarantine and social distancing, especially the three groups at greatest risk:those who may have been exposed,those who have chronic health challenges,those who are currently sick.</li><li>those who may have been exposed,</li><li>those who have chronic health challenges,</li><li>those who are currently sick.</li><li>Encourage all members of the KU community to be informed and practice healthy behaviors by following CDC recommendations.</li><li>Protect equity for our most vulnerable employees and students, as much as possible, as we respond to the situation.</li><li>Respond with agility to the fluid and changing nature of the situation.</li><li>Provide clear communications to all members of the KU community.</li><li>Provide exceptions for mission-critical activities on a case-by-case basis.</li>
 </ol><h2>Delayed Resumption of In-person Classes Until March 23</h2>To help protect the health of all members of our community, including those who may be at higher risk of the effects of COVID-19,&nbsp;the resumption of in-person classes will be delayed until March 23.Next week, March 16-22, we ask that faculty prepare to transition their course content, including lectures, to online instructional platforms, such as Blackboard. Every KU course already has an existing Blackboard shell available for faculty to start the process. Beginning the week of March 23, courses will be taught remotely using online tools. We anticipate needing to stay online for several weeks, however, our team will reassess the need to continue remote-only instruction each week, starting March 28.&nbsp;There will be no schedule change to courses already online.This approach limits in-person exposure after spring break to align with the estimated COVID-19 incubation period, and allows faculty members a modest amount of time to prepare and begin the transition to online instruction. It also keeps the university functioning and helps students continue toward their educational goals.We understand moving instruction to a solely online format will be a heavy lift for some faculty. Resources are available so no faculty member needs to make this online transition alone. KU Information Technology’s Ed Tech team, Center for Teaching Excellence, Center for Online and Distance Learning, and Office of Faculty Development and Mentoring are engaged in this process and will be available with guidance, instruction and tutorials. The team has created a new site —&nbsp;<a href="http://remote.ku.edu/">remote.ku.edu</a>&nbsp;— that provides guidance for those who are new to Blackboard, as well as next steps for faculty who are ready to do more. Individual guidance will also be available. Instructors and staff are encouraged to use Skype or Zoom to interact with students for office hours or appointments.Faculty and instructional staff:&nbsp;You can get help to start online adaptation of courses by contacting KU IT Educational Technology Support,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:itedtech@ku.edu">itedtech@ku.edu</a>, 785-864-2600. The team will assess each faculty member’s situation and either assist with Blackboard migration or refer instructors to more specialized consulting available through the Center for Online and Distance Learning.Students:&nbsp;In the days ahead, look for a message from your instructors about what you might expect for your courses. If online learning is new to you, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://remote.ku.edu/guide">remote.ku.edu</a>&nbsp;for a basic guide and resources to get you started. Instructors and advisors may also use tech tools, such as Skype or Zoom as an alternative for in-person meetings or office hours.<h2>Campus Remains Open</h2>While we move courses online, it is important to know we are keeping campus open and operating normally so we can continue to provide services to students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders.All KU Student Housing buildings (residence halls, scholarship halls, apartments) and KU Dining venues will be open. We are encouraging students to stay home as they work on their courses. We recognize some students may need to remain on campus because they are prevented from returning home due to travel restrictions, or they need access to computers and reliable Internet service needed to complete work.Students,&nbsp;do not return to campus if:<ol>
 <li>You are sick.</li><li>You have a chronic health condition that puts you at greater risk of the effects of COVID-19.</li><li>You have traveled internationally or domestically to areas with outbreaks, or have potentially been exposed to someone with COVID-19. If this is the case, please self-isolate or quarantine yourself for 14 days and call your healthcare provider for guidance.</li>
 </ol>If any of these apply, be sure to inform your instructors of your situation.Faculty and staff are expected to report to work unless:<ol>
 <li>You have been advised to self-isolate or quarantine because of travel or potential exposure.</li><li>You have chronic health conditions or are in another at-risk group considered more susceptible to COVID-19.</li><li>You are sick.</li>
 </ol>Supervisors should exercise judgement and flexibility when considering requests for alternate work schedules or to telecommute, which includes requests from student employees and consideration of required staffing levels.<h2>University Sponsored Travel</h2>We notice that many national meetings have already been canceled. Out of an abundance of caution,&nbsp;all university sponsored domestic and international business-related travel and attendance at meetings, conferences, etc., is to be discontinued, effective immediately.&nbsp;Business-related travel in and around Kansas and Missouri is excluded from this restriction. Please do not make new plans for business travel during the next 60 days. Under extreme circumstances, exemptions to the travel restriction will be considered in advance by the provost or her designee. Travel appeals should be sent to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:provost@ku.edu?subject=Travel%20Appeal">provost@ku.edu</a>.<h2>Human Resource Management</h2>Human Resource Management is preparing concise information to share with you about a variety of topics, including time-off policies, contingency preparations, remote work opportunities and more, which will be posted on the web soon. You should feel free to contact the office directly,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hrdept@ku.edu">hrdept@ku.edu</a>, or 785-864-4946.<h2>Interviewing Prospective Employees/Students</h2>Spring is an important time to hire new faculty and staff as well as to engage with prospective graduate students. We encourage faculty and staff to use Skype, as much as possible, to limit in-person contact and travel as you conduct interviews. Please reach out to KU IT,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:itcsc@ku.edu">itcsc@ku.edu</a>, 785-864-8080, if you need assistance with these technologies.<h2>Events and Outreach</h2>Effective immediately, university sponsored events will be limited to no more than 50 participants. Mission-critical exemptions to the attendance limit must be approved by the provost or her designee. Appeals should be sent in advance to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:provost@ku.edu?subject=Event%20Attendance%20Appeal">provost@ku.edu</a>.The Centers for Disease Control has yet to provide guidance on maximum event size, although it offers important&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/index.html">advice to planners</a>. When an event is taking place, planners should communicate to visitors and participants the importance of exercising their personal discretion. Please advise individuals not to attend if they fall into a category recommended for quarantine, they have underlying chronic health conditions, or they are sick. Our Public Health Planning Events Workgroup is continuing to develop plans and will provide more detailed guidance soon.<h2>Stay Healthy</h2>Please be sure to take care of yourself. Each of us plays an important role in maintaining our personal health, which in turn helps protect our broader community. Please continue to follow CDC recommendations to prevent spread of COVID-19 shared earlier by&nbsp;<a href="https://studenthealth.ku.edu/coronavirus">Watkins Health Services</a>. Taking action that aims to limit exposure of Jayhawks to the virus will help ensure our collective health and safety. Employees who are sick and who lack sufficient paid time off, should contact HR about the potential for using shared leave.Our Public Health Planning Team continues to evaluate many other important questions, and we will be able to provide answers for those matters in the days ahead. This website will help keep you current.This is a challenging time for our campus, our families and our community, and it is a time that may require additional bold measures. It will take all of us working together to ensure we emerge stronger. It also will require us to, fundamentally, be empathetic to each other, understanding we are all working through this evolving situation together. We’re confident we have the talent, the resources and the heart to rise to this challenge.Thank you to the&nbsp;

Coronavirus Update