NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Friday dropped a controversial piece of coronavirus guidance and said anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person should get tested.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention essentially returned to its previous testing guidance, getting rid of language&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d36e698786f971658301d2cf4f83ad61">posted last month</a>&nbsp;that said people didn’t need to get tested if they didn’t feel sick. That change had set off a rash of criticism from health experts who couldn’t fathom why the nation’s top public health agency would say such a thing amid the pandemic.

It was “not consistent with the basic principles of controlling an epidemic,”said Dr. Silvia Chiang, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Brown University who applauded the change announced Friday.

The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html" target="_blank">now says</a>&nbsp;anyone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes should get a test. In a statement, the agency called the changes a “clarification” that was needed “due to the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission.”

Agency officials declined additional comment.

Health officials were evasive about why they had made the change in August, and some outside observers speculated it was forced on the CDC by political appointees within the Trump administration.

At the time, administration officials said the language originated at the CDC but the decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force. Dr. Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.

The New York Times, citing internal federal documents and unnamed sources, on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that the guidance was placed on the CDC’s website over the objections of agency scientists.

Public health experts have noted that testing the contacts of infected people is a core element of efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of those infected with the coronavirus exhibit no COVID-19 symptoms.

The CDC’s chief, Dr. Robert Redfield, issued a statement shortly after the controversy erupted that did little to clarify why the change was deemed necessary. The main intent seemed to be to assure state health officials that they could continue to recommend that all close contacts be tested if they felt that was wisest, despite the website language that said it was not necessary.

During a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, Redfield continued to defend the language that was dropped Friday. He said the August changes had been “misinterpreted” and were part of an effort to increase engagement by doctors and local health officials in the handling of potential illness clusters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600453488360.png" alt="CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield during Senate testimony this week-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield during Senate testimony this week-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Friday dropped a controversial piece of coronavirus guidance and said anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person should get tested.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention essentially returned to its previous testing guidance, getting rid of language&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d36e698786f971658301d2cf4f83ad61">posted last month</a>&nbsp;that said people didn’t need to get tested if they didn’t feel sick. That change had set off a rash of criticism from health experts who couldn’t fathom why the nation’s top public health agency would say such a thing amid the pandemic.It was “not consistent with the basic principles of controlling an epidemic,”said Dr. Silvia Chiang, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Brown University who applauded the change announced Friday.The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html" target="_blank">now says</a>&nbsp;anyone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes should get a test. In a statement, the agency called the changes a “clarification” that was needed “due to the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission.”Agency officials declined additional comment.Health officials were evasive about why they had made the change in August, and some outside observers speculated it was forced on the CDC by political appointees within the Trump administration.At the time, administration officials said the language originated at the CDC but the decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force. Dr. Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.The New York Times, citing internal federal documents and unnamed sources, on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that the guidance was placed on the CDC’s website over the objections of agency scientists.Public health experts have noted that testing the contacts of infected people is a core element of efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of those infected with the coronavirus exhibit no COVID-19 symptoms.The CDC’s chief, Dr. Robert Redfield, issued a statement shortly after the controversy erupted that did little to clarify why the change was deemed necessary. The main intent seemed to be to assure state health officials that they could continue to recommend that all close contacts be tested if they felt that was wisest, despite the website language that said it was not necessary.During a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, Redfield continued to defend the language that was dropped Friday. He said the August changes had been “misinterpreted” and were part of an effort to increase engagement by doctors and local health officials in the handling of potential illness clusters.

CDC drops controversial virus testing advice that caused backlash

RUSSELL — Russell Regional Hospital announced via social media Thursday that six staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

"As you are aware, there has recently been an increase in positive cases in Russell as well as the surrounding counties. Unfortunately, this has impacted Russell Regional Hospital," wrote Sharon Collins, hospital CEO. "In the last several days a number of our staff (6) have tested positive for COVID-19. All was maintained to a small single department except for 2 cases. I want to ensure you that all precautions have been taken with the individuals that tested positive."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600450367243.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL — Russell Regional Hospital announced via social media Thursday that six staff members have tested positive for COVID-19."As you are aware, there has recently been an increase in positive cases in Russell as well as the surrounding counties. Unfortunately, this has impacted Russell Regional Hospital," wrote Sharon Collins, hospital CEO. "In the last several days a number of our staff (6) have tested positive for COVID-19. All was maintained to a small single department except for 2 cases. I want to ensure you that all precautions have been taken with the individuals that tested positive."Read the entire announcement below:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRussellRegionalHospital%2Fposts%2F4316659591739743&width=500" width="500" height="245" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Staff members at Russell Regional Hospital test positive for virus

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 25 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county since Wednesday.

There are now 168 active cases, including eight active hospitalizations, and 567 recovered cases.

The seven-day percent of positive tests, which had been falling in late August and early September, jumped to 21.5 percent. Just less than 13 percent of the 5,561 total tests have returned positive for COVID-19.

According to the department's report Friday, there have been 738 total cases of coronavirus in Ellis County, including three deaths, since reporting began.

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 25 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county since Wednesday.There are now 168 active cases, including eight active hospitalizations, and 567 recovered cases.The seven-day percent of positive tests, which had been falling in late August and early September, jumped to 21.5 percent. Just less than 13 percent of the 5,561 total tests have returned positive for COVID-19.According to the department's report Friday, there have been 738 total cases of coronavirus in Ellis County, including three deaths, since reporting began.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600445653733.png" alt="" />
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25 new cases of COVID-19 in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials are considering spending $50 million to dramatically ramp up testing of people who aren't showing obvious signs of the coronavirus.

A state task force this week backed Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman’s recommendation to use the federal stimulus money on testing at schools, workplaces and other sites. The goal is to catch coronavirus in people who haven’t even realized they’re carrying it, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-11/how-kansas-could-spend-tens-of-millions-to-test-asymptomatic-people-for-coronavirus">reports.</a>

Some of the testing would be done at Wichita State University, where a new not-for-profit lab is gearing up to churn out hundreds of thousands of tests by the end of the year.

“I know that sounds like a lot,” said Tonya Witherspoon, Wichita State’s vice president of industry engagement, “but we think several labs in the state need to be able to do that much — or more.”

Kansas has so far focused most of its energy on people who know either that they are ill or that they have had direct exposure to a confirmed outbreak. But experts say positivity rates should drop when a state or city goes beyond testing these groups of people who are most likely to be sick.

Right now, about 15% of Kansans who get the test find out they have COVID-19. By Johns Hopkins University’s calculations, that puts it among the states with the highest rates of new positives.

On Wednesday, Kansas health officials reported 971 new cases since Monday, for a total of 50,870 across the state. Kansas also had 52 new deaths, raising that number to 586 since the pandemic began.

Norman said at a news conference that 37 of the new deaths were added through a review of death certificates. But that still meant 15 had occurred since Monday, a higher than normal number.

“We are getting to a very sensitive point in time as we talked about during Labor Day with universities, colleges and schools starting back again, athletics those sorts of things,” Norman said. “People are starting to mass gather again in ways that we didn’t see as much of over the summer when people were more dispersed out. As the overall number count goes up, we are going to have more deaths.”

The positive cases include 841 at the University of Kansas, where house parties near campus are raising alarms.

After a debate during the Lawrence City Commission meeting Tuesday, a majority of the commissioners said they were interested in at least considering an ordinance that would make it a municipal offense to violate local health orders designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/city-government/2020/sep/16/city-leaders-express-interest-in-creating-ordinance-that-would-make-disregarding-health-orders-a-municipal-offense/">reports</a>.

City Attorney Toni Wheeler said the offense would be a misdemeanor that could be prosecuted in municipal court. Violators could face a fine of no more than $500, up to 30 days in jail or both.

However, Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei and Mayor Jennifer Ananda said they were not sure that creating a municipal ordinance would be the best approach, and that perhaps stronger disciplinary action from the university, such as bans from campus, mandatory quarantines or suspensions, would be more effective.

Meanwhile, Gov. Laura Kelly hosted a discussion with rural hospital administrators on Wednesday where she urged them to “exert pressure” on lawmakers to support a proposal to expand Medicaid in Kansas.

In the discussion, Harold Courtois, CEO for the Memorial Health System in Abilene, said his organization is worried about running out of personal protective equipment, particularly medical N95 respirators, known as N95 masks, ahead of the flu season.

“My fear is that during the influenza season, where everybody appears to have COVID -- whether it’s influenza or not -- PPE is going to become scarce and be very difficult to acquire again,” Courtois said. “It just doesn’t seem like we see a lot of PPE unless you’re willing to pay enormous prices. There’s still price gouging going on every week

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600340563243.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his press conference on Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his press conference on Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials are considering spending $50 million to dramatically ramp up testing of people who aren't showing obvious signs of the coronavirus.A state task force this week backed Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman’s recommendation to use the federal stimulus money on testing at schools, workplaces and other sites. The goal is to catch coronavirus in people who haven’t even realized they’re carrying it, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-11/how-kansas-could-spend-tens-of-millions-to-test-asymptomatic-people-for-coronavirus">reports.</a>Some of the testing would be done at Wichita State University, where a new not-for-profit lab is gearing up to churn out hundreds of thousands of tests by the end of the year.“I know that sounds like a lot,” said Tonya Witherspoon, Wichita State’s vice president of industry engagement, “but we think several labs in the state need to be able to do that much — or more.”Kansas has so far focused most of its energy on people who know either that they are ill or that they have had direct exposure to a confirmed outbreak. But experts say positivity rates should drop when a state or city goes beyond testing these groups of people who are most likely to be sick.Right now, about 15% of Kansans who get the test find out they have COVID-19. By Johns Hopkins University’s calculations, that puts it among the states with the highest rates of new positives.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600277925237.png" alt="Sept. 16, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Sept. 16, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, Kansas health officials reported 971 new cases since Monday, for a total of 50,870 across the state. Kansas also had 52 new deaths, raising that number to 586 since the pandemic began.Norman said at a news conference that 37 of the new deaths were added through a review of death certificates. But that still meant 15 had occurred since Monday, a higher than normal number.“We are getting to a very sensitive point in time as we talked about during Labor Day with universities, colleges and schools starting back again, athletics those sorts of things,” Norman said. “People are starting to mass gather again in ways that we didn’t see as much of over the summer when people were more dispersed out. As the overall number count goes up, we are going to have more deaths.”The positive cases include 841 at the University of Kansas, where house parties near campus are raising alarms.After a debate during the Lawrence City Commission meeting Tuesday, a majority of the commissioners said they were interested in at least considering an ordinance that would make it a municipal offense to violate local health orders designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/city-government/2020/sep/16/city-leaders-express-interest-in-creating-ordinance-that-would-make-disregarding-health-orders-a-municipal-offense/">reports</a>.City Attorney Toni Wheeler said the offense would be a misdemeanor that could be prosecuted in municipal court. Violators could face a fine of no more than $500, up to 30 days in jail or both.However, Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei and Mayor Jennifer Ananda said they were not sure that creating a municipal ordinance would be the best approach, and that perhaps stronger disciplinary action from the university, such as bans from campus, mandatory quarantines or suspensions, would be more effective.Meanwhile, Gov. Laura Kelly hosted a discussion with rural hospital administrators on Wednesday where she urged them to “exert pressure” on lawmakers to support a proposal to expand Medicaid in Kansas.In the discussion, Harold Courtois, CEO for the Memorial Health System in Abilene, said his organization is worried about running out of personal protective equipment, particularly medical N95 respirators, known as N95 masks, ahead of the flu season.“My fear is that during the influenza season, where everybody appears to have COVID -- whether it’s influenza or not -- PPE is going to become scarce and be very difficult to acquire again,” Courtois said. “It just doesn’t seem like we see a lot of PPE unless you’re willing to pay enormous prices. There’s still price gouging going on every week

Plan calls for more testing of Kansans without virus symptoms

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for COVID-19 available for free to all Americans, assuming a safe and effective shot is developed, even as top health officials faced questions about political interference with virus information reaching the public.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/strategy-for-distributing-covid-19-vaccine.pdf" target="_blank">report to Congress</a>&nbsp;and an accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/downloads/COVID-19-Vaccination-Program-Interim_Playbook.pdf" target="_blank">“playbook” for states and localities,</a>&nbsp;federal health agencies and the Defense Department sketched out complex plans for a vaccination campaign to begin gradually in January or even late this year, eventually ramping up to reach any American who wants a shot. The Pentagon would be involved with the distribution of vaccines, but civilian health workers would be the ones giving shots.

The whole enterprise faces remaining skepticism. Only about half of Americans said they’d get vaccinated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dacdc8bc428dd4df6511bfa259cfec44">an Associated Press-NORC poll taken in May.&nbsp;</a>Since then, questions have only mounted about whether the government is trying to rush treatments and vaccines to help President Donald Trump’s reelection chances.

On Wednesday, the Health and Human Services Department announced that political appointee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bc1d25c72728fce624831e523e7fc678">Michael Caputo would take a leave of absence</a>. The news followed revelations that the senior communications official had tried to gain editorial control over scientific publications on COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which he contended were hurting the Trump administration.

The director of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, responding Wednesday before Senate lawmakers, rejected questions over whether the government’s timeline for states to be ready for a vaccine by Nov. 1 was politically motivated.

Redfield told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the “scientific integrity” of his agency’s output “has not been compromised and it will not be compromised under my watch.”

He said he was “deeply saddened” by Caputo’s accusations that CDC staff were working as a “resistance unit” against the administration.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, said political interference had damaged public trust in the government’s health information .

“The Trump administration needs to leave the science to the scientists immediately,” Murray said.

Although Trump asserted Tuesday that a vaccine could be three to four weeks away, Redfield, made clear to Congress that any version available this year would be in “very limited supply.” The shot wouldn’t be broadly available to most of the U.S. population until the summer of 2021, he estimated.

Trump’s press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, quickly repeated the president’s version at the White House: “We do believe that it will be widely available by the end of the year.”

As for the planned vaccine campaign, the CDC playbook for states says it is “much larger in scope and complexity than seasonal influenza or other previous outbreak-related vaccination responses.” Redfield said that his agency will be working with state health officials to execute the vaccination plan in coming days.

— For most vaccines, people will need two doses, 21 to 28 days apart. Double-dose vaccines will have to come from the same drugmaker. There could be several vaccines from different manufacturers approved and available.

— Vaccination of the U.S. population won’t be a sprint but a marathon. Initially there may be a limited supply of vaccines, and the focus will be on protecting health workers, other essential employees, and people in vulnerable groups. “Early in (the) COVID-19 vaccination program there may be a limited supply of vaccine and vaccine efforts may focus on those critical to the response, providing direct care and maintaining societal functions, as well as those at highest risk for developing severe illness,” Redfield said. A second and third phase would expand vaccination to the entire population.

— The vaccine itself will be free of charge, thanks to billions of dollars in taxpayer funding approved by Congress and allocated by the Trump administration. The goal is that patients won’t be separately charged for administration of their shots, and officials say they are working to ensure that’s the case for all Medicare recipients and uninsured people as well those covered by insurance at their jobs.

— States and local communities will need to devise precise plans for receiving and locally distributing vaccines, some of which will require special handling such as refrigeration or freezing. States and cities have a month to submit plans.

— A massive information technology effort will be needed to track who is getting which vaccines and when, and the key challenge involves getting multiple public and private databases to link with each other.

Some of the broad components of the federal plan have already been discussed, but Wednesday’s reports attempt to put the key details into a comprehensive framework. Distribution is under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed, a White House-backed initiative to have vaccines ready to ship in 24 hours from when a version is given emergency use approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Several formulations are undergoing final trials.

However, public skepticism remains. Of the Americans who said in the May AP poll that they wouldn’t get vaccinated, the overwhelming majority said they were worried about safety. To effectively protect the nation from the coronavirus, experts say 70% to 90% of Americans must either be vaccinated or have their own immunity from fighting off COVID-19.

Before the Republican National Convention in August, the FDA granted authorization for treatment of COVID-19 patients with plasma from people who have recovered, even though some government scientists were not convinced the clinical evidence was sufficiently strong.

As public confidence in health agencies has taken a beating, Trump administration officials have been forced to play defense.

“We are working closely with our state and local public health partners ... to ensure that Americans can receive the vaccine as soon as possible and vaccinate with confidence,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement Wednesday. “Americans should know that the vaccine development process is being driven completely by science and the data.”

That could be a tough sell. In the AP poll, 1 in 5 Americans said they would not get a coronavirus vaccine, and 31% said they were unsure.

“We’re dealing in a world of great uncertainty,” said Paul Mango, a top HHS official working on the vaccine plan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600265279122.png" alt="Photo courtesy AstraZeneca" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy AstraZeneca</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for COVID-19 available for free to all Americans, assuming a safe and effective shot is developed, even as top health officials faced questions about political interference with virus information reaching the public.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/strategy-for-distributing-covid-19-vaccine.pdf" target="_blank">report to Congress</a>&nbsp;and an accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/downloads/COVID-19-Vaccination-Program-Interim_Playbook.pdf" target="_blank">“playbook” for states and localities,</a>&nbsp;federal health agencies and the Defense Department sketched out complex plans for a vaccination campaign to begin gradually in January or even late this year, eventually ramping up to reach any American who wants a shot. The Pentagon would be involved with the distribution of vaccines, but civilian health workers would be the ones giving shots.The whole enterprise faces remaining skepticism. Only about half of Americans said they’d get vaccinated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dacdc8bc428dd4df6511bfa259cfec44">an Associated Press-NORC poll taken in May.&nbsp;</a>Since then, questions have only mounted about whether the government is trying to rush treatments and vaccines to help President Donald Trump’s reelection chances.On Wednesday, the Health and Human Services Department announced that political appointee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bc1d25c72728fce624831e523e7fc678">Michael Caputo would take a leave of absence</a>. The news followed revelations that the senior communications official had tried to gain editorial control over scientific publications on COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which he contended were hurting the Trump administration.The director of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, responding Wednesday before Senate lawmakers, rejected questions over whether the government’s timeline for states to be ready for a vaccine by Nov. 1 was politically motivated.Redfield told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the “scientific integrity” of his agency’s output “has not been compromised and it will not be compromised under my watch.”He said he was “deeply saddened” by Caputo’s accusations that CDC staff were working as a “resistance unit” against the administration.Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, said political interference had damaged public trust in the government’s health information .“The Trump administration needs to leave the science to the scientists immediately,” Murray said.Although Trump asserted Tuesday that a vaccine could be three to four weeks away, Redfield, made clear to Congress that any version available this year would be in “very limited supply.” The shot wouldn’t be broadly available to most of the U.S. population until the summer of 2021, he estimated.Trump’s press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, quickly repeated the president’s version at the White House: “We do believe that it will be widely available by the end of the year.”As for the planned vaccine campaign, the CDC playbook for states says it is “much larger in scope and complexity than seasonal influenza or other previous outbreak-related vaccination responses.” Redfield said that his agency will be working with state health officials to execute the vaccination plan in coming days.Among the highlights of the plan:— For most vaccines, people will need two doses, 21 to 28 days apart. Double-dose vaccines will have to come from the same drugmaker. There could be several vaccines from different manufacturers approved and available.— Vaccination of the U.S. population won’t be a sprint but a marathon. Initially there may be a limited supply of vaccines, and the focus will be on protecting health workers, other essential employees, and people in vulnerable groups. “Early in (the) COVID-19 vaccination program there may be a limited supply of vaccine and vaccine efforts may focus on those critical to the response, providing direct care and maintaining societal functions, as well as those at highest risk for developing severe illness,” Redfield said. A second and third phase would expand vaccination to the entire population.— The vaccine itself will be free of charge, thanks to billions of dollars in taxpayer funding approved by Congress and allocated by the Trump administration. The goal is that patients won’t be separately charged for administration of their shots, and officials say they are working to ensure that’s the case for all Medicare recipients and uninsured people as well those covered by insurance at their jobs.— States and local communities will need to devise precise plans for receiving and locally distributing vaccines, some of which will require special handling such as refrigeration or freezing. States and cities have a month to submit plans.— A massive information technology effort will be needed to track who is getting which vaccines and when, and the key challenge involves getting multiple public and private databases to link with each other.Some of the broad components of the federal plan have already been discussed, but Wednesday’s reports attempt to put the key details into a comprehensive framework. Distribution is under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed, a White House-backed initiative to have vaccines ready to ship in 24 hours from when a version is given emergency use approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Several formulations are undergoing final trials.However, public skepticism remains. Of the Americans who said in the May AP poll that they wouldn’t get vaccinated, the overwhelming majority said they were worried about safety. To effectively protect the nation from the coronavirus, experts say 70% to 90% of Americans must either be vaccinated or have their own immunity from fighting off COVID-19.Before the Republican National Convention in August, the FDA granted authorization for treatment of COVID-19 patients with plasma from people who have recovered, even though some government scientists were not convinced the clinical evidence was sufficiently strong.As public confidence in health agencies has taken a beating, Trump administration officials have been forced to play defense.“We are working closely with our state and local public health partners ... to ensure that Americans can receive the vaccine as soon as possible and vaccinate with confidence,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement Wednesday. “Americans should know that the vaccine development process is being driven completely by science and the data.”That could be a tough sell. In the AP poll, 1 in 5 Americans said they would not get a coronavirus vaccine, and 31% said they were unsure.“We’re dealing in a world of great uncertainty,” said Paul Mango, a top HHS official working on the vaccine plan.

US outlines sweeping plan to provide free COVID-19 vaccines

The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced 19 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county.

There are currently 162 active cases of coronavirus in Ellis County, including eight active hospitalizations, and 548 recovered cases.

The seven-day percent of positive tests rose slightly to 16.1 percent after several days of declining. Overall, 700 of the 5,423 total tests have returned positive for COVID-19, or 12.7 percent.

Since reporting began, the department has reported 713 cases of COVID-19, including three deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600284053619.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced 19 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county.There are currently 162 active cases of coronavirus in Ellis County, including eight active hospitalizations, and 548 recovered cases.The seven-day percent of positive tests rose slightly to 16.1 percent after several days of declining. Overall, 700 of the 5,423 total tests have returned positive for COVID-19, or 12.7 percent.Since reporting began, the department has reported 713 cases of COVID-19, including three deaths.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600284194977.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

19 new cases of COVID-19 in Ellis Co., eight hospitalized

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Some state and local officials around the U.S. are rolling back social-distancing rules again after an abortive effort over the summer, allowing bars, restaurants and gyms to open. Fans are gathering mask-free at football games. President Donald Trump is holding crowded indoor rallies.

While some Americans may see such things as a welcome step closer to normal, public health experts warn the U.S. is setting itself up for failure — again.

“Folks are becoming very cavalier about the pandemic,” said Mark Rupp, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Nebraska’s governor ended nearly all of his state’s restrictions on Monday, even with new cases of the coronavirus on the rise.

“I think it is setting us up for further transmission and more people getting ill and, unfortunately, more people dying,” Rupp said.

The virus is blamed for more than 6.5 million confirmed infections and 195,000 deaths in the U.S., by far the highest totals of any country, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

While case numbers have fallen from a peak average of 67,000 new infections per day in late July to about 36,000 now, the numbers remain staggeringly high. Deaths are running at about 750 a day, down from a peak of over 2,200 in late April.

In recent days, Mississippi has allowed restaurants to expand their customer capacity to 75%. New Jersey reopened gyms and indoor dining at restaurants, though with limited capacity. Michigan’s governor allowed gyms to reopen and organized sports to resume. County commissioners in Pinellas County, Florida, on Thursday are set to discuss whether to repeal their mask ordinance.

Public health experts noted that it is safe to resume certain activities in communities where there are low levels of infection.

The nation’s top infectious-disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, appeared via video at Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s virus briefing Tuesday and praised the state’s response and its steps to reopen safely. He chalked it up to Vermont’s emphasis on wearing masks, avoiding crowds and taking other simple precautions.

But elsewhere, experts said, case counts are too high to resume higher-risk activities, such as going to bars, gyms, theaters and stadiums, participating in close contact sports or eating inside a restaurant.

In most communities in Florida, bars were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity on Monday, while keeping some precautions in place. But Florida’s three biggest counties — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — are keeping their bars closed because of high case numbers.

Even in places where drinking establishments have been given the OK to reopen, some owners and customers alike are hesitant.

At The Leon Pub, a smoky bar a mile up the road from Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee, the Monday night crowd was sparse, as it has been for much of the long, oppressive summer.

“It’s been crickets and tumbleweeds,” said bartender Lauren Bryant.

Among the few there were Allie Preston and her husband. “We’ve been cooped up for a while. It was nice to have normalcy,” she said.

Florida bars were shuttered on St. Patrick’s Day in March, allowed to reopen in June, then ordered closed again about two weeks later as virus cases surged. The Leon Pub was allowed to reopen in July because it had a restaurant license.

Jim Smith. owner of Poor Paul’s Pourhouse in Tallahassee, intends to keep his place closed until the outbreak is over.

“I miss going to work every day. I miss seeing the customers and employees,” he said. “We have to get this thing under control.”

It’s not just government officials who are letting up on restrictions. In Milwaukee, the Roman Catholic archbishop said he will no longer excuse people from in-person worship unless they are ill or are caring for someone who is sick. Meanwhile, cases in Wisconsin are on the rise.

Some local officials are cracking down as they see cases climb.

In Wichita, Kansas, health officials made bar curfews and mask wearing mandatory. In Framingham, Massachusetts, officials said they have starting issuing $500 fines to property owners who violate the rules on gatherings and mask-wearing.

Public health experts said they worry they are seeing a pattern: A drop in cases leads officials and regular Americans to relax measures to stay safe, and infections and deaths make a comeback.

“Please, you’ve done so well, don’t let your guard down,” Fauci said during a call-in news conference during the video call with Vermont’s governor. “Because if we do, we are going to see surges that are going to put us back to where we were months ago.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Some state and local officials around the U.S. are rolling back social-distancing rules again after an abortive effort over the summer, allowing bars, restaurants and gyms to open. Fans are gathering mask-free at football games. President Donald Trump is holding crowded indoor rallies.While some Americans may see such things as a welcome step closer to normal, public health experts warn the U.S. is setting itself up for failure — again.“Folks are becoming very cavalier about the pandemic,” said Mark Rupp, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Nebraska’s governor ended nearly all of his state’s restrictions on Monday, even with new cases of the coronavirus on the rise.“I think it is setting us up for further transmission and more people getting ill and, unfortunately, more people dying,” Rupp said.The virus is blamed for more than 6.5 million confirmed infections and 195,000 deaths in the U.S., by far the highest totals of any country, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University.While case numbers have fallen from a peak average of 67,000 new infections per day in late July to about 36,000 now, the numbers remain staggeringly high. Deaths are running at about 750 a day, down from a peak of over 2,200 in late April.In recent days, Mississippi has allowed restaurants to expand their customer capacity to 75%. New Jersey reopened gyms and indoor dining at restaurants, though with limited capacity. Michigan’s governor allowed gyms to reopen and organized sports to resume. County commissioners in Pinellas County, Florida, on Thursday are set to discuss whether to repeal their mask ordinance.Public health experts noted that it is safe to resume certain activities in communities where there are low levels of infection.The nation’s top infectious-disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, appeared via video at Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s virus briefing Tuesday and praised the state’s response and its steps to reopen safely. He chalked it up to Vermont’s emphasis on wearing masks, avoiding crowds and taking other simple precautions.But elsewhere, experts said, case counts are too high to resume higher-risk activities, such as going to bars, gyms, theaters and stadiums, participating in close contact sports or eating inside a restaurant.In most communities in Florida, bars were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity on Monday, while keeping some precautions in place. But Florida’s three biggest counties — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — are keeping their bars closed because of high case numbers.Even in places where drinking establishments have been given the OK to reopen, some owners and customers alike are hesitant.At The Leon Pub, a smoky bar a mile up the road from Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee, the Monday night crowd was sparse, as it has been for much of the long, oppressive summer.“It’s been crickets and tumbleweeds,” said bartender Lauren Bryant.Among the few there were Allie Preston and her husband. “We’ve been cooped up for a while. It was nice to have normalcy,” she said.Florida bars were shuttered on St. Patrick’s Day in March, allowed to reopen in June, then ordered closed again about two weeks later as virus cases surged. The Leon Pub was allowed to reopen in July because it had a restaurant license.Jim Smith. owner of Poor Paul’s Pourhouse in Tallahassee, intends to keep his place closed until the outbreak is over.“I miss going to work every day. I miss seeing the customers and employees,” he said. “We have to get this thing under control.”It’s not just government officials who are letting up on restrictions. In Milwaukee, the Roman Catholic archbishop said he will no longer excuse people from in-person worship unless they are ill or are caring for someone who is sick. Meanwhile, cases in Wisconsin are on the rise.Some local officials are cracking down as they see cases climb.In Wichita, Kansas, health officials made bar curfews and mask wearing mandatory. In Framingham, Massachusetts, officials said they have starting issuing $500 fines to property owners who violate the rules on gatherings and mask-wearing.Public health experts said they worry they are seeing a pattern: A drop in cases leads officials and regular Americans to relax measures to stay safe, and infections and deaths make a comeback.“Please, you’ve done so well, don’t let your guard down,” Fauci said during a call-in news conference during the video call with Vermont’s governor. “Because if we do, we are going to see surges that are going to put us back to where we were months ago.”——

Experts worry as US virus restrictions are eased or violated

By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-14/leavenworth-leads-federal-prisons-in-covid-19-cases-and-inmates-families-are-worried">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — For months, the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth avoided the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. But that’s changed.

Leavenworth has the highest number of <a href="https://www.bop.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">COVID-19 cases in the entire federal prison system</a>, with 206 inmates and five staff members with the virus. There are currently 1,594 people incarcerated at the prison.

Family
 members of Leavenworth inmates say that, like in other federal and 
state prisons, their loved ones are living in close quarters with other 
inmates and prison employees, not all of whom wear masks. The families 
allege medical staff can be inattentive and that inmates have no choice 
but to congregate closely around phones and showers because of the 
months-long restrictions on leaving their dorms or cells.

Amanda Karch is even worried about her boyfriend’s mental health.

“He says he’s depressed. He’s anxious,” she said. “He’s just unsure. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen.”

The
 federal Bureau of Prisons declined multiple requests for interviews, 
but emailed a statement in response to questions. The agency said it 
follows the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 and provides appropriate treatment for COVID-19.

“For safety, 
security, and privacy reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of 
confinement for any individual or group of inmates,” spokesman Scott 
Walker said in an email. “Additionally, for privacy reasons, we do not 
share personal information about staff.”

An inmate at Leavenworth 
tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 1, Walker said. Previously, only 
five inmates had tested positive. As of Monday, eight inmates and five 
staff members had recovered, and no one has died.

“Per CDC 
guidance, a contact tracing investigation is conducted for each positive
 case,” Walker said. “While in general population, any inmate displaying
 symptoms for COVID-19 will be tested and placed in isolation.”

Most inmates who test positive are asymptomatic, Walker said, while inmates with severe symptoms are sent to the hospital.

The
 Leavenworth federal prison is in the same county as the Lansing 
Correctional Facility, a state prison that saw about half of its 
population come down with COVID-19 earlier this year. Overall, five 
inmates in Kansas-run prisons <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">have died</a> from the virus, as well as three <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-14/kansas-prison-workers-want-more-covid-19-protection-after-2-guards-and-3-inmates-die" target="_blank">staff members</a>.

Randy
 Dyke, who is incarcerated at the Leavenworth federal prison, said not 
all staff members or inmates follow the rules when it comes to wearing 
masks. Family members of other inmates backed that up.

“We do wear
 masks, except in the dorms. As for the staff, most do wear masks. 
However, we have some who totally refuse to do so, putting us all at 
risk,” said Dyke, who is serving a sentence in the minimum-security 
satellite camp at Leavenworth. He spoke to the Kansas News Service 
through email.

Walker did not answer a question about whether 
there are staff members at Leavenworth who do not wear masks, but said 
that “all staff and inmates have been issued facial coverings and are 
required to wear them when social distancing is not available per CDC 
guidelines.”

Laundry machines at the prison don’t have water hot 
enough to wash the cloth masks issued by the prison, Dyke said. Many 
people wash their masks by hand, and don’t have access to bleach to 
sanitize them. He said the prison first gave out disposable masks, then 
gave three cloth masks to inmates and replaced those two months later.

“Most
 of the wash machines here are hooked up to cold water and are worn out 
and do not function correctly,” Dyke said, “so the clothes are not 
getting as clean as they should.”

Walker responded in his email 
that inmates regularly receive replacement masks and that prison laundry
 facilities use enough bleach, detergent and hot water to wash clothing 
adequately.

Since 
March, inmates across the federal prison system have had their movement 
restricted to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing in 
prison is basically impossible, Dyke said.

In the dorms at the 
minimum-security camp, Dyke said, some people sleep in bunks less than 
four feet apart. He shares a dorm with about 25 other men.

“It is just overcrowded here,” he said.

Before
 the full lockdown began in early September, inmates in the 
medium-security section of the prison couldn’t leave their cells except 
for one to two hours a day, according to family members of inmates.

Karch,
 whose boyfriend is in the medium-security unit, said he sometimes had 
to choose between showering and making a phone call, because the lines 
were so long.

Another woman whose husband also is in the 
medium-security unit said the long lines resulted in dozens of inmates 
standing too close to allow for proper social distancing. She spoke with
 the Kansas News Service on the condition of anonymity because she was 
afraid prison staff would retaliate against her husband.

“When it 
was time to use the phones, my husband said they were packed in there 
like sardines,” she said. “Basically shoulder to shoulder.”

Her 
husband, who is nearly 70, rarely seeks medical care because the prison 
doesn’t provide treatment for illnesses. She said inmates are instead 
told to buy over-the-counter medication from the prison commissary.

The conditions make the inmates uneasy about their physical health and safety during the pandemic, the woman said.

“These guys don’t know if they could wake up tomorrow and be really sick,” she said.

Since
 cases began to rise in the past two weeks, the woman and other people 
said that the lockdown had been extended to 24 hours a day and that they
 had not been able to contact their family members.

“Recently, the medium-security facility was temporarily secured with no movement occurring,”

The added worry of having a family member in Leavenworth has made the pandemic even more stressful for those on the outside.

Jammie
 Rothchild, Dyke’s daughter, says she worries about her father, who is 
60 years old and at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 due to his age.

“It sucks,” Rothchild said. “Our hands are tied. There’s nothing we can do.”

Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600183865325.png" alt="The federal prison in Leavenworth houses about 1,600 inmates in a medium-security facility and minimum-security camp. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The federal prison in Leavenworth houses about 1,600 inmates in a medium-security facility and minimum-security camp. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-14/leavenworth-leads-federal-prisons-in-covid-19-cases-and-inmates-families-are-worried">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE — For months, the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth avoided the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. But that’s changed.Leavenworth has the highest number of <a href="https://www.bop.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">COVID-19 cases in the entire federal prison system</a>, with 206 inmates and five staff members with the virus. There are currently 1,594 people incarcerated at the prison.Family
 members of Leavenworth inmates say that, like in other federal and 
state prisons, their loved ones are living in close quarters with other 
inmates and prison employees, not all of whom wear masks. The families 
allege medical staff can be inattentive and that inmates have no choice 
but to congregate closely around phones and showers because of the 
months-long restrictions on leaving their dorms or cells.Amanda Karch is even worried about her boyfriend’s mental health.“He says he’s depressed. He’s anxious,” she said. “He’s just unsure. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen.”The
 federal Bureau of Prisons declined multiple requests for interviews, 
but emailed a statement in response to questions. The agency said it 
follows the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 and provides appropriate treatment for COVID-19.“For safety, 
security, and privacy reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of 
confinement for any individual or group of inmates,” spokesman Scott 
Walker said in an email. “Additionally, for privacy reasons, we do not 
share personal information about staff.”An inmate at Leavenworth 
tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 1, Walker said. Previously, only 
five inmates had tested positive. As of Monday, eight inmates and five 
staff members had recovered, and no one has died.“Per CDC 
guidance, a contact tracing investigation is conducted for each positive
 case,” Walker said. “While in general population, any inmate displaying
 symptoms for COVID-19 will be tested and placed in isolation.”Most inmates who test positive are asymptomatic, Walker said, while inmates with severe symptoms are sent to the hospital.The
 Leavenworth federal prison is in the same county as the Lansing 
Correctional Facility, a state prison that saw about half of its 
population come down with COVID-19 earlier this year. Overall, five 
inmates in Kansas-run prisons <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">have died</a> from the virus, as well as three <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-14/kansas-prison-workers-want-more-covid-19-protection-after-2-guards-and-3-inmates-die" target="_blank">staff members</a>.<h2>Masks and sanitation</h2>Randy
 Dyke, who is incarcerated at the Leavenworth federal prison, said not 
all staff members or inmates follow the rules when it comes to wearing 
masks. Family members of other inmates backed that up.“We do wear
 masks, except in the dorms. As for the staff, most do wear masks. 
However, we have some who totally refuse to do so, putting us all at 
risk,” said Dyke, who is serving a sentence in the minimum-security 
satellite camp at Leavenworth. He spoke to the Kansas News Service 
through email.Walker did not answer a question about whether 
there are staff members at Leavenworth who do not wear masks, but said 
that “all staff and inmates have been issued facial coverings and are 
required to wear them when social distancing is not available per CDC 
guidelines.”Laundry machines at the prison don’t have water hot 
enough to wash the cloth masks issued by the prison, Dyke said. Many 
people wash their masks by hand, and don’t have access to bleach to 
sanitize them. He said the prison first gave out disposable masks, then 
gave three cloth masks to inmates and replaced those two months later.“Most
 of the wash machines here are hooked up to cold water and are worn out 
and do not function correctly,” Dyke said, “so the clothes are not 
getting as clean as they should.”Walker responded in his email 
that inmates regularly receive replacement masks and that prison laundry
 facilities use enough bleach, detergent and hot water to wash clothing 
adequately.<h2>On lockdown</h2>Since 
March, inmates across the federal prison system have had their movement 
restricted to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing in 
prison is basically impossible, Dyke said.In the dorms at the 
minimum-security camp, Dyke said, some people sleep in bunks less than 
four feet apart. He shares a dorm with about 25 other men.“It is just overcrowded here,” he said.Before
 the full lockdown began in early September, inmates in the 
medium-security section of the prison couldn’t leave their cells except 
for one to two hours a day, according to family members of inmates.Karch,
 whose boyfriend is in the medium-security unit, said he sometimes had 
to choose between showering and making a phone call, because the lines 
were so long.Another woman whose husband also is in the 
medium-security unit said the long lines resulted in dozens of inmates 
standing too close to allow for proper social distancing. She spoke with
 the Kansas News Service on the condition of anonymity because she was 
afraid prison staff would retaliate against her husband.“When it 
was time to use the phones, my husband said they were packed in there 
like sardines,” she said. “Basically shoulder to shoulder.”Her 
husband, who is nearly 70, rarely seeks medical care because the prison 
doesn’t provide treatment for illnesses. She said inmates are instead 
told to buy over-the-counter medication from the prison commissary.The conditions make the inmates uneasy about their physical health and safety during the pandemic, the woman said.“These guys don’t know if they could wake up tomorrow and be really sick,” she said.Since
 cases began to rise in the past two weeks, the woman and other people 
said that the lockdown had been extended to 24 hours a day and that they
 had not been able to contact their family members.“Recently, the medium-security facility was temporarily secured with no movement occurring,”Walker confirmed in an email.The added worry of having a family member in Leavenworth has made the pandemic even more stressful for those on the outside.Jammie
 Rothchild, Dyke’s daughter, says she worries about her father, who is 
60 years old and at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 due to his age.“It sucks,” Rothchild said. “Our hands are tied. There’s nothing we can do.”Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

Leavenworth tops all federal prisons in COVID-19 cases

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday offered an explainer on testing, isolation and quarantine protocols.

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday offered an explainer on testing, isolation and quarantine protocols.Read the entire release below:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600111645089.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Ellis Co. Health Department testing/isolation FAQs

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday reported that 20 new cases of COVID-19 has been identified in the county since Friday.

There are currently 196 active cases, including six active hospitalizations, and 498 recovered cases.

Since reporting began, the department said there have been 694 cases of coronavirus, including three deaths.

The seven-day percent of positive tests continues to fall — down to 14.7 percent.

Of the 5,369 tests administered, 12.6 percent have been returned positive for COVID-19 since reporting began.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600106577937.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Monday reported that 20 new cases of COVID-19 has been identified in the county since Friday.There are currently 196 active cases, including six active hospitalizations, and 498 recovered cases.Since reporting began, the department said there have been 694 cases of coronavirus, including three deaths.The seven-day percent of positive tests continues to fall — down to 14.7 percent.Of the 5,369 tests administered, 12.6 percent have been returned positive for COVID-19 since reporting began.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600106420378.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

20 new cases of COVID-19 in Ellis County since Friday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MANHATTAN — A team of Kansas State University researchers is using a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and an additional grant from the state of Kansas — to study how to effectively control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nation's meat and poultry processing facilities.

The study&nbsp;"Translating SARS-CoV-2 Research Into Practical Solutions For The Meat And Poultry Processing Industry" seeks to&nbsp;protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19.

It involves researchers from K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Agriculture</a>.

As part of the study, $330,000 from the&nbsp;State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Transition Fund will be used for research in K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bri.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Biosecurity Research Institute</a>, or BRI, at Pat Roberts Hall. The BRI is a high-containment research facility.

A key objective of the project will be verifying the effectiveness of many of the approved cleaners and sanitizers for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 during plant processing and sanitation operations."

Nationally and internationally, many facilities that produce meat and poultry products have been temporarily closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks," said A. Sally Davis,&nbsp;an assistant professor of experimental pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and project director of the K-State grant.

"This has put a major strain on food production, limiting the amount of meat and poultry on grocery store shelves and disrupting food and feed supply chains across the globe. Research is necessary to understand why SARS-CoV-2 is such a problem in meat and poultry processing environments and how we can mitigate the problem." 

Davis said infections with SARS-CoV-2 are primarily thought to occur by exposure to infectious micro-droplets in the air and contaminated surfaces. "We are investigating the conditions within meat and poultry processing environments, such as low temperatures, relative humidity, increased air movement and workers being in close proximity to one another, to help identify areas and surfaces that are at high risk for contamination and spread of infectious SARS-CoV-2," Davis said.

The team will evaluate potential sources of exposure and determine the amount and the longevity of infectious virus that is present during and after meat processing and packaging activities. The team seeks to identify, develop, validate and deliver practical cleaning and disinfection strategies, plus develop mathematical models to predict and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in meat and poultry processing facilities.

Joining Davis on the research team are food safety faculty from K-State's Food Science Institute, including Randall Phebus, co-project director and professor of animal sciences and industry, and Jeanette Thurston, director of the Food Science Institute and co-investigator on the project. 

The project also will rely on input from an industry advisory board. "Our advisory board will be regularly updated on research progress," Thurston said. "We will communicate with them in real time to make sure we are on the right track with our research and recommendations, and ensure that our findings are rapidly deployed across the processing sector."

The industry advisory board is composed of senior-level directors of food safety and plant operations at Hormel Foods, Smithfield Foods, National Beef Packing Company, Cargill Protein North America, JBS USA, Wayne Farms, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Tyson Fresh Meats and Costco Wholesale.

Collaborating with the K-State team are co-project directors from the University of Georgia poultry science department, Harsha Thippareddi and Manpreet Singh, who will provide extensive poultry experience and industry connections and lead the grant's industry outreach efforts. Valentina Trinetta and Sara Gragg, food safety faculty from the Food Science Institute, are co-project directors. 

Co-investigator Anke Richter, a public health-focused operation research specialist at the Naval Postgraduate School, will lead the risk assessment driven by mathematical modeling. Co-investigators Yunjeong Kim and Erin Schirtzinger in the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine and the Food Science Institute's Daniel Vega round out the project team.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600099184107.jpeg" alt="Kansas State University researchers involved in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project to protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19. From left: Randy Phebus, Sally Davis, Valentina Trinetta, Sara Gragg and Daniel Vega. Not pictured are Jeanette Thurston, Erin Schirtzinger and Yunjeong Kim." />
 <figcaption>Kansas State University researchers involved in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project to protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19. From left: Randy Phebus, Sally Davis, Valentina Trinetta, Sara Gragg and Daniel Vega. Not pictured are Jeanette Thurston, Erin Schirtzinger and Yunjeong Kim.</figcaption>
 </figure>KSU News ServiceMANHATTAN — A team of Kansas State University researchers is using a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and an additional grant from the state of Kansas — to study how to effectively control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nation's meat and poultry processing facilities.The study&nbsp;"Translating SARS-CoV-2 Research Into Practical Solutions For The Meat And Poultry Processing Industry" seeks to&nbsp;protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19.It involves researchers from K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Agriculture</a>.As part of the study, $330,000 from the&nbsp;State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Transition Fund will be used for research in K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bri.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Biosecurity Research Institute</a>, or BRI, at Pat Roberts Hall. The BRI is a high-containment research facility.A key objective of the project will be verifying the effectiveness of many of the approved cleaners and sanitizers for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 during plant processing and sanitation operations."Nationally and internationally, many facilities that produce meat and poultry products have been temporarily closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks," said A. Sally Davis,&nbsp;an assistant professor of experimental pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and project director of the K-State grant."This has put a major strain on food production, limiting the amount of meat and poultry on grocery store shelves and disrupting food and feed supply chains across the globe. Research is necessary to understand why SARS-CoV-2 is such a problem in meat and poultry processing environments and how we can mitigate the problem." Davis said infections with SARS-CoV-2 are primarily thought to occur by exposure to infectious micro-droplets in the air and contaminated surfaces. "We are investigating the conditions within meat and poultry processing environments, such as low temperatures, relative humidity, increased air movement and workers being in close proximity to one another, to help identify areas and surfaces that are at high risk for contamination and spread of infectious SARS-CoV-2," Davis said.The team will evaluate potential sources of exposure and determine the amount and the longevity of infectious virus that is present during and after meat processing and packaging activities. The team seeks to identify, develop, validate and deliver practical cleaning and disinfection strategies, plus develop mathematical models to predict and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in meat and poultry processing facilities.Joining Davis on the research team are food safety faculty from K-State's Food Science Institute, including Randall Phebus, co-project director and professor of animal sciences and industry, and Jeanette Thurston, director of the Food Science Institute and co-investigator on the project. The project also will rely on input from an industry advisory board. "Our advisory board will be regularly updated on research progress," Thurston said. "We will communicate with them in real time to make sure we are on the right track with our research and recommendations, and ensure that our findings are rapidly deployed across the processing sector."The industry advisory board is composed of senior-level directors of food safety and plant operations at Hormel Foods, Smithfield Foods, National Beef Packing Company, Cargill Protein North America, JBS USA, Wayne Farms, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Tyson Fresh Meats and Costco Wholesale.Collaborating with the K-State team are co-project directors from the University of Georgia poultry science department, Harsha Thippareddi and Manpreet Singh, who will provide extensive poultry experience and industry connections and lead the grant's industry outreach efforts. Valentina Trinetta and Sara Gragg, food safety faculty from the Food Science Institute, are co-project directors. Co-investigator Anke Richter, a public health-focused operation research specialist at the Naval Postgraduate School, will lead the risk assessment driven by mathematical modeling. Co-investigators Yunjeong Kim and Erin Schirtzinger in the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine and the Food Science Institute's Daniel Vega round out the project team.&nbsp;

K-State research looks to mitigate COVID-19 in meat and poultry processing facilities

According to doctors from HaysMed and the University of Kansas Health System, capacity is not — and has not been — a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Heather Harris, chief medical officer at HaysMed, said the number of patients being treated in the special COVID-19 unit have remained relatively steady for the past six to eight weeks.

"This unit is not full. (And) we have a lot of resources for what's called 'surge capacity' to expand that quite easily," she told Hays Post on Friday. "But we really haven't had to give that much thought.

There are 11 rooms in the current COVOD-19 unit –&nbsp;formerly the Bone, Joint and Spine floor. Harris said the average daily patient count has been between six and eight patients, noting patients residing outside of Ellis County are among those patients.

Active hospitalizations reported regularly by the Ellis County Health Department only include Ellis County residents.

Dr. Steven Stites, chief medical officer of the University of Kansas Health System, said even if HaysMed would need additional capacity, patients could be transferred to system hospitals in Kansas City or Topeka for treatment.

But Stites added the way to prevent a surge is to wear masks and social distance, noting Hays, like other college communities, saw a spike in cases when classes resumed.

"At least from the data we're seeing in Lawrence and Kansas City, even though the Kansas kids are testing positive, they're not going into the hospitals," he said. 

He warned that could change "six to eight weeks down the road" should preventative measures such as masks be ignored.

Stites pointed to the health care industry itself as proof of the efficacy of masks, noting that in the Kansas City hospital there has not been a single health care worker who has contracted COVID-19 while in the hospital.

Locally, Harris said, testing for coronavirus is efficient and fast, with results available to patients in 24 to 36 hours "at the most." She said medical professionals are suggesting only those showing symptoms be tested.

Harris said the hospital has become a busier place as more people visit for elective procedures and treatment. She said hospital activity at HaysMed is back to pre-COVID levels.

And the recent decline in local cases is encouraging for Harris, noting the use of masks and social distancing in Ellis County.

She also praised students at Fort Hays State University for following quarantine protocols after testing positive for the virus, noting the spike that began in mid-August likely would not have slowed if those precautions were not taken.

"It's a frustrating and long 14 days," she said. "But the community is doing an excellent job of trying to keep people healthy."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586876732526.png" alt="Dr. Heather Harris" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Heather Harris</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostAccording to doctors from HaysMed and the University of Kansas Health System, capacity is not — and has not been — a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.Dr. Heather Harris, chief medical officer at HaysMed, said the number of patients being treated in the special COVID-19 unit have remained relatively steady for the past six to eight weeks."This unit is not full. (And) we have a lot of resources for what's called 'surge capacity' to expand that quite easily," she told Hays Post on Friday. "But we really haven't had to give that much thought."We're busy, but we're not full."There are 11 rooms in the current COVOD-19 unit –&nbsp;formerly the Bone, Joint and Spine floor. Harris said the average daily patient count has been between six and eight patients, noting patients residing outside of Ellis County are among those patients.Active hospitalizations reported regularly by the Ellis County Health Department only include Ellis County residents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584374089535.png" alt="Dr. Steven Stites" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Steven Stites</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Steven Stites, chief medical officer of the University of Kansas Health System, said even if HaysMed would need additional capacity, patients could be transferred to system hospitals in Kansas City or Topeka for treatment.But Stites added the way to prevent a surge is to wear masks and social distance, noting Hays, like other college communities, saw a spike in cases when classes resumed."At least from the data we're seeing in Lawrence and Kansas City, even though the Kansas kids are testing positive, they're not going into the hospitals," he said. He warned that could change "six to eight weeks down the road" should preventative measures such as masks be ignored.Stites pointed to the health care industry itself as proof of the efficacy of masks, noting that in the Kansas City hospital there has not been a single health care worker who has contracted COVID-19 while in the hospital.Locally, Harris said, testing for coronavirus is efficient and fast, with results available to patients in 24 to 36 hours "at the most." She said medical professionals are suggesting only those showing symptoms be tested.Harris said the hospital has become a busier place as more people visit for elective procedures and treatment. She said hospital activity at HaysMed is back to pre-COVID levels.And the recent decline in local cases is encouraging for Harris, noting the use of masks and social distancing in Ellis County.She also praised students at Fort Hays State University for following quarantine protocols after testing positive for the virus, noting the spike that began in mid-August likely would not have slowed if those precautions were not taken."It's a frustrating and long 14 days," she said. "But the community is doing an excellent job of trying to keep people healthy."

Doctors: Capacity at HaysMed not a concern

The Ellis County Health Department reported 15 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county since Wednesday.

There are now 219 active cases, including three active hospitalizations, and 452 recovered cases. The department also announced two additional deaths have been attributed to COVID-19, bring the total to three.

Since reporting began, there have been 674 cases of coronavirus in Ellis County. The seven-day percent of positive tests continued to fall to 14.7 percent.

Overall, 12.6 percent of the 5,211 total tests have returned positive for COVID-19.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d1116377-e693-45f8-97d1-ad0d73fc1ea9">RELATED:&nbsp;DSNWK reports COVID-19 cluster identified in Hays living facility</a>

The Ellis County Health Department reported 15 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county since Wednesday.There are now 219 active cases, including three active hospitalizations, and 452 recovered cases. The department also announced two additional deaths have been attributed to COVID-19, bring the total to three.Since reporting began, there have been 674 cases of coronavirus in Ellis County. The seven-day percent of positive tests continued to fall to 14.7 percent.Overall, 12.6 percent of the 5,211 total tests have returned positive for COVID-19.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d1116377-e693-45f8-97d1-ad0d73fc1ea9">RELATED:&nbsp;DSNWK reports COVID-19 cluster identified in Hays living facility</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599846761632.png" alt="" />
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15 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis Co., two additional deaths

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas announced in a news release Friday that seven residents and one staff member have been identified as coronavirus-positive.

The cluster is located in a living facility in Hays. One longtime resident who tested positive for COVID-19 has died, DSNWK said in the release.&nbsp;

All remaining individuals affected have been isolated in their living quarters or home.

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas with Ellis County Health Department have identified a cluster of 8 cases of COVID-19. The cases involve seven residents and one staff of a living facility in Hays. Sadly, one longtime resident who was COVID positive has passed. DSNWK following the guidance of ECHD and KDHE has taken every measure to mitigate this cluster. All remaining affected individuals are in stable condition and isolated to their respective living quarters or private residence.&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;DSNWK continues to follow clear protocols to maintain a healthy and clean environment. These protocols include limiting access to service settings; routine temperature and health status checks for staff and residents; use of masks and other PPE; frequent handwashing and prevention steps. DSNWK and the Ellis County Health Department have worked diligently to ensure the safety of the DSNWK family.

The Ellis County Health Department has notified anyone that is impacted by this current cluster. &nbsp;

&nbsp;The Ellis Health Department staff recommends all residents take precautions to protect themselves and others from contracting the COVID-19 virus. Preventative measures include social distancing, wearing a mask when in public settings, washing hands frequently, and staying home if you are sick or have a weakened immune system.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578522464134.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas announced in a news release Friday that seven residents and one staff member have been identified as coronavirus-positive.The cluster is located in a living facility in Hays. One longtime resident who tested positive for COVID-19 has died, DSNWK said in the release.&nbsp;All remaining individuals affected have been isolated in their living quarters or home.Read the entire release below:Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas with Ellis County Health Department have identified a cluster of 8 cases of COVID-19. The cases involve seven residents and one staff of a living facility in Hays. Sadly, one longtime resident who was COVID positive has passed. DSNWK following the guidance of ECHD and KDHE has taken every measure to mitigate this cluster. All remaining affected individuals are in stable condition and isolated to their respective living quarters or private residence.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;DSNWK continues to follow clear protocols to maintain a healthy and clean environment. These protocols include limiting access to service settings; routine temperature and health status checks for staff and residents; use of masks and other PPE; frequent handwashing and prevention steps. DSNWK and the Ellis County Health Department have worked diligently to ensure the safety of the DSNWK family.The Ellis County Health Department has notified anyone that is impacted by this current cluster. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Ellis Health Department staff recommends all residents take precautions to protect themselves and others from contracting the COVID-19 virus. Preventative measures include social distancing, wearing a mask when in public settings, washing hands frequently, and staying home if you are sick or have a weakened immune system.

Coronavirus Update