The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced 17 new cases of COVID-19 in the county had been identified since Monday.

It was the lowest increase in a county's update since mid-August. The county updates case totals Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

There are now 229 active cases of coronavirus in the county, including three active hospitalizations, and 429 recovered cases.

The seven-day average of positive test results again fell to 16.5 percent.

Overall just more than 13 percent of the 4,987 COVID-19 tests have returned positive for the virus.

Since reporting began, 659 cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Ellis County, including one death.

The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced 17 new cases of COVID-19 in the county had been identified since Monday.It was the lowest increase in a county's update since mid-August. The county updates case totals Monday, Wednesday and Friday.There are now 229 active cases of coronavirus in the county, including three active hospitalizations, and 429 recovered cases.The seven-day average of positive test results again fell to 16.5 percent.Overall just more than 13 percent of the 4,987 COVID-19 tests have returned positive for the virus.Since reporting began, 659 cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Ellis County, including one death.<figure>
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17 new cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis Co. since Monday

WAKEENEY — The Trego County Health Department on Wednesday an additional death and three new cases of COVID-19 in the county.

The death of a resident at Trego Long Term Care is the third coronavirus-related death in the county.

There are currently 13 active cases of COVID-19 in Trego County, with 40 total since reporting began. The department said additional tests are pending.

WAKEENEY — The Trego County Health Department on Wednesday an additional death and three new cases of COVID-19 in the county.The death of a resident at Trego Long Term Care is the third coronavirus-related death in the county.There are currently 13 active cases of COVID-19 in Trego County, with 40 total since reporting began. The department said additional tests are pending.<figure>
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Third death, three new virus cases reported in Trego County

One northwest Kansas health care institution and Fort Hays State University were listed on the first COVID-19 cluster summary issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday.

This is the first report to offer the names of locations determined to be active cluster sources.

FHSU has been attributed to 45 cluster cases, while Vision Source — a Colby eye care clinic — was attributed to seven cases. To be listed, a cluster must exceed five cases.

The cluster summary report will be updated each Wednesday.

Click <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">HERE</a> to see the full listing.

Clarified 1:50 p.m. Wednesday to indicate in the headline the health care clinic is located in Colby.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599675008964.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>One northwest Kansas health care institution and Fort Hays State University were listed on the first COVID-19 cluster summary issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday.This is the first report to offer the names of locations determined to be active cluster sources.FHSU has been attributed to 45 cluster cases, while Vision Source — a Colby eye care clinic — was attributed to seven cases. To be listed, a cluster must exceed five cases.The cluster summary report will be updated each Wednesday.Click <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">HERE</a> to see the full listing.Clarified 1:50 p.m. Wednesday to indicate in the headline the health care clinic is located in Colby.

FHSU, Colby eye clinic named on initial cluster summary report

Late-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the company said its “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”

AstraZeneca didn’t reveal any information about the possible side effect except to call it “a potentially unexplained illness.” The health news site STAT first reported the pause in testing, saying the possible side effect occurred in the United Kingdom.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause in vaccinations covers studies in the U.S. and other countries. Late last month, AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine. It also is testing the vaccine, developed by Oxford University, in thousands of people in Britain, and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa.

Two other vaccines are in huge, final-stage tests in the United States, one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Those two vaccines work differently than AstraZeneca’s, and the studies already have recruited about two-thirds of the needed volunteers.

Temporary holds of large medical studies aren’t unusual, and investigating any serious or unexpected reaction is a mandatory part of safety testing. AstraZeneca pointed out that it’s possible the problem could be a coincidence; illnesses of all sorts could arise in studies of thousands of people.

“We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline,” the company statement said.

It’s likely the unexplained illness was serious enough to require hospitalization and not a mild side effect such as fever or muscle pain, said Deborah Fuller, a University of Washington researcher who is working on a different COVID-19 vaccine that has not yet started human testing.

“This is not something to be alarmed about,” Fuller said. Instead, it’s reassuring that the company is pausing the study to figure out what’s happening and carefully monitoring the health of study participants.

Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University said via Twitter that the significance of the interruption was unclear but that he was “still optimistic” that an effective vaccine will be found in the coming months.

“But optimism isn’t evidence,” he wrote. “Let’s let science drive this process.”

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, tweeted that the illness may be unrelated to the vaccine, “but the important part is that this is why we do trials before rolling out a vaccine to the general public.”

During the third and final stage of testing, researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research. Because of their large size, the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety.

The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn’t between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot.

The development came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f3c0d94fd9e9bcb645110c7d2e05a0">the same day</a>&nbsp;that AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers issued an unusual pledge, vowing to uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards in developing their vaccines.

The announcement follows worries that President Donald Trump will pressure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine before it’s proven to be safe and effective.

The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in efforts to quickly develop multiple vaccines against COVID-19. But public fears that a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective could be disastrous, derailing the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans.

Representatives for the FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening.

AstraZeneca’s U.S.-traded shares fell more than 6% in after-hours trading following reports of the trial being paused.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressLate-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot.In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the company said its “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”AstraZeneca didn’t reveal any information about the possible side effect except to call it “a potentially unexplained illness.” The health news site STAT first reported the pause in testing, saying the possible side effect occurred in the United Kingdom.An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause in vaccinations covers studies in the U.S. and other countries. Late last month, AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine. It also is testing the vaccine, developed by Oxford University, in thousands of people in Britain, and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa.Two other vaccines are in huge, final-stage tests in the United States, one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Those two vaccines work differently than AstraZeneca’s, and the studies already have recruited about two-thirds of the needed volunteers.Temporary holds of large medical studies aren’t unusual, and investigating any serious or unexpected reaction is a mandatory part of safety testing. AstraZeneca pointed out that it’s possible the problem could be a coincidence; illnesses of all sorts could arise in studies of thousands of people.“We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline,” the company statement said.It’s likely the unexplained illness was serious enough to require hospitalization and not a mild side effect such as fever or muscle pain, said Deborah Fuller, a University of Washington researcher who is working on a different COVID-19 vaccine that has not yet started human testing.“This is not something to be alarmed about,” Fuller said. Instead, it’s reassuring that the company is pausing the study to figure out what’s happening and carefully monitoring the health of study participants.Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University said via Twitter that the significance of the interruption was unclear but that he was “still optimistic” that an effective vaccine will be found in the coming months.“But optimism isn’t evidence,” he wrote. “Let’s let science drive this process.”Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, tweeted that the illness may be unrelated to the vaccine, “but the important part is that this is why we do trials before rolling out a vaccine to the general public.”During the third and final stage of testing, researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research. Because of their large size, the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety.The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn’t between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot.The development came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f3c0d94fd9e9bcb645110c7d2e05a0">the same day</a>&nbsp;that AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers issued an unusual pledge, vowing to uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards in developing their vaccines.The announcement follows worries that President Donald Trump will pressure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine before it’s proven to be safe and effective.The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in efforts to quickly develop multiple vaccines against COVID-19. But public fears that a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective could be disastrous, derailing the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans.Representatives for the FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening.AstraZeneca’s U.S.-traded shares fell more than 6% in after-hours trading following reports of the trial being paused.___

Late stage COVID-19 vaccine study paused after illness

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday reported 112 new cases of COVID-19 in the county has been identified since Friday.

There are now 223 active cases, including four active hospitalizations, with 418 recovered cases.&nbsp;

The seven-day average of percent of positive tests was just less than 17 percent. Overall, 13 percent of the 4,929 test results returned positive for COVID-19.

Since reporting began, Ellis County has identified 642 total cases of coronavirus, including one death.

The department updates figures Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with Monday's report showing the largest increase between reports.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b383a62a-c62b-48c4-9f3d-f3f9989d9066">RELATED: Hays Middle School on Monday announced a revised remote learning calendar for the remainder of this week.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599505521834.png" alt="KDHE" />
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 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Monday reported 112 new cases of COVID-19 in the county has been identified since Friday.There are now 223 active cases, including four active hospitalizations, with 418 recovered cases.&nbsp;The seven-day average of percent of positive tests was just less than 17 percent. Overall, 13 percent of the 4,929 test results returned positive for COVID-19.Since reporting began, Ellis County has identified 642 total cases of coronavirus, including one death.The department updates figures Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with Monday's report showing the largest increase between reports.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b383a62a-c62b-48c4-9f3d-f3f9989d9066">RELATED: Hays Middle School on Monday announced a revised remote learning calendar for the remainder of this week.</a><figure>
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112 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ellis County since Friday

Due to the number of Hays Middle School students and staff in isolation or quarantine, USD 489 announced schedule changes in a news release Monday.

There will be no school Tuesday for students, with teachers reporting to work for planning and training.&nbsp;

Wednesday through Friday will be remote learning for students, and all student activities and athletics will be canceled for the week.

On-site learning is scheduled to resume Monday, Sept. 14.

Due to the number of Hays Middle School students and staff in isolation or quarantine, USD 489 announced schedule changes in a news release Monday.There will be no school Tuesday for students, with teachers reporting to work for planning and training.&nbsp;Wednesday through Friday will be remote learning for students, and all student activities and athletics will be canceled for the week.On-site learning is scheduled to resume Monday, Sept. 14.Read the complete release below:<figure>
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No school Tuesday, remote learning through Friday at HMS

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 57 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county since Wednesday.

There are now 161 active cases, including three active hospitalizations, with 368 recovered cases.

Since reporting began, there have been 530 total cases of coronavirus in Ellis County, including one death.

The seven-day average of percent of positive tests fell from more than 18 percent Wednesday to 14.6 percent Friday.

<figure>
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 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 57 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county since Wednesday.There are now 161 active cases, including three active hospitalizations, with 368 recovered cases.Since reporting began, there have been 530 total cases of coronavirus in Ellis County, including one death.The seven-day average of percent of positive tests fell from more than 18 percent Wednesday to 14.6 percent Friday.<figure>
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UPDATE: 67 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

As a result of mass testing for COVID-19 at The Good Samaritan Society-Hays, one resident and two staff members have been identified as testing positive for the virus, Administrator Noe Gillespie said in a news release Friday.&nbsp;

"Good Samaritan Society–Hays continues to take extra precautions, and is using vigorous infection control measures while also working closely with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and the community we serve remains our top priority."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591917306428.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>As a result of mass testing for COVID-19 at The Good Samaritan Society-Hays, one resident and two staff members have been identified as testing positive for the virus, Administrator Noe Gillespie said in a news release Friday.&nbsp;"Good Samaritan Society–Hays continues to take extra precautions, and is using vigorous infection control measures while also working closely with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and the community we serve remains our top priority."

One resident, two staff test positive for coronavirus at Good Sam

WAKEENEY — The Trego County Health Department reported a second death related to a cluster of COVID-19 cases.

The individual was a resident of Trego County Long Term Care.

The department also reported seven new cases of coronavirus since Tuesday, along with 15 recovered cases. There have been a total of 37 cases of COVID-19 reported in Trego County since reporting began.

WAKEENEY — The Trego County Health Department reported a second death related to a cluster of COVID-19 cases.The individual was a resident of Trego County Long Term Care.The department also reported seven new cases of coronavirus since Tuesday, along with 15 recovered cases. There have been a total of 37 cases of COVID-19 reported in Trego County since reporting began.Read the entire update below:<figure>
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One death, seven new cases of COVID-19 in Trego County

Ellis County K-12 COVID Response Group

As the Labor Day weekend approaches, the Ellis County Health Department along with the area public, private and post-secondary schools are sending an urgent reminder for residents of Ellis County. Please adhere to all mitigation measures, especially avoiding large gatherings.

Smart decisions this weekend and every day will assist in lowering the overall impact to Ellis County and allow all of our schools to continue with on-site learning.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do avoid large gatherings. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do social distance. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do wash your hands frequently. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do wear a mask if you cannot socially distance. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do isolate immediately if you feel ill. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do call your doctor for questions regarding your symptoms and testing. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do continue to protect yourself, your loved ones, and the community.

The Ellis County K-12 COVID Response Group&nbsp;is made up of:&nbsp;Ellis County Health Department - HaysMed - FHSU - NCK Tech USD 489 Hays - USD 388 Ellis - USD 432 Victoria Holy Family Elementary - Thomas More Prep-Marian - St. Mary’s Catholic School

<figure>
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 </figure>Ellis County K-12 COVID Response GroupAs the Labor Day weekend approaches, the Ellis County Health Department along with the area public, private and post-secondary schools are sending an urgent reminder for residents of Ellis County. Please adhere to all mitigation measures, especially avoiding large gatherings.Smart decisions this weekend and every day will assist in lowering the overall impact to Ellis County and allow all of our schools to continue with on-site learning.Those measures are listed below.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do avoid large gatherings. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do social distance. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do wash your hands frequently. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do wear a mask if you cannot socially distance. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do isolate immediately if you feel ill. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do call your doctor for questions regarding your symptoms and testing. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do continue to protect yourself, your loved ones, and the community.The Ellis County K-12 COVID Response Group&nbsp;is made up of:&nbsp;Ellis County Health Department - HaysMed - FHSU - NCK Tech USD 489 Hays - USD 388 Ellis - USD 432 Victoria Holy Family Elementary - Thomas More Prep-Marian - St. Mary’s Catholic School

Schools, health agencies make plea for safe behavior this weekend

Isolation? Quarantine? KDHE offers guidance

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Hundreds are quarantined at several Kansas universities as a growing number of students test positive for the coronavirus, raising concerns that they could bring the virus home with them over the upcoming holiday weekend.

At Pittsburg State University, 96 positive COVID-19 cases have been recorded among students since the fall semester began Aug. 17, officials said during a media briefing Wednesday. Currently, 101 people are in isolation, or separated from people who are not sick, and about 600 are in quarantine, or separated for the monitoring of the development of symptoms.

Pittsburg State officials are “strongly suggesting” that students remain in Pittsburg over the coming Labor Day weekend.

“We feel we have a good handle on the situation here,” Tim Stebbins, the public health officer in Crawford County, where Pittsburg is located. “We don’t need the virus coming in and out due to student travel.”

At Emporia State University, officials announced Wednesday that all athletic activities were temporarily suspended. The school said in a news release that total of 14 student-athletes out of more than 400 spread across all teams had tested positive for COVID-19.

The University of Kansas announced Wednesday that the number of positive cases resulting from compulsory testing of students arriving on campus had grown to 546, for a 2.42% overall positivity rate, according to a&nbsp;<a href="http://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2020/sep2" target="_blank">news release</a>. Among fraternities and sororities, the percentage testing positive shrank from 10% to 8.38% as the houses added freshmen members who had lower rates of infection to their ranks. Nine Greek houses were places on quarantine last week.

At Benedictine College in Atchison, health officials in the county want to put all of the school’s 2,000 students in quarantine for 14 days. Under the plan, students would only leave their residential quarters to obtain packed meals from the cafeteria and participate in religious services.

Currently, 16 students are in isolation in the community after testing positive and 132 are in quarantine as a precaution because they may have been exposed, said college spokesman Steve Johnson. He said the school thinks it has adequate mitigation in place and quarantining all students is “not the best solution.” No final decision has been made.

Statewide, Kansas reported 1,328 new COVID-19 cases from Monday to Wednesday, bringing the state’s confirmed total to 43,940. That includes 15 sports clusters with 119 cases. Health officials also reported an additional 12 COVID-19-related deaths for a statewide death toll of 458.

One of the deadliest outbreaks was at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Wyandotte County, where 37 residents died, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-03/scathing-federal-inspection-pulls-curtain-back-on-one-of-kansas-deadliest-coronavirus-outbreaksKCUR" target="_blank">reports</a>. A newly released scathing federal report said that weeks into the outbreak, inspectors still saw health workers caring for COVID-19 patients without proper protective gear.

Riverbend argued a federal law shields it against 12 lawsuits that have been filed, but a federal judge rejected the argument two weeks ago.

“This report just confirms the allegations we’ve already made,” said Rachel Stahle, a lawyer representing families in seven of the lawsuits.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Hundreds are quarantined at several Kansas universities as a growing number of students test positive for the coronavirus, raising concerns that they could bring the virus home with them over the upcoming holiday weekend.At Pittsburg State University, 96 positive COVID-19 cases have been recorded among students since the fall semester began Aug. 17, officials said during a media briefing Wednesday. Currently, 101 people are in isolation, or separated from people who are not sick, and about 600 are in quarantine, or separated for the monitoring of the development of symptoms.Pittsburg State officials are “strongly suggesting” that students remain in Pittsburg over the coming Labor Day weekend.“We feel we have a good handle on the situation here,” Tim Stebbins, the public health officer in Crawford County, where Pittsburg is located. “We don’t need the virus coming in and out due to student travel.”At Emporia State University, officials announced Wednesday that all athletic activities were temporarily suspended. The school said in a news release that total of 14 student-athletes out of more than 400 spread across all teams had tested positive for COVID-19.The University of Kansas announced Wednesday that the number of positive cases resulting from compulsory testing of students arriving on campus had grown to 546, for a 2.42% overall positivity rate, according to a&nbsp;<a href="http://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2020/sep2" target="_blank">news release</a>. Among fraternities and sororities, the percentage testing positive shrank from 10% to 8.38% as the houses added freshmen members who had lower rates of infection to their ranks. Nine Greek houses were places on quarantine last week.At Benedictine College in Atchison, health officials in the county want to put all of the school’s 2,000 students in quarantine for 14 days. Under the plan, students would only leave their residential quarters to obtain packed meals from the cafeteria and participate in religious services.Currently, 16 students are in isolation in the community after testing positive and 132 are in quarantine as a precaution because they may have been exposed, said college spokesman Steve Johnson. He said the school thinks it has adequate mitigation in place and quarantining all students is “not the best solution.” No final decision has been made.Statewide, Kansas reported 1,328 new COVID-19 cases from Monday to Wednesday, bringing the state’s confirmed total to 43,940. That includes 15 sports clusters with 119 cases. Health officials also reported an additional 12 COVID-19-related deaths for a statewide death toll of 458.One of the deadliest outbreaks was at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Wyandotte County, where 37 residents died, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-03/scathing-federal-inspection-pulls-curtain-back-on-one-of-kansas-deadliest-coronavirus-outbreaksKCUR" target="_blank">reports</a>. A newly released scathing federal report said that weeks into the outbreak, inspectors still saw health workers caring for COVID-19 patients without proper protective gear.Riverbend argued a federal law shields it against 12 lawsuits that have been filed, but a federal judge rejected the argument two weeks ago.“This report just confirms the allegations we’ve already made,” said Rachel Stahle, a lawyer representing families in seven of the lawsuits.

Hundreds in quarantine after COVID-19 outbreaks at Kan. schools 

In a release Wednesday evening, USD 489 announced two confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff members at Hays Middle School.

The staff members have been directed to isolated until permitted to return to school.

Close contacts will be notified, the district said.

In a release Wednesday evening, USD 489 announced two confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff members at Hays Middle School.The staff members have been directed to isolated until permitted to return to school.Close contacts will be notified, the district said.Read the entire statement below:<figure>
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Two Hays Middle School staff members positive for coronavirus

ELLIS - A cook for the USD 388 Ellis Jr./Sr. High School is in self-quarantine after being in close contact with a person who has COVID-19, according to Corey Burton, superintendent.

Burton issued the following <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellishighschool/">news release</a> this afternoon on social media.

DATE: September 2, 2020 TO: USD 388 FROM: Corey Burton, Superintendent

We have been informed that one of our Ellis Jr/Sr High School cooks has been placed on self-quarantine as they have been deemed a close contact of a positive Coronavirus individual.

Per guidelines, this staff member has been directed to self-quarantine until permitted to return.

We are alerting you to this development because we believe that open communication and district health is important.

 We are working closely with the Ellis County Health Department (ECHD) to keep our students and staff as safe as possible. 

At this time, our students and other employees are not directly affected. If this situation changes, we will alert you ASAP and make the necessary adjustments. In the meantime, know that USD 388 will continue with our safety and health protocols. These protocols include masks, sanitizing hands, wiping down equipment and other sanitizing processes. In the interim, if you feel you are showing signs and symptoms of Covid-19, we encourage you to seek medical advice and contact the Ellis County Health Department for more information. They can be reached at (785) 628-9440. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy educational experience and work environment for all of our students, athletes, and employees. We also endeavor to be a positive service to our community. It is in the interest of those goals that we provide this information out of an abundance of caution. We also want to take this opportunity to remind you that one of our core values as a district is respect for and among our employees and students. We will treat information regarding the identity of employees/students with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 as confidential to the extent feasible and we will comply with applicable laws regarding the handling of such information. Further, per district policy, we will not tolerate harassment of, or discrimination or retaliation against, employees and students. Please contact Corey Burton, Superintendent at (785) 726-4281 if you have any questions or concerns. For more information about COVID-19, please visit the CDC website at: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2DEyCvDQirjV0oKGMGuhzzdBg6lzR5C2kf7vpgMMpXK_ykLWVXExKS9bE" target="_blank">http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a> Respectfully, Corey Burton Superintendent&nbsp;&nbsp;

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 </figure>Hays PostELLIS - A cook for the USD 388 Ellis Jr./Sr. High School is in self-quarantine after being in close contact with a person who has COVID-19, according to Corey Burton, superintendent.Burton issued the following <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellishighschool/">news release</a> this afternoon on social media.DATE: September 2, 2020 TO: USD 388 FROM: Corey Burton, Superintendent We have been informed that one of our Ellis Jr/Sr High School cooks has been placed on self-quarantine as they have been deemed a close contact of a positive Coronavirus individual. Per guidelines, this staff member has been directed to self-quarantine until permitted to return. We are alerting you to this development because we believe that open communication and district health is important. We are working closely with the Ellis County Health Department (ECHD) to keep our students and staff as safe as possible. At this time, our students and other employees are not directly affected. If this situation changes, we will alert you ASAP and make the necessary adjustments. In the meantime, know that USD 388 will continue with our safety and health protocols. These protocols include masks, sanitizing hands, wiping down equipment and other sanitizing processes. In the interim, if you feel you are showing signs and symptoms of Covid-19, we encourage you to seek medical advice and contact the Ellis County Health Department for more information. They can be reached at (785) 628-9440. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy educational experience and work environment for all of our students, athletes, and employees. We also endeavor to be a positive service to our community. It is in the interest of those goals that we provide this information out of an abundance of caution. We also want to take this opportunity to remind you that one of our core values as a district is respect for and among our employees and students. We will treat information regarding the identity of employees/students with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 as confidential to the extent feasible and we will comply with applicable laws regarding the handling of such information. Further, per district policy, we will not tolerate harassment of, or discrimination or retaliation against, employees and students. Please contact Corey Burton, Superintendent at (785) 726-4281 if you have any questions or concerns. For more information about COVID-19, please visit the CDC website at: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2DEyCvDQirjV0oKGMGuhzzdBg6lzR5C2kf7vpgMMpXK_ykLWVXExKS9bE" target="_blank">http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a> Respectfully, Corey Burton Superintendent&nbsp;&nbsp;

USD 388 cook placed on self-quarantine; no students, staff affected

The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced 48 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified since Monday.

There are now 158 active cases in the county, including four active hospitalizations, and 304 recovered cases.

The seven-day average of positive test results dropped from more than 22 percent to just less than 19 percent. Of the 4,316 tests in the county, 10.7 percent have returned positive for COVID-19.

Since reporting began, 463 cases of coronavirus have been identified in the county, including one death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599069887400.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced 48 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified since Monday.There are now 158 active cases in the county, including four active hospitalizations, and 304 recovered cases.The seven-day average of positive test results dropped from more than 22 percent to just less than 19 percent. Of the 4,316 tests in the county, 10.7 percent have returned positive for COVID-19.Since reporting began, 463 cases of coronavirus have been identified in the county, including one death.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599073908555.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

48 new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Monday

Fort Hays State University reported 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the FHSU community Tuesday, an increase of 15 since Friday.

<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/covid-19-response/updates/9-1-2020-testing-dashboard">The university launched a COVID dashboard Friday and will update the page every Tuesday.</a>

Since the page had not been live for a full week, Tuesday's numbers were added to Friday's reporting.

The 48 positive cases identified through testing completed by the Student Health Center came from only 75 total tests, a 64 percent positive testing rate.

The report also said 36 students are currently in on-campus quarantine and a further 17 are currently in off-campus isolation.

FHSU offered free COVID-19 testing to students, faculty and staff at the beginning of the semester through a third party. So far, out of the 1,132 tests completed on a volunteer basis, 127 positives have been identified, according to FHSU.

The campus dashboard is scheduled to be updated each Tuesday and is separate from Ellis County Health Department reports, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cd32468e-0573-4b1b-8ea0-385401e13657">which are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday.</a>

Hays PostFort Hays State University reported 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the FHSU community Tuesday, an increase of 15 since Friday.<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/covid-19-response/updates/9-1-2020-testing-dashboard">The university launched a COVID dashboard Friday and will update the page every Tuesday.</a>Since the page had not been live for a full week, Tuesday's numbers were added to Friday's reporting.The 48 positive cases identified through testing completed by the Student Health Center came from only 75 total tests, a 64 percent positive testing rate.The report also said 36 students are currently in on-campus quarantine and a further 17 are currently in off-campus isolation.FHSU offered free COVID-19 testing to students, faculty and staff at the beginning of the semester through a third party. So far, out of the 1,132 tests completed on a volunteer basis, 127 positives have been identified, according to FHSU.The campus dashboard is scheduled to be updated each Tuesday and is separate from Ellis County Health Department reports, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cd32468e-0573-4b1b-8ea0-385401e13657">which are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday.</a>

FHSU reports 48 COVID-19 cases from on campus testing

A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.

AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.

Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.

“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.

NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."

AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.

Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.

Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.

Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.

The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.

There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.

“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.

There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.

They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.

Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.

For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:

The Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.

Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.

These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.

Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.

Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.

Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.

China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.

Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.

Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.

Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.

Novavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.

There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and CARLA K. JOHNSONAP Medical WritersA handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:GENETIC CODE VACCINESThe Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.TROJAN HORSE VACCINESBritain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.‘KILLED’ VACCINESMaking vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.PROTEIN VACCINESNovavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.___

Third virus vaccine reaches major hurdle: final US testing

The Trego County Health Department on Tuesday announced four new cases of COVID-19 in the county.

Trego County currently has 30 total cases, including 14 active cases, 15 recovered and one death.

Among the new cases is one additional Trego County-Lemke Memorial Long Term Care resident. There have been a total of five residents test positive there.

There is a mask mandate in effect at both the hospital and the long-term care unit.

Kathleen Fabrizius, Trego County Emergency Management director, said last week the uptick in cases is related exposure at a recent event.&nbsp;

The Trego County Health Department on Tuesday announced four new cases of COVID-19 in the county.Trego County currently has 30 total cases, including 14 active cases, 15 recovered and one death.Among the new cases is one additional Trego County-Lemke Memorial Long Term Care resident. There have been a total of five residents test positive there.There is a mask mandate in effect at both the hospital and the long-term care unit.Kathleen Fabrizius, Trego County Emergency Management director, said last week the uptick in cases is related exposure at a recent event.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1598979380228.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>

Four new coronavirus cases reported from Trego Co. cluster

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.

The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.

The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.

The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.

As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.

“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.

But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.

Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.

“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”

Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.

More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.

For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598927207022.png" alt="Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference" />
 <figcaption>Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference</figcaption>
 </figure>By BEATRICE DUPUY, Associated PressThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

CDC has not reduced the death count for COVID-19

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday announced 78 positive cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county — 38 since Friday and an additional 40 from last week.

"Due to the inability of KDHE to provide relevant, up-to-date data, discrepancies in reports exist," the department said in a news release Monday afternoon. "Moving forward, ECHD will present data that is current as of 10 a.m. the date of reporting. This data will not always coincide with KDHE data."

Monday's update represents the largest single report of case increases in the county. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d96483ff-a057-4189-9240-5851e5d4c2be">On Monday, Aug. 24, the county reported 72 new cases,</a> many of them occurring among the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6232ede5-1a93-4349-866c-f1c9124f8309">Fort Hays State University student population.</a>

There are currently 179 active cases of COVID-19 in the county, including four active hospitalizations, and 235 recovered cases.&nbsp;

The seven-day average of positive test results is more than 22 percent, the department reported. Of the nearly 4,200 tests conducted on Ellis County residents, 10 percent have returned as positive.

Since reporting began, there have been 415 cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis County, including one death.

Read the entire release from the Ellis County Health Department below:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593005366466.png" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598911515520.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Monday announced 78 positive cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county — 38 since Friday and an additional 40 from last week."Due to the inability of KDHE to provide relevant, up-to-date data, discrepancies in reports exist," the department said in a news release Monday afternoon. "Moving forward, ECHD will present data that is current as of 10 a.m. the date of reporting. This data will not always coincide with KDHE data."Monday's update represents the largest single report of case increases in the county. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d96483ff-a057-4189-9240-5851e5d4c2be">On Monday, Aug. 24, the county reported 72 new cases,</a> many of them occurring among the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6232ede5-1a93-4349-866c-f1c9124f8309">Fort Hays State University student population.</a>There are currently 179 active cases of COVID-19 in the county, including four active hospitalizations, and 235 recovered cases.&nbsp;The seven-day average of positive test results is more than 22 percent, the department reported. Of the nearly 4,200 tests conducted on Ellis County residents, 10 percent have returned as positive.Since reporting began, there have been 415 cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis County, including one death.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598908235702.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Read the entire release from the Ellis County Health Department below:<figure>
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 </figure>

UPDATE: 78 new cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis Co.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.

To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.

<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.

Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.

Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.

The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.

“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”

Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.

Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.

The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.

The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.

Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.

CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”

The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

Coronavirus Update