Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief/">kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief/</a>

TODAY, Thursday, August 13th, at 4:00 PM&nbsp;the application will go live to view&nbsp;on the Website listed above.

Applications will not be accepted to submit until&nbsp;Wednesday, August 19th, at 12:00 PM.

There are $78.6 million in Economic Development funds and&nbsp;$60 million in Connectivity funds. Below are the&nbsp;nine grant programs&nbsp;becoming available:

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Business Working Capital Grants

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Arts &amp; Entertainment Venue

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Business/Professional Services

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Communications &amp; Marketing

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Educational Services

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finance &amp; Banking

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grocery

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Healthcare &amp; Medical

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Logistics &amp; Distribution

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Manufacturing

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Non-Profit

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Personal Services

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Restaurant &amp; Hospitality

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Retail

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas businesses with fewer than 500 FTE

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must have been in operation since July 1, 2019

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must be in good standing with Kansas Secretary of State

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must be able to demonstrate a loss of at least 25% of gross revenues from January 1, 2020-June 30, 2020, as compared to July 1, 2019-December 31, 2019

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must not have received more than $350K or more in Covid-19 related assistance from federal or local sources combined

***(FTE count, loss of 25%, and $350K+ from federal or local assistance – Are all allowed to be appealed for consideration)

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maximum grant amounts vary by sector and need of business

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Businesses are not guaranteed the full amount

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Award determination will be made on several factors including number of employees, extend of business loss, etc.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds have depleted

2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Securing Local Food Systems Grants

3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;PPE Procurement Grants

4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;PPE Manufacturing Grants

5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Covid-19 Bioscience Product Development Acceleration Grants

6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Connectivity Emergency Response Grant

7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Broadband Partnership Adoption Grants

8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IT, Cybersecurity, &amp; IT Project Management Certification Training Grants

9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Tech College Advanced Manufacturing Grants

For questions, email the Dept of Commerce at:<a href="mailto:backtobusiness@ks.gov">backtobusiness@ks.gov</a> The applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597346503192.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of CommerceWebsite:&nbsp;<a href="http://kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief/">kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief/</a> TODAY, Thursday, August 13th, at 4:00 PM&nbsp;the application will go live to view&nbsp;on the Website listed above.Applications will not be accepted to submit until&nbsp;Wednesday, August 19th, at 12:00 PM.There are $78.6 million in Economic Development funds and&nbsp;$60 million in Connectivity funds. Below are the&nbsp;nine grant programs&nbsp;becoming available:1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Business Working Capital GrantsIndustries:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Arts &amp; Entertainment Venue·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Business/Professional Services·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Communications &amp; Marketing·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Educational Services·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finance &amp; Banking·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grocery·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Healthcare &amp; Medical·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Logistics &amp; Distribution·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Manufacturing·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Non-Profit·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Personal Services·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Restaurant &amp; Hospitality·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Retail·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OtherEligibility:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas businesses with fewer than 500 FTE·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must have been in operation since July 1, 2019·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must be in good standing with Kansas Secretary of State·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must be able to demonstrate a loss of at least 25% of gross revenues from January 1, 2020-June 30, 2020, as compared to July 1, 2019-December 31, 2019·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Must not have received more than $350K or more in Covid-19 related assistance from federal or local sources combined***(FTE count, loss of 25%, and $350K+ from federal or local assistance – Are all allowed to be appealed for consideration)Notes:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maximum grant amounts vary by sector and need of business·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Businesses are not guaranteed the full amount·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Award determination will be made on several factors including number of employees, extend of business loss, etc.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds have depleted2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Securing Local Food Systems Grants3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;PPE Procurement Grants4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;PPE Manufacturing Grants5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Covid-19 Bioscience Product Development Acceleration Grants6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Connectivity Emergency Response Grant7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Broadband Partnership Adoption Grants8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IT, Cybersecurity, &amp; IT Project Management Certification Training Grants9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Tech College Advanced Manufacturing GrantsFor questions, email the Dept of Commerce at:<a href="mailto:backtobusiness@ks.gov">backtobusiness@ks.gov</a> The applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

SPARK grant application process for businesses announced

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Public health officials in three Kansas counties say a new state law is hurting their efforts to trace the contacts of people infected with COVID-19 by making it easier for them to refuse to cooperate.

Public health departments often rely on employers to find out who has been in close contact with those infected, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/HATC-special-edition-summary-of-HB2016" target="_blank">the coronavirus law</a>&nbsp;that was approved in June says “third parties,” such as employers and event hosts, must get consent from those who tested positive for COVID-19 and close contacts in order to share their information to public health agencies.

“Our disease investigators hold confidentiality to the utmost importance,” said Adrienne Byrne, director of the Sedgwick County Health Department in Wichita. “So I’m not sure what all went behind that bill, but it has not been good for public health because being able to do contact tracing helps us identify people that might turn positive and get them out of circulation to help stop the spread of the disease.”

Kansas reported Wednesday that its confirmed and probable coronavirus cases were over 32,500, up more than 6,000 over the past two weeks.

While lawmakers deliberated the coronavirus response bill in June, Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2020-news-releases/2020/06/01/ag-derek-schmidt-recommends-legislature-enact-law-during-special-session-to-regulate-contact-tracing" target="_blank">recommended</a>&nbsp;that they include “a legal framework″ for protecting privacy and civil liberties. Schmidt spokesman John Milburn said in an email to the Associated Press that “the alternative to voluntary contact tracing is government-compelled contact tracing.”

“We do not believe Kansans should be threatened with government-imposed penalties if they decline to disclose with whom they associate or where they have been, at least not without judicial supervision,” he said.

The law passed after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3a112f6630e3e1f48b7eafc1481ea3e6">weeks of dispute&nbsp;</a>between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and top Republicans over her handling of the pandemic. Contact tracers and case investigators who violate the law can be charged with a class C misdemeanor.

“If we have to go in and try to get consent, it really just slows the whole process down,” Dr. Lee Norman, the state’s top public health official, said this week.

Coronavirus outbreaks in Wyandotte County have most commonly occurred at workplaces, said Elizabeth Groenweghe, the county health department’s chief epidemiologist.

The new law will “make it a bit more challenging to do the contact tracing in the workplace and help the workplace identify who needs to be quarantined, which could impact and perpetuate outbreaks within the workplace,” Groenweghe said.

The law also prevents people infected with COVID-19 and close contacts from being “compelled to participate in” contact tracing. Contact tracers and case investigators are now required to read a statement — or create their own version of it — informing recent close contacts that cooperating with health officials is voluntary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Kristi Zears said in an email.

Elizabeth Holzschuh, a Johnson County epidemiologist, said she thinks the statement makes it easier for people to decline to participate.

“I think that in particular with a disease such as this, where the implications are so great at this moment in time, in the middle of a pandemic, I certainly think that greater participation would help us slow transmission,” Holzschuh said.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Public health officials in three Kansas counties say a new state law is hurting their efforts to trace the contacts of people infected with COVID-19 by making it easier for them to refuse to cooperate.Public health departments often rely on employers to find out who has been in close contact with those infected, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/HATC-special-edition-summary-of-HB2016" target="_blank">the coronavirus law</a>&nbsp;that was approved in June says “third parties,” such as employers and event hosts, must get consent from those who tested positive for COVID-19 and close contacts in order to share their information to public health agencies.“Our disease investigators hold confidentiality to the utmost importance,” said Adrienne Byrne, director of the Sedgwick County Health Department in Wichita. “So I’m not sure what all went behind that bill, but it has not been good for public health because being able to do contact tracing helps us identify people that might turn positive and get them out of circulation to help stop the spread of the disease.”Kansas reported Wednesday that its confirmed and probable coronavirus cases were over 32,500, up more than 6,000 over the past two weeks.While lawmakers deliberated the coronavirus response bill in June, Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2020-news-releases/2020/06/01/ag-derek-schmidt-recommends-legislature-enact-law-during-special-session-to-regulate-contact-tracing" target="_blank">recommended</a>&nbsp;that they include “a legal framework″ for protecting privacy and civil liberties. Schmidt spokesman John Milburn said in an email to the Associated Press that “the alternative to voluntary contact tracing is government-compelled contact tracing.”“We do not believe Kansans should be threatened with government-imposed penalties if they decline to disclose with whom they associate or where they have been, at least not without judicial supervision,” he said.The law passed after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3a112f6630e3e1f48b7eafc1481ea3e6">weeks of dispute&nbsp;</a>between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and top Republicans over her handling of the pandemic. Contact tracers and case investigators who violate the law can be charged with a class C misdemeanor.“If we have to go in and try to get consent, it really just slows the whole process down,” Dr. Lee Norman, the state’s top public health official, said this week.Coronavirus outbreaks in Wyandotte County have most commonly occurred at workplaces, said Elizabeth Groenweghe, the county health department’s chief epidemiologist.The new law will “make it a bit more challenging to do the contact tracing in the workplace and help the workplace identify who needs to be quarantined, which could impact and perpetuate outbreaks within the workplace,” Groenweghe said.The law also prevents people infected with COVID-19 and close contacts from being “compelled to participate in” contact tracing. Contact tracers and case investigators are now required to read a statement — or create their own version of it — informing recent close contacts that cooperating with health officials is voluntary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Kristi Zears said in an email.Elizabeth Holzschuh, a Johnson County epidemiologist, said she thinks the statement makes it easier for people to decline to participate.“I think that in particular with a disease such as this, where the implications are so great at this moment in time, in the middle of a pandemic, I certainly think that greater participation would help us slow transmission,” Holzschuh said.___

Kansas officials say new COVID-19 law hurts contact tracing

JEFFERSON COUNTY —Staff members at USD 342, McLouth in Jefferson County, Kansas tested positive for COVID-19, according to a letter sent to parents and posted on the district's web site.

Per the district's established protocol, they have closed off the building so that it can be thoroughly clean and disinfected.

The building will remain closed through Friday and is scheduled to reopen Monday, according to the letter.

"We are also in contact with the Jefferson County Department of Health and will take the steps necessary to protect the health of our McLouth family.&nbsp; The individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to return to school until their isolation period is complete and they are symptom free."

The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Some have reported additional symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, fatigue, lack of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Individuals who need medical care should call their medical provider to report their illness prior to seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital. Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should contact the Jefferson County Health Department.

JEFFERSON COUNTY —Staff members at USD 342, McLouth in Jefferson County, Kansas tested positive for COVID-19, according to a letter sent to parents and posted on the district's web site.Per the district's established protocol, they have closed off the building so that it can be thoroughly clean and disinfected.The building will remain closed through Friday and is scheduled to reopen Monday, according to the letter."We are also in contact with the Jefferson County Department of Health and will take the steps necessary to protect the health of our McLouth family.&nbsp; The individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to return to school until their isolation period is complete and they are symptom free."The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Some have reported additional symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, fatigue, lack of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.Individuals who need medical care should call their medical provider to report their illness prior to seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital. Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should contact the Jefferson County Health Department.

Kan. district closes school building after staff has COVID-19

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the wording "out-of-state" to the section about mass gatherings of 500 or greater. That wording was left off of a news release sent to media, however it does appear in the information on the KDHE website.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list, removing the state of Florida and adding attendance at out-of-state mass gatherings greater than 500 people, according to a media release from the agency.

Additionally, those countries with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice with restrictions remain.

This list is effective for all persons returning to or entering Kansas on the effective dates. The state will review/update this list every two weeks. A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine for 14 days includes visitors and Kansans who have:

<a>Others needing to continue quarantining:</a>

Travel quarantines do not prohibit travel through Kansas. People from these locations may still travel through Kansas. If this is done, KDHE recommends limited stops, wearing a mask at rest stops or when getting gas and being 6’ from others when doing so. If the destination is Kansas, they would be required to quarantine upon arrival to their destination.

Critical infrastructure sector employees who have travelled to these destinations should contact their local health department regarding instructions for application of these quarantine orders while working. Critical infrastructure employees, such as public health, law enforcement, food supply, etc., need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans so the local health department may allow a modified quarantine. Please note the only exemption for these quarantine mandates for critical infrastructure sector employees is work – they are not to go any other locations outside of work.

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the wording "out-of-state" to the section about mass gatherings of 500 or greater. That wording was left off of a news release sent to media, however it does appear in the information on the KDHE website.TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list, removing the state of Florida and adding attendance at out-of-state mass gatherings greater than 500 people, according to a media release from the agency.Additionally, those countries with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice with restrictions remain.This list is effective for all persons returning to or entering Kansas on the effective dates. The state will review/update this list every two weeks. A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine for 14 days includes visitors and Kansans who have:<ul>
 <li><a>Attended/traveled to out-of-state mass gathering events of 500 people or greater on or after August 11.</a></li><li>Traveled to/from Florida between June 29 – August 11.&nbsp;</li><li>Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.</li><li><a>International travel on or after July 14 to countries with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice, including China, Iran, European Schengen area, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Brazil. International travelers must follow&nbsp;</a><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Ftravelers%2Ffrom-other-countries.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cadde893d0d024bf0fc9908d83e22597a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637327664750923792&amp;sdata=yVP2xONlDfuahO%2F%2BZw%2BSmd5D9qZDYGMEGSOOvrpDjUg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">CDC guidance and protocols</a>.</li>
 </ul><a>Others needing to continue quarantining:</a><ul>
 <li>Anyone subject to a travel-related quarantine for a state or country previously on the travel-related quarantine list must complete their 14-day quarantine period.</li><li>Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.</li>
 </ul>Travel quarantines do not prohibit travel through Kansas. People from these locations may still travel through Kansas. If this is done, KDHE recommends limited stops, wearing a mask at rest stops or when getting gas and being 6’ from others when doing so. If the destination is Kansas, they would be required to quarantine upon arrival to their destination.Critical infrastructure sector employees who have travelled to these destinations should contact their local health department regarding instructions for application of these quarantine orders while working. Critical infrastructure employees, such as public health, law enforcement, food supply, etc., need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans so the local health department may allow a modified quarantine. Please note the only exemption for these quarantine mandates for critical infrastructure sector employees is work – they are not to go any other locations outside of work.

UPDATE: Quarantine after out-of-state mass gatherings of 500+ 

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday announced five new cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the county since Friday.

There are now 12 active cases of coronavirus, including two active hospitalizations, and 133 recovered cases.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 146 cases of COVID-19 in Ellis County, including one death.

Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f52753-0672-4567-8e55-1cebdac34824">HERE</a> for the latest numbers statewide in Kansas.

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday announced five new cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the county since Friday.There are now 12 active cases of coronavirus, including two active hospitalizations, and 133 recovered cases.Since the pandemic began, there have been 146 cases of COVID-19 in Ellis County, including one death.Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f52753-0672-4567-8e55-1cebdac34824">HERE</a> for the latest numbers statewide in Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597085137844.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Five new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis Co.

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/10/kdhe-secretary-warns-of-lethal-brew-yearns-for-mask-mandate-says-schools-not-yet-safe/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Bars and house 
parties are an antidote of choice among Kansans laboring with 
coronavirus frustration and willing to rub shoulders with friends or 
strangers.

Lee Norman, secretary of 
the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said on the Kansas 
Reflector podcast these boozy environments also harbor perils of 
COVID-19 for anyone rejecting advice to social distance, wash hands and 
wear a mask.

“They just immerse in 
virus when they do that,” Norman said. “There’s usually music. When 
people speak loudly, there’s airborne droplets. And they’re very close 
to each other. It is absolutely a lethal brew.”

Norman said he was 
distressed only 15 of the state’s 105 counties embraced Gov. Laura 
Kelly’s recommendation of a mask mandate. The public health value of 
requiring people to cover their mouth and nose when in public has been 
undermined by government officials who discounted potential of the virus
 or viewed government edicts as infringement of individual liberties.

“I would love to see a 
mask&nbsp;mandate,” Norman said. “People can be outside and not&nbsp;have a mask 
on, if they’re distanced and they’re walking in a park or those kind of 
things. When you can’t control your environment, and you’re getting 
anywhere close to people, put a mask on.”

He said the state’s K-12 
education system and the colleges and universities weren’t prepared to 
resume in-person instruction in August.

Some local school boards 
decided to delay opening until after Labor Day in September, but the 
Kansas Board of Education rejected the governor’s proposal to hold off 
until Sept. 9. Kelly argued school districts needed more time to prepare
 for an educational environment invaded by COVID-19.

“The reason for that was 
pretty obvious. The number of cases is going up and, quite honestly, to 
make a safe environment for K through 12, or for that matter, higher ed.
 We’re not there yet,” the secretary said.

Norman said controversial 
decisions by the governor to close schools to in-person teaching in 
March and to issue a shelter-in-place directive in April were the two 
factors early in the pandemic that had a beneficial influence on spread 
of the virus.

The governor’s phased plan
 for reopening the state’s economy was initiated in May but subsequently
 derailed by the Kansas Legislature. It was anchored in health-related 
metrics that took into account needs of businesses to resume operations,
 he said.

“I’ve been a chief medical
 officer at very large health systems, and I know the importance of the 
bottom line. It’s always been top of mind.&nbsp;I don’t ever make 
recommendations in a vacuum,” Norman said. “And&nbsp;that’s true with schools
 as well. Schools are much more than just teaching and learning. It’s 
about socialization, nutrition, mental health.”

So far, the virus has been
 confirmed as a contributing factor in the death of 380 people and 
hospitalization of 1,875 individuals in Kansas. There have been 30,638 
positive tests and 285,874 negative tests for the virus across the 
state.

Here’s the top dozen 
counties of confirmed infections: Johnson, 5,637; Wyandotte, 4,961; 
Sedgwick, 4,935; Ford, 2,161; Finney, 1,706; Shawnee, 1,522; 
Leavenworth, 1,487, Seward, 1,144; Douglas, 717; and Lyon, 668, Riley, 
438; and Crawford, 395.

Norman, who has faced 
criticism from elected politicians and a skeptical public, said he 
continued to worry that not enough Kansans took COVID-19 seriously.

“We can’t make people take
 it seriously. Rules help,” he said. “I think what’s going to happen is 
that people are going to get ground down and will either say, ‘I guess 
we have to take this seriously and I’m going to personally be 
responsible for myself and maybe my family members.’ Or, are they the 
other? They can just say, ‘Heck with it. Let’s just throw open the 
doors. I’m done.’ "

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597071808051.jpeg" alt="Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman says during a recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast that he would prefer mask mandates to curtail the spread of COVID-19. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman says during a recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast that he would prefer mask mandates to curtail the spread of COVID-19. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/873134704&color=%232b7fb4&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast" title="Reflector Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Reflector Podcast</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast/health-secretary-lee-norman-yearns-for-mask-mandate" title="Health secretary Lee Norman warns of &#x27;lethal brew&#x27;" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Health secretary Lee Norman warns of &#x27;lethal brew&#x27;</a></div></div>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/10/kdhe-secretary-warns-of-lethal-brew-yearns-for-mask-mandate-says-schools-not-yet-safe/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Bars and house 
parties are an antidote of choice among Kansans laboring with 
coronavirus frustration and willing to rub shoulders with friends or 
strangers.Lee Norman, secretary of 
the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said on the Kansas 
Reflector podcast these boozy environments also harbor perils of 
COVID-19 for anyone rejecting advice to social distance, wash hands and 
wear a mask.“They just immerse in 
virus when they do that,” Norman said. “There’s usually music. When 
people speak loudly, there’s airborne droplets. And they’re very close 
to each other. It is absolutely a lethal brew.”Norman said he was 
distressed only 15 of the state’s 105 counties embraced Gov. Laura 
Kelly’s recommendation of a mask mandate. The public health value of 
requiring people to cover their mouth and nose when in public has been 
undermined by government officials who discounted potential of the virus
 or viewed government edicts as infringement of individual liberties.“I would love to see a 
mask&nbsp;mandate,” Norman said. “People can be outside and not&nbsp;have a mask 
on, if they’re distanced and they’re walking in a park or those kind of 
things. When you can’t control your environment, and you’re getting 
anywhere close to people, put a mask on.”He said the state’s K-12 
education system and the colleges and universities weren’t prepared to 
resume in-person instruction in August.Some local school boards 
decided to delay opening until after Labor Day in September, but the 
Kansas Board of Education rejected the governor’s proposal to hold off 
until Sept. 9. Kelly argued school districts needed more time to prepare
 for an educational environment invaded by COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597072174250.jpeg" alt="Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman sketches a chart showing a midsummer resurgence of infections in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman sketches a chart showing a midsummer resurgence of infections in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“The reason for that was 
pretty obvious. The number of cases is going up and, quite honestly, to 
make a safe environment for K through 12, or for that matter, higher ed.
 We’re not there yet,” the secretary said.Norman said controversial 
decisions by the governor to close schools to in-person teaching in 
March and to issue a shelter-in-place directive in April were the two 
factors early in the pandemic that had a beneficial influence on spread 
of the virus.The governor’s phased plan
 for reopening the state’s economy was initiated in May but subsequently
 derailed by the Kansas Legislature. It was anchored in health-related 
metrics that took into account needs of businesses to resume operations,
 he said.“I’ve been a chief medical
 officer at very large health systems, and I know the importance of the 
bottom line. It’s always been top of mind.&nbsp;I don’t ever make 
recommendations in a vacuum,” Norman said. “And&nbsp;that’s true with schools
 as well. Schools are much more than just teaching and learning. It’s 
about socialization, nutrition, mental health.”So far, the virus has been
 confirmed as a contributing factor in the death of 380 people and 
hospitalization of 1,875 individuals in Kansas. There have been 30,638 
positive tests and 285,874 negative tests for the virus across the 
state.Here’s the top dozen 
counties of confirmed infections: Johnson, 5,637; Wyandotte, 4,961; 
Sedgwick, 4,935; Ford, 2,161; Finney, 1,706; Shawnee, 1,522; 
Leavenworth, 1,487, Seward, 1,144; Douglas, 717; and Lyon, 668, Riley, 
438; and Crawford, 395.Norman, who has faced 
criticism from elected politicians and a skeptical public, said he 
continued to worry that not enough Kansans took COVID-19 seriously.“We can’t make people take
 it seriously. Rules help,” he said. “I think what’s going to happen is 
that people are going to get ground down and will either say, ‘I guess 
we have to take this seriously and I’m going to personally be 
responsible for myself and maybe my family members.’ Or, are they the 
other? They can just say, ‘Heck with it. Let’s just throw open the 
doors. I’m done.’ "Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

🎙 KDHE secretary warns of ‘lethal brew,’ says schools not yet safe

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas researchers studying what they call “digital homelessness” have received an additional grant to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Americans who don’t have easy access to the internet.

Before the pandemic, people without their own devices or internet access often used local libraries to obtain those services, but many of those locations have been closed or greatly reduced their access during quarantine lockdowns.

“The folks we’re focused on don’t have a ‘digital home,’” said Bill Staples, principal investigator on the project, professor emeritus of sociology and director of the&nbsp;<a href="http://ipsr.ku.edu/SSRC/">Surveillance Studies Research Cente</a>r. “That is, their computing lives are resource-limited, transient, less private and more vulnerable to digital threats than those who own computers and access the web through broadband at their residences. When libraries closed, they were locked out of a digital life most of us take for granted.”

Staples and his colleagues want to find out how — and if — people experiencing digital homelessness are coping.

“There’s anecdotal information about libraries pumping Wi-Fi out into the parking lots,” he said. “Some libraries are helping, but we need to take a systematic look at what is going on.”

The research team is led by Staples; Perry Alexander, AT&amp;T Foundation Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering &amp; Computer Science and director of the&nbsp;<a href="http://ittc-research.ku.edu/">Information and Telecommunication Technology Center</a>; and Drew Davidson, assistant professor of electrical engineering &amp; computer science.

These KU scholars had already been&nbsp;<a href="https://news.ku.edu/2020/04/07/grant-will-fund-research-safeguard-public-internet-users">awarded a grant</a>&nbsp;from the National Science Foundation titled “Safeguarding and Enhancing the Experience of Public Internet Users,” funded through NSF’s Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace program. The two-year, $516,000 grant will support research about how people who use public internet resources — like libraries — navigate the internet and what security threats they face.

NSF has now awarded the team an additional Rapid Response Research grant of $200,000 to look at how the pandemic has affected such users.

“We’re trying to get a before, during and after snapshot” of how the issue has evolved with the onset of the pandemic, Staples said.

As much as 30% of the American population lacks adequate broadband access at home. Researchers say this digital divide results from — and contributes to — widening economic inequality.&nbsp;

“I think this is an understudied population, and as such is a population that hasn’t been fully considered in the computing landscape,” Davidson said. “There’s an assumption as our lives move online that everybody can keep up, and that’s not the case. It’s important because the need is so great.”

“These people are digitally marginalized, socially and economically disadvantaged in a society in which internet has become a needed utility,” Staples said. “They cannot simply ‘work from home’ or e-learn new skills, nor can their children shift to ‘distance learning’ as millions have been asked to do. It’s like trying to get by without electricity in your house. It makes their lives that much more difficult and challenging.”

The new study will have three points of data collection. Users at the Lawrence Public Library, which has restored limited access to its computer lab, will be surveyed and some interviewed about their experiences. The researchers will also send an online survey to a representative sample of library directors across the United States to collect information on library policies and practices during the pandemic. Finally, team members will compile related stories from news sources around the country to capture what journalists have found out about was has been happening in their communities.&nbsp;

The team’s ultimate goal is to offer new tools to public internet users when they access the internet, including development of a device the team calls PUPS — public user privacy and security. The device is an isolated, portable, virtual computing environment on a USB stick, designed to provide a “digital home” to users, giving them a functional, seamless computing experience from one session and device to the next. There may be nontechnical solutions available as well, as researchers examine the contours of the issue more closely from both an engineering and a sociological perspective.

“I’m really happy we have this multidisciplinary team,” Davidson said. “I think there’s a lot of good that can be done.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://ipsr.ku.edu/">Institute for Policy &amp; Social Research</a>’s staff assisted with development of this proposal and will manage this grant.

More information and results can be found at the project's&nbsp;<a href="https://ittc.ku.edu/padlock/dh">website</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596486373395.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceLAWRENCE — University of Kansas researchers studying what they call “digital homelessness” have received an additional grant to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Americans who don’t have easy access to the internet.Before the pandemic, people without their own devices or internet access often used local libraries to obtain those services, but many of those locations have been closed or greatly reduced their access during quarantine lockdowns.“The folks we’re focused on don’t have a ‘digital home,’” said Bill Staples, principal investigator on the project, professor emeritus of sociology and director of the&nbsp;<a href="http://ipsr.ku.edu/SSRC/">Surveillance Studies Research Cente</a>r. “That is, their computing lives are resource-limited, transient, less private and more vulnerable to digital threats than those who own computers and access the web through broadband at their residences. When libraries closed, they were locked out of a digital life most of us take for granted.”Staples and his colleagues want to find out how — and if — people experiencing digital homelessness are coping.“There’s anecdotal information about libraries pumping Wi-Fi out into the parking lots,” he said. “Some libraries are helping, but we need to take a systematic look at what is going on.”The research team is led by Staples; Perry Alexander, AT&amp;T Foundation Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering &amp; Computer Science and director of the&nbsp;<a href="http://ittc-research.ku.edu/">Information and Telecommunication Technology Center</a>; and Drew Davidson, assistant professor of electrical engineering &amp; computer science.These KU scholars had already been&nbsp;<a href="https://news.ku.edu/2020/04/07/grant-will-fund-research-safeguard-public-internet-users">awarded a grant</a>&nbsp;from the National Science Foundation titled “Safeguarding and Enhancing the Experience of Public Internet Users,” funded through NSF’s Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace program. The two-year, $516,000 grant will support research about how people who use public internet resources — like libraries — navigate the internet and what security threats they face.NSF has now awarded the team an additional Rapid Response Research grant of $200,000 to look at how the pandemic has affected such users.“We’re trying to get a before, during and after snapshot” of how the issue has evolved with the onset of the pandemic, Staples said.As much as 30% of the American population lacks adequate broadband access at home. Researchers say this digital divide results from — and contributes to — widening economic inequality.&nbsp;“I think this is an understudied population, and as such is a population that hasn’t been fully considered in the computing landscape,” Davidson said. “There’s an assumption as our lives move online that everybody can keep up, and that’s not the case. It’s important because the need is so great.”“These people are digitally marginalized, socially and economically disadvantaged in a society in which internet has become a needed utility,” Staples said. “They cannot simply ‘work from home’ or e-learn new skills, nor can their children shift to ‘distance learning’ as millions have been asked to do. It’s like trying to get by without electricity in your house. It makes their lives that much more difficult and challenging.”The new study will have three points of data collection. Users at the Lawrence Public Library, which has restored limited access to its computer lab, will be surveyed and some interviewed about their experiences. The researchers will also send an online survey to a representative sample of library directors across the United States to collect information on library policies and practices during the pandemic. Finally, team members will compile related stories from news sources around the country to capture what journalists have found out about was has been happening in their communities.&nbsp;The team’s ultimate goal is to offer new tools to public internet users when they access the internet, including development of a device the team calls PUPS — public user privacy and security. The device is an isolated, portable, virtual computing environment on a USB stick, designed to provide a “digital home” to users, giving them a functional, seamless computing experience from one session and device to the next. There may be nontechnical solutions available as well, as researchers examine the contours of the issue more closely from both an engineering and a sociological perspective.“I’m really happy we have this multidisciplinary team,” Davidson said. “I think there’s a lot of good that can be done.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://ipsr.ku.edu/">Institute for Policy &amp; Social Research</a>’s staff assisted with development of this proposal and will manage this grant.More information and results can be found at the project's&nbsp;<a href="https://ittc.ku.edu/padlock/dh">website</a>.&nbsp;

KU studying how pandemic affects Americans without easy access to the internet

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

According to the health department, there are now 13 active coronavirus cases, with two active hospitalizations, and 127 recovered cases.

Since reporting began, there has been 141 cases of COVID-19 in Ellis County, including one death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593005366466.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced that four new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county since Wednesday.According to the health department, there are now 13 active coronavirus cases, with two active hospitalizations, and 127 recovered cases.Since reporting began, there has been 141 cases of COVID-19 in Ellis County, including one death.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596824125959.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Four new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis Co.

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The city of Hays has had less feedback than it anticipated about the mandatory mask ordinance in effect from July 27 to Aug. 31.

The response has been mixed, according to Collin Bielser, assistant city manager, who said&nbsp; there were quite a few phone calls to city officials the first day the ordinance was in place — but those have dropped off since then.

"Right now, we’re taking an educational approach—voluntary compliance," Bielser said.

People in Hays are required to wear a face covering inside any indoor public space where distancing of 6 feet is not possible.

"There is an email — masks@haysusa.com — where you can report or ask questions of the police department," Bielser said.

"I’m aware that they’ve responded to two or three incidents at private businesses for trespassing because of refusing to wear a mask.”

Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor, said she has received support
from residents since the city’s face mask ordinance went into effect.

"We all know it was a challenging issue," she said during Thursday's city commission work session. "I've had more emails and handwritten notes, which nobody takes the time to write any more, thanking the commission for what we did."

Jacobs recalled what Commissioner Michael Berges said during their discussion prior to <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/78a708f5-4f1e-401f-9bd3-85c618edb4de">approving the ordinance</a>&nbsp;on July 23.

"You said the worse that can happen is that is an inconvenience.&nbsp; The best that can happen is that we're going to keep somebody alive," Jacobs said.

There are 10 exemptions to the <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/733/Face-Mask-Ordinance">ordinance</a>, including children
younger than age 8. The ordinance is enforceable inside city limits and at the Hays Regional Airport.

Violators can be <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/DocumentCenter/View/3154/Mask-Frequently-Asked-Questions">fined</a>.

Ellis County is one of <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/172dfb63-0643-4592-ad45-f1129e6064ff">90 Kansas counties that is not
enforcing</a> the governor’s executive order last month for face coverings in public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596805526389.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe city of Hays has had less feedback than it anticipated about the mandatory mask ordinance in effect from July 27 to Aug. 31.The response has been mixed, according to Collin Bielser, assistant city manager, who said&nbsp; there were quite a few phone calls to city officials the first day the ordinance was in place — but those have dropped off since then."Right now, we’re taking an educational approach—voluntary compliance," Bielser said.People in Hays are required to wear a face covering inside any indoor public space where distancing of 6 feet is not possible.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OZXCwWyX3fA"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"There is an email — masks@haysusa.com — where you can report or ask questions of the police department," Bielser said."I’m aware that they’ve responded to two or three incidents at private businesses for trespassing because of refusing to wear a mask.”Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor, said she has received support
from residents since the city’s face mask ordinance went into effect."We all know it was a challenging issue," she said during Thursday's city commission work session. "I've had more emails and handwritten notes, which nobody takes the time to write any more, thanking the commission for what we did."Jacobs recalled what Commissioner Michael Berges said during their discussion prior to <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/78a708f5-4f1e-401f-9bd3-85c618edb4de">approving the ordinance</a>&nbsp;on July 23."You said the worse that can happen is that is an inconvenience.&nbsp; The best that can happen is that we're going to keep somebody alive," Jacobs said.There are 10 exemptions to the <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/733/Face-Mask-Ordinance">ordinance</a>, including children
younger than age 8. The ordinance is enforceable inside city limits and at the Hays Regional Airport.Violators can be <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/DocumentCenter/View/3154/Mask-Frequently-Asked-Questions">fined</a>.Ellis County is one of <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/172dfb63-0643-4592-ad45-f1129e6064ff">90 Kansas counties that is not
enforcing</a> the governor’s executive order last month for face coverings in public.

🎥 Hays officials: Few questions, mixed feedback on face mask ordinance

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas counties that have mask mandates in place have seen a rapid drop in cases, while counties that only recommend their use have seen no decrease in cases, the state’s top health official said Wednesday.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s top administrator, said Wednesday that overall statewide the numbers of new cases is favorable, but that the reduction of new cases is entirely in the counties that require masks be worn in public spaces.

After Gov. Laura Kelly put a mask mandate in place last month, 15 counties stayed with the mandate while 90 counties abandoned it, Norman said at a news conference Wednesday.

Norman pointed to a graph showing the seven-day rolling average of cases per 100,000 people comparing counties with the mask mandates with those counties that abandoned it. The favorable trend line down was entirely in the counties that required the use of masks, while the trend line for those without one was flat, he said.

“Do masks work? Here in this natural experiment called Kansas where we have essentially — not due to any great design, but it has worked out that way — some counties have been the control group with a no mask mandate and some have been the experimental group with masks,” Norman said. “The experimental group is winning the battle. All improvements in case development comes from those counties wearing masks.”

It is important to understand, he noted, that the 15 counties with mask mandates represent two-thirds of the state’s population and include the more urban cities with greater population densities. People in those counties rely more on mass transit there and tend to have more racial and ethnic minority populations that are more likely to be infected by COVID-19.

The declining coronavirus cases per capita in those more urban counties suggest the improvement in the trend lines could be even steeper in rural counties if they had mask mandates in place, he said.

The state health department on Wednesday reported that Kansas has confirmed 29,717 cases since the outbreak began, a 841 increase since the last update on Monday. The state reported 368 deaths, up three from Monday.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment identified on its website Wednesday 370 outbreaks which have infected 7,853 people and led to 247 of the state’s 368 deaths.

Of particular concern was the 63 coronavirus cases tied to nine sports clusters because there have been a lot fewer sports this summer than there will be in the fall and winter when schools reopen, Norman said.

“Interestingly, we thought there would be a natural protection, if you will, in softball and baseball because you are out in the wide, open air for the most part, but we have had them essentially in all ... sports,” Norman said.

Other large clusters reported Wednesday include 136 at private businesses, 98 at long-term care facilities. Another 55 outbreaks were from gatherings, nine outbreaks tied to restaurants and bars that resulted in 221 coronavirus infections.

On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Health Department said they have multiple cases linked to Jeremiah Bullfrog Bar and Grille in Topeka, and warned people who were at the establishment July 24-25 and July 27-28 were at risk of exposure.

In Chanute, Kansas, 11 school administrators who attended a leadership retreat last week in Branson are in quarantine after six of them tested positive for the virus, the Kansas City-Star reported. Superintendent Kellen Adams said their symptoms range from minor to severe, with one being treated in a hospital ICU.

He defended the retreat, saying it was necessary to discuss details of how to operate schools during a global pandemic.

Chanute schools are scheduled to open to teachers on Aug. 10 and to students on Aug. 24. Adams said the outbreak among administrators has not, so far, changed that.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586545924801.png" alt="Lee Norman demonstrates how to wear a face mask during a press conference in April." />
 <figcaption>Lee Norman demonstrates how to wear a face mask during a press conference in April.</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROXANA HEGEMANBELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas counties that have mask mandates in place have seen a rapid drop in cases, while counties that only recommend their use have seen no decrease in cases, the state’s top health official said Wednesday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F3181624445282231%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s top administrator, said Wednesday that overall statewide the numbers of new cases is favorable, but that the reduction of new cases is entirely in the counties that require masks be worn in public spaces.After Gov. Laura Kelly put a mask mandate in place last month, 15 counties stayed with the mandate while 90 counties abandoned it, Norman said at a news conference Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596718264258.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Norman pointed to a graph showing the seven-day rolling average of cases per 100,000 people comparing counties with the mask mandates with those counties that abandoned it. The favorable trend line down was entirely in the counties that required the use of masks, while the trend line for those without one was flat, he said.“Do masks work? Here in this natural experiment called Kansas where we have essentially — not due to any great design, but it has worked out that way — some counties have been the control group with a no mask mandate and some have been the experimental group with masks,” Norman said. “The experimental group is winning the battle. All improvements in case development comes from those counties wearing masks.”It is important to understand, he noted, that the 15 counties with mask mandates represent two-thirds of the state’s population and include the more urban cities with greater population densities. People in those counties rely more on mass transit there and tend to have more racial and ethnic minority populations that are more likely to be infected by COVID-19.The declining coronavirus cases per capita in those more urban counties suggest the improvement in the trend lines could be even steeper in rural counties if they had mask mandates in place, he said.The state health department on Wednesday reported that Kansas has confirmed 29,717 cases since the outbreak began, a 841 increase since the last update on Monday. The state reported 368 deaths, up three from Monday.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment identified on its website Wednesday 370 outbreaks which have infected 7,853 people and led to 247 of the state’s 368 deaths.Of particular concern was the 63 coronavirus cases tied to nine sports clusters because there have been a lot fewer sports this summer than there will be in the fall and winter when schools reopen, Norman said.“Interestingly, we thought there would be a natural protection, if you will, in softball and baseball because you are out in the wide, open air for the most part, but we have had them essentially in all ... sports,” Norman said.Other large clusters reported Wednesday include 136 at private businesses, 98 at long-term care facilities. Another 55 outbreaks were from gatherings, nine outbreaks tied to restaurants and bars that resulted in 221 coronavirus infections.On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Health Department said they have multiple cases linked to Jeremiah Bullfrog Bar and Grille in Topeka, and warned people who were at the establishment July 24-25 and July 27-28 were at risk of exposure.In Chanute, Kansas, 11 school administrators who attended a leadership retreat last week in Branson are in quarantine after six of them tested positive for the virus, the Kansas City-Star reported. Superintendent Kellen Adams said their symptoms range from minor to severe, with one being treated in a hospital ICU.He defended the retreat, saying it was necessary to discuss details of how to operate schools during a global pandemic.Chanute schools are scheduled to open to teachers on Aug. 10 and to students on Aug. 24. Adams said the outbreak among administrators has not, so far, changed that.

Kansas counties with mask mandate show steep COVID-19 drop

By MATTHEW PERRONE, NICKY FORSTER and MICHELLE LIU

U.S. testing for the coronavirus is dropping even as infections remain high and the death toll rises by more than 1,000 a day, a worrisome trend that officials attribute largely to Americans getting discouraged over having to wait hours to get a test and days or weeks to learn the results.

An Associated Press analysis found that the number of tests per day slid 3.6% over the past two weeks to 750,000, with the count falling in 22 states. That includes places like Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri and Iowa where the percentage of positive tests is high and continuing to climb, an indicator that the virus is still spreading uncontrolled.

Amid the crisis, some health experts are calling for the introduction of a different type of test that would yield results in a matter of minutes and would be cheap and simple enough for millions of Americans to test themselves — but would also be less accurate.

“There’s a sense of desperation that we need to do something else,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute.

Widespread testing is considered essential to managing the outbreak as the U.S. approaches a mammoth 5 million confirmed infections and more than 157,000 deaths out of over 700,000 worldwide.

Testing demand is expected to surge again this fall, when schools reopen and flu season hits, most likely outstripping supplies and leading to new delays and bottlenecks.

Some of the decline in testing over the past few weeks was expected after backlogged commercial labs urged doctors to concentrate on their highest-risk patients. But some health and government officials are seeing growing public frustration and waning demand.

In Iowa, state officials are reporting less interest in testing, despite ample supplies. The state’s daily testing rate peaked in mid-July but has declined 20% in the last two weeks.

“We have the capacity. Iowans just need to test,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said last week.

Jessica Moore of rural Newberry, South Carolina, said that after a private lab lost her COVID-19 test results in mid-July, she had to get re-tested at a pop-up site organized by the state.

Moore and her husband arrived early on a Saturday morning at the site, a community center, where they waited for two hours for her test. Moore watched in the rear-view mirror as people drove up, saw the long line of cars, and then turned around and left.

“If people have something to do on a Saturday and they want to get tested, they’re not going to wait for two hours in the South Carolina heat for a test, especially if they’re not symptomatic,” Moore said.

Before traveling from Florida to Delaware last month, Laura DuBose Schumacher signed up to go to a drive-up testing site in Orlando with her husband. They were given a one-hour window in which to arrive.

They got there at the start of the window, but after 50 minutes it looked as if the wait would be another hour. Others who had gone through the line told them that they wouldn’t get their results until five days later, a Monday, at the earliest. They were planning to travel the next day, so they gave up.

“Monday would have been pointless, so we left the line,” Schumacher said.

The number of confirmed infections in the U.S. has topped 4.7 million, with new cases running at nearly 60,000 a day on average, down from more than 70,000 in the second half of July.

U.S. testing is built primarily on highly sensitive molecular tests that detect the genetic code of the coronavirus. Although the test is considered the gold standard for accuracy, experts increasingly say the country’s overburdened lab system is incapable of keeping pace with the outbreak and producing results within two or three days, the time frame crucial to isolating patients and containing the virus.

“They’re doing as good a job as they possibly can do, but the current system will not allow them to keep up with the demand,” said Mara Aspinall of Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions.

Testing delays have led researchers at Harvard and elsewhere to propose a new approach using so-called antigen tests — rapid technology already used to screen for flu, strep throat and other common infections. Instead of detecting the virus itself, such tests look for viral proteins, or antigens, which are generally considered a less accurate measure of infection.

A number of companies are studying COVID-19 antigen tests in which you spit on a specially coated strip of paper, and if you are infected, it changes color. Experts say the speed and widespread availability of such tests would more than make up for their lower precision.

While no such tests for the coronavirus are on the U.S. market, experts say the technology is simple and the hurdles are more regulatory than technical. The Harvard researchers say production could quickly be scaled into the millions.

A proposal from the Harvard researchers calls for the federal government to distribute $1 saliva-based antigen tests to all Americans so that they can test themselves regularly, perhaps even daily.

Even with accuracy as low as 50%, researchers estimate the paper strip tests would uncover five times more COVID-19 cases than the current laboratory-based approach, which federal officials estimate catches just 1 in 10 infections.

But the approach faces resistance in Washington, where federal regulators have required at least 80% accuracy for new COVID-19 tests.

To date, the Food and Drug Administration has allowed only two COVID-19 antigen tests to enter the market. Those tests require a nasal swab supervised by a health professional and can only be run on specialized machines found at hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes and clinics.

Also, because of the risk of false negatives, doctors may need to confirm a negative result with a genetic test when patients have possible symptoms of COVID-19.

On Tuesday, the governors of Maryland, Virginia, Louisiana and three other states announced an agreement with the Rockefeller Foundation to purchase more than 3 million of the FDA-cleared antigen tests, underscoring the growing interest in the technology.

When asked about introducing cheaper, paper-based tests, the government’s “testing czar,” Adm. Brett Giroir, warned that their accuracy could fall as low as 20% to 30%.

“I don’t think that would do a service to the American public of having something that is wrong seven out of 10 times,” Giroir said last week. “I think that could be catastrophic.”

By MATTHEW PERRONE, NICKY FORSTER and MICHELLE LIUAssociated PressU.S. testing for the coronavirus is dropping even as infections remain high and the death toll rises by more than 1,000 a day, a worrisome trend that officials attribute largely to Americans getting discouraged over having to wait hours to get a test and days or weeks to learn the results.An Associated Press analysis found that the number of tests per day slid 3.6% over the past two weeks to 750,000, with the count falling in 22 states. That includes places like Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri and Iowa where the percentage of positive tests is high and continuing to climb, an indicator that the virus is still spreading uncontrolled.Amid the crisis, some health experts are calling for the introduction of a different type of test that would yield results in a matter of minutes and would be cheap and simple enough for millions of Americans to test themselves — but would also be less accurate.“There’s a sense of desperation that we need to do something else,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute.Widespread testing is considered essential to managing the outbreak as the U.S. approaches a mammoth 5 million confirmed infections and more than 157,000 deaths out of over 700,000 worldwide.Testing demand is expected to surge again this fall, when schools reopen and flu season hits, most likely outstripping supplies and leading to new delays and bottlenecks.Some of the decline in testing over the past few weeks was expected after backlogged commercial labs urged doctors to concentrate on their highest-risk patients. But some health and government officials are seeing growing public frustration and waning demand.In Iowa, state officials are reporting less interest in testing, despite ample supplies. The state’s daily testing rate peaked in mid-July but has declined 20% in the last two weeks.“We have the capacity. Iowans just need to test,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said last week.Jessica Moore of rural Newberry, South Carolina, said that after a private lab lost her COVID-19 test results in mid-July, she had to get re-tested at a pop-up site organized by the state.Moore and her husband arrived early on a Saturday morning at the site, a community center, where they waited for two hours for her test. Moore watched in the rear-view mirror as people drove up, saw the long line of cars, and then turned around and left.“If people have something to do on a Saturday and they want to get tested, they’re not going to wait for two hours in the South Carolina heat for a test, especially if they’re not symptomatic,” Moore said.Before traveling from Florida to Delaware last month, Laura DuBose Schumacher signed up to go to a drive-up testing site in Orlando with her husband. They were given a one-hour window in which to arrive.They got there at the start of the window, but after 50 minutes it looked as if the wait would be another hour. Others who had gone through the line told them that they wouldn’t get their results until five days later, a Monday, at the earliest. They were planning to travel the next day, so they gave up.“Monday would have been pointless, so we left the line,” Schumacher said.The number of confirmed infections in the U.S. has topped 4.7 million, with new cases running at nearly 60,000 a day on average, down from more than 70,000 in the second half of July.U.S. testing is built primarily on highly sensitive molecular tests that detect the genetic code of the coronavirus. Although the test is considered the gold standard for accuracy, experts increasingly say the country’s overburdened lab system is incapable of keeping pace with the outbreak and producing results within two or three days, the time frame crucial to isolating patients and containing the virus.“They’re doing as good a job as they possibly can do, but the current system will not allow them to keep up with the demand,” said Mara Aspinall of Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions.Testing delays have led researchers at Harvard and elsewhere to propose a new approach using so-called antigen tests — rapid technology already used to screen for flu, strep throat and other common infections. Instead of detecting the virus itself, such tests look for viral proteins, or antigens, which are generally considered a less accurate measure of infection.A number of companies are studying COVID-19 antigen tests in which you spit on a specially coated strip of paper, and if you are infected, it changes color. Experts say the speed and widespread availability of such tests would more than make up for their lower precision.While no such tests for the coronavirus are on the U.S. market, experts say the technology is simple and the hurdles are more regulatory than technical. The Harvard researchers say production could quickly be scaled into the millions.A proposal from the Harvard researchers calls for the federal government to distribute $1 saliva-based antigen tests to all Americans so that they can test themselves regularly, perhaps even daily.Even with accuracy as low as 50%, researchers estimate the paper strip tests would uncover five times more COVID-19 cases than the current laboratory-based approach, which federal officials estimate catches just 1 in 10 infections.But the approach faces resistance in Washington, where federal regulators have required at least 80% accuracy for new COVID-19 tests.To date, the Food and Drug Administration has allowed only two COVID-19 antigen tests to enter the market. Those tests require a nasal swab supervised by a health professional and can only be run on specialized machines found at hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes and clinics.Also, because of the risk of false negatives, doctors may need to confirm a negative result with a genetic test when patients have possible symptoms of COVID-19.On Tuesday, the governors of Maryland, Virginia, Louisiana and three other states announced an agreement with the Rockefeller Foundation to purchase more than 3 million of the FDA-cleared antigen tests, underscoring the growing interest in the technology.When asked about introducing cheaper, paper-based tests, the government’s “testing czar,” Adm. Brett Giroir, warned that their accuracy could fall as low as 20% to 30%.“I don’t think that would do a service to the American public of having something that is wrong seven out of 10 times,” Giroir said last week. “I think that could be catastrophic.”___

Virus testing in the US is dropping, even as deaths mount

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

There are now 15 active cases, including one active hospitalization, and 121 recovered cases.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 137 total cases, including one death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593005366466.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced two new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county.There are now 15 active cases, including one active hospitalization, and 121 recovered cases.&nbsp;Since reporting began, there have been 137 total cases, including one death.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596659170561.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Two new cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis Co.

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/01/food-insecurity-rates-rising-amid-covid-19-kansas-advocates-call-for-assistance/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Haley Kottler 
sees firsthand desperation of young families struggling to put food on 
the table as the economy wilts under the COVID-19 pandemic.

She understands the lifeline offered by the federally funded <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that delivers food benefits nationwide.

“Families often depend on 
school lunches, and SNAP picks up the slack without them,” Kottler said.
 “I know a single mother who was able to continue to pay her utilities 
and keep the internet on so her daughter could continue her schoolwork 
because of the flexibility provided.”

Kotter works for Kansas 
Appleseed, a statewide advocacy group working to provide access to 
affordable food and housing. She said when Gov. Laura Kelly closed 
schools to slow the spread of COVID-19, it left many families requiring 
extra assistance from programs like SNAP.

SNAP affords qualifying 
low-income families targeted and temporary food benefits to get them 
through difficult periods. It is also known as the Food Assistance 
Program in Kansas.

Amid the pandemic, food 
insecurity rates are rising and the number of SNAP recipients in Kansas 
has skyrocketed from just under 190,000 in February to over 213,000 in 
June, a more than 12% increase. Expenditures rose to nearly $40 million 
in the month of June, a 95% increase.

Numbers nationwide have followed suit, with more than 54 million people expected to<a href="https://www.feedingamericaaction.org/the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-food-insecurity/"> experience food insecurity due to COVID-19</a>.

“We’ve seen millions of 
people across the county struggling to put food on the table, as 
unemployment rises and food prices increase, turning to SNAP,” said Luis
 Guardia, president of the Food Research and Action Center, during a 
panel discussion Wednesday on the importance of increasing SNAP program 
boosts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596481208709.jpeg" alt="Harvesters, a private food bank, saw the amount of food distributed increase from 54 million pounds in 2019 to 65 million in 2020. In this picture, food is distributed at a drive-in in Kansas City, Kansas. (Harvesters — The Community Food Network)" />
 <figcaption>Harvesters, a private food bank, saw the amount of food distributed increase from 54 million pounds in 2019 to 65 million in 2020. In this picture, food is distributed at a drive-in in Kansas City, Kansas. (Harvesters — The Community Food Network)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/01/food-insecurity-rates-rising-amid-covid-19-kansas-advocates-call-for-assistance/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Haley Kottler 
sees firsthand desperation of young families struggling to put food on 
the table as the economy wilts under the COVID-19 pandemic.She understands the lifeline offered by the federally funded <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that delivers food benefits nationwide.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596481276548.png" alt="Haley Kottler during a panel on the need for SNAP boosts from Congress, June 28, 2020 (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Haley Kottler during a panel on the need for SNAP boosts from Congress, June 28, 2020 (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Families often depend on 
school lunches, and SNAP picks up the slack without them,” Kottler said.
 “I know a single mother who was able to continue to pay her utilities 
and keep the internet on so her daughter could continue her schoolwork 
because of the flexibility provided.”Kotter works for Kansas 
Appleseed, a statewide advocacy group working to provide access to 
affordable food and housing. She said when Gov. Laura Kelly closed 
schools to slow the spread of COVID-19, it left many families requiring 
extra assistance from programs like SNAP.SNAP affords qualifying 
low-income families targeted and temporary food benefits to get them 
through difficult periods. It is also known as the Food Assistance 
Program in Kansas.Amid the pandemic, food 
insecurity rates are rising and the number of SNAP recipients in Kansas 
has skyrocketed from just under 190,000 in February to over 213,000 in 
June, a more than 12% increase. Expenditures rose to nearly $40 million 
in the month of June, a 95% increase.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596481308150.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Numbers nationwide have followed suit, with more than 54 million people expected to<a href="https://www.feedingamericaaction.org/the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-food-insecurity/"> experience food insecurity due to COVID-19</a>.“We’ve seen millions of 
people across the county struggling to put food on the table, as 
unemployment rises and food prices increase, turning to SNAP,” said Luis
 Guardia, president of the Food Research and Action Center, during a 
panel discussion Wednesday on the importance of increasing SNAP program 
boosts.Last month, 2,500 organizations from every state <a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-Senate-Letter_18June2020.pdf">signed a letter</a>
 asking Congress to boost the maximum snap benefit by 15% and to 
increase the minimum monthly benefit from $16 to $30. Kottler joined 
Guardia and several other advocates from across the United States to 
voice displeasure for a lack of such action in the US. Senate Majority 
Leader Mitch McConnell’s latest proposed COVID-19 relief package.“With the uncertainty 
surrounding school scheduling, unemployment payments set to drop from 
$600 back to $200, this crisis will only continue to worsen, and more 
families will turn to SNAP,” Kottler said. “We need deep investment and 
care in the program as the situation potentially worsens.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596481328931.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Feeding America study<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/coronavirus-hunger-research"> “The Impact of Coronavirus on Food Insecurity,”</a> Kansas’ projected overall food insecurity rate for 2020 is 17.7%. That marks a 5% increase since 2018.Karen Siebert, public 
policy and advocacy adviser for Harvester’s — The Community Food 
Network, a food bank serving 16 counties in Kansas, said these numbers 
are troubling for organizations like hers.“Our agencies have seen an
 average 40% increase in those coming in for help since the pandemic 
began,” Siebert said. “The problem isn’t going away for these people, 
and these supports, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/31/14000-attempts-balky-technology-expiring-benefits-worry-workers-state-leaders/">like unemployment</a>, are all falling away. We’re worried we’ll see another influx of people.”From the 2019 fiscal year 
to fiscal year 2020, Harvesters saw a 20% increase in the amount of food
 distributed. In addition, as food donations plummeted, Harvesters spent
 $1.8 million during the 2020 fiscal year, as opposed to just $100,000 
in 2019, Siebert said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596481366813.jpeg" alt="Karen Siebert, a public policy and advocacy adviser for Harvester’s, said while Harvesters was prepared for the initial surge at the beginning of the pandemic, a continued demand for food at this rate is unsustainable. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Karen Siebert, a public policy and advocacy adviser for Harvester’s, said while Harvesters was prepared for the initial surge at the beginning of the pandemic, a continued demand for food at this rate is unsustainable. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Harvesters’ was prepared 
for the initial rush of pandemic food need, but for food banks who rely 
on donations and volunteers, continued demand at this rate is not a 
viable business model.“We need our volunteers to
 help repackage foods so we can send them out to families, but many of 
them are at-risk, or we just can’t use them in the same way,” Siebert 
said. “Our entire business model has been upended.”That is why Siebert and 
Harvester’s, a private charity, are staunch advocates for public 
programs like SNAP. Siebert said for every meal they provide, SNAP can 
provide nine.“SNAP is a lifeline for so
 many Kansans,” Kottler said. “We need to do more because it’s the best 
way we can mitigate hunger in Kansas.”Noah Taborda started his journalism career in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri, covering local government and producing an episode of the podcast Show Me The State while earning his bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Noah then made a short move to Kansas City, Missouri, to work at KCUR as an intern on the talk show Central Standard and then in the newsroom, reporting on daily news and feature stories.

Coronavirus Update