The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced nine new positive cases of COVID-19 has been identified since Monday.

The new cases are in isolation, the department said. There are now 27 active cases in Ellis County, with 66 total cases since reporting began.

The department noted the "exponential" increase in coronavirus cases since the Fourth of July holiday.

"If residents continue to gather, we will see cases increase," the department said, noting contacts of the new cases will be identified and contacted.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/24024ed2-b4a6-4877-b049-2bb930be8236">RELATED: Kansas Board of Education weighs in on 2020-21 school year.</a>

The Ellis County Health Department on Wednesday announced nine new positive cases of COVID-19 has been identified since Monday.The new cases are in isolation, the department said. There are now 27 active cases in Ellis County, with 66 total cases since reporting began.The department noted the "exponential" increase in coronavirus cases since the Fourth of July holiday."If residents continue to gather, we will see cases increase," the department said, noting contacts of the new cases will be identified and contacted.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/24024ed2-b4a6-4877-b049-2bb930be8236">RELATED: Kansas Board of Education weighs in on 2020-21 school year.</a>Read the full release below:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594834373072.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Nine new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County

By
ROD ZOOK <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — Three medical professionals from Hutchinson painted a bleak 
picture of the COVID-19 spread among residents during Tuesday’s County 
Commission meeting. For now, they feel they have the capacity to handle 
the situation, but they don't want that to change.

With that 
information, the County Commission rescinded its own ordinance regarding
 mask-wearing, thus putting the governor’s mandate in place.&nbsp; Reno 
County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti said that, while he is 
not one to make demands on the public, the rapidly increasing number of 
positive cases of COVID-19 is forcing him to do so.

“The actions 
we take now are only going to see the ramifications three or four weeks 
down the road,” Baldetti said. “I think, as you’ve heard from everyone 
who spoke today, that certainly we’re trending in the wrong direction.”

Baldetti
 was joined by Dr. Rex Degner of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Dr.
 Regina Johnson of Prairie Star Health Center and Dr. Scott Pauly of the
 Hutchinson Clinic. All three talked about rapidly increasing numbers 
and the percentage of positive cases per tests is jumping above 10%. 
Pauly noted that the numbers currently in the county are now above where
 they were when schools and businesses were shut down.

“We are in a
 situation where we thought we didn’t want to be back in April, in May,”
 Pauly said. “To the point where the governor was closing schools, at 
the point, we were closing up shop, restaurants were closed. We do need 
to flatten the curve, but I think we’re at a more critical junction now 
than we were then.”

As far as the ability for the hospital to care
 for the increasing numbers, Degner says they are currently able to 
handle anything that comes their way at this time.

“We have a plan
 that is very scalable for a surge that we have developed,” Degner 
stressed. “We still feel we’ll be able to staff this up and scale this 
up should we need to.”&nbsp;

Degner says they also have enough PPE to keep them going at a constant 60 to 90 day supply.&nbsp;

Not
 all of the commission was in agreement with the mandate. During the 
discussion, Commissioner Ron Hirst questioned the ability to enforce the
 mandate and asked Sellers about not wearing a mask, which was met with a
 blunt response.

“I think you’re making a statement to the 
community about how you feel about the community to be quite blunt,” 
Sellers said. “If you don’t want the community to prosper, for kids to 
go to school in a month, don’t wear your mask.”

Hutchinson Mayor 
Jade Piros de Carvalho also stressed that small businesses in the city 
are becoming concerned over the lack of mask-wearing as they want to 
protect both their business and their staff. 

Several others spoke out against the mandate saying it wasn’t necessary.

The vote was 2-1 with Commissioner Ron Hirst voting no.

By
ROD ZOOK <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — Three medical professionals from Hutchinson painted a bleak 
picture of the COVID-19 spread among residents during Tuesday’s County 
Commission meeting. For now, they feel they have the capacity to handle 
the situation, but they don't want that to change.With that 
information, the County Commission rescinded its own ordinance regarding
 mask-wearing, thus putting the governor’s mandate in place.&nbsp; Reno 
County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti said that, while he is 
not one to make demands on the public, the rapidly increasing number of 
positive cases of COVID-19 is forcing him to do so.“The actions 
we take now are only going to see the ramifications three or four weeks 
down the road,” Baldetti said. “I think, as you’ve heard from everyone 
who spoke today, that certainly we’re trending in the wrong direction.”Baldetti
 was joined by Dr. Rex Degner of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Dr.
 Regina Johnson of Prairie Star Health Center and Dr. Scott Pauly of the
 Hutchinson Clinic. All three talked about rapidly increasing numbers 
and the percentage of positive cases per tests is jumping above 10%. 
Pauly noted that the numbers currently in the county are now above where
 they were when schools and businesses were shut down.“We are in a
 situation where we thought we didn’t want to be back in April, in May,”
 Pauly said. “To the point where the governor was closing schools, at 
the point, we were closing up shop, restaurants were closed. We do need 
to flatten the curve, but I think we’re at a more critical junction now 
than we were then.”As far as the ability for the hospital to care
 for the increasing numbers, Degner says they are currently able to 
handle anything that comes their way at this time.“We have a plan
 that is very scalable for a surge that we have developed,” Degner 
stressed. “We still feel we’ll be able to staff this up and scale this 
up should we need to.”&nbsp;Degner says they also have enough PPE to keep them going at a constant 60 to 90 day supply.&nbsp;Not
 all of the commission was in agreement with the mandate. During the 
discussion, Commissioner Ron Hirst questioned the ability to enforce the
 mandate and asked Sellers about not wearing a mask, which was met with a
 blunt response.“I think you’re making a statement to the 
community about how you feel about the community to be quite blunt,” 
Sellers said. “If you don’t want the community to prosper, for kids to 
go to school in a month, don’t wear your mask.”Hutchinson Mayor 
Jade Piros de Carvalho also stressed that small businesses in the city 
are becoming concerned over the lack of mask-wearing as they want to 
protect both their business and their staff. Several others spoke out against the mandate saying it wasn’t necessary.The vote was 2-1 with Commissioner Ron Hirst voting no.

With numbers surging, Reno Co. will comply with mask order

MANHATTAN — A survey by a multidisciplinary team of researchers at the Kansas State University&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coe.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Education</a>&nbsp;has identified the top needs and challenges of K-12 teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 800 teachers in rural, urban and suburban school districts across the state participated in the project, "<a href="https://coe.k-state.edu/research/faculty-research.html" target="_blank">Access, Engagement and Resilience During COVID-19 Remote Learning</a>." Questions centered on four key areas:&nbsp;technology/access; student/parent engagement; educator resiliency; and social-emotional well-being. The purpose of the study was to identify meaningful data for district administrators and policymakers for school reopening while informing K-State's teacher preparation program. The survey was sent in May, about two months into the pandemic. Debbie Mercer, dean of the K-State College of Education, noted Kansas schools were the first in the nation to announce closure due to the pandemic, which opened the door for substantive inquiry. "Ten days. That's how much time teachers and administrators had to move our state's half-million students to online instruction," Mercer said. "At the same time this immense transition was occurring, teachers themselves were dealing with uncertainties in their personal lives. Bottom line? Teachers need support." The findings revealed a myriad of strengths and weaknesses and identified universal needs for students' social-emotional well-being, which was the teachers' top concern; broadband access, which was deemed a dire need by teachers; educator well-being; and strengthening engagement in diverse learning environments. The survey revealed several bright spots, particularly in the area of engagement: • Teachers reported that 69% of students were considered highly to somewhat engaged in learning. • Among rural teachers, 36% reported a&nbsp;higher level of engagement with their students, while 27% of all teachers reported that their personal engagement with students had increased. • Nearly two-thirds — 64% —of educators reported an increase in personal engagement with parents during the pandemic. But in the social-emotional well-being and technology and access areas, the survey revealed some serious challenges. Four out of 5 teachers — 82% — listed social-emotional well-being as their highest concern, and this was across all school classifications, from 1A to 6A, and in rural, suburban and urban districts. "I fear a mental health crisis is coming,” said Jessica Lane, a member of the research team and an assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.&nbsp;"The survey results give voice to the experiences of Kansas educators and underscore the need going forward for policymakers and administrators to address the mental health and social-emotional well-being of both our students and educators. It is critical." Lane's conclusion is particularly striking when the teachers' personal situations were addressed. Survey findings include: • Two-thirds — 66% — of suburban and urban teachers were simultaneously serving as caregivers to either their children, other adults or the elderly. For rural educators, this number rose to 4 in 5, or 79%. • Some economic insecurity was experienced by 36% of teachers. • About 20% of responding educators faced food insecurity. The shift to remote instruction revealed significant inequities concerning technology and access to the internet. The survey found that broadband and educational technology are not consistently available in Kansas, and when they are, that did not translate into in-home access. This required teachers and districts to provide varied forms of instruction. Nearly 70% of teachers indicated their districts worked with local internet providers to coordinate reduced cost or even free internet. Nearly 50% reported their districts provided hot spots or worked with community partnerships to ensure access for their students. Nearly two-thirds of respondents — 65% — used technology to provide continuous learning opportunities, while 30% reported the use of take-home packets for students and 5% listed other means of instruction. In addition to Lane, the other members of the multidisciplinary research team included&nbsp;Laura Bonella, associate professor at K-State Libraries; Doris Wright&nbsp;Carroll, associate professor of&nbsp;special education, counseling and student affairs; Morgan Jobe, program coordinator; Marilyn Kaff, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs;&nbsp;Tonnie Martinez, assistant professor of&nbsp;curriculum and instruction; Leah McKeeman, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction; and Cindy Shuman,&nbsp;associate dean for research.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594737108632.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — A survey by a multidisciplinary team of researchers at the Kansas State University&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coe.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Education</a>&nbsp;has identified the top needs and challenges of K-12 teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 800 teachers in rural, urban and suburban school districts across the state participated in the project, "<a href="https://coe.k-state.edu/research/faculty-research.html" target="_blank">Access, Engagement and Resilience During COVID-19 Remote Learning</a>." Questions centered on four key areas:&nbsp;technology/access; student/parent engagement; educator resiliency; and social-emotional well-being. The purpose of the study was to identify meaningful data for district administrators and policymakers for school reopening while informing K-State's teacher preparation program. The survey was sent in May, about two months into the pandemic. Debbie Mercer, dean of the K-State College of Education, noted Kansas schools were the first in the nation to announce closure due to the pandemic, which opened the door for substantive inquiry. "Ten days. That's how much time teachers and administrators had to move our state's half-million students to online instruction," Mercer said. "At the same time this immense transition was occurring, teachers themselves were dealing with uncertainties in their personal lives. Bottom line? Teachers need support." The findings revealed a myriad of strengths and weaknesses and identified universal needs for students' social-emotional well-being, which was the teachers' top concern; broadband access, which was deemed a dire need by teachers; educator well-being; and strengthening engagement in diverse learning environments. The survey revealed several bright spots, particularly in the area of engagement: • Teachers reported that 69% of students were considered highly to somewhat engaged in learning. • Among rural teachers, 36% reported a&nbsp;higher level of engagement with their students, while 27% of all teachers reported that their personal engagement with students had increased. • Nearly two-thirds — 64% —of educators reported an increase in personal engagement with parents during the pandemic. But in the social-emotional well-being and technology and access areas, the survey revealed some serious challenges. Four out of 5 teachers — 82% — listed social-emotional well-being as their highest concern, and this was across all school classifications, from 1A to 6A, and in rural, suburban and urban districts. "I fear a mental health crisis is coming,” said Jessica Lane, a member of the research team and an assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.&nbsp;"The survey results give voice to the experiences of Kansas educators and underscore the need going forward for policymakers and administrators to address the mental health and social-emotional well-being of both our students and educators. It is critical." Lane's conclusion is particularly striking when the teachers' personal situations were addressed. Survey findings include: • Two-thirds — 66% — of suburban and urban teachers were simultaneously serving as caregivers to either their children, other adults or the elderly. For rural educators, this number rose to 4 in 5, or 79%. • Some economic insecurity was experienced by 36% of teachers. • About 20% of responding educators faced food insecurity. The shift to remote instruction revealed significant inequities concerning technology and access to the internet. The survey found that broadband and educational technology are not consistently available in Kansas, and when they are, that did not translate into in-home access. This required teachers and districts to provide varied forms of instruction. Nearly 70% of teachers indicated their districts worked with local internet providers to coordinate reduced cost or even free internet. Nearly 50% reported their districts provided hot spots or worked with community partnerships to ensure access for their students. Nearly two-thirds of respondents — 65% — used technology to provide continuous learning opportunities, while 30% reported the use of take-home packets for students and 5% listed other means of instruction. In addition to Lane, the other members of the multidisciplinary research team included&nbsp;Laura Bonella, associate professor at K-State Libraries; Doris Wright&nbsp;Carroll, associate professor of&nbsp;special education, counseling and student affairs; Morgan Jobe, program coordinator; Marilyn Kaff, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs;&nbsp;Tonnie Martinez, assistant professor of&nbsp;curriculum and instruction; Leah McKeeman, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction; and Cindy Shuman,&nbsp;associate dean for research.

KSU study finds top challenges of K-12 teachers with COVID-19 pandemic

The Trego County Health Department on Monday announced a new positive case of COVID-19 in the county. In addition, two more positive cases were reported on July 9.

The individuals are all older than 60 and are in home isolation with mild symptoms.

There are currently three active cases in Trego County.

The Trego County Health Department on Monday announced a new positive case of COVID-19 in the county. In addition, two more positive cases were reported on July 9.The individuals are all older than 60 and are in home isolation with mild symptoms.There are currently three active cases in Trego County.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftregocountyhealthdepartment%2Fposts%2F1981204558679653&width=500" width="500" height="220" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Three new cases of coronavirus in Trego Co. since Thursday

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas reported Monday that another record coronavirus spike pushed the state past 20,000 total cases for the pandemic, shadowing plans for reopening public K-12 schools just a month before fall classes are set to begin.

The state Department of Health and Environment said that Kansas had another 1,447 coronavirus cases since Friday, an increase of 7.8%, to bring the total for the pandemic to 20,058. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and people can be infected without feeling sick.

Kansas reported an average of 451 new coronavirus cases a day during the seven-day period ending Monday, the worst seven-day average yet. That figure has climbed each of the seven times the department has reported new data starting on June 29.

The health department also reported four additional COVID-19-related deaths making its reported total for the pandemic 288, a 1.4% increase. However, Johns Hopkins University put the state’s number of deaths at 297.

Kansas saw its its growth in reported coronavirus cases bottom out five weeks ago, before beginning to climb again, according to an AP analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project. Kansas schools typically open by mid-August for the fall.

“We just understand the importance of getting kids back, and if that’s at all possible, we’ve got to plan for that,” said Ron Wilson, the superintendent of schools in Hays, where classes are set to resume Aug. 13. “Ultimately, I think public health officials will probably be making calls in terms of whether our schools should be open or not, and I think they’re going to be basing that on science.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly issued&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200702093130003.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;July 2 directing the state’s residents to wear masks in public and at their workplaces. She said as she issued the order that if Kansas didn’t get its resurgence of new reported coronavirus cases under control, public schools for 519,000 K-12 students might not be able to reopen safely.

But state law allows counties to opt out of the mask mandate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f8a90aa492568e092ec4bb5057129bde">Most have,</a>&nbsp;exempting about 40% of the state’s population.

“The benefits of the statewide mask mandate will remain unknown because of the patchwork quilt of counties that adopted it,” Dr. Lee Norman, the health department’s top administrator, said in a statement texted to The Associated Press.

The State Board of Education plans to meet Tuesday to review proposed guidelines for reopening schools and to vote on them Wednesday. Kelly planned to have a Statehouse news conference Wednesday with education and public health officials to discuss reopening schools.

Local districts also have been working for weeks on their own plans. The Shawnee Heights district east of Topeka, has had a task force discussing reopening issues since June and hopes to have its plan ready next week.

Local school board President Lauren Tice Miller said one key issue is predicting how much time parents might need to prepare for whatever the district plans. The district plans to start fall classes Aug. 13, but it’s still possibly to early to make final decisions about how to reopen, she said.

“There’s still just a lot of uncertainty,” she said. “We all want to bring our kids back and our teachers back, but we have to be able to do it safely.”

During the past two weeks, the Kansas health department has reported 5,615 new coronavirus cases, an increase of 39%. Reported COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations have risen more slowly, 6.7% for deaths and 16.6% for hospitalizations, which totaled 1,343 as of Monday.

The Kansas State Fair’s board&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1ad7c34b7cd29646cde4f0d1d06b833f">canceled the annual event</a>&nbsp;in Hutchinson, which had been set for September.

Twenty-eight of the state’s 105 counties have seen reported coronavirus cases at last double in the past two weeks. They include Ellis County, home to the Hays school district, where reported cases rose from 21 to 57 over the two weeks, and Saline County, where cases jumped from 94 to 220.

The Salina school district in Saline County plans to start online enrollment Tuesday and is giving parents the option of choosing online classes. Superintendent Linn Exline said the possibilities for the new semester include having some students attend in-person classes Monday and Tuesday and others, Wednesday and Thursday, with remote teaching Fridays. Its first classes start Aug. 11.

“What we are really working on is to develop plans where we limit risk as much as possible,” she said. “There is no such thing as a risk-free environment. That’s true any day of the week.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593465508296.png" alt="On July 2, Gov. Laura Kelly directed the state’s residents to wear masks in public and at work" />
 <figcaption>On July 2, Gov. Laura Kelly directed the state’s residents to wear masks in public and at work</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas reported Monday that another record coronavirus spike pushed the state past 20,000 total cases for the pandemic, shadowing plans for reopening public K-12 schools just a month before fall classes are set to begin.The state Department of Health and Environment said that Kansas had another 1,447 coronavirus cases since Friday, an increase of 7.8%, to bring the total for the pandemic to 20,058. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and people can be infected without feeling sick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594726988398.png" alt="KDHE July 13, 2020" />
 <figcaption>KDHE July 13, 2020</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas reported an average of 451 new coronavirus cases a day during the seven-day period ending Monday, the worst seven-day average yet. That figure has climbed each of the seven times the department has reported new data starting on June 29.The health department also reported four additional COVID-19-related deaths making its reported total for the pandemic 288, a 1.4% increase. However, Johns Hopkins University put the state’s number of deaths at 297.Kansas saw its its growth in reported coronavirus cases bottom out five weeks ago, before beginning to climb again, according to an AP analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project. Kansas schools typically open by mid-August for the fall.“We just understand the importance of getting kids back, and if that’s at all possible, we’ve got to plan for that,” said Ron Wilson, the superintendent of schools in Hays, where classes are set to resume Aug. 13. “Ultimately, I think public health officials will probably be making calls in terms of whether our schools should be open or not, and I think they’re going to be basing that on science.”Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly issued&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200702093130003.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;July 2 directing the state’s residents to wear masks in public and at their workplaces. She said as she issued the order that if Kansas didn’t get its resurgence of new reported coronavirus cases under control, public schools for 519,000 K-12 students might not be able to reopen safely.But state law allows counties to opt out of the mask mandate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f8a90aa492568e092ec4bb5057129bde">Most have,</a>&nbsp;exempting about 40% of the state’s population.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594727612359.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his July 8 press briefing on the virus" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his July 8 press briefing on the virus</figcaption>
 </figure>“The benefits of the statewide mask mandate will remain unknown because of the patchwork quilt of counties that adopted it,” Dr. Lee Norman, the health department’s top administrator, said in a statement texted to The Associated Press.The State Board of Education plans to meet Tuesday to review proposed guidelines for reopening schools and to vote on them Wednesday. Kelly planned to have a Statehouse news conference Wednesday with education and public health officials to discuss reopening schools.Local districts also have been working for weeks on their own plans. The Shawnee Heights district east of Topeka, has had a task force discussing reopening issues since June and hopes to have its plan ready next week.Local school board President Lauren Tice Miller said one key issue is predicting how much time parents might need to prepare for whatever the district plans. The district plans to start fall classes Aug. 13, but it’s still possibly to early to make final decisions about how to reopen, she said.“There’s still just a lot of uncertainty,” she said. “We all want to bring our kids back and our teachers back, but we have to be able to do it safely.”During the past two weeks, the Kansas health department has reported 5,615 new coronavirus cases, an increase of 39%. Reported COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations have risen more slowly, 6.7% for deaths and 16.6% for hospitalizations, which totaled 1,343 as of Monday.The Kansas State Fair’s board&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1ad7c34b7cd29646cde4f0d1d06b833f">canceled the annual event</a>&nbsp;in Hutchinson, which had been set for September.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594660032388.png" alt="July 13, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>July 13, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Twenty-eight of the state’s 105 counties have seen reported coronavirus cases at last double in the past two weeks. They include Ellis County, home to the Hays school district, where reported cases rose from 21 to 57 over the two weeks, and Saline County, where cases jumped from 94 to 220.The Salina school district in Saline County plans to start online enrollment Tuesday and is giving parents the option of choosing online classes. Superintendent Linn Exline said the possibilities for the new semester include having some students attend in-person classes Monday and Tuesday and others, Wednesday and Thursday, with remote teaching Fridays. Its first classes start Aug. 11.“What we are really working on is to develop plans where we limit risk as much as possible,” she said. “There is no such thing as a risk-free environment. That’s true any day of the week.”

Kansas facing worst-ever spike in coronavirus cases

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University has signed a new preclinical research and option agreement with&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.tonixpharma.com/press-releases/detail/1212/tonix-pharmaceuticals-enters-into-research-and-exclusive" target="_blank">Tonix Pharmaceuticals</a>, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, to develop a vaccine candidate for the prevention of COVID-19, according to a media release from K-State. The inventor of the technology,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/education/dmp/faculty-staff/faculty/mwangi/mwangi.html" target="_blank">Waithaka Mwangi</a>, professor of diagnostic pathobiology in the K-State&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>, will direct the research, which is based on a new vaccine platform that his research team developed for bovine parainfluenza 3 virus, known as BPI3V, which is closely related to human parainfluenza 3 virus. "A weakened BPI3V has previously been shown to be an effective vaccine vehicle in humans. More importantly, following extensive testing, BPI3V was shown to be safe and stable in infants and children," Mwangi said. "The vector is well suited for mucosal immunization using a nasal atomizer, but it can also be injected. Therefore, BPI3V is suitable for development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates." The researchers focused on the most critical protein of coronaviruses: the spike protein. When a person is exposed to the virus, this protein is involved in the infection of the host cell. The vaccine candidate developed at K-State has been engineered to display the spike protein in a manner that mimics the actual virus. While the majority of vaccines that are currently being developed will be injected into the body, according to Mwangi, the best vaccine will be one that will trigger immune protection, such as Immunoglobulin A, or IgA, at the mucosal surface, the portal of virus entry. IgA plays a crucial role in the immune function of mucous membranes. Instead of being injected, Mwangi's vaccine candidate would be sprayed in the nose to trigger the IgA response and block the virus's spike protein from infecting the host cells. The vaccine will also induce T cell responses capable of killing infected cells. The research agreement, coordinated through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/research/leadership/innovation-partners/index.html" target="_blank">K-State Innovation Partners</a>, is the fourth license agreement between K-State and corporate partners on technologies related to COVID-19. "The team at K-State Innovation Partners enjoyed working with Dr. Seth Lederman and his team from Tonix to efficiently negotiate an exclusive, field-of-use option and sponsored research agreement to fund additional research at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bri.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Biosecurity Research Institute</a>&nbsp;on Dr. Mwangi's COVID-19 vaccine candidates," said Bret Ford, director of business development and licensing for K-State Innovation Partners. "The negotiations were approached with a high sense of urgency and we look forward to the company potentially commercializing our vaccine candidates to provide a solution for this global pandemic." Mwangi's research will be conducted at the university's Biosecurity Research Institute in Pat Roberts Hall, a biosafety level-3 facility. "As the world's foremost global food and biosecurity science university, K-State is committed to understanding and combatting zoonotic diseases and the viruses that cause them like SARS-CoV-2," said Peter Dorhout, vice president for research at K-State. "To deploy our innovations at scale, our faculty need to combine forces with collaborative corporate partners like Tonix Pharmaceuticals as part of our land-grant mission to serve."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594668814111.png" alt="Dr. Mwangi-photo KSU" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Mwangi-photo KSU</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Kansas State University has signed a new preclinical research and option agreement with&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.tonixpharma.com/press-releases/detail/1212/tonix-pharmaceuticals-enters-into-research-and-exclusive" target="_blank">Tonix Pharmaceuticals</a>, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, to develop a vaccine candidate for the prevention of COVID-19, according to a media release from K-State. The inventor of the technology,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/education/dmp/faculty-staff/faculty/mwangi/mwangi.html" target="_blank">Waithaka Mwangi</a>, professor of diagnostic pathobiology in the K-State&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>, will direct the research, which is based on a new vaccine platform that his research team developed for bovine parainfluenza 3 virus, known as BPI3V, which is closely related to human parainfluenza 3 virus. "A weakened BPI3V has previously been shown to be an effective vaccine vehicle in humans. More importantly, following extensive testing, BPI3V was shown to be safe and stable in infants and children," Mwangi said. "The vector is well suited for mucosal immunization using a nasal atomizer, but it can also be injected. Therefore, BPI3V is suitable for development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates." The researchers focused on the most critical protein of coronaviruses: the spike protein. When a person is exposed to the virus, this protein is involved in the infection of the host cell. The vaccine candidate developed at K-State has been engineered to display the spike protein in a manner that mimics the actual virus. While the majority of vaccines that are currently being developed will be injected into the body, according to Mwangi, the best vaccine will be one that will trigger immune protection, such as Immunoglobulin A, or IgA, at the mucosal surface, the portal of virus entry. IgA plays a crucial role in the immune function of mucous membranes. Instead of being injected, Mwangi's vaccine candidate would be sprayed in the nose to trigger the IgA response and block the virus's spike protein from infecting the host cells. The vaccine will also induce T cell responses capable of killing infected cells. The research agreement, coordinated through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/research/leadership/innovation-partners/index.html" target="_blank">K-State Innovation Partners</a>, is the fourth license agreement between K-State and corporate partners on technologies related to COVID-19. "The team at K-State Innovation Partners enjoyed working with Dr. Seth Lederman and his team from Tonix to efficiently negotiate an exclusive, field-of-use option and sponsored research agreement to fund additional research at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bri.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Biosecurity Research Institute</a>&nbsp;on Dr. Mwangi's COVID-19 vaccine candidates," said Bret Ford, director of business development and licensing for K-State Innovation Partners. "The negotiations were approached with a high sense of urgency and we look forward to the company potentially commercializing our vaccine candidates to provide a solution for this global pandemic." Mwangi's research will be conducted at the university's Biosecurity Research Institute in Pat Roberts Hall, a biosafety level-3 facility. "As the world's foremost global food and biosecurity science university, K-State is committed to understanding and combatting zoonotic diseases and the viruses that cause them like SARS-CoV-2," said Peter Dorhout, vice president for research at K-State. "To deploy our innovations at scale, our faculty need to combine forces with collaborative corporate partners like Tonix Pharmaceuticals as part of our land-grant mission to serve."

K-State signs research agreement for COVID-19 vaccine candidate

The Ellis County Health Department said in a news release Monday that nine new positive cases of COVID-19 has been identified in the county since Friday. Three more new cases are considered "probable."

Contacts will be notified. The new positive cases are in isolation. The department also noted three previous cases have recovered since Friday.

There have now been 57 cases of the virus in the county since reporting began, with 18 of those considered active.

The department said there have been 30 new cases since the Fourth of July holiday, placing the blame upon resident and visitors not adhering to safety protocols.

Of those cases, 23 have been associated with one of four "clusters," including the Interstate 70 travel plaza just east of Topeka, two private gatherings and a dance in Graham County.

"If residents continue to gather in groups, we will see cases increase," the department said.&nbsp;

Clarified 3:45 p.m. Monday to reference the travel plaza east of Topeka.

The Ellis County Health Department said in a news release Monday that nine new positive cases of COVID-19 has been identified in the county since Friday. Three more new cases are considered "probable."Contacts will be notified. The new positive cases are in isolation. The department also noted three previous cases have recovered since Friday.There have now been 57 cases of the virus in the county since reporting began, with 18 of those considered active.The department said there have been 30 new cases since the Fourth of July holiday, placing the blame upon resident and visitors not adhering to safety protocols.Of those cases, 23 have been associated with one of four "clusters," including the Interstate 70 travel plaza just east of Topeka, two private gatherings and a dance in Graham County."If residents continue to gather in groups, we will see cases increase," the department said.&nbsp;Read the complete release below:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594665267588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Clarified 3:45 p.m. Monday to reference the travel plaza east of Topeka.

Nine new cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis County

Good Samaritan Society-Hays on Monday announced the results of a mass coronavirus testing conducted July 7 at its facility at 2700 Canal.

In a news release, Administrator Noe Gillespie announced that all 61 residents test were negative for COVID-19. Of the 64 staff members test, two were found to be positive.

"Both staff members remain out on leave and will return to work once cleared to do so," Gillespie said.&nbsp;

A second round of testing is underway Monday.

"While we continue to pray for our staff members we are happy to share that all staff and families are doing well at this time and we praise God for the negative results for all residents," Gillespie said. "We continue to work side by side with our local and state health departments as we work through these challenging times. As always, the health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and the community we serve is our top priority.”

In early June, a resident tested positive for COVID-19. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5ee2ba4aebfb13423b278c51">A mass testing conducted shortly </a>after showed no other residents or staff members were infected at the time.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591917306428.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Good Samaritan Society-Hays on Monday announced the results of a mass coronavirus testing conducted July 7 at its facility at 2700 Canal.In a news release, Administrator Noe Gillespie announced that all 61 residents test were negative for COVID-19. Of the 64 staff members test, two were found to be positive."Both staff members remain out on leave and will return to work once cleared to do so," Gillespie said.&nbsp;A second round of testing is underway Monday."While we continue to pray for our staff members we are happy to share that all staff and families are doing well at this time and we praise God for the negative results for all residents," Gillespie said. "We continue to work side by side with our local and state health departments as we work through these challenging times. As always, the health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and the community we serve is our top priority.”In early June, a resident tested positive for COVID-19. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5ee2ba4aebfb13423b278c51">A mass testing conducted shortly </a>after showed no other residents or staff members were infected at the time.&nbsp;

Two Good Sam staff members test positive, all residents virus-free

As the Trump administration pushes full steam ahead to force schools to resume in-person education, public health experts warn that a one-size-fits-all reopening could drive infection and death rates even higher.

They’re urging a more cautious approach, which many local governments and school districts are already pursuing.

But U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos doubled down on President Donald Trump’s insistence that kids can safely return to the classroom.

“There’s nothing in the data that suggests that kids being in school is in any way dangerous,” she told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”

Still, health experts say there are too many uncertainties and variables for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f3d8baf703ae4ff1af917b6202d26888">back-to-school to be back-to-normal.</a>

Where is the virus spreading rapidly? Do students live with aged grandparents? Do teachers have high-risk health conditions that would make online teaching safest? Do infected children easily spread COVID-19 to each other and to adults?

Regarding the latter, some evidence suggests they don’t, but a big government study aims to find better proof. Results won’t be available before the fall, and some schools are slated to reopen in just a few weeks.

“These are complicated issues. You can’t just charge straight ahead,” Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday during an online briefing.

Children infected with coronavirus are more likely than adults to have mild illnesses, but their risk for severe disease and death isn’t zero. While a virus-linked inflammatory condition is uncommon, most children who develop it require intensive care, and a few have died. Doctors don’t know which children are at risk.

“The single most important thing we can do to keep our schools safe has nothing to do with what happens in school. It’s how well we control COVID-19 in the community,” Frieden said. “Right now there are places around the country where the virus is spreading explosively and it would be difficult if not impossible to operate schools safely until the virus is under better control.”

Zahrah Wattier teaches high school in Galveston, Texas, where cases and deaths have been spiking. Until the state recently said schools must reopen to in-person classes, her district had been weighing options many others are considering, including full-time online teaching or a hybrid mix.

Wattier’s school has mostly Hispanic and Black students, many from low-income families; almost 70% qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches and many have parents who work in “essential” jobs that increase potential exposure to the virus. Online education was hard for many with limited internet access, and Wattier knows in-person classes can help even the playing field.

“My school has over 2,000 students. That’s over 2,000 exposures in a day,” said Wattier, whose parents live with the family and are both high-risk. “It’s a lot to think about. It’s my job. It’s something I choose to do, it’s something I love. Now it comes at a really high risk.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics, whose guidance the Trump administration has cited to support its demands, says the goal is for all students to be physically present in school. But, it adds, districts must be flexible, consult with health authorities and be ready to pivot as virus activity waxes and wanes.

“It is not that the American Academy of Pediatrics thinks this is a done deal because we have put out guidance,” said Dr. Nicholas Beers, a member of the academy’s school health council. “But what we do know is that we need to have a more realistic dialogue about the implications of virtual learning on the future of children. We have left whole swaths of society behind, whether it’s because they have limited access to a computer, or broadband internet,” or because of other challenges that online education can’t address.

DeVos said local school officials are smart enough to know when conditions are not right.

“There’s going to be the exception to the rule, but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall,” she told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“And where there are little flare-ups or hot spots, that can be dealt with on a school by school or a case by case basis.”

Following CDC and academy guidelines would mean big changes for most schools. Mask-wearing would be strongly encouraged for adult staff and students except the youngest. Desks would be distanced at least 3 feet apart; the CDC recommends 6 feet. Both suggest limiting adults allowed in schools, including parents, and canceling group activities like choir and assemblies. Staggered arrival and dismissal times, outdoor classes, and keeping kids in the same classroom all day are other options.

President Trump has threatened federal funding cuts for districts that don’t fully reopen.

DeVos defended that stance, saying, “American investment in education is a promise to students and their families.”

“If schools aren’t going to reopen and not fulfill that promise, they shouldn’t get the funds, and give it to the families to decide to go to a school that is going to meet that promise,” she said on “Fox News Sunday.”

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DeVos’ comments “malfeasance and dereliction of duty.”

“They’re messing, the president and his administration are messing with the health of our children,” the California Democrat told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

While most funding typically comes from state and local sources, experts say schools will need more federal funding, not less, to reopen safely. Masks, extra cleaning supplies or janitors, additional classroom space, and mental health support for students and staff traumatized by the pandemic are among potential costs. And with more parents out of work, more children will qualify for federally funded school lunches.

Lynn Morales, 49, teaches 8th grade English at a high-poverty public school in Bloomington, Minnesota, that is considering several options including in-person classes; a final decision is expected Aug. 1.

Some colleagues are considering not returning to the classroom because their children’s day care centers aren’t reopening. Some say they won’t come back until there’s a vaccine.

“I am concerned and it’s because of the age group,” Morales said. ’’Middle school students ... are lovely and I love them, but they touch, they get close, they roughhouse. It is their nature. They’re 13 years old. They are defiant.”

“If masks are required and a kid isn’t wearing a mask, is my job description going to be to chase down this kid and insist they wear a mask? And what if they don’t?”

Dr. Emily Landon, a University of Chicago infectious disease specialist, is helping the university and a campus preK-12 school decide how to reopen safely.

“Things are evolving from, ‘We can’t do it unless it’s perfectly safe’ to more of a harm reduction model, with the caveat that you can always step back” if virus activity flares, Landon said.

Single-occupancy dorms, outdoor classes, socially distanced classrooms and mask-wearing by students and faculty are on tap for the university. Face coverings will be required at the school too. Policies may change depending on virus activity.

She dismisses complaints from some parents who say masks are a loss of personal freedom.

“It’s not harmful for your child,” she said. “If you see wearing masks as a loss of personal freedom, then you have to think the same of pants.”

Dr. Tina Hartert of Vanderbilt University is leading a National Institutes of Health-funded study to determine what role children play in transmitting COVID-19. Almost 2,000 families are enrolled and self-test every two weeks. The idea is to find infected children without symptoms and see how easily disease spreads within families. Results may come by year’s end.

“If we don’t see significant transmission within households, that would be very reassuring,” Hartert said.

She noted that in other countries where schools have reopened, evidence suggests no widespread transmission from children.

In France, public schools reopened briefly before a summer break, with no sign of widespread virus transmission. Masks were only required for upper grades, but students stayed in the same classroom all day. A better test will be when the new school year starts Sept. 1.

In Norway, schools closed in March for several weeks. Nursery schools reopened first, then other grades. Children were put in smaller groups that stay together all day. Masks aren’t required. There have been only a few virus cases, said Dr. Margrethe Greve-Isdahl of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, but she noted virus activity is much lower than in the U.S.

Kati Spaniak, a realtor in Northbrook, Illinois, says her five teenage daughters have struggled to cope with pandemic fears, school closures and deficits of online learning. She strongly supports getting kids back in the classroom, and all her girls will return to some form of that in the fall.

It’s been hard for her high school senior, Kylie Ciesla. Prom, graduation and other senior rituals were canceled, and there were no good-byes. “Just to get ripped away from everything I’ve worked for 12 years, it’s really hard,” Kylie said.

At college, classes will be in person, masks mandated and a COVID-19 test required before she can move into her dorm. Kylie isn’t sure all that is needed.

“I hate that this thing has become so political. I just want the science. I want to know what we need to do to fix it,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593205499970.png" alt="U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos -courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos -courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By LINDSEY TANNERAs the Trump administration pushes full steam ahead to force schools to resume in-person education, public health experts warn that a one-size-fits-all reopening could drive infection and death rates even higher.They’re urging a more cautious approach, which many local governments and school districts are already pursuing.But U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos doubled down on President Donald Trump’s insistence that kids can safely return to the classroom.“There’s nothing in the data that suggests that kids being in school is in any way dangerous,” she told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”Still, health experts say there are too many uncertainties and variables for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f3d8baf703ae4ff1af917b6202d26888">back-to-school to be back-to-normal.</a>Where is the virus spreading rapidly? Do students live with aged grandparents? Do teachers have high-risk health conditions that would make online teaching safest? Do infected children easily spread COVID-19 to each other and to adults?ADVERTISEMENTRegarding the latter, some evidence suggests they don’t, but a big government study aims to find better proof. Results won’t be available before the fall, and some schools are slated to reopen in just a few weeks.“These are complicated issues. You can’t just charge straight ahead,” Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday during an online briefing.Children infected with coronavirus are more likely than adults to have mild illnesses, but their risk for severe disease and death isn’t zero. While a virus-linked inflammatory condition is uncommon, most children who develop it require intensive care, and a few have died. Doctors don’t know which children are at risk.“The single most important thing we can do to keep our schools safe has nothing to do with what happens in school. It’s how well we control COVID-19 in the community,” Frieden said. “Right now there are places around the country where the virus is spreading explosively and it would be difficult if not impossible to operate schools safely until the virus is under better control.”Zahrah Wattier teaches high school in Galveston, Texas, where cases and deaths have been spiking. Until the state recently said schools must reopen to in-person classes, her district had been weighing options many others are considering, including full-time online teaching or a hybrid mix.Wattier’s school has mostly Hispanic and Black students, many from low-income families; almost 70% qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches and many have parents who work in “essential” jobs that increase potential exposure to the virus. Online education was hard for many with limited internet access, and Wattier knows in-person classes can help even the playing field.But she’s worried.“My school has over 2,000 students. That’s over 2,000 exposures in a day,” said Wattier, whose parents live with the family and are both high-risk. “It’s a lot to think about. It’s my job. It’s something I choose to do, it’s something I love. Now it comes at a really high risk.”The American Academy of Pediatrics, whose guidance the Trump administration has cited to support its demands, says the goal is for all students to be physically present in school. But, it adds, districts must be flexible, consult with health authorities and be ready to pivot as virus activity waxes and wanes.“It is not that the American Academy of Pediatrics thinks this is a done deal because we have put out guidance,” said Dr. Nicholas Beers, a member of the academy’s school health council. “But what we do know is that we need to have a more realistic dialogue about the implications of virtual learning on the future of children. We have left whole swaths of society behind, whether it’s because they have limited access to a computer, or broadband internet,” or because of other challenges that online education can’t address.DeVos said local school officials are smart enough to know when conditions are not right.“There’s going to be the exception to the rule, but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall,” she told CNN’s “State of the Union.”“And where there are little flare-ups or hot spots, that can be dealt with on a school by school or a case by case basis.”Following CDC and academy guidelines would mean big changes for most schools. Mask-wearing would be strongly encouraged for adult staff and students except the youngest. Desks would be distanced at least 3 feet apart; the CDC recommends 6 feet. Both suggest limiting adults allowed in schools, including parents, and canceling group activities like choir and assemblies. Staggered arrival and dismissal times, outdoor classes, and keeping kids in the same classroom all day are other options.President Trump has threatened federal funding cuts for districts that don’t fully reopen.DeVos defended that stance, saying, “American investment in education is a promise to students and their families.”“If schools aren’t going to reopen and not fulfill that promise, they shouldn’t get the funds, and give it to the families to decide to go to a school that is going to meet that promise,” she said on “Fox News Sunday.”U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DeVos’ comments “malfeasance and dereliction of duty.”“They’re messing, the president and his administration are messing with the health of our children,” the California Democrat told CNN’s “State of the Union.”While most funding typically comes from state and local sources, experts say schools will need more federal funding, not less, to reopen safely. Masks, extra cleaning supplies or janitors, additional classroom space, and mental health support for students and staff traumatized by the pandemic are among potential costs. And with more parents out of work, more children will qualify for federally funded school lunches.Lynn Morales, 49, teaches 8th grade English at a high-poverty public school in Bloomington, Minnesota, that is considering several options including in-person classes; a final decision is expected Aug. 1.Some colleagues are considering not returning to the classroom because their children’s day care centers aren’t reopening. Some say they won’t come back until there’s a vaccine.“I am concerned and it’s because of the age group,” Morales said. ’’Middle school students ... are lovely and I love them, but they touch, they get close, they roughhouse. It is their nature. They’re 13 years old. They are defiant.”“If masks are required and a kid isn’t wearing a mask, is my job description going to be to chase down this kid and insist they wear a mask? And what if they don’t?”Dr. Emily Landon, a University of Chicago infectious disease specialist, is helping the university and a campus preK-12 school decide how to reopen safely.“Things are evolving from, ‘We can’t do it unless it’s perfectly safe’ to more of a harm reduction model, with the caveat that you can always step back” if virus activity flares, Landon said.Single-occupancy dorms, outdoor classes, socially distanced classrooms and mask-wearing by students and faculty are on tap for the university. Face coverings will be required at the school too. Policies may change depending on virus activity.She dismisses complaints from some parents who say masks are a loss of personal freedom.“It’s not harmful for your child,” she said. “If you see wearing masks as a loss of personal freedom, then you have to think the same of pants.”Dr. Tina Hartert of Vanderbilt University is leading a National Institutes of Health-funded study to determine what role children play in transmitting COVID-19. Almost 2,000 families are enrolled and self-test every two weeks. The idea is to find infected children without symptoms and see how easily disease spreads within families. Results may come by year’s end.“If we don’t see significant transmission within households, that would be very reassuring,” Hartert said.She noted that in other countries where schools have reopened, evidence suggests no widespread transmission from children.In France, public schools reopened briefly before a summer break, with no sign of widespread virus transmission. Masks were only required for upper grades, but students stayed in the same classroom all day. A better test will be when the new school year starts Sept. 1.In Norway, schools closed in March for several weeks. Nursery schools reopened first, then other grades. Children were put in smaller groups that stay together all day. Masks aren’t required. There have been only a few virus cases, said Dr. Margrethe Greve-Isdahl of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, but she noted virus activity is much lower than in the U.S.Kati Spaniak, a realtor in Northbrook, Illinois, says her five teenage daughters have struggled to cope with pandemic fears, school closures and deficits of online learning. She strongly supports getting kids back in the classroom, and all her girls will return to some form of that in the fall.It’s been hard for her high school senior, Kylie Ciesla. Prom, graduation and other senior rituals were canceled, and there were no good-byes. “Just to get ripped away from everything I’ve worked for 12 years, it’s really hard,” Kylie said.At college, classes will be in person, masks mandated and a COVID-19 test required before she can move into her dorm. Kylie isn’t sure all that is needed.“I hate that this thing has become so political. I just want the science. I want to know what we need to do to fix it,” she said.___

Doctors: Virus spread, not politics should guide schools

By LYNN HORSLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-09/some-johnson-county-officials-upset-about-hotel-housing-coronavirus-patients">Kansas News Service</a>

Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown and Sheriff Calvin Hayden 
expressed outrage Thursday over the state of Kansas’ decision to isolate
 COVID-19 patients in a hotel in Gardner.

“We brought positive 
COVID-19 patients into the heart of my district, around people who 
aren’t generally sick. That’s damn near criminal. That’s wrong,” Brown 
said at the county commission’s weekly meeting. “How dare the governor 
decide to just import that into Johnson County. What in the world? Why 
aren’t they in Topeka?”

Brown, who represents a southern Johnson 
County district, including Gardner, was angry that he hadn’t been 
notified previously, although state officials did alert Johnson County 
emergency management and health officials.

Brown said he’d received calls from concerned constituents.

“Why is it here?” he demanded. “Why am I dealing with this?”

In
 public comments to the commission, Sheriff Hayden also complained about
 the lack of communication from the state. He said he found out about 
the hotel indirectly on Wednesday.

Hayden said he and his staff 
have worked incredibly hard to ensure there are no COVID-19 cases in the
 jail, but the state had not alerted him to this new facility.

“Somebody
 knew. As the chief law enforcement officer in Johnson County, I did 
not,” Hayden said, adding that the commissioners also should have been 
notified but were not. “You were kept out of the loop. Unacceptable.”

The
 governor’s office responded Thursday that the need for what's called 
"non-congregant housing" for COVID-19 patients had been recognized for 
some time, both in the state and nationally.

“Like states across 
the country, we have been working – in accordance with FEMA guidelines –
 with counties across Kansas since April to set up non-congregant 
housing for their community members including frontline health care 
workers, individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, and those in the
 high-risk category or who have family members in the high risk 
category,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

“Due to 
HIPAA laws we can’t share specifics, nor do we think it is appropriate 
to shame individuals who are self-isolating as an act of social 
responsibility or in order to protect their or their loved ones' health.
 When the Kansas Division of Emergency Management contracts with motels,
 they contract the entire facility, there are no other guests, and they 
provide on-site support for individuals using the housing.”

Commissioner
 Jim Allen said it was his understanding that the state is allowed to 
contract directly with the hotel owner for these types of non-congregant
 facilities, and the county doesn’t have a role in the decision. Cindy 
Dunham with the county counselor’s office confirmed it’s a contract 
between the state and the hotel.

Commissioner Janee Hanzlick 
pointed out that the county had in the past discussed the potential need
 for such a shelter, for people who might become infected and be 
homeless. She said it’s safer to isolate and treat people in these types
 of facilities than having them living on the streets.

Sanmi 
Areola, director of Johnson County’s department of health and 
environment, said it was not his responsibility to approve the facility 
or to alert the commission, although he knew about the state’s decision 
and supported it.

“It’s a need,” he said. “I did not oppose this.”

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShuteForGardner/" target="_blank">In a Facebook post on Wednesday</a>,
 Gardner Mayor Steve Shute said the Kansas Department of Emergency 
Management did not consult with him before establishing the 
non-congregant facility at the Super 8 Motel in Gardner.

Lynn Horsley is a freelance writer in Kansas City. Follow her on Twitter @LynnHorsley.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594404213196.png" alt="Commissioner Mike Brown expressed his concern over the hotel in a Facebook Live broadcast of a Johnson County commission meeting. Lynn Horsley / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>Commissioner Mike Brown expressed his concern over the hotel in a Facebook Live broadcast of a Johnson County commission meeting. Lynn Horsley / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By LYNN HORSLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-09/some-johnson-county-officials-upset-about-hotel-housing-coronavirus-patients">Kansas News Service</a>Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown and Sheriff Calvin Hayden 
expressed outrage Thursday over the state of Kansas’ decision to isolate
 COVID-19 patients in a hotel in Gardner.“We brought positive 
COVID-19 patients into the heart of my district, around people who 
aren’t generally sick. That’s damn near criminal. That’s wrong,” Brown 
said at the county commission’s weekly meeting. “How dare the governor 
decide to just import that into Johnson County. What in the world? Why 
aren’t they in Topeka?”Brown, who represents a southern Johnson 
County district, including Gardner, was angry that he hadn’t been 
notified previously, although state officials did alert Johnson County 
emergency management and health officials.Brown said he’d received calls from concerned constituents.“Why is it here?” he demanded. “Why am I dealing with this?”In
 public comments to the commission, Sheriff Hayden also complained about
 the lack of communication from the state. He said he found out about 
the hotel indirectly on Wednesday.Hayden said he and his staff 
have worked incredibly hard to ensure there are no COVID-19 cases in the
 jail, but the state had not alerted him to this new facility.“Somebody
 knew. As the chief law enforcement officer in Johnson County, I did 
not,” Hayden said, adding that the commissioners also should have been 
notified but were not. “You were kept out of the loop. Unacceptable.”The
 governor’s office responded Thursday that the need for what's called 
"non-congregant housing" for COVID-19 patients had been recognized for 
some time, both in the state and nationally.“Like states across 
the country, we have been working – in accordance with FEMA guidelines –
 with counties across Kansas since April to set up non-congregant 
housing for their community members including frontline health care 
workers, individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, and those in the
 high-risk category or who have family members in the high risk 
category,” the governor’s office said in a statement.“Due to 
HIPAA laws we can’t share specifics, nor do we think it is appropriate 
to shame individuals who are self-isolating as an act of social 
responsibility or in order to protect their or their loved ones' health.
 When the Kansas Division of Emergency Management contracts with motels,
 they contract the entire facility, there are no other guests, and they 
provide on-site support for individuals using the housing.”Commissioner
 Jim Allen said it was his understanding that the state is allowed to 
contract directly with the hotel owner for these types of non-congregant
 facilities, and the county doesn’t have a role in the decision. Cindy 
Dunham with the county counselor’s office confirmed it’s a contract 
between the state and the hotel.Commissioner Janee Hanzlick 
pointed out that the county had in the past discussed the potential need
 for such a shelter, for people who might become infected and be 
homeless. She said it’s safer to isolate and treat people in these types
 of facilities than having them living on the streets.Sanmi 
Areola, director of Johnson County’s department of health and 
environment, said it was not his responsibility to approve the facility 
or to alert the commission, although he knew about the state’s decision 
and supported it.“It’s a need,” he said. “I did not oppose this.”<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShuteForGardner/" target="_blank">In a Facebook post on Wednesday</a>,
 Gardner Mayor Steve Shute said the Kansas Department of Emergency 
Management did not consult with him before establishing the 
non-congregant facility at the Super 8 Motel in Gardner. Lynn Horsley is a freelance writer in Kansas City. Follow her on Twitter @LynnHorsley.&nbsp;

Some Johnson Co. officials upset about hotel housing virus patients

NEW YORK (AP) — Crowded bars and house parties have been identified as culprits in spreading the coronavirus. Meat packing plants, prisons and nursing homes are known hot spots. Then there’s the complicated case of America’s churches.

The vast majority of these churches have cooperated with health authorities and successfully protected their congregations. Yet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks.

They are by no means at the top of the list of problematic activities across the U.S., but they have posed challenges for government leaders and public health officials whose guidelines and orders are sometimes challenged as encroachments on religious liberty.

“If we wanted to have zero risks, the safest thing would be to never open our doors,” said prominent Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress. “The question is how can you balance risk with the very real need to worship.”

In the past two weeks alone, there have been two notable church-government confrontations in California.

San Francisco's city attorney sent a cease-and-desist order in late June to the Roman Catholic archdiocese, alleging that some of its churches had violated a local ban on large indoor gatherings. The archdiocese promised to comply.

A few days later, state officials temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship.pdf">banned</a>&nbsp;“indoor singing and chanting activities” at all places of worship, prompting some pastors to defy the rule.

Evangelical pastor Samuel Rodriguez said worshippers at his Sacramento megachurch joined in singing hymns on July 5, even as most of them wore face masks and obeyed social-distancing guidelines.

“To forbid singing in a church is morally reprehensible,” Rodriguez said. “That is how we petition heaven.”

The extent to which religious gatherings have contributed to the pandemic’s toll may never be known with any precision. But there’s no question they have played a role throughout, internationally as well as in the United States, even as myriad houses of worship halted in-person services for safety reasons.

Of the first wave of cases in South Korea in February, several thousand were members of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Hundreds of other cases were linked to a Muslim missionary movement event in late February in Malaysia that was attended by about 16,000 people from numerous East Asian countries.

In the second week of March, before warnings and lockdown orders proliferated in the U.S., 35 of the 92 people who attended events at a rural Arkansas church developed COVID-19, and three of them died, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6920e2.htm">report</a>&nbsp;issued in May.

More recently, in mid-June, a small-town church in northeastern Oregon became the epicenter of the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak when 236 people linked to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church tested positive.

According to the Observer newspaper in nearby La Grande, the church in Island City had held religious services, a wedding and a graduation ceremony in the weeks preceding the outbreak, sometimes with more than 100 people in attendance in defiance of state restrictions on gatherings.

Union County, with a population of 25,000 people, had recorded fewer than 25 cases during the pandemic prior to the church outbreak. Within two weeks, it had Oregon's highest per capita rate of coronavirus infections.

Also in June, West Virginia’s health department announced outbreaks linked to five churches in different parts of the state. The biggest was at Graystone Baptist Church in Lewisburg with 51 cases, three of them fatal.

In several cases, churches that resumed in-person services opted to close again after outbreaks. Among them:

— A church and an administrative office affiliated with the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, which is the home base for the Pentecostal denomination. No official case count has been released, but a senior leader of the denomination, General Overseer Tim Hill, confirmed that the number of verified cases is growing, and that several church leaders were among those seriously ill. One pastor, Ernie Varner of Lenoir City, Tennessee, died Friday, six days after posting on Facebook, “I'm in the ICU with COVID. Please pray for me."

— Calvary Chapel, an evangelical church in Universal City, Texas. It reopened in early May only to close anew in late June after dozens of staff and churchgoers tested positive, including Pastor Ron Arbaugh and his wife. Arbaugh says he regrets telling worshippers last month they could resume the tradition of hugging each other during an interlude of mid-service socializing.

— Holy Family Catholic Church in Las Vegas. The diocese announced Thursday that the church would be closed indefinitely after a priest who celebrated Mass this week tested positive.

— First Baptist Church of Tillmans Corner in Mobile, Alabama. It resumed in-person services May 17 after the governor gave a statewide green light, but recently canceled them at least through July 31 after more than 20 of the congregation’s 1,500 members tested positive. Pastor Derek Allen wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jderekallen.com/post/five-lessons-i-learned-from-a-covid-19-spike-at-our-church">blog post</a>&nbsp;describing the outbreak as a “harrowing and demoralizing journey,” and offering advice to other pastors: “Assume every sniffle is COVID-19, and act quickly. We’ve learned that the tests take too long, and false positives are possible along with false negatives."

Another Baptist church, First Baptist Dallas, was in the spotlight June 28 when it hosted Vice President Mike Pence at its annual Freedom Sunday celebrations. Most of the 2,400 attendees wore face masks, but some criticism surfaced after the choir sang without masks.

Jeffress, the church’s pastor and a prominent evangelical conservative with close ties to President Donald Trump, said the choir and orchestra had been tested for COVID-19 beforehand. The church said a few who tested positive did not take part in the event.

Jeffress bristled at the idea that choirs should be temporarily banned.

“Choirs will always be a part of worship for us,” he said. “We think it’s possible to still have them but do it in a safe way.”

A few days after the Freedom Sunday event, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order requiring people wear face masks in most public settings — with several exceptions, including participants in religious services.

Some churches, through their physical attributes and the decisions of their leaders, have been able to minimize risks as worship resumes.

In Incline Village, Nevada, along the north shore of Lake Tahoe, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church took advantage of a unique feature to relaunch scaled-back, in-person services this month: its outdoor mountain amphitheater chapel shaded by pine trees.

Church officials took precautionary measures such as moving the log-bench pews farther apart, capping attendance at 50 and requiring worshippers have their temperature taken, employ hand sanitizer and wear masks. There was no Eucharist or passing of the peace, and the usual post-service coffee hour was held by video conference.

“Good morning, children of God,” the Rev. Sarah Dunn, the church’s rector, said from behind a plexiglass screen, welcoming parishioners back to the socially distanced service July 5 after 16 Sundays apart. She acknowledged feeling “mixed emotions”: apprehension as the virus remains a threat, but joy at being able to gather in the sacred space.

NEW YORK (AP) — Crowded bars and house parties have been identified as culprits in spreading the coronavirus. Meat packing plants, prisons and nursing homes are known hot spots. Then there’s the complicated case of America’s churches.The vast majority of these churches have cooperated with health authorities and successfully protected their congregations. Yet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks.They are by no means at the top of the list of problematic activities across the U.S., but they have posed challenges for government leaders and public health officials whose guidelines and orders are sometimes challenged as encroachments on religious liberty.“If we wanted to have zero risks, the safest thing would be to never open our doors,” said prominent Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress. “The question is how can you balance risk with the very real need to worship.”In the past two weeks alone, there have been two notable church-government confrontations in California.San Francisco's city attorney sent a cease-and-desist order in late June to the Roman Catholic archdiocese, alleging that some of its churches had violated a local ban on large indoor gatherings. The archdiocese promised to comply.A few days later, state officials temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship.pdf">banned</a>&nbsp;“indoor singing and chanting activities” at all places of worship, prompting some pastors to defy the rule.Evangelical pastor Samuel Rodriguez said worshippers at his Sacramento megachurch joined in singing hymns on July 5, even as most of them wore face masks and obeyed social-distancing guidelines.“To forbid singing in a church is morally reprehensible,” Rodriguez said. “That is how we petition heaven.”The extent to which religious gatherings have contributed to the pandemic’s toll may never be known with any precision. But there’s no question they have played a role throughout, internationally as well as in the United States, even as myriad houses of worship halted in-person services for safety reasons.Of the first wave of cases in South Korea in February, several thousand were members of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Hundreds of other cases were linked to a Muslim missionary movement event in late February in Malaysia that was attended by about 16,000 people from numerous East Asian countries.In the second week of March, before warnings and lockdown orders proliferated in the U.S., 35 of the 92 people who attended events at a rural Arkansas church developed COVID-19, and three of them died, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6920e2.htm">report</a>&nbsp;issued in May.More recently, in mid-June, a small-town church in northeastern Oregon became the epicenter of the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak when 236 people linked to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church tested positive.According to the Observer newspaper in nearby La Grande, the church in Island City had held religious services, a wedding and a graduation ceremony in the weeks preceding the outbreak, sometimes with more than 100 people in attendance in defiance of state restrictions on gatherings.Union County, with a population of 25,000 people, had recorded fewer than 25 cases during the pandemic prior to the church outbreak. Within two weeks, it had Oregon's highest per capita rate of coronavirus infections.Also in June, West Virginia’s health department announced outbreaks linked to five churches in different parts of the state. The biggest was at Graystone Baptist Church in Lewisburg with 51 cases, three of them fatal.In several cases, churches that resumed in-person services opted to close again after outbreaks. Among them:— A church and an administrative office affiliated with the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, which is the home base for the Pentecostal denomination. No official case count has been released, but a senior leader of the denomination, General Overseer Tim Hill, confirmed that the number of verified cases is growing, and that several church leaders were among those seriously ill. One pastor, Ernie Varner of Lenoir City, Tennessee, died Friday, six days after posting on Facebook, “I'm in the ICU with COVID. Please pray for me."— Calvary Chapel, an evangelical church in Universal City, Texas. It reopened in early May only to close anew in late June after dozens of staff and churchgoers tested positive, including Pastor Ron Arbaugh and his wife. Arbaugh says he regrets telling worshippers last month they could resume the tradition of hugging each other during an interlude of mid-service socializing.— Holy Family Catholic Church in Las Vegas. The diocese announced Thursday that the church would be closed indefinitely after a priest who celebrated Mass this week tested positive.— First Baptist Church of Tillmans Corner in Mobile, Alabama. It resumed in-person services May 17 after the governor gave a statewide green light, but recently canceled them at least through July 31 after more than 20 of the congregation’s 1,500 members tested positive. Pastor Derek Allen wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jderekallen.com/post/five-lessons-i-learned-from-a-covid-19-spike-at-our-church">blog post</a>&nbsp;describing the outbreak as a “harrowing and demoralizing journey,” and offering advice to other pastors: “Assume every sniffle is COVID-19, and act quickly. We’ve learned that the tests take too long, and false positives are possible along with false negatives."Another Baptist church, First Baptist Dallas, was in the spotlight June 28 when it hosted Vice President Mike Pence at its annual Freedom Sunday celebrations. Most of the 2,400 attendees wore face masks, but some criticism surfaced after the choir sang without masks.Jeffress, the church’s pastor and a prominent evangelical conservative with close ties to President Donald Trump, said the choir and orchestra had been tested for COVID-19 beforehand. The church said a few who tested positive did not take part in the event.Jeffress bristled at the idea that choirs should be temporarily banned.“Choirs will always be a part of worship for us,” he said. “We think it’s possible to still have them but do it in a safe way.”A few days after the Freedom Sunday event, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order requiring people wear face masks in most public settings — with several exceptions, including participants in religious services.Some churches, through their physical attributes and the decisions of their leaders, have been able to minimize risks as worship resumes.In Incline Village, Nevada, along the north shore of Lake Tahoe, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church took advantage of a unique feature to relaunch scaled-back, in-person services this month: its outdoor mountain amphitheater chapel shaded by pine trees.Church officials took precautionary measures such as moving the log-bench pews farther apart, capping attendance at 50 and requiring worshippers have their temperature taken, employ hand sanitizer and wear masks. There was no Eucharist or passing of the peace, and the usual post-service coffee hour was held by video conference.“Good morning, children of God,” the Rev. Sarah Dunn, the church’s rector, said from behind a plexiglass screen, welcoming parishioners back to the socially distanced service July 5 after 16 Sundays apart. She acknowledged feeling “mixed emotions”: apprehension as the virus remains a threat, but joy at being able to gather in the sacred space.

Churches amid the pandemic: Some outbreaks, many challenges

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The rapidly rising number of confirmed new coronavirus cases has prompted an update to facial- covering requirements in Kansas City.

The Missouri Department of health on Thursday reported 795 new cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. 

That was the most in a single day since the pandemic began, topping the 773 confirmed new cases reported Tuesday. In the first four days of this week, Missouri has reported 2,563 new cases. They also reported&nbsp; 13 more virus deaths on Friday. The Kansas Department of Health reported nearly 1,000 new cases since Wednesday and two more deaths.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Friday extended the requirement to wear a facial covering through at least Aug. 15. The original face mask order that went into effect June 29 was scheduled to expire Sunday, but Kansas City has averaged 290 confirmed new COVID-19 cases over the past four days, including 370 on Thursday.

“As we've seen in a number of other jurisdictions, there continues to be significant concerns with the spread of COVID-19, continuing taxation on certain public health and medical resources, and that's why we are taking the ongoing steps we will today,” Lucas, a Democrat, said at a news conference.

Kansas City also is maintaining it 50% capacity limit for drinking establishments, Lucas said.

The face mask rule in Kansas City mandates all employees or visitors to any place of public accommodation must wear face coverings in an area or while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to co-workers or the public where six feet of separation is not feasible. Also effective Monday, June 29, percentage capacity limits as required by Mayor Lucas’s Eighth Amended Order will be eliminated, except for taverns and bars.

“Our country’s leading health and scientific experts have indicated in no uncertain terms that mask-weari­ng is the most effective way to curb the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Lucas. “Case numbers in Kansas City continue to rise, and we are taking all steps we can to ensure public health and safety. I know wearing masks can be uncomfortable, but this is a necessary step to ensure we can save lives and keep our economy open. We wear masks to protect our loved ones, those around us, and their loved ones.”

“We are keeping a close watch on our cases and hospitalizations, but know widespread mask-use is one essential way to slow COVID-19 and keep Kansas City businesses open,” said Dr. Archer. “It’s up to us. Let’s learn from Texas and Florida and what’s happening there now. Their mitigations and closures weren’t as quickly adopted or embraced. Now their case counts are rising at a disturbing rate and they’ve had to slow their reopening plans.”

Exceptions to the face covering requirement are as follows:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590784947764.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The rapidly rising number of confirmed new coronavirus cases has prompted an update to facial- covering requirements in Kansas City.The Missouri Department of health on Thursday reported 795 new cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. That was the most in a single day since the pandemic began, topping the 773 confirmed new cases reported Tuesday. In the first four days of this week, Missouri has reported 2,563 new cases. They also reported&nbsp; 13 more virus deaths on Friday. The Kansas Department of Health reported nearly 1,000 new cases since Wednesday and two more deaths.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589226208948.png" alt="Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas during a press briefing in April- photo courtesy city of KCMO" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas during a press briefing in April- photo courtesy city of KCMO</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Friday extended the requirement to wear a facial covering through at least Aug. 15. The original face mask order that went into effect June 29 was scheduled to expire Sunday, but Kansas City has averaged 290 confirmed new COVID-19 cases over the past four days, including 370 on Thursday.“As we've seen in a number of other jurisdictions, there continues to be significant concerns with the spread of COVID-19, continuing taxation on certain public health and medical resources, and that's why we are taking the ongoing steps we will today,” Lucas, a Democrat, said at a news conference.Kansas City also is maintaining it 50% capacity limit for drinking establishments, Lucas said.The face mask rule in Kansas City mandates all employees or visitors to any place of public accommodation must wear face coverings in an area or while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to co-workers or the public where six feet of separation is not feasible. Also effective Monday, June 29, percentage capacity limits as required by Mayor Lucas’s Eighth Amended Order will be eliminated, except for taverns and bars.“Our country’s leading health and scientific experts have indicated in no uncertain terms that mask-weari­ng is the most effective way to curb the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Lucas. “Case numbers in Kansas City continue to rise, and we are taking all steps we can to ensure public health and safety. I know wearing masks can be uncomfortable, but this is a necessary step to ensure we can save lives and keep our economy open. We wear masks to protect our loved ones, those around us, and their loved ones.”“We are keeping a close watch on our cases and hospitalizations, but know widespread mask-use is one essential way to slow COVID-19 and keep Kansas City businesses open,” said Dr. Archer. “It’s up to us. Let’s learn from Texas and Florida and what’s happening there now. Their mitigations and closures weren’t as quickly adopted or embraced. Now their case counts are rising at a disturbing rate and they’ve had to slow their reopening plans.”Exceptions to the face covering requirement are as follows:<ul>
 <li>Minors, though Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance recommends that all individuals over the age of two wear masks.</li><li>People who have disabilities that:Prevent them from comfortably wearing or taking off face coverings.Prevent them from communicating while wearing face coverings.</li><li>Prevent them from comfortably wearing or taking off face coverings.</li><li>Prevent them from communicating while wearing face coverings.</li><li>People who have respiratory conditions or breathing trouble.</li><li>People who have been told by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional not to wear face coverings.</li><li>People who are seated in a restaurant, tavern, or bar and are actively engaged in consuming food or drink while adequately distanced from other tables.</li>
 </ul>

Kansas City mayor extends face covering mandate into mid-August

ATLANTA (AP) — Federal health officials won’t revise their coronavirus guidelines for reopening schools despite criticism from President Donald Trump, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. What they will do, he said, is provide additional information to help states, communities and parents decide what to do and when.

“Our guidelines are our guidelines,” Dr. Robert Redfield declared.

In draft CDC documents obtained by The Associated Press, the agency says there are steps that schools can take to safely reopen but that it “cannot provide one-size-fits-all criteria for opening and closing schools or changing the way schools are run.”

“Decisions about how to open and run schools safely should be made based on local needs and conditions,” the documents say.

They also include a checklist that encourages parents to carefully consider whether they should send their kids back to school in person or seek virtual instruction. Many districts nationwide are offering parents a choice of either mode of instruction. New York City, among other school districts, has announced that students will only return part-time in the fall.

That runs counter to Trump’s messaging. He has been repeatedly pressuring state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, even threatening to withhold federal funds from those that keep teaching and learning remote.

Trump on Wednesday criticized the CDC’s guidelines as “very tough and expensive” and said the agency was “asking schools to do very impractical things.” Speaking of CDC officials, he tweeted, “I will be meeting with them!!!” And Vice President Mike Pence said revised guidelines would be issued next week.

But in an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Redfield firmly stuck to the existing CDC guidelines.

“It’s really important, it’s not a revision of the guidelines, it’s just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance that we put forward.”

Asked about the apparent discrepancy between Redfield’s and Pence’s statements, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said they were on the same page. She said “supplemental guidelines” would be forthcoming.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has said that schools will be failing kids if they don’t provide full-time, in-person instruction.

But the draft CDC documents, which have yet to be released publicly, say decisions like that should be left to local officials. They say, “Each school and each community will have different needs and should implement the strategies best designed to meet them.”

The documents say that in-person schooling will lead to at least some infections but that there are steps schools can take to lessen the risk.

A graph of the CDC’s disease modeling indicates there’s likely to be significantly more virus spread if all students attend school five days a week. The graph projects alternate schedules could cut infections by as much as 80%, although the agency acknowledges there is much more to learn about the disease.

“Scientists are still learning about how it spreads, how it impacts children and what role children may play in its spread,” the introduction to the parent checklist states.

Redfield said the upcoming reference documents in part would cover how to monitor for symptoms and use face masks in schools.

The CDC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html" target="_blank">current guidance</a>&nbsp;recommends that students and teachers wear masks whenever feasible, spread out desks, stagger schedules, eat meals in classrooms instead of the cafeteria and add physical barriers between bathroom sinks.

When asked about the documents AP obtained, CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes wrote in an email that the agency would distribute additional guidance next week and pointed to what has already been released.

The White House declined to comment on the documents.

The 30-question parent checklist asks about a child’s health, use of special education services, comfort with local school plans and whether parents can facilitate at-home learning. It warns that if parents check multiple items on the “stay-at-home” column, that “could be an indicator that your family should consider alternative learning formats other than in-person schooling.”

The checklist says parents should evaluate school district plans, including how districts are “preparing for when someone gets sick.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594383296234.png" alt="CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield addressed the guidelines during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing this week- image CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield addressed the guidelines during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing this week- image CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Federal health officials won’t revise their coronavirus guidelines for reopening schools despite criticism from President Donald Trump, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. What they will do, he said, is provide additional information to help states, communities and parents decide what to do and when.“Our guidelines are our guidelines,” Dr. Robert Redfield declared.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CDC has outlined a number of strategies that schools can use to reopen safely. In addition to our guidelines, CDC will soon provide reference documents for parents, caregivers, &amp; schools to help them test &amp; monitor for symptoms &amp; use face coverings. <a href="https://t.co/G6I4bXMGjr">https://t.co/G6I4bXMGjr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a> <a href="https://t.co/rKP9cppXsB">pic.twitter.com/rKP9cppXsB</a>&mdash; Dr. Robert R. Redfield (@CDCDirector) <a href="https://twitter.com/CDCDirector/status/1281386163484401666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In draft CDC documents obtained by The Associated Press, the agency says there are steps that schools can take to safely reopen but that it “cannot provide one-size-fits-all criteria for opening and closing schools or changing the way schools are run.”“Decisions about how to open and run schools safely should be made based on local needs and conditions,” the documents say.They also include a checklist that encourages parents to carefully consider whether they should send their kids back to school in person or seek virtual instruction. Many districts nationwide are offering parents a choice of either mode of instruction. New York City, among other school districts, has announced that students will only return part-time in the fall.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594154849112.png" alt="President Trump during this week's White House summit on Safely Reopening America’s Schools-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during this week's White House summit on Safely Reopening America’s Schools-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>That runs counter to Trump’s messaging. He has been repeatedly pressuring state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, even threatening to withhold federal funds from those that keep teaching and learning remote.Trump on Wednesday criticized the CDC’s guidelines as “very tough and expensive” and said the agency was “asking schools to do very impractical things.” Speaking of CDC officials, he tweeted, “I will be meeting with them!!!” And Vice President Mike Pence said revised guidelines would be issued next week.But in an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Redfield firmly stuck to the existing CDC guidelines.“It’s really important, it’s not a revision of the guidelines, it’s just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance that we put forward.”Asked about the apparent discrepancy between Redfield’s and Pence’s statements, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said they were on the same page. She said “supplemental guidelines” would be forthcoming.Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has said that schools will be failing kids if they don’t provide full-time, in-person instruction.But the draft CDC documents, which have yet to be released publicly, say decisions like that should be left to local officials. They say, “Each school and each community will have different needs and should implement the strategies best designed to meet them.”The documents say that in-person schooling will lead to at least some infections but that there are steps schools can take to lessen the risk.A graph of the CDC’s disease modeling indicates there’s likely to be significantly more virus spread if all students attend school five days a week. The graph projects alternate schedules could cut infections by as much as 80%, although the agency acknowledges there is much more to learn about the disease.“Scientists are still learning about how it spreads, how it impacts children and what role children may play in its spread,” the introduction to the parent checklist states.Redfield said the upcoming reference documents in part would cover how to monitor for symptoms and use face masks in schools.The CDC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html" target="_blank">current guidance</a>&nbsp;recommends that students and teachers wear masks whenever feasible, spread out desks, stagger schedules, eat meals in classrooms instead of the cafeteria and add physical barriers between bathroom sinks.When asked about the documents AP obtained, CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes wrote in an email that the agency would distribute additional guidance next week and pointed to what has already been released.The White House declined to comment on the documents.The 30-question parent checklist asks about a child’s health, use of special education services, comfort with local school plans and whether parents can facilitate at-home learning. It warns that if parents check multiple items on the “stay-at-home” column, that “could be an indicator that your family should consider alternative learning formats other than in-person schooling.”The checklist says parents should evaluate school district plans, including how districts are “preparing for when someone gets sick.”“If your child, members of your household, or individuals with whom you interact frequently are at increased risk for severe illness, the best way to reduce risk of getting sick is to limit your interaction with other people,” it states.In his tweet on Wednesday, Trump did not clarify which of the CDC guidelines he opposed. But McEnany said, for example, that the president takes issue with the CDC’s suggestion that students bring their own meals to school when feasible.“There are 22 million children in this country who depend on these meals at schools, who depend on access to nutrition in schools,” she said.Democrats have warned Trump to keep out of the CDC’s work. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, ranking Democrat on the Education Committee, said the agency needs to be trusted to make decisions based on scientific evidence, “not on President Trump’s Twitter outbursts.”___

Coronavirus Update