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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prosecutor says a new executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak likely violates the state constitution.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said in a news release Wednesday that limiting religious services and funerals to 10 people is “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow” but discouraged law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.

According to the media release, “The Office of Attorney General strongly encourages all Kansans participating in religious services or activities to voluntarily comply with the new restrictions on religious mass gatherings in order to protect public health.” Schmidt wrote in a memorandum to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide. “Nevertheless, … we also strongly discourage law enforcement from attempting to enforce the requirements of EO 20-18 as violations of the criminal law. In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order.”

Wednesday's memorandum is the second Schmidt has provided to assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide in navigating the legally uncertain world of enforcing emergency orders during the current COVID-19 crisis. He said today’s further guidance was necessary because the new executive order singles out for additional regulation the exercise of a fundamental freedom expressly protected by the Kansas Constitution and by state statute. Schmidt noted that Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, as well as the state’s Preservation for Religious Freedom Act, both set strict limits on the authority of any state or local government authority, including the governor, to restrict the religious freedoms of Kansans.

With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order&nbsp; because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings.&nbsp;

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/addendum-1-to-law-enforcement-duties-and-authorities-memo.pdf?sfvrsn=7a60ac1a_2">Click here to read</a> a copy of the attorney general’s memorandum&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286859667.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly issued the executive order during her news conference Tuesday afternoon." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly issued the executive order during her news conference Tuesday afternoon.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prosecutor says a new executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak likely violates the state constitution.Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said in a news release Wednesday that limiting religious services and funerals to 10 people is “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow” but discouraged law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.According to the media release, “The Office of Attorney General strongly encourages all Kansans participating in religious services or activities to voluntarily comply with the new restrictions on religious mass gatherings in order to protect public health.” Schmidt wrote in a memorandum to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide. “Nevertheless, … we also strongly discourage law enforcement from attempting to enforce the requirements of EO 20-18 as violations of the criminal law. In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order.”Wednesday's memorandum is the second Schmidt has provided to assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide in navigating the legally uncertain world of enforcing emergency orders during the current COVID-19 crisis. He said today’s further guidance was necessary because the new executive order singles out for additional regulation the exercise of a fundamental freedom expressly protected by the Kansas Constitution and by state statute. Schmidt noted that Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, as well as the state’s Preservation for Religious Freedom Act, both set strict limits on the authority of any state or local government authority, including the governor, to restrict the religious freedoms of Kansans.With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order&nbsp; because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings.&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/addendum-1-to-law-enforcement-duties-and-authorities-memo.pdf?sfvrsn=7a60ac1a_2">Click here to read</a> a copy of the attorney general’s memorandum&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. AG tells police not to enforce Gov's order on religious gatherings

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The number dead after a coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City, Kansas, rehabilitation facility has grown to six with another 50 patients and staff testing positive.

Health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday that seven of the sickened residents of Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation are hospitalized.

Wyandotte County’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Greiner, blamed the high number of COVID-19 cases on “a confluence of bad circumstances,” including a lag in testing results. KCUR reports that Greiner also said Tuesday that the close interactions required at a rehab facility helped fuel the spread. Greiner said it appears it was caused by a staff member three weeks ago, although he stressed that officials are “not 100%” certain.

State health officials are monitoring the outbreak. Previously that state’s largest outbreak had been at the Life Care Center of Burlington, where 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive. One resident at that facility has died.

Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A rehabilitation facility in Kansas City, Kansas, where four people have died of COVID-19 is one of a few group living facilities in the state that’s dealing with coronavirus outbreaks among their vulnerable residents.

Health officials for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said Monday that the people who died at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center were among 37 who were sickened there. Only four were staff members; the rest were patients.

Meanwhile, three staff members and a resident at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center for people with intellectual disabilities have tested positive, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services said in a news release. The sickened resident has been isolated.

At the Life Care Center of Burlington — the site of the state’s largest outbreak — 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive, Coffey County health officials said. One resident died.

Life Care Centers of America also owns a Seattle area nursing home where 40 died and another in Kansas City, Kansas, where one resident died.

The cases at group living facilities are among 900 that state officials reported Tuesday in 57 counties, up from 845 Monday. Twenty-seven people have died.

Also Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Corrections said an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and seven staff members.

Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said several of the state’s other 11 coronavirus clusters have been tied to nursing homes. And three are tied to church gatherings in Wyandotte County.

Updated projections from the University of Washington show hospital use is expected to peak in Kansas on April 19, eight days earlier previous projections, with deaths expected to peak at 10 per day on April 23.

The model predicts the states’ health care systems will not be as stressed as first expected. Kansas will ultimately need 94 intensive care unit beds; it has 278.

The head of Ascension Via Christi, which operates hospitals and other medical facilities in Wichita, Manhattan, Wamego, Pittsburg and Fort Scott, said Tuesday that the primary concern is staffing.

“The people that are operating the ventilators in a state like Kansas, where people are more precious than products, is a different situation than New York, where people are plentiful and product was scarce. We have a little bit of the reverse situation in Kansas,” said Don King, senior vice president of Ascension and ministry market executive for Kansas.

A respiratory therapist or other caregiver can be responsible for operating as many as eight respirators during an outbreak, and if you have one worker out sick it could impact as many as eight ventilators in a pressing situation, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586045672182.png" alt="Photo courtesy Riverbend&nbsp;Post Acute Rehabilitation Center" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Riverbend&nbsp;Post Acute Rehabilitation Center</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The number dead after a coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City, Kansas, rehabilitation facility has grown to six with another 50 patients and staff testing positive.Health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday that seven of the sickened residents of Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation are hospitalized.Wyandotte County’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Greiner, blamed the high number of COVID-19 cases on “a confluence of bad circumstances,” including a lag in testing results. KCUR reports that Greiner also said Tuesday that the close interactions required at a rehab facility helped fuel the spread. Greiner said it appears it was caused by a staff member three weeks ago, although he stressed that officials are “not 100%” certain.State health officials are monitoring the outbreak. Previously that state’s largest outbreak had been at the Life Care Center of Burlington, where 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive. One resident at that facility has died.Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900.-------MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A rehabilitation facility in Kansas City, Kansas, where four people have died of COVID-19 is one of a few group living facilities in the state that’s dealing with coronavirus outbreaks among their vulnerable residents.Health officials for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said Monday that the people who died at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center were among 37 who were sickened there. Only four were staff members; the rest were patients.Meanwhile, three staff members and a resident at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center for people with intellectual disabilities have tested positive, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services said in a news release. The sickened resident has been isolated.At the Life Care Center of Burlington — the site of the state’s largest outbreak — 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive, Coffey County health officials said. One resident died.Life Care Centers of America also owns a Seattle area nursing home where 40 died and another in Kansas City, Kansas, where one resident died.The cases at group living facilities are among 900 that state officials reported Tuesday in 57 counties, up from 845 Monday. Twenty-seven people have died.Also Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Corrections said an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and seven staff members.Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said several of the state’s other 11 coronavirus clusters have been tied to nursing homes. And three are tied to church gatherings in Wyandotte County.Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.Updated projections from the University of Washington show hospital use is expected to peak in Kansas on April 19, eight days earlier previous projections, with deaths expected to peak at 10 per day on April 23.The model predicts the states’ health care systems will not be as stressed as first expected. Kansas will ultimately need 94 intensive care unit beds; it has 278.The head of Ascension Via Christi, which operates hospitals and other medical facilities in Wichita, Manhattan, Wamego, Pittsburg and Fort Scott, said Tuesday that the primary concern is staffing.“The people that are operating the ventilators in a state like Kansas, where people are more precious than products, is a different situation than New York, where people are plentiful and product was scarce. We have a little bit of the reverse situation in Kansas,” said Don King, senior vice president of Ascension and ministry market executive for Kansas.A respiratory therapist or other caregiver can be responsible for operating as many as eight respirators during an outbreak, and if you have one worker out sick it could impact as many as eight ventilators in a pressing situation, he said.___

Update: Virus deaths at Kan. rehab facility grow to 6

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus">Note: A Spanish-language version of this article can be found HERE.</a>

The new coronavirus is spreading quickly <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">around the world</a>, including across Kansas, and setting off a range of responses.

The
 Kansas News Service is boiling down key developments in the state and 
updating the status regularly here. To read this information in Spanish,
 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">go here</a>. This list was last updated at 4:10 p.m. April 7.

900 cases (see map for counties) and 223 hospitalizations

27 deaths&nbsp; (the state is no longer disclosing which counties are seeing deaths)

NOTE: These figures only
 include cases confirmed with lab tests and do not represent the real, 
unknown total. Community transmission is occurring in parts of Kansas. 
View additional charts showing the disease’s spread over time and other 
trends <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">here</a>.

Gov. Laura Kelly is instituting a statewide stay-at-home order as of 
12:01 a.m. March 30. It will last until at least April 19. Stay-at-home 
orders allow people to take care of essential activities (such as 
grocery shopping or going to work) as well as exercise outside, but 
otherwise keep to themselves.&nbsp;

The state’s stay-at-home order 
supersedes at least 13 county-by-county orders. Should the state’s order
 lift before a county’s is through, the county can choose to keep its 
own in effect.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is now mandating&nbsp;home
 quarantine for 14 days if you've traveled to the places listed below. 
If you come down with symptoms (such as a fever of 100.4 degrees or 
higher, coughing or shortness of breath) during those 14 days, contact 
your health care provider and explain your potential COVID-19 
exposure.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Some 
doctors recommend patients with COVID-19 symptoms stay home even if they
 test negative for the disease, because of concerns that current testing
 approaches may be producing a significant number of <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/">false negatives</a>.

Several
 hospitals across the state now offer drive-through testing, but 
patients must get doctor approval in advance or else will be turned 
away. Many Kansans can’t be tested unless they’re sick enough to be 
hospitalized, and results may take up to a week.&nbsp;

That’s because 
testing supplies remain limited and private labs helping many clinics 
and hospitals have large backlogs of samples. Hospitals trying to buy 
equipment for in-house testing say vendors are backlogged, too. The 
state will soon have several portable machines that can conduct 5- to 
15-minute tests, and plans to lend them out to facilities most in need.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">Some Kansas hospitals have succeeded</a>
 in getting the testing materials and can give patients their results 
within a day. The state health department lab in Topeka can handle 
several hundred samples per day — a fraction of the demand.

Under a new federal law, you should not have to pay for your coronavirus test, regardless of insurance status (but patients <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">could still see related bills</a>).
 Separately, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, the state’s largest 
private insurer, says some patients won’t have to pay for coronavirus 
treatment.

Public
 and private universities and community colleges in the state will 
finish this semester via online classes. Spring sports have been 
canceled. Most staff travel has been suspended. Graduations at KU, 
K-State and Wichita State are postponed or rescheduled.

The 
University of Kansas and Wichita State also plan to hold summer classes 
online. KU and K-State announced hiring freezes in early April.&nbsp;

In mid-March, Kansas became <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-becomes-first-state-end-person-classes-year#stream/0" target="_blank">the first state</a> in the U.S. to shut down school buildings for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. A state task force then <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/rest-school-year-kansas-will-be-short-days-limited-screen-time#stream/0" target="_blank">issued guidance</a> for distance learning, for which students aren’t expected to spend more than a few hours a day.&nbsp;

Some districts that make high schoolers earn more credits than required by the state will <a href="https://lhsbudget.com/news/2020/03/25/school-board-lowers-graduation-requirements-for-seniors/" target="_blank">graduate them this year</a> based on the state’s lower bar.&nbsp;

Districts across the state are still providing free meals to eligible children, but some have <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241621716.html" target="_blank">stopped</a> because of concerns about the coronavirus spreading at meal pickup sites.

WHAT IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IS AFFECTED?&nbsp;

COVID-19
 usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, like a fever or cough. Most 
people with mild symptoms recover in two weeks. More severe cases, found
 in older adults and people with health issues, can have up to six 
weeks’ recovery time or can lead to death.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment: <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html</a>

The
 Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, 
KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social 
determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585078791589.png" alt=" Health officials say one way to stop the spread of the new coronavirus is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Health officials say one way to stop the spread of the new coronavirus is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus">Note: A Spanish-language version of this article can be found HERE.</a>The new coronavirus is spreading quickly <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">around the world</a>, including across Kansas, and setting off a range of responses.The
 Kansas News Service is boiling down key developments in the state and 
updating the status regularly here. To read this information in Spanish,
 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">go here</a>. This list was last updated at 4:10 p.m. April 7.<h2>CASES AND DEATHS</h2>900 cases (see map for counties) and 223 hospitalizations27 deaths&nbsp; (the state is no longer disclosing which counties are seeing deaths)NOTE: These figures only
 include cases confirmed with lab tests and do not represent the real, 
unknown total. Community transmission is occurring in parts of Kansas. 
View additional charts showing the disease’s spread over time and other 
trends <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">here</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586352637779.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Laura Kelly is instituting a statewide stay-at-home order as of 
12:01 a.m. March 30. It will last until at least April 19. Stay-at-home 
orders allow people to take care of essential activities (such as 
grocery shopping or going to work) as well as exercise outside, but 
otherwise keep to themselves.&nbsp;The state’s stay-at-home order 
supersedes at least 13 county-by-county orders. Should the state’s order
 lift before a county’s is through, the county can choose to keep its 
own in effect.<h2>SHOULD I SELF-QUARANTINE?</h2>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is now mandating&nbsp;home
 quarantine for 14 days if you've traveled to the places listed below. 
If you come down with symptoms (such as a fever of 100.4 degrees or 
higher, coughing or shortness of breath) during those 14 days, contact 
your health care provider and explain your potential COVID-19 
exposure.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Connecticut on or after April 6.</li><li>Louisiana or anywhere in Colorado on or after March 27.</li><li>States with known widespread community transmission (California, Florida, New York and Washington) on or after March 15.</li><li>Illinois or New Jersey on or after March 23.</li><li>Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado (if your visit was March 8th or later).</li><li>Cruise
 ships or river cruises on or after March 15. Anyone previously told to 
quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should also finish out 
their quarantine.</li><li>International destinations on or after March 
15. Anyone previously told to quarantine because of their international 
travel should also finish out their quarantine.</li>
 </ol>Some 
doctors recommend patients with COVID-19 symptoms stay home even if they
 test negative for the disease, because of concerns that current testing
 approaches may be producing a significant number of <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/">false negatives</a>.<h2>TESTING AVAILABILITY</h2>Several
 hospitals across the state now offer drive-through testing, but 
patients must get doctor approval in advance or else will be turned 
away. Many Kansans can’t be tested unless they’re sick enough to be 
hospitalized, and results may take up to a week.&nbsp;That’s because 
testing supplies remain limited and private labs helping many clinics 
and hospitals have large backlogs of samples. Hospitals trying to buy 
equipment for in-house testing say vendors are backlogged, too. The 
state will soon have several portable machines that can conduct 5- to 
15-minute tests, and plans to lend them out to facilities most in need.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">Some Kansas hospitals have succeeded</a>
 in getting the testing materials and can give patients their results 
within a day. The state health department lab in Topeka can handle 
several hundred samples per day — a fraction of the demand.Under a new federal law, you should not have to pay for your coronavirus test, regardless of insurance status (but patients <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">could still see related bills</a>).
 Separately, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, the state’s largest 
private insurer, says some patients won’t have to pay for coronavirus 
treatment.<h2>HOW ARE UNIVERSITIES RESPONDING?</h2>Public
 and private universities and community colleges in the state will 
finish this semester via online classes. Spring sports have been 
canceled. Most staff travel has been suspended. Graduations at KU, 
K-State and Wichita State are postponed or rescheduled.The 
University of Kansas and Wichita State also plan to hold summer classes 
online. KU and K-State announced hiring freezes in early April.&nbsp;<h2>HOW ABOUT K-12 SCHOOLS?</h2>In mid-March, Kansas became <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-becomes-first-state-end-person-classes-year#stream/0" target="_blank">the first state</a> in the U.S. to shut down school buildings for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. A state task force then <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/rest-school-year-kansas-will-be-short-days-limited-screen-time#stream/0" target="_blank">issued guidance</a> for distance learning, for which students aren’t expected to spend more than a few hours a day.&nbsp;Some districts that make high schoolers earn more credits than required by the state will <a href="https://lhsbudget.com/news/2020/03/25/school-board-lowers-graduation-requirements-for-seniors/" target="_blank">graduate them this year</a> based on the state’s lower bar.&nbsp;Districts across the state are still providing free meals to eligible children, but some have <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241621716.html" target="_blank">stopped</a> because of concerns about the coronavirus spreading at meal pickup sites.<h2>WHAT IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IS AFFECTED?&nbsp;</h2><ol>
 <li>Church gatherings and funerals:
 Effective April 8, the governor has prohibited services of more than 10
 people. That doesn’t count people performing the rituals or funeral 
workers, but they must stay six feet apart from each other. </li><li>State tax deadline: Extended until July 15, in line with a delay for filing federal tax forms.</li><li>Evictions: Business and residential evictions are banned until May 1 if a tenant is unable to pay because of the coronavirus.</li><li>Mortgage foreclosures: Foreclosures are banned until May 1.</li><li>Small businesses: May be eligible for emergency federal loans. Find information <a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/covid-19-response/covid-19-response-business-incentives/" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>Hospitality businesses: Kansas created an emergency loan program, which quickly ran out of funds, but businesses <a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/covid-19-response/hospitality-industry-relief-emergency-hire-fund/" target="_blank">can still apply</a> to help the state assess the need for more assistance.</li><li>Utilities: Evergy,
 which serves 950,000 customers in Kansas, will not disconnect 
residential or business services for an unspecified amount of time.&nbsp;</li><li>Gatherings: Restricted to fewer than 10 people throughout the state.</li><li>State of emergency: Kansas’
 declaration is good through May (and can be extended). It gives the 
government more power to marshal resources and Kelly the ability to make
 certain decisions when lawmakers aren’t in session.</li><li>State workers: Access
 to the Statehouse is limited to official business only through April 
19. Most state workers are doing their jobs remotely.</li><li>Prisons and jails: The
 Kansas Department of Corrections ended visitation at all state 
facilities, and will “re-evaluate on an ongoing basis.” It urges 
families to talk to inmates through email, phone calls and video visits.
 County jails largely have ended visitations as well.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><h2>HOW BAD IS THE VIRUS?&nbsp;</h2>COVID-19
 usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, like a fever or cough. Most 
people with mild symptoms recover in two weeks. More severe cases, found
 in older adults and people with health issues, can have up to six 
weeks’ recovery time or can lead to death.<h2>HOW CAN YOU AVOID IT?</h2><ol>
 <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisgnbMfKvI" target="_blank">Wash your hands</a> for at least 20 seconds. Frequently.</li><li>Cover your coughs.</li><li>The
 CDC now recommends wearing a cloth mask in situations where social 
distancing isn’t possible; instructions for sewn and non-sewn versions 
are <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>If you’re an older Kansan or medically fragile, limit your trips to the grocery store or any public space.</li><li>Stay home if you are sick — this goes for all ages.</li>
 </ol><h2>FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COVID-19</h2>Kansas Department of Health and Environment: <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html</a>The
 Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, 
KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social 
determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

UPDATE: What Kansans need to know about the COVID-19 coronavirus

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering changing its guidelines for self-isolation to make it easier for those who have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus to return to work if they are asymptomatic.

The public health agency, in conjunction with the White House coronavirus task force, is considering an announcement as soon as Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.

Under the proposed guidance, people who are exposed to someone infected would be allowed back on the job if they are asymptomatic, test their temperature twice a day and wear a face mask, said a person familiar with the proposal under consideration. The person described the proposal on the condition of anonymity because the draft had not been finalized.

The new policy is aimed in particular at workers in critical jobs. But it also comes as the Trump administration is eyeing what it calls a “stabilization” in infection rates and looks toward rolling back some of the restrictive social-distancing guidelines and restarting the nation’s stalled economy.

The proposed guidance would follow recommendations made by the CDC that eased self-isolation requirements for front-line medical workers who were exposed to the virus. Under CDC guidance, medical workers who have been exposed to the virus without protective equipment but who have no symptoms can return to work with a mask and temperature checks after 14 days.

Pence on Tuesday said the White House is focusing on the “point of need” for the current situation but is also operating on another track to consider future recommendations for the public.

“Some of the best minds here at the White House are beginning to think about what recommendations will look like that we give to businesses, that we give to states, but it will all, I promise you, be informed on putting the health and well-being of the American people first,” Pence said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be trying to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586341574111.png" alt="Vice President Mike Pence answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Mike Pence answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering changing its guidelines for self-isolation to make it easier for those who have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus to return to work if they are asymptomatic.The public health agency, in conjunction with the White House coronavirus task force, is considering an announcement as soon as Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.Under the proposed guidance, people who are exposed to someone infected would be allowed back on the job if they are asymptomatic, test their temperature twice a day and wear a face mask, said a person familiar with the proposal under consideration. The person described the proposal on the condition of anonymity because the draft had not been finalized.The new policy is aimed in particular at workers in critical jobs. But it also comes as the Trump administration is eyeing what it calls a “stabilization” in infection rates and looks toward rolling back some of the restrictive social-distancing guidelines and restarting the nation’s stalled economy.The proposed guidance would follow recommendations made by the CDC that eased self-isolation requirements for front-line medical workers who were exposed to the virus. Under CDC guidance, medical workers who have been exposed to the virus without protective equipment but who have no symptoms can return to work with a mask and temperature checks after 14 days.Pence on Tuesday said the White House is focusing on the “point of need” for the current situation but is also operating on another track to consider future recommendations for the public.“Some of the best minds here at the White House are beginning to think about what recommendations will look like that we give to businesses, that we give to states, but it will all, I promise you, be informed on putting the health and well-being of the American people first,” Pence said.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be trying to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

CDC weighs loosening guidelines for some exposed to virus

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — If Wisconsin was a test case for voting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">in the age of the coronavirus</a>, it did not go well for many voters.

Thousands were forced to congregate for hours in long lines on Tuesday with no protective gear. Thousands more stayed home, unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived.

Voters reported being afraid, angry and embarrassed by the state’s unwillingness to postpone their presidential primary elections as more than a dozen other states have already done. Neither&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fe9a5d1194c24ca7a826652f0c63187e">Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;will be declared a winner at least until next Monday in accordance with one of several court orders that shaped the contest.

And there was evidence that minority voters were disproportionately impacted by widespread poll closures in their communities. Michael Claus, 66, wore a protective mask and a Tuskegee Airmen cap, as he waited to vote.

The African American man said he tried to vote absentee and requested a ballot in March but it never showed up. His only option was to vote in person. He blamed the Republican-controlled state legislature.

“They could have delayed the election with no problem,” Claus said. “They decided if they can suppress the vote in Milwaukee and Madison, where you have a large minority presence, you can get people elected you want elected. And that’s sad.”

The chaos in Wisconsin, a premiere general election battleground, was expected to reverberate across states that still have primaries ahead. Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio are conducting contests by mail this month, and other states, including Georgia, are slated to hold in-person voting in May.

Election experts warned that Wisconsin was an example of what not to do. And the experience added immediate context to the broader debate about protecting voting rights this November.

“We have moved forward with an election, but we have not moved forward with democracy in the state of Wisconsin,” warned Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukee’s election commission.

With results not coming until next week, the state did not offer Biden the knockout blow he hoped for in his presidential nomination fight against Sanders. The candidates spoke out late Tuesday on separate livestreams from the safety of their homes hundreds of miles (kilometers) away but had little to say about the Wisconsin contest.

Sanders didn’t say a word about the election on Tuesday after warning the night before that the holding the election was “dangerous” and “may prove deadly.” Biden, too, said in-person voting shouldn’t have taken place.

Democrats in and out of Wisconsin had pushed for the contestto be postponed, yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97db30e6564b9b5eedfc300234ea6630">Republicans — and the conservative-majority state Supreme Court — would not give in</a>. The fight over whether to postpone the election was influenced by a state Supreme Court election also being held Tuesday. A lower turnout was thought to benefit the conservative candidate.

Lest there be any doubt about the GOP’s motivation, President Donald Trump on Tuesday broke from health experts who have encouraged all Americans to stay home by calling on his supporters to “get out and vote NOW” for the conservative judicial candidate.

The election was unlike virtually any other in recent memory. Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, opened just five of its 180 traditional polling places, forced to downsize after hundreds of poll workers stepped down because of health risks. The ensuing logjam forced voters to wait together in lines spanning several blocks in some cases. Many did not have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34b6b5c689c8c6993cb21475b017baa4">facial coverings</a>.

As of Tuesday night, Wisconsin reported more than 2,500 coronavirus infections and 92 related deaths — 49 of them in Milwaukee County, where the voting lines were longest.

Milwaukee is home to the state’s largest concentration of black voters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b52e4e9a63d64e3a25109f09010508b6">a community that has been hit harder than others</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic. Reduced minority turnout would benefit Republicans in a series of state and local elections.

The unprecedented challenge created chaotic scenes across the state — and a variety of health risks for voters and the elected officials who fought to keep polls open.

They included Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the state Assembly, who joined more than 2,500 National Guard troops dispatched to help staff voting stations. While many voters stranded in lines for more than an hour did not have any protective equipment, Vos donned a face mask, safety glasses, gloves and a full protective gown.

In Madison, city workers erected Plexiglas barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots.

Tens of thousands of voters who received absentee ballots had not returned them as of Tuesday, Albrecht said. He noted that his office received hundreds of calls from people who didn’t get an absentee ballot or were concerned theirs hadn’t been delivered to election officials.

Milwaukee resident Megan Nakkula, 30, was forced to vote in person after requesting an absentee ballot but never receiving it.

“It’s been a very emotional day thinking about what the outcome of this could be,” she said, holding back tears. “It just doesn’t feel like it was the safest decision to do. I saw a lot of elderly voters, people who were high risk and everyone is taking as many precautions as they could. We were 6 feet apart, but you know, we don’t know what we don’t know about this virus at this point in time, and it’s really scary.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — If Wisconsin was a test case for voting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">in the age of the coronavirus</a>, it did not go well for many voters.Thousands were forced to congregate for hours in long lines on Tuesday with no protective gear. Thousands more stayed home, unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This feels like an era-defining image <a href="https://t.co/rgEwnhmk8O">pic.twitter.com/rgEwnhmk8O</a>&mdash; Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1247581715511627776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Voters reported being afraid, angry and embarrassed by the state’s unwillingness to postpone their presidential primary elections as more than a dozen other states have already done. Neither&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fe9a5d1194c24ca7a826652f0c63187e">Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;will be declared a winner at least until next Monday in accordance with one of several court orders that shaped the contest.And there was evidence that minority voters were disproportionately impacted by widespread poll closures in their communities. Michael Claus, 66, wore a protective mask and a Tuskegee Airmen cap, as he waited to vote.The African American man said he tried to vote absentee and requested a ballot in March but it never showed up. His only option was to vote in person. He blamed the Republican-controlled state legislature.“They could have delayed the election with no problem,” Claus said. “They decided if they can suppress the vote in Milwaukee and Madison, where you have a large minority presence, you can get people elected you want elected. And that’s sad.”The chaos in Wisconsin, a premiere general election battleground, was expected to reverberate across states that still have primaries ahead. Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio are conducting contests by mail this month, and other states, including Georgia, are slated to hold in-person voting in May.Election experts warned that Wisconsin was an example of what not to do. And the experience added immediate context to the broader debate about protecting voting rights this November.“We have moved forward with an election, but we have not moved forward with democracy in the state of Wisconsin,” warned Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukee’s election commission.With results not coming until next week, the state did not offer Biden the knockout blow he hoped for in his presidential nomination fight against Sanders. The candidates spoke out late Tuesday on separate livestreams from the safety of their homes hundreds of miles (kilometers) away but had little to say about the Wisconsin contest.Sanders didn’t say a word about the election on Tuesday after warning the night before that the holding the election was “dangerous” and “may prove deadly.” Biden, too, said in-person voting shouldn’t have taken place.Democrats in and out of Wisconsin had pushed for the contestto be postponed, yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97db30e6564b9b5eedfc300234ea6630">Republicans — and the conservative-majority state Supreme Court — would not give in</a>. The fight over whether to postpone the election was influenced by a state Supreme Court election also being held Tuesday. A lower turnout was thought to benefit the conservative candidate.Lest there be any doubt about the GOP’s motivation, President Donald Trump on Tuesday broke from health experts who have encouraged all Americans to stay home by calling on his supporters to “get out and vote NOW” for the conservative judicial candidate.The election was unlike virtually any other in recent memory. Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, opened just five of its 180 traditional polling places, forced to downsize after hundreds of poll workers stepped down because of health risks. The ensuing logjam forced voters to wait together in lines spanning several blocks in some cases. Many did not have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34b6b5c689c8c6993cb21475b017baa4">facial coverings</a>.As of Tuesday night, Wisconsin reported more than 2,500 coronavirus infections and 92 related deaths — 49 of them in Milwaukee County, where the voting lines were longest.Milwaukee is home to the state’s largest concentration of black voters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b52e4e9a63d64e3a25109f09010508b6">a community that has been hit harder than others</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic. Reduced minority turnout would benefit Republicans in a series of state and local elections.The unprecedented challenge created chaotic scenes across the state — and a variety of health risks for voters and the elected officials who fought to keep polls open.They included Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the state Assembly, who joined more than 2,500 National Guard troops dispatched to help staff voting stations. While many voters stranded in lines for more than an hour did not have any protective equipment, Vos donned a face mask, safety glasses, gloves and a full protective gown.In Madison, city workers erected Plexiglas barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots.Tens of thousands of voters who received absentee ballots had not returned them as of Tuesday, Albrecht said. He noted that his office received hundreds of calls from people who didn’t get an absentee ballot or were concerned theirs hadn’t been delivered to election officials.Milwaukee resident Megan Nakkula, 30, was forced to vote in person after requesting an absentee ballot but never receiving it.“It’s been a very emotional day thinking about what the outcome of this could be,” she said, holding back tears. “It just doesn’t feel like it was the safest decision to do. I saw a lot of elderly voters, people who were high risk and everyone is taking as many precautions as they could. We were 6 feet apart, but you know, we don’t know what we don’t know about this virus at this point in time, and it’s really scary.”___

Voters forced to choose between health, democracy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is racing to craft the next coronavirus rescue package, but President Donald Trump’s sudden request Tuesday to pump $250 billion more into a just-launched payroll program for small businesses may hit roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says more money is needed. 

The $350 billion program took off last Friday but was quickly overrun. Companies jumped at the chance to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans to keep paychecks flowing while workers stay home. Mnuchin requested the funds in private calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats largely support it. But McConnell wants to swiftly jam it through Congress this week, making the outcome uncertain. The action is set for Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are jolting ahead with another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>rescue package as President Donald Trump indicated that Americans will need more aid during the stark pandemic and economic shutdown.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said another $1 trillion is needed, beyond the just-passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7927456d58b4c29c843252506685e02">$2.2 trillion effort</a>. She wants another round of direct payments to Americans and more money for companies to keep making payroll. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ade6f4a0853ceb4c3500a8238ad6cd7f">said in recent days&nbsp;</a>that health care should top the list, signaling his intent to get to work on a new bill.

“We’re going to take good care of our people,” Trump said Monday at his daily White House briefing. “It was not their fault.”

It’s a rare sign of emerging consensus as Washington responds to the public health emergency and severe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0aa967875547c5d63f22575dd2cf1aaa">economic fallout&nbsp;</a>that is ransacking communities nationwide, a crisis on par with a war effort or the Great Depression.

The contours of the package are still being debated and any votes in Congress remain a logistical conundrum. The House and Senate adjourned for most of the month, as part of strict stay-at-home orders from public health officials to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.

On an afternoon conference call with House Democrats, Pelosi told lawmakers at least another $1 trillion would be needed, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.

The California Democrat has vowed to put the next package together in time for a House vote this month.

Former Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen joined the private call and warned Democrats the economic fallout will depend on the public health response to the pandemic, the person said. As businesses shutter to stop the virus’ spread, it has hurled the U.S. economy toward a recession.

Yellen said it was impossible to know how deep and long the recession would be, and added that it would depend on the health response.

The former Fed chair also told them the nation’s unemployment rate is now at least 13% and this week’s jobless report will show higher numbers than last week’s.

Yellen said she expects a 30 percent contraction of GDP this year, but has seen models as high as 50 percent, according to a Democratic aide unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.

The earlier relief package, approved in late March, included one-time $1,200 direct payments to Americans, along with forgivable small business loans for companies to keep making payroll. It also included a boost of unemployment pay, money for hospitals and a $500 billion fund for bigger corporations and industries.

Pelosi told Democrats said the $1,200 direct payments to Americans and the paycheck protection program for small businesses are not enough and more needs to be done, the person said.

She also said there needs to be more aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.

Trump has favored direct checks to Americans, and gave a nod to another round in the next package.

“It is absolutely under serious consideration,” he said.

The shifts from the political leaders are stark amid what officials warn could be one of the toughest weeks for the country, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths climbs.

McConnell told The Associated Press on Friday that there will be another package and health care must be at the “top of the list.”

McConnell, R-Ky., said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the earlier $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to “wipe out” the virus.

Pelosi, D-Calif., last week also backed off her more sweeping proposals for an infrastructure package to put people back to work, focusing on the more immediate health care and economic needs.

As governors plead for federal intervention to provide hard-hit hospitals in New York and elsewhere with vital medical ventilators, equipment and supplies, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a better-coordinated effort to care for the many sick people.

Schumer told reporters on a conference call Monday that he’s urging the White House to appoint a single, well-qualified “czar” to handle both the production and distribution of medical supplies and equipment to fight the pandemic.

Right now, Schumer said, governors and other officials have no choice but to search out materials helter-skelter.

“Everyone’s hunting and pecking for the equipment and the supplies they need,” he said. “It’s just not working. It’s like a scavenger hunt for their lives.”

Schumer, D-N.Y., said he spoke to both Vice President Mike Pence and new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and suggested three potential candidates for the job: two former vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Paul Selva and retired Adm. James A. Winnefield, and retired Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, former director of the Defense Logistics Agency.

Trump, displeased with Schumer’s effort, accused the senator of being overtly political.

This would be the fourth package from Congress since the start of the virus outbreak. Two initial efforts were followed by the third last month, which was by far the largest, the most ambitious of its kind in U.S. history. With so much federal aid expected to be pushed so quickly to the public, Congress is also trying to swiftly stand up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91bbb26d8557c7d697f757b931089611">oversight panels</a>.

Pelosi late last week announced the formation of a House select committee with subpoena power to monitor the decision-making and cash flow.

A broader oversight board is being formed to track the Treasury Department’s dispersal of the aid to businesses, particularly the more than $500 billion in corporate and industry aid under Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s discretion.

Schumer named a top economic adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Bharat Ramamurti, as his choice for the pandemic response accountabilty committee established by recently passed legislation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586299015045.png" alt="President Trump opening Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump opening Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is racing to craft the next coronavirus rescue package, but President Donald Trump’s sudden request Tuesday to pump $250 billion more into a just-launched payroll program for small businesses may hit roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says more money is needed. The $350 billion program took off last Friday but was quickly overrun. Companies jumped at the chance to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans to keep paychecks flowing while workers stay home. Mnuchin requested the funds in private calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats largely support it. But McConnell wants to swiftly jam it through Congress this week, making the outcome uncertain. The action is set for Thursday.------WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are jolting ahead with another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>rescue package as President Donald Trump indicated that Americans will need more aid during the stark pandemic and economic shutdown.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said another $1 trillion is needed, beyond the just-passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7927456d58b4c29c843252506685e02">$2.2 trillion effort</a>. She wants another round of direct payments to Americans and more money for companies to keep making payroll. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ade6f4a0853ceb4c3500a8238ad6cd7f">said in recent days&nbsp;</a>that health care should top the list, signaling his intent to get to work on a new bill.“We’re going to take good care of our people,” Trump said Monday at his daily White House briefing. “It was not their fault.”It’s a rare sign of emerging consensus as Washington responds to the public health emergency and severe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0aa967875547c5d63f22575dd2cf1aaa">economic fallout&nbsp;</a>that is ransacking communities nationwide, a crisis on par with a war effort or the Great Depression.The contours of the package are still being debated and any votes in Congress remain a logistical conundrum. The House and Senate adjourned for most of the month, as part of strict stay-at-home orders from public health officials to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.On an afternoon conference call with House Democrats, Pelosi told lawmakers at least another $1 trillion would be needed, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.The California Democrat has vowed to put the next package together in time for a House vote this month.Former Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen joined the private call and warned Democrats the economic fallout will depend on the public health response to the pandemic, the person said. As businesses shutter to stop the virus’ spread, it has hurled the U.S. economy toward a recession.Yellen said it was impossible to know how deep and long the recession would be, and added that it would depend on the health response.The former Fed chair also told them the nation’s unemployment rate is now at least 13% and this week’s jobless report will show higher numbers than last week’s.Yellen said she expects a 30 percent contraction of GDP this year, but has seen models as high as 50 percent, according to a Democratic aide unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.The earlier relief package, approved in late March, included one-time $1,200 direct payments to Americans, along with forgivable small business loans for companies to keep making payroll. It also included a boost of unemployment pay, money for hospitals and a $500 billion fund for bigger corporations and industries.Pelosi told Democrats said the $1,200 direct payments to Americans and the paycheck protection program for small businesses are not enough and more needs to be done, the person said.She also said there needs to be more aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.Trump has favored direct checks to Americans, and gave a nod to another round in the next package.“It is absolutely under serious consideration,” he said.The shifts from the political leaders are stark amid what officials warn could be one of the toughest weeks for the country, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths climbs.McConnell told The Associated Press on Friday that there will be another package and health care must be at the “top of the list.”McConnell, R-Ky., said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the earlier $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to “wipe out” the virus.Pelosi, D-Calif., last week also backed off her more sweeping proposals for an infrastructure package to put people back to work, focusing on the more immediate health care and economic needs.As governors plead for federal intervention to provide hard-hit hospitals in New York and elsewhere with vital medical ventilators, equipment and supplies, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a better-coordinated effort to care for the many sick people.Schumer told reporters on a conference call Monday that he’s urging the White House to appoint a single, well-qualified “czar” to handle both the production and distribution of medical supplies and equipment to fight the pandemic.Right now, Schumer said, governors and other officials have no choice but to search out materials helter-skelter.“Everyone’s hunting and pecking for the equipment and the supplies they need,” he said. “It’s just not working. It’s like a scavenger hunt for their lives.”Schumer, D-N.Y., said he spoke to both Vice President Mike Pence and new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and suggested three potential candidates for the job: two former vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Paul Selva and retired Adm. James A. Winnefield, and retired Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, former director of the Defense Logistics Agency.Trump, displeased with Schumer’s effort, accused the senator of being overtly political.This would be the fourth package from Congress since the start of the virus outbreak. Two initial efforts were followed by the third last month, which was by far the largest, the most ambitious of its kind in U.S. history. With so much federal aid expected to be pushed so quickly to the public, Congress is also trying to swiftly stand up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91bbb26d8557c7d697f757b931089611">oversight panels</a>.Pelosi late last week announced the formation of a House select committee with subpoena power to monitor the decision-making and cash flow.A broader oversight board is being formed to track the Treasury Department’s dispersal of the aid to businesses, particularly the more than $500 billion in corporate and industry aid under Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s discretion.Schumer named a top economic adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Bharat Ramamurti, as his choice for the pandemic response accountabilty committee established by recently passed legislation.___

Trump seeks $250 billion more from Congress for payrolls

Rooks County Health Department

Rooks County Health Department is confirming the second presumptive-positive case of COVID-19 in Rooks County. 

The possible case was identified today with testing sent to QUEST Diagnostic on April 6. 

QUEST Diagnostic, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results Tuesday afternoon. 

These results will be verified by the CDC lab and will be treated as positive pending confirmation.

The case is in Rooks County and the patient is currently in-home isolation, following the guidance of the CDC. 

Rooks County Health Department continues to work with the local partners and providers and KDHE to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. 

No further information about the patient will be released.

<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fkhap2.kdhe.state.ks.us%2FNewsRelease%2FPDFs%2F4-6-20%2520travel.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3p0u-F2WJBNlHKPGSiccjbdTZHsVrEF_aM4EFugowL8Ylgp5_oJffIvzA&amp;h=AT0tk1C_j6gLsZmSlespInDV-eiA4t55o48ULr-BS4XezD_fHraW56GRYRqT1AAzfe5CViHchf2JHqSyhg4kMaLtvVfAZc6TQqk4UIo47EeCB_kRCzRV9IXDUeVmyHeOp4qsauyLAkpuepyImXgRGBrKNdNoUcx_42W0oally_xq1uOMlhPyPazLC-ETX5uirOq1JTnzi4JELFnjitzXciqcx0epPvELnmPtVnnNS7dg68rVmxo15r2-GC0ZCfrmi6NIcqT-eNXyAZ_dEtZJ1V1YdsQD19_AVt4F2vTLbZRUuRfmaYUkmxtIUi_BVEcVTxXP1iUCVLcMkUJGlH9qe76MIc6Ocyv7PjyIFwPSkyQvQar4yqfi2GtG16Qhqit1-PQka83T8i5lLjQK0AVRY0yeLkSgzskXhvmtpmrdDsIpFSmrL__tU38trg-rqG7cSVYYqmhhbGmGZlIGV-AkjneEoODegnU-ebVS42ZG-nxoNzPZqghvELlSortZ8Ex8iA6UQTMzAXEahOZrf-QfI7AyiDltRm7BH2hEXkYwVsD9UwprF3d5Z1UkbAT3h7DTNgIWDv3y5gJY1vV6OXWly4TFyUCw7sfsPKq4q9KFPN46ChxL2hnsowUFcAojV6RBiIYyhQCYYpgu863Swzubfg">KDHE has released guidelines for quarantine and isolation of travelers who visited locations in the United States where large numbers of people have contracted the disease.</a>

Rooks County residents can stay informed by visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovstatus.egov.com%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0g6RTWoPBrNWtS-r4VXjhaiBdT4hV9KUcOF0O_pWB7S6R-dHgVIM714v0&amp;h=AT3-2DlJvVIieQflLCtqqakwKJGbeCY-mu_tlAyHzlFv8lDIQ7ULSZCIv4htvzlhywo_1G48PV9277l_HmJyER6wnv4YDiB0kDQp8khiZqDOkjocMoxDR-nlQtvelTgSVyGDkrwMThcv04Q7hvhDNYAFbSQQdCvkE_2OOl8v9f8144RlfyJyJg50rBjFklZwM1wLabblPPPr2eU3kEzuM8_GyQ9J4yQ8o403VmAB8Ixp3-xpWPmJ7AtJ7HfTJ7P_eRgfsTZpdCxa5LDzbfEftbJL2bA5vUsWiFFkJZTF511xCHWoRZO_GgcRhbYf0g3YxNWZ5I_jq8kz2RyL81OOzTEwGNuFkS8tv5DIV11F55XPBrfJsaQMfdlru7Gz13VKUbQrCsZQ4l7o8R7KzwCAH_VnDpk1Stx-G7W8wx09dru_83s0_pt33nYubkoMb26FSaViyoBQ4o2B7crIxAQ8I8cybUxOZ0QyUTf5Ma_Q_ohqV0OIyLFuUxwpkuLCC3SNJdXIC7i8QaiFfoM2kmWflzd1bc0XuA5YR_mxFxusr3kVyyvgMsbwrY919cKIGhPL1imY3bwZunYyodr8CZu5iDuPGPFw-5utekD8iNeGIR2bSKgp2_Zar6EgRlKEvyzbpQkPsrKCowRg78OdelchQQ" target="_blank">https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1s7y7jbCWqZjjAMwMZCznLNymm2jICih5biOCgHf64a_P-QzChHK9aC6w&amp;h=AT09RW5t6lRz96F_L68KJnO4hga6Zh9f2CRORICCWW1Zkn_uUniCDXHquvv3xD0aUxrmQV9K4JCoqfMv9C4C3-Wei99VeYFwQLB1Jn3uP2Xhm4nZ59uNL0UbbMKCXi2onNHczISO_onNippUplOrSQd0PKXn22al2dhhMXWONdET2bbiBAyYUKN-XnlBSc-7Eq56QKzg2pjuzZUO_XO2W5euJIlBP_g5W_SfpFKRXRanhPu-EqEckHwgnjf0mPMYdKrAtkE_fPF1-cGM1JX4pdkukN3rv_F3iCtAEdjt-qeKUZyx72rHNuVRzlc8BGSyfmX0k5XdMNVF4tdEh9gu9IC_-pY-6PqO1gsuTUi7WgR2u5iKEzfG5XgE6Wl573iVoY86FdTEiBwWbFZCXdRgZjhdD6sz53M6XXq9MowQJ9Gx8F2cFpVSzQCVviYsIk2sZ63WKe1x_A4zfHySHttrzNqOV9RC3C-chKnPvhie9PZ0XZKza6VfEGG9DR4JKZcUuYt_oVHZTgKmuCDUDUF6lpihQLWZqjrrxbjU-eMIHWfCxde2xCc7S-WkAnVsTG40YIao3AcVpkwLMvVQTrldtXrrLJOiB4z2cLXI4MWnDVbDNBjkYVbr7fywfLFtino0H1hphcmd40FI99sR4bXkrg" target="_blank">http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus</a>

For general information, contact the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 or email COVID-19@ks.gov. 

You may also contact the Rooks County Health Department at 785-425-7352.

Rooks County Health DepartmentRooks County Health Department is confirming the second presumptive-positive case of COVID-19 in Rooks County. The possible case was identified today with testing sent to QUEST Diagnostic on April 6. QUEST Diagnostic, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results Tuesday afternoon. These results will be verified by the CDC lab and will be treated as positive pending confirmation.The case is in Rooks County and the patient is currently in-home isolation, following the guidance of the CDC. The case is not travel related. Rooks County Health Department continues to work with the local partners and providers and KDHE to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. No further information about the patient will be released.<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fkhap2.kdhe.state.ks.us%2FNewsRelease%2FPDFs%2F4-6-20%2520travel.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3p0u-F2WJBNlHKPGSiccjbdTZHsVrEF_aM4EFugowL8Ylgp5_oJffIvzA&amp;h=AT0tk1C_j6gLsZmSlespInDV-eiA4t55o48ULr-BS4XezD_fHraW56GRYRqT1AAzfe5CViHchf2JHqSyhg4kMaLtvVfAZc6TQqk4UIo47EeCB_kRCzRV9IXDUeVmyHeOp4qsauyLAkpuepyImXgRGBrKNdNoUcx_42W0oally_xq1uOMlhPyPazLC-ETX5uirOq1JTnzi4JELFnjitzXciqcx0epPvELnmPtVnnNS7dg68rVmxo15r2-GC0ZCfrmi6NIcqT-eNXyAZ_dEtZJ1V1YdsQD19_AVt4F2vTLbZRUuRfmaYUkmxtIUi_BVEcVTxXP1iUCVLcMkUJGlH9qe76MIc6Ocyv7PjyIFwPSkyQvQar4yqfi2GtG16Qhqit1-PQka83T8i5lLjQK0AVRY0yeLkSgzskXhvmtpmrdDsIpFSmrL__tU38trg-rqG7cSVYYqmhhbGmGZlIGV-AkjneEoODegnU-ebVS42ZG-nxoNzPZqghvELlSortZ8Ex8iA6UQTMzAXEahOZrf-QfI7AyiDltRm7BH2hEXkYwVsD9UwprF3d5Z1UkbAT3h7DTNgIWDv3y5gJY1vV6OXWly4TFyUCw7sfsPKq4q9KFPN46ChxL2hnsowUFcAojV6RBiIYyhQCYYpgu863Swzubfg">KDHE has released guidelines for quarantine and isolation of travelers who visited locations in the United States where large numbers of people have contracted the disease.</a>Rooks County residents can stay informed by visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgovstatus.egov.com%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0g6RTWoPBrNWtS-r4VXjhaiBdT4hV9KUcOF0O_pWB7S6R-dHgVIM714v0&amp;h=AT3-2DlJvVIieQflLCtqqakwKJGbeCY-mu_tlAyHzlFv8lDIQ7ULSZCIv4htvzlhywo_1G48PV9277l_HmJyER6wnv4YDiB0kDQp8khiZqDOkjocMoxDR-nlQtvelTgSVyGDkrwMThcv04Q7hvhDNYAFbSQQdCvkE_2OOl8v9f8144RlfyJyJg50rBjFklZwM1wLabblPPPr2eU3kEzuM8_GyQ9J4yQ8o403VmAB8Ixp3-xpWPmJ7AtJ7HfTJ7P_eRgfsTZpdCxa5LDzbfEftbJL2bA5vUsWiFFkJZTF511xCHWoRZO_GgcRhbYf0g3YxNWZ5I_jq8kz2RyL81OOzTEwGNuFkS8tv5DIV11F55XPBrfJsaQMfdlru7Gz13VKUbQrCsZQ4l7o8R7KzwCAH_VnDpk1Stx-G7W8wx09dru_83s0_pt33nYubkoMb26FSaViyoBQ4o2B7crIxAQ8I8cybUxOZ0QyUTf5Ma_Q_ohqV0OIyLFuUxwpkuLCC3SNJdXIC7i8QaiFfoM2kmWflzd1bc0XuA5YR_mxFxusr3kVyyvgMsbwrY919cKIGhPL1imY3bwZunYyodr8CZu5iDuPGPFw-5utekD8iNeGIR2bSKgp2_Zar6EgRlKEvyzbpQkPsrKCowRg78OdelchQQ" target="_blank">https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1s7y7jbCWqZjjAMwMZCznLNymm2jICih5biOCgHf64a_P-QzChHK9aC6w&amp;h=AT09RW5t6lRz96F_L68KJnO4hga6Zh9f2CRORICCWW1Zkn_uUniCDXHquvv3xD0aUxrmQV9K4JCoqfMv9C4C3-Wei99VeYFwQLB1Jn3uP2Xhm4nZ59uNL0UbbMKCXi2onNHczISO_onNippUplOrSQd0PKXn22al2dhhMXWONdET2bbiBAyYUKN-XnlBSc-7Eq56QKzg2pjuzZUO_XO2W5euJIlBP_g5W_SfpFKRXRanhPu-EqEckHwgnjf0mPMYdKrAtkE_fPF1-cGM1JX4pdkukN3rv_F3iCtAEdjt-qeKUZyx72rHNuVRzlc8BGSyfmX0k5XdMNVF4tdEh9gu9IC_-pY-6PqO1gsuTUi7WgR2u5iKEzfG5XgE6Wl573iVoY86FdTEiBwWbFZCXdRgZjhdD6sz53M6XXq9MowQJ9Gx8F2cFpVSzQCVviYsIk2sZ63WKe1x_A4zfHySHttrzNqOV9RC3C-chKnPvhie9PZ0XZKza6VfEGG9DR4JKZcUuYt_oVHZTgKmuCDUDUF6lpihQLWZqjrrxbjU-eMIHWfCxde2xCc7S-WkAnVsTG40YIao3AcVpkwLMvVQTrldtXrrLJOiB4z2cLXI4MWnDVbDNBjkYVbr7fywfLFtino0H1hphcmd40FI99sR4bXkrg" target="_blank">http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus</a>For general information, contact the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 or email COVID-19@ks.gov. You may also contact the Rooks County Health Department at 785-425-7352.

Second case of presumptive-positive COVID-19 identified in Rooks County

HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a viral video of two people walking through Walmart in Newton coughing on other people and saying they have coronavirus, according to a social media report police in Newton.

Police were not called at the time of this incident, but Newton officers began investigating after seeing the video on social media. Police identified the suspects, interviewed them and have arrested Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston,&nbsp; on requested charges of felony criminal threat and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. They've been booked into Harvey County Jail.

Both admitted to walking around Walmart with Williams coughing on people while Hamrick verbalized that Williams had the coronavirus. They both indicated they don't take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and thought it would be funny.

Harvey County Attorney's Office has indicated they will aggressively pursue prosecution of the two individuals, including other potential criminal charges, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586278382349.png" alt="Williams photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a viral video of two people walking through Walmart in Newton coughing on other people and saying they have coronavirus, according to a social media report police in Newton.Police were not called at the time of this incident, but Newton officers began investigating after seeing the video on social media. Police identified the suspects, interviewed them and have arrested Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston,&nbsp; on requested charges of felony criminal threat and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. They've been booked into Harvey County Jail.Both admitted to walking around Walmart with Williams coughing on people while Hamrick verbalized that Williams had the coronavirus. They both indicated they don't take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and thought it would be funny.Harvey County Attorney's Office has indicated they will aggressively pursue prosecution of the two individuals, including other potential criminal charges, according to police.

Kan. couple jailed for coughing on people, saying they have coronavirus

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — In many parts of Kansas, people not sick enough for hospitalization still can’t find out if they have COVID-19.

Doctor’s
 offices and hospitals say access to coronavirus testing has improved in
 Kansas, but still remains out of reach for many people.

A clinic runs out of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/covid-19-swab-tests-unpleasant-illustration-1495322" target="_blank">swabs</a> to collect patient samples. A vendor postpones delivery of testing equipment. A private lab becomes backlogged.

Ascension Via Christi Health in Wichita is among hospitals trying to buy <a href="https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-03-27-Abbott-Launches-Molecular-Point-of-Care-Test-to-Detect-Novel-Coronavirus-in-as-Little-as-Five-Minutes" target="_blank">new 5- to 15-minute tests</a>
 that received a temporary emergency greenlight from the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration. But the best the system of hospitals and clinics 
can do for now is get in line, so it has contacted its suppliers.

“We have the equipment,” chief nursing officer Carla Yost said in an email, “but we do not have the test kits.”

For
 now, she says, those kits are heading to areas where the outbreak is 
more acute. So Ascension Via Christi is sending samples to its lab in 
Tulsa. Getting results takes about a day and a half.

“We have couriers running routes to and from our Kansas hospitals multiple times a day,” Yost said. “Seven days a week.”

As of last week, more than 6,500 Kansans had been tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">More than 550</a> had tested positive. The state has a <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">dashboard</a> that lets you explore how many people have been tested in each county.

Some doctors are raising concerns about <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/" target="_blank">false negatives</a>
 — tests that suggest someone doesn’t have the virus when they are 
infected — and encouraging people with coronavirus symptoms who test 
negative to stay home anyway.

Congress passed a law <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">requiring most</a>&nbsp;health plans to cover COVID-19 testing for now without cost to the patient. But patients could get bills anyway, <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation says</a>.

Americans
 often end up at an emergency room outside their insurance network, or 
sometimes go to an in-network hospital or clinic only to find out later 
that the facility used out-of-network labs or staff. Patients might also
 get charged for other services in conjunction with their COVID-19 
tests, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-tests-bills.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.

Uninsured
 people and people with low-quality health insurance should get the 
tests for free, too, under the same federal law, but that will take some
 legwork on the state's part. The Kansas News Service is seeking more 
information from Gov. Laura Kelly's office about what uninsured Kansans 
should do if they receive a bill in the meantime.&nbsp;

As for coronavirus treatment, many insurers may cover it, but <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">they don’t have to</a>.
 On Friday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas announced it would waive 
copays and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment for the next 60 days for 
plans fully under its control. (In other cases, employers will have the 
final say.)&nbsp;

At
 the state lab in Topeka, coronavirus testing took several hours at 
first. Staff worked 16-hour shifts, health secretary Lee Norman has 
said, but still got through fewer than 200 samples a day.

Last weekend, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment received <a href="https://perkinelmer-appliedgenomics.com/home/products/new-coronavirus-2019-ncov-nucleic-acid-detection-kit/" target="_blank">equipment</a> to ramp up to between 700 and 1,000 samples a day. State officials hope to get as many as 64,000 test kits soon.

Kansas has also ordered equipment and supplies for <a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus" target="_blank">45-minute test</a><a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus">s</a> and expects to receive that in the next few weeks.

Yet the specialized nose and throat swabs needed for collecting patient samples are in short supply here and elsewhere.

Private labs, local health agencies and hospitals in Kansas

Some hospitals have purchased testing equipment and kits, too. St Luke’s Health System in the Kansas City area <a href="https://diagnostics.roche.com/us/en/products/params/cobas-sars-cov-2-test.html" target="_blank">set up in-house testing</a> that cut wait time from a few days to hours. The University of Kansas Health System has had <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eEDjrQRAog&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">similar success</a>.

But
 vendors can’t move fast enough to meet demand. Stormont Vail Hospital 
in Topeka expected to receive testing equipment early this week — then 
its supplier pushed back the delivery date to later in the month.

“We
 find that vendors will say that we've been ‘reprioritized’” for various
 coronavirus-related supplies, Stormont CEO Robert Kenagy said. “It's 
very difficult to get vendors to commit.”

For now, many clinics 
and hospitals use external labs. At least four such labs are processing 
tests for Kansas clinics and hospitals.

Community Health Center 
of Southeast Kansas uses a company with lab sites in Lenexa and St. 
Louis. As of this week, the center had plenty of supplies to gather 
patient samples, but getting back results was taking five to seven days,
 vice president Christi Keating said.

As of April 1, private labs had identified about 75% of known COVID-19 cases in Kansas.

The state lab may sometimes be a faster option, but limited resources have forced Kansas to limit who it tests.

Clinics and hospitals can send samples to the state lab only for patients that <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Testing_Priorities_3-22.20.pdf" target="_blank">fit certain criteria</a>,
 such as health care workers or nursing home residents with coronavirus 
symptoms. Samples from other patients go to private labs.

What about those drive-through testing sites?

Sites such as <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/covid-19-testing-limited-kansas-city-so-dont-expect-get-one-without-doctors-order#stream/0" target="_blank">this one</a> in Wyandotte County where patients can pull up and give a sample to a waiting health worker are springing up across the state.

So
 far these are not places to show up unannounced. You’ll need approval 
and an appointment through a health care provider first. Criteria vary 
by provider, and some <a href="https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/saint-lukes-news-three-covid-19-drive-thru-testing-sites-set-qualifying-saint-lukes" target="_blank">post them on their websites</a>.

Whether
 to order the test in the first place remains up to your health care 
provider. Because of the testing bottleneck, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention recommends prioritizing some patients over 
others, but <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/priority-testing-patients.pdf" target="_blank">its guidelines</a> aren’t binding.

If
 your symptoms aren’t serious, your doctor or nurse practitioner may 
simply ask you to stay home, care for yourself and call if you get 
worse. Most people test negative for COVID-19, and most cases of it are 
mild. Research from other countries suggests about 1 in 5 patients get 
sick enough to need hospitalization.

“It would be nice if we had 
as many COVID-19 tests as we do influenza tests, but it’s not there,” 
said Jim Zauche, a doctor at Garden City’s St. Catherine Hospital.

His
 hospital is focusing on testing people sick enough for hospitalization.
 So for Finney County residents with milder symptoms, he recommends 
calling the public health department or your doctor before showing up at
 the ER in search of a test.

The CDC has a list of coronavirus symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">self-check tool</a> to help people decide when to seek medical care.

What about tests for people without symptoms?

The question of whether to push for <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-testing-paradox-united-states" target="_blank">broader testing</a> remains a matter of debate, with some experts arguing the U.S. shouldn’t ignore people with few or no symptoms.

Kansas
 ultimately wants to launch population studies that include seemingly 
healthy people, to better understand how common the virus is in 
different areas, pinpoint hotspots and stop the spread. Johnson County 
has plans for <a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/johnson-county-board-of-commissioners-oks-additional-covid-19-testing/31984155" target="_blank">a similar effort</a>.

Officials were hopeful this week that enough test kits would come through to help the state achieve that.

“It will allow us to change our thinking,” Norman said. “Until that time, social distancing is the name of the game.”

A Yale University medical professor is among those <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/well/live/coronavirus-symptoms-tests-false-negative.html" target="_blank">urging caution</a>
 among people told they don’t have the coronavirus, and warning of a 
potentially significant rate of people testing negative despite having 
the illness.

KU Health System has double-tested 34 patients so far to check accuracy, and got the same results in each round of testing.

But
 the problem of false negatives may have less to do with the actual test
 and more to do with sample collection, which often involves inserting 
an uncomfortable swab very deep into a person’s nose. That makes 
training medical workers vital, or all bets are off.

“You’re 
putting … the swab back to about where your ear is,” KU infectious 
disease specialist Dana Hawkinson said. “If you have a nice nurse who 
doesn’t want to hurt you, that could be a problem because the sampling 
may not be good.”

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272128141.jpeg" alt=" Drive-through testing sites are popping up across Kansas, but don't show up without an appointment. J. Schafer / Kansas Public Radio" />
 <figcaption> Drive-through testing sites are popping up across Kansas, but don't show up without an appointment. J. Schafer / Kansas Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — In many parts of Kansas, people not sick enough for hospitalization still can’t find out if they have COVID-19.Doctor’s
 offices and hospitals say access to coronavirus testing has improved in
 Kansas, but still remains out of reach for many people.A clinic runs out of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/covid-19-swab-tests-unpleasant-illustration-1495322" target="_blank">swabs</a> to collect patient samples. A vendor postpones delivery of testing equipment. A private lab becomes backlogged.Ascension Via Christi Health in Wichita is among hospitals trying to buy <a href="https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-03-27-Abbott-Launches-Molecular-Point-of-Care-Test-to-Detect-Novel-Coronavirus-in-as-Little-as-Five-Minutes" target="_blank">new 5- to 15-minute tests</a>
 that received a temporary emergency greenlight from the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration. But the best the system of hospitals and clinics 
can do for now is get in line, so it has contacted its suppliers.“We have the equipment,” chief nursing officer Carla Yost said in an email, “but we do not have the test kits.”For
 now, she says, those kits are heading to areas where the outbreak is 
more acute. So Ascension Via Christi is sending samples to its lab in 
Tulsa. Getting results takes about a day and a half.“We have couriers running routes to and from our Kansas hospitals multiple times a day,” Yost said. “Seven days a week.”As of last week, more than 6,500 Kansans had been tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">More than 550</a> had tested positive. The state has a <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">dashboard</a> that lets you explore how many people have been tested in each county.Some doctors are raising concerns about <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/" target="_blank">false negatives</a>
 — tests that suggest someone doesn’t have the virus when they are 
infected — and encouraging people with coronavirus symptoms who test 
negative to stay home anyway.<h2>Is testing free?</h2>Congress passed a law <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">requiring most</a>&nbsp;health plans to cover COVID-19 testing for now without cost to the patient. But patients could get bills anyway, <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation says</a>.Americans
 often end up at an emergency room outside their insurance network, or 
sometimes go to an in-network hospital or clinic only to find out later 
that the facility used out-of-network labs or staff. Patients might also
 get charged for other services in conjunction with their COVID-19 
tests, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-tests-bills.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.Uninsured
 people and people with low-quality health insurance should get the 
tests for free, too, under the same federal law, but that will take some
 legwork on the state's part. The Kansas News Service is seeking more 
information from Gov. Laura Kelly's office about what uninsured Kansans 
should do if they receive a bill in the meantime.&nbsp;As for coronavirus treatment, many insurers may cover it, but <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">they don’t have to</a>.
 On Friday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas announced it would waive 
copays and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment for the next 60 days for 
plans fully under its control. (In other cases, employers will have the 
final say.)&nbsp;<h2>How much testing does Kansas do?</h2>At
 the state lab in Topeka, coronavirus testing took several hours at 
first. Staff worked 16-hour shifts, health secretary Lee Norman has 
said, but still got through fewer than 200 samples a day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272211245.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Last weekend, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment received <a href="https://perkinelmer-appliedgenomics.com/home/products/new-coronavirus-2019-ncov-nucleic-acid-detection-kit/" target="_blank">equipment</a> to ramp up to between 700 and 1,000 samples a day. State officials hope to get as many as 64,000 test kits soon.Kansas has also ordered equipment and supplies for <a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus" target="_blank">45-minute test</a><a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus">s</a> and expects to receive that in the next few weeks.Yet the specialized nose and throat swabs needed for collecting patient samples are in short supply here and elsewhere.<h2>Private labs, local health agencies and hospitals in Kansas</h2>Some hospitals have purchased testing equipment and kits, too. St Luke’s Health System in the Kansas City area <a href="https://diagnostics.roche.com/us/en/products/params/cobas-sars-cov-2-test.html" target="_blank">set up in-house testing</a> that cut wait time from a few days to hours. The University of Kansas Health System has had <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eEDjrQRAog&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">similar success</a>.But
 vendors can’t move fast enough to meet demand. Stormont Vail Hospital 
in Topeka expected to receive testing equipment early this week — then 
its supplier pushed back the delivery date to later in the month.“We
 find that vendors will say that we've been ‘reprioritized’” for various
 coronavirus-related supplies, Stormont CEO Robert Kenagy said. “It's 
very difficult to get vendors to commit.”For now, many clinics 
and hospitals use external labs. At least four such labs are processing 
tests for Kansas clinics and hospitals.Community Health Center 
of Southeast Kansas uses a company with lab sites in Lenexa and St. 
Louis. As of this week, the center had plenty of supplies to gather 
patient samples, but getting back results was taking five to seven days,
 vice president Christi Keating said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272249249.jpeg" alt=" View from a patient's car while waiting for testing. Credit Submitted" />
 <figcaption> View from a patient's car while waiting for testing. Credit Submitted</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Who gets tested through which lab?</h2>As of April 1, private labs had identified about 75% of known COVID-19 cases in Kansas.The state lab may sometimes be a faster option, but limited resources have forced Kansas to limit who it tests.Clinics and hospitals can send samples to the state lab only for patients that <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Testing_Priorities_3-22.20.pdf" target="_blank">fit certain criteria</a>,
 such as health care workers or nursing home residents with coronavirus 
symptoms. Samples from other patients go to private labs.<h2>What about those drive-through testing sites?</h2>Sites such as <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/covid-19-testing-limited-kansas-city-so-dont-expect-get-one-without-doctors-order#stream/0" target="_blank">this one</a> in Wyandotte County where patients can pull up and give a sample to a waiting health worker are springing up across the state.So
 far these are not places to show up unannounced. You’ll need approval 
and an appointment through a health care provider first. Criteria vary 
by provider, and some <a href="https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/saint-lukes-news-three-covid-19-drive-thru-testing-sites-set-qualifying-saint-lukes" target="_blank">post them on their websites</a>.<h2>Who can get tested?</h2>Whether
 to order the test in the first place remains up to your health care 
provider. Because of the testing bottleneck, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention recommends prioritizing some patients over 
others, but <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/priority-testing-patients.pdf" target="_blank">its guidelines</a> aren’t binding.If
 your symptoms aren’t serious, your doctor or nurse practitioner may 
simply ask you to stay home, care for yourself and call if you get 
worse. Most people test negative for COVID-19, and most cases of it are 
mild. Research from other countries suggests about 1 in 5 patients get 
sick enough to need hospitalization.“It would be nice if we had 
as many COVID-19 tests as we do influenza tests, but it’s not there,” 
said Jim Zauche, a doctor at Garden City’s St. Catherine Hospital.His
 hospital is focusing on testing people sick enough for hospitalization.
 So for Finney County residents with milder symptoms, he recommends 
calling the public health department or your doctor before showing up at
 the ER in search of a test.The CDC has a list of coronavirus symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">self-check tool</a> to help people decide when to seek medical care.<h2>What about tests for people without symptoms?</h2>The question of whether to push for <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-testing-paradox-united-states" target="_blank">broader testing</a> remains a matter of debate, with some experts arguing the U.S. shouldn’t ignore people with few or no symptoms.Kansas
 ultimately wants to launch population studies that include seemingly 
healthy people, to better understand how common the virus is in 
different areas, pinpoint hotspots and stop the spread. Johnson County 
has plans for <a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/johnson-county-board-of-commissioners-oks-additional-covid-19-testing/31984155" target="_blank">a similar effort</a>.Officials were hopeful this week that enough test kits would come through to help the state achieve that.“It will allow us to change our thinking,” Norman said. “Until that time, social distancing is the name of the game.”<h2>What about false negatives?</h2>A Yale University medical professor is among those <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/well/live/coronavirus-symptoms-tests-false-negative.html" target="_blank">urging caution</a>
 among people told they don’t have the coronavirus, and warning of a 
potentially significant rate of people testing negative despite having 
the illness.KU Health System has double-tested 34 patients so far to check accuracy, and got the same results in each round of testing.But
 the problem of false negatives may have less to do with the actual test
 and more to do with sample collection, which often involves inserting 
an uncomfortable swab very deep into a person’s nose. That makes 
training medical workers vital, or all bets are off.“You’re 
putting … the swab back to about where your ear is,” KU infectious 
disease specialist Dana Hawkinson said. “If you have a nice nurse who 
doesn’t want to hurt you, that could be a problem because the sampling 
may not be good.”Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

This is how coronavirus testing works if you live in Kansas 

By Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press&nbsp;

The first national data on COVID-19 in U.S. children suggest that while the illness usually isn’t severe in kids, some do get sick enough to require hospital treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday shows that fever, cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms in kids, but they occurred less often than in adults. The findings mostly echo reports from China about how the new coronavirus affects children.

The report included nearly 150,000 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases in adults and children from Feb. 12 through April 2. About 2,500 of them, or almost 2%, were children. While most kids didn’t become severely ill, three youngsters died.

About 1 in 5 infected children were hospitalized versus 1 in 3 adults. Cases were more common in older children and teens but serious illness appeared to be more common in infants. Cases were slightly more common in boys than girls.

By Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press&nbsp;The first national data on COVID-19 in U.S. children suggest that while the illness usually isn’t severe in kids, some do get sick enough to require hospital treatment.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday shows that fever, cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms in kids, but they occurred less often than in adults. The findings mostly echo reports from China about how the new coronavirus affects children.The report included nearly 150,000 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases in adults and children from Feb. 12 through April 2. About 2,500 of them, or almost 2%, were children. While most kids didn’t become severely ill, three youngsters died.About 1 in 5 infected children were hospitalized versus 1 in 3 adults. Cases were more common in older children and teens but serious illness appeared to be more common in infants. Cases were slightly more common in boys than girls.The authors cautioned that many details were missing from pediatric cases, so the report should be considered preliminary.For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including life-threatening pneumonia.Confirmed U.S. cases top 340,000 with more than 10,000 reported deaths. Globally, there have been more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, and more than 70,000 reported deaths.The report authors stressed that because people without symptoms, including children, are likely playing a role in transmitting the virus, “social distancing and everyday preventive measures”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html" target="_blank">are recommended&nbsp;</a>for all ages.Dr. Larry Kociolek, an infectious disease specialist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, said the report should reassure parents and health care workers that children are less likely than adults to get very sick from the new virus. But that can pose a challenge, he said, because “patients with milder illness are less likely to quarantine themselves and may be at similar risk of transmitting.”Authorities need to take that into account when considering when to lift social distancing policies and reopen schools, Kociolek said.___

Coronavirus Update