WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is resisting calls to issue a national stay-at-home order to stem the spread of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the new coronavirus</a>&nbsp;despite his administration’s projections that tens of thousands of Americans are likely to be killed by the disease. One by one, though, states are increasingly pushing shutdown orders of their own.

Trump said Wednesday he wants to give governors’ “flexibility” on whether a stay-at-home policy is the best option for their constituents but acknowledged that he’s looking at limiting air and rail travel between hot spots within the United States. The Republican president remains hesitant to press a unified policy even after the White House released “sobering”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c8a9da5569b191ae278e60fffcc855f7">new projections&nbsp;</a>on Tuesday that 100,000 to 240,000 Americans will likely succumb to the coronavirus even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Wednesday the nation’s federalist system leaves much of the authority on how to properly respond to catastrophes to state governors and local officials.

On Wednesday alone, five more states — Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada and Pennsylvania — added or expanded their stay-at-home orders.

But the invocation of federalism in the midst of a crisis that threatens a nationwide body count on par with some of the deadliest American wars suggests that Trump and his advisers are cognizant of the political ramifications of their response. Republican governors in states like Florida, Texas and Nebraska have questioned the necessity of applying strong&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fa1fda126fe191425abc20ab461dfbe7">social distancing rules</a>&nbsp;to rural or exurban areas that haven’t reported much evidence of the virus.

The lack of a unified, 50-state response also collides with evidence emerging that coronavirus infections are being spread by people who have no clear symptoms, complicating efforts to gain control of the pandemic. A study conducted by researchers in Singapore and published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday is the latest to estimate that around 10% of new coronavirus infections may be spread by people who were infected with the virus but not experiencing symptom

Even while deferring to governors. the Trump administration has issued guidelines that have urged Americans to work from home if possible, cancel on-site instruction at schools and avoid large gatherings. The resistance to a more robust response comes even as Vice President Mike Pence said White House models for the coronavirus toll show the country on a trajectory akin to hard-hit Italy.

Speaking to CNN, Pence said, “We think Italy may be the most comparable area to the United States at this point.” Italy, which has already recorded more than 13,000 deaths, has issued a nationwide quarantine, shutting down almost all industrial production and offices and largely prohibiting residents from leaving their homes. The U.S. has recorded more than 5,000 deaths, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The White House’s best-case projection for loss of life assumes statewide stay-at-home orders, according to a senior administration official familiar with Trump’s thinking. Trump, the official said, is a believer in federalism and that it is up to governors to set restrictions for their states. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

More than 285 million people live in the 40 states where governors have declared statewide shelter-in-place orders or have recommended that residents stay home. In other states — places like Iowa and Nebraska, among others — governors have resisted state-level decisions, but some localities have declared residents should stay at home.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a7c1f7f226c6d04fa7ca380998a7e9a">a poll published Wednesday</a>&nbsp;by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 78% of U.S. adults, including 84% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans, favor requiring Americans to stay in their homes except for essential errands. Americans in states that already had stay-at-home orders in place when the survey began are more likely than those in states that did not to approve of their state’s response, 63% to 51%.

Still, Trump — who has conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/969eafc8f5cb01e9b3e8fe941b3264eb">long, near-daily briefings</a>&nbsp;on his administration’s response to the virus outbreak over the last three weeks — has been reluctant to use his bully pulpit to urge governors to issue orders that would help effectively create a national quarantine.

“There are some states that are different,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “There are some states that don’t have much of a problem.”

But there are signs that Trump administration officials are pushing behind the scenes for holdout governors to issue statewide quarantines.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had resisted issuing a statewide order but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e5bac343ca91824ecd6c7699bf371183">reversed course and issued one</a>&nbsp;Wednesday as federal and local pressure mounted for him to abandon the county-by-county approach he had implemented.

DeSantis, a Republican, told reporters that he decided to issue the order after consulting with Trump and White House advisers.

Rep. Donna Shalala, a Florida Democrat, said earlier Wednesday that Trump should be pressing governors for a unified approach to help stem the spread of the disease, calling his response so far “fragmented, weak and uneven.”

“He hasn’t made a national plea to say we’re all in this together, and he hasn’t even talked to the governors about all doing the same thing,” Shalala, who was secretary of health and human services under President Bill Clinton, said in an interview.

Authority to order quarantines inside states rests almost entirely with states under provisions in the U.S. Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states, courts have ruled consistently for years. While the federal government itself can’t order nationwide quarantines or impose quarantines on states, courts have said it has clear power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travelers or those traveling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases.

A few legal scholars have argued that the Constitution’s Commerce Clause may vest Trump with powers to impose a multiple state or national lockdown with or without states’ approval, though any such move under that minority interpretation would almost certainly be challenged immediately as unconstitutional.

Pence told CNN that leaders and residents of states that haven’t been hard hit are already taking action to slow the virus’ spread.

In Nebraska, Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he’s basing his decisions on the advice he gets from public health experts at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which has dealt extensively with outbreaks and served as a quarantine space for Ebola patients. In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has resisted a mandatory shelter-in- place order, saying the data she looks at doesn’t yet justify it in her state.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, another Republican, said her voluntary guidance had helped slow the infection rate. “The calls to apply a one-size-fits-all approach is herd mentality, it’s not leadership,” she said.

Ricketts, a vocal Trump supporter, has repeatedly said he won’t impose a stay-at-home order in Nebraska but has ordered restaurants either to close their dining areas or allow no more than 10 people inside at once, depending on their location in the state.

In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered schools to stay closed through at least May and imposed restrictions that doctors and even his critics say are tantamount to a stay-at-home order for the state. Still, Abbott refused to call it that.

“This is not a stay-at-home strategy. A stay-at-home strategy would mean that you have to stay home,” Abbott said. “This is a standard based upon essential services and essential activities.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696207171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is resisting calls to issue a national stay-at-home order to stem the spread of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the new coronavirus</a>&nbsp;despite his administration’s projections that tens of thousands of Americans are likely to be killed by the disease. One by one, though, states are increasingly pushing shutdown orders of their own.Trump said Wednesday he wants to give governors’ “flexibility” on whether a stay-at-home policy is the best option for their constituents but acknowledged that he’s looking at limiting air and rail travel between hot spots within the United States. The Republican president remains hesitant to press a unified policy even after the White House released “sobering”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c8a9da5569b191ae278e60fffcc855f7">new projections&nbsp;</a>on Tuesday that 100,000 to 240,000 Americans will likely succumb to the coronavirus even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584976508622.png" alt="Surgeon General Jerome Adams-photo courtesy White House&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Surgeon General Jerome Adams-photo courtesy White House&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Wednesday the nation’s federalist system leaves much of the authority on how to properly respond to catastrophes to state governors and local officials.On Wednesday alone, five more states — Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada and Pennsylvania — added or expanded their stay-at-home orders.But the invocation of federalism in the midst of a crisis that threatens a nationwide body count on par with some of the deadliest American wars suggests that Trump and his advisers are cognizant of the political ramifications of their response. Republican governors in states like Florida, Texas and Nebraska have questioned the necessity of applying strong&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fa1fda126fe191425abc20ab461dfbe7">social distancing rules</a>&nbsp;to rural or exurban areas that haven’t reported much evidence of the virus.The lack of a unified, 50-state response also collides with evidence emerging that coronavirus infections are being spread by people who have no clear symptoms, complicating efforts to gain control of the pandemic. A study conducted by researchers in Singapore and published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday is the latest to estimate that around 10% of new coronavirus infections may be spread by people who were infected with the virus but not experiencing symptom<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696236815.png" alt="White House" />
 <figcaption>White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Even while deferring to governors. the Trump administration has issued guidelines that have urged Americans to work from home if possible, cancel on-site instruction at schools and avoid large gatherings. The resistance to a more robust response comes even as Vice President Mike Pence said White House models for the coronavirus toll show the country on a trajectory akin to hard-hit Italy.Speaking to CNN, Pence said, “We think Italy may be the most comparable area to the United States at this point.” Italy, which has already recorded more than 13,000 deaths, has issued a nationwide quarantine, shutting down almost all industrial production and offices and largely prohibiting residents from leaving their homes. The U.S. has recorded more than 5,000 deaths, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.The White House’s best-case projection for loss of life assumes statewide stay-at-home orders, according to a senior administration official familiar with Trump’s thinking. Trump, the official said, is a believer in federalism and that it is up to governors to set restrictions for their states. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions.More than 285 million people live in the 40 states where governors have declared statewide shelter-in-place orders or have recommended that residents stay home. In other states — places like Iowa and Nebraska, among others — governors have resisted state-level decisions, but some localities have declared residents should stay at home.According to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a7c1f7f226c6d04fa7ca380998a7e9a">a poll published Wednesday</a>&nbsp;by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 78% of U.S. adults, including 84% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans, favor requiring Americans to stay in their homes except for essential errands. Americans in states that already had stay-at-home orders in place when the survey began are more likely than those in states that did not to approve of their state’s response, 63% to 51%.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585690758211.png" alt="President Trump answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>Still, Trump — who has conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/969eafc8f5cb01e9b3e8fe941b3264eb">long, near-daily briefings</a>&nbsp;on his administration’s response to the virus outbreak over the last three weeks — has been reluctant to use his bully pulpit to urge governors to issue orders that would help effectively create a national quarantine.“There are some states that are different,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “There are some states that don’t have much of a problem.”But there are signs that Trump administration officials are pushing behind the scenes for holdout governors to issue statewide quarantines.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had resisted issuing a statewide order but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e5bac343ca91824ecd6c7699bf371183">reversed course and issued one</a>&nbsp;Wednesday as federal and local pressure mounted for him to abandon the county-by-county approach he had implemented.DeSantis, a Republican, told reporters that he decided to issue the order after consulting with Trump and White House advisers.Rep. Donna Shalala, a Florida Democrat, said earlier Wednesday that Trump should be pressing governors for a unified approach to help stem the spread of the disease, calling his response so far “fragmented, weak and uneven.”“He hasn’t made a national plea to say we’re all in this together, and he hasn’t even talked to the governors about all doing the same thing,” Shalala, who was secretary of health and human services under President Bill Clinton, said in an interview.Authority to order quarantines inside states rests almost entirely with states under provisions in the U.S. Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states, courts have ruled consistently for years. While the federal government itself can’t order nationwide quarantines or impose quarantines on states, courts have said it has clear power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travelers or those traveling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases.A few legal scholars have argued that the Constitution’s Commerce Clause may vest Trump with powers to impose a multiple state or national lockdown with or without states’ approval, though any such move under that minority interpretation would almost certainly be challenged immediately as unconstitutional.Pence told CNN that leaders and residents of states that haven’t been hard hit are already taking action to slow the virus’ spread.In Nebraska, Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he’s basing his decisions on the advice he gets from public health experts at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which has dealt extensively with outbreaks and served as a quarantine space for Ebola patients. In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has resisted a mandatory shelter-in- place order, saying the data she looks at doesn’t yet justify it in her state.South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, another Republican, said her voluntary guidance had helped slow the infection rate. “The calls to apply a one-size-fits-all approach is herd mentality, it’s not leadership,” she said.Ricketts, a vocal Trump supporter, has repeatedly said he won’t impose a stay-at-home order in Nebraska but has ordered restaurants either to close their dining areas or allow no more than 10 people inside at once, depending on their location in the state.In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered schools to stay closed through at least May and imposed restrictions that doctors and even his critics say are tantamount to a stay-at-home order for the state. Still, Abbott refused to call it that.“This is not a stay-at-home strategy. A stay-at-home strategy would mean that you have to stay home,” Abbott said. “This is a standard based upon essential services and essential activities.”___

Trump resists national shutdown, leaving it up to states

K-State child development specialist offers tips to help families during COVID-19 outbreak

MANHATTAN – In this most uncertain of times, many of us are experiencing anxiety for a number of reasons. Who will take care of the children if I don’t get home before my spouse goes to work? How quickly will my unemployment benefits kick in? What if a family member gets sick?

A Kansas State University child development specialist says it’s understandable for you and your children to have anxiety right now, but there are steps you can take to manage it, for yourself and for your children.

“When it comes to managing anxiety, the most important component is taking care of one’s self. Just like when we’re on an airplane, you should put your own mask on before you put someone else’s mask on,” said Bradford Wiles, a K-State associate professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

“None of us are going to be perfectly calm and easy going during difficult times,” he said. “But as we’re working through things with our children, making sure we can respond in intentional and kind and compassionate ways, is really critical.”&nbsp;

He encourages parents to be honest to the extent appropriate for their age: “The most authentic thing is to be honest. Now, obviously, you’re not going to talk about disease transmission with your two-year-old. But you can say ‘Mommy and Daddy or Grandma and Grandpa don’t want to get anyone sick.’”

The idea isn’t to scare them, rather be positive, using words they can understand.

“Little ones won’t understand words like ‘pandemic’ or ‘coronavirus.’ But they’ll understand that by staying home right now, we’re helping keep our neighborhood and community safe,” Wiles said.

With the closure of Kansas schools through the end of the school year, districts are scrambling to take the learning online so teachers can teach and students can learn at a distance. That means parents or other family members are playing a much greater role in the day-to-day teaching.

“One thing I have learned is that schoolteachers don’t get paid nearly enough,” said Wiles, who added that he himself had been home with his own children for several days at the time of this interview. “I should be as equipped as anyone to be able to homeschool my children. It’s very difficult.”

“There’s a lot of anxiety. There’s a lot of restlessness. There’s a lot of sleeplessness. Things that wouldn’t normally get to us, get to us,” Wiles said. “It’s not anything that any of us want. I don’t want to be Pollyanna-ish at all, but making the best of it is no joke.”&nbsp;

He encourages parents to consider this time an opportunity to learn what their children are learning.

“During these long school days, when we want our children to keep learning, and this is so critical, we need to honor that people are paid full time, day in and day out, five days a week (to teach) our children, and so to try to take on all that, and keep our normal routines is just simply undoable. Something has to give.”

Parents can’t expect to teach children everything they would normally learn in school in the next six weeks, “but what you can do is teach them how to handle things and learn from their activities, and also learn what it’s like to be a strong, helpful, and competent human beings.”

Wiles said physical activity is important, not only for children but also their parents. Get the energy out. Take a walk. Go fishing.

Striking the right balance with how much screen time children can have is always a challenge, but Wiles believes it’s better to let children have a little more screen time than for adults to be on edge and unable to handle the parent and educator role. He encourages parents to check out online educational programming by zoos, museums and aquariums.

“Yeah, they’re on a screen, but they’re walking you through the life of a hippopotamus or some of the great works of art, so those can be useful tools,” Wiles said. “What we don’t want is some of the mindless programming on screen time. It’s when we just plop our kids in front of it and hope for the best that things go quite wrong.”

Wiles said he’s dealing with the same challenges other parents with young children are facing: “There are so many worrying things that are going on, but I can promise you that I will likely never in my lifetime have an opportunity to spend this much time with my family all at once. And they grow up fast. Everyone who has kids knows it. Blink and you’ll miss it.”

“It’s not easy. None of this is easy. Parenting itself isn’t easy,” he added. “It’s very hard, but it’s a really good time to recognize and take stock in how beautiful our families are and how important they are to us and just how much we’ll do to help them and make everybody feel a little bit safer, a little happier and stay healthy.”

Cover photo by Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Alexas_Fotos-686414/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3582986">Alexas_Fotos</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3582986">Pixabay</a>

K-State Research and Extension<h2>K-State child development specialist offers tips to help families during COVID-19 outbreak</h2>MANHATTAN – In this most uncertain of times, many of us are experiencing anxiety for a number of reasons. Who will take care of the children if I don’t get home before my spouse goes to work? How quickly will my unemployment benefits kick in? What if a family member gets sick?A Kansas State University child development specialist says it’s understandable for you and your children to have anxiety right now, but there are steps you can take to manage it, for yourself and for your children.“When it comes to managing anxiety, the most important component is taking care of one’s self. Just like when we’re on an airplane, you should put your own mask on before you put someone else’s mask on,” said Bradford Wiles, a K-State associate professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences.“None of us are going to be perfectly calm and easy going during difficult times,” he said. “But as we’re working through things with our children, making sure we can respond in intentional and kind and compassionate ways, is really critical.”&nbsp;He encourages parents to be honest to the extent appropriate for their age: “The most authentic thing is to be honest. Now, obviously, you’re not going to talk about disease transmission with your two-year-old. But you can say ‘Mommy and Daddy or Grandma and Grandpa don’t want to get anyone sick.’”The idea isn’t to scare them, rather be positive, using words they can understand.“Little ones won’t understand words like ‘pandemic’ or ‘coronavirus.’ But they’ll understand that by staying home right now, we’re helping keep our neighborhood and community safe,” Wiles said.With the closure of Kansas schools through the end of the school year, districts are scrambling to take the learning online so teachers can teach and students can learn at a distance. That means parents or other family members are playing a much greater role in the day-to-day teaching.“One thing I have learned is that schoolteachers don’t get paid nearly enough,” said Wiles, who added that he himself had been home with his own children for several days at the time of this interview. “I should be as equipped as anyone to be able to homeschool my children. It’s very difficult.”He suggests parents:<ol>
 <li>Lay out a lesson plan that’s reasonable. You don’t have to always get to everything, but know what you’re going to learn. Children, as with everyone, like to know what to expect.</li><li>Take advantage of help. Some resources can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/about-us/covid-19-extension.html">online</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Cooking and baking are not just to keep our bodies nourished, they can be ways to incorporate chemistry, math and reading skills.</li><li>Have meals together and make them social science lessons. Even talk (and listen to what your kids think) about the benefits of having meals together.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Give yourself a break. Children and adults both need them. None of us right now under these conditions are at our optimal performance, Wiles said.</li>
 </ol>“There’s a lot of anxiety. There’s a lot of restlessness. There’s a lot of sleeplessness. Things that wouldn’t normally get to us, get to us,” Wiles said. “It’s not anything that any of us want. I don’t want to be Pollyanna-ish at all, but making the best of it is no joke.”&nbsp;He encourages parents to consider this time an opportunity to learn what their children are learning.“During these long school days, when we want our children to keep learning, and this is so critical, we need to honor that people are paid full time, day in and day out, five days a week (to teach) our children, and so to try to take on all that, and keep our normal routines is just simply undoable. Something has to give.”Parents can’t expect to teach children everything they would normally learn in school in the next six weeks, “but what you can do is teach them how to handle things and learn from their activities, and also learn what it’s like to be a strong, helpful, and competent human beings.”Wiles said physical activity is important, not only for children but also their parents. Get the energy out. Take a walk. Go fishing.Striking the right balance with how much screen time children can have is always a challenge, but Wiles believes it’s better to let children have a little more screen time than for adults to be on edge and unable to handle the parent and educator role. He encourages parents to check out online educational programming by zoos, museums and aquariums.“Yeah, they’re on a screen, but they’re walking you through the life of a hippopotamus or some of the great works of art, so those can be useful tools,” Wiles said. “What we don’t want is some of the mindless programming on screen time. It’s when we just plop our kids in front of it and hope for the best that things go quite wrong.”Wiles said he’s dealing with the same challenges other parents with young children are facing: “There are so many worrying things that are going on, but I can promise you that I will likely never in my lifetime have an opportunity to spend this much time with my family all at once. And they grow up fast. Everyone who has kids knows it. Blink and you’ll miss it.”“It’s not easy. None of this is easy. Parenting itself isn’t easy,” he added. “It’s very hard, but it’s a really good time to recognize and take stock in how beautiful our families are and how important they are to us and just how much we’ll do to help them and make everybody feel a little bit safer, a little happier and stay healthy.”Cover photo by Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Alexas_Fotos-686414/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3582986">Alexas_Fotos</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3582986">Pixabay</a>

Manage your own anxiety to help your kids’ stress, too

TOPEKA —The Department of Corrections announced Tuesday night that three employees at the Lansing Correctional Facility are recovering at home from COVID-19 in the first positive diagnoses in the state prison system. Inmates who had close contact with the workers have been moved to medical isolation where they will be monitored for symptoms.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Rebecca Witte said staff in the state’s prison system are using protective equipment only when treating inmates who are ill with coronavirus or who are suspected of having it. She said it would require 13,500 sets of equipment each day to have all staff use them as a preventive measure, and the supply chain “is not going to support it.”

Kelly said the state is “really at the exploratory phase right now on what action we may or may not need to take regarding our corrections facilities.”

“They’re understandably frightened,” Sarah LaFrenz, president of the Kansas Organization of State Employees, said of prison staff.

Health officials reported 482 cases Wednesday, up 54 from Tuesday.&nbsp;

TOPEKA – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced Tuesday that three staff members working at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) tested positive for COVID-19. These are the first positive cases within a KDOC facility, according to a media release from the department.

The staff include a male over the age of 20 and two females over the age of 40. In order to protect the identity of these staff, no other information will be released.

The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps are being implemented immediately:

“With a virus that moves and changes as quickly as the coronavirus we anticipated that this day may come,” Zmuda said. “With the support and guidance of KDHE and Governor Kelly, and the hard work of our staff members, we are ready to care for our residents and those we serve in the community.”

TOPEKA —The Department of Corrections announced Tuesday night that three employees at the Lansing Correctional Facility are recovering at home from COVID-19 in the first positive diagnoses in the state prison system. Inmates who had close contact with the workers have been moved to medical isolation where they will be monitored for symptoms.Department of Corrections spokeswoman Rebecca Witte said staff in the state’s prison system are using protective equipment only when treating inmates who are ill with coronavirus or who are suspected of having it. She said it would require 13,500 sets of equipment each day to have all staff use them as a preventive measure, and the supply chain “is not going to support it.”Kelly said the state is “really at the exploratory phase right now on what action we may or may not need to take regarding our corrections facilities.”“They’re understandably frightened,” Sarah LaFrenz, president of the Kansas Organization of State Employees, said of prison staff.Health officials reported 482 cases Wednesday, up 54 from Tuesday.&nbsp;-------TOPEKA – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced Tuesday that three staff members working at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) tested positive for COVID-19. These are the first positive cases within a KDOC facility, according to a media release from the department.The staff include a male over the age of 20 and two females over the age of 40. In order to protect the identity of these staff, no other information will be released.The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps are being implemented immediately:<ol>
 <li>A medical investigation to ascertain who among our staff and residents have been in close contact with these staff</li><li>Notifying those persons that they have had contact with a COVID-19 confirmed case</li><li>Moving those residents who have had close contact to medical isolation where they will be monitored for symptoms</li><li>And remaining diligent in monitoring other staff and residents for symptoms</li>
 </ol>“With a virus that moves and changes as quickly as the coronavirus we anticipated that this day may come,” Zmuda said. “With the support and guidance of KDHE and Governor Kelly, and the hard work of our staff members, we are ready to care for our residents and those we serve in the community.”

The Latest: Coronavirus cases at Kansas prison

WASHINGTON (AP) – If you’re not sick with the new coronavirus, should you wear a mask in public? Global health authorities say no. Amid a shortage of masks, the United States is sticking with that advice but Tuesday, President Donald Trump suggested people who are worried wear a scarf.

That shortage is so severe that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jointcommission.org/covid-19">Joint Commission</a>, which accredits U.S. hospitals, said Tuesday that if facilities can’t provide proper masks, health workers are allowed to bring their own from home.

Front-line health workers have the greatest need for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/the-right-mask-for-the-task.html">masks</a>. And when people are sick, wearing a mask helps lessen the chances of infecting others. In places where relatives care for the sick at home, the World Health Organization also has recommended they wear a mask.

But “there is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit,” Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s epidemics chief, told reporters Monday.

“In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite,” he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask or touching the face while taking it off or putting it on.

For months as the COVID-19 crisis grew and masks disappeared from store shelves, U.S. health officials have agreed. The virus is believed to spread mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, and thus the main advice has been to keep your distance – staying 6 feet away – in addition to frequent hand-washing and not touching your face. Health workers who may be doing procedures that generate tinier particles are supposed to get high priority for tight-fitting filtering masks.

“Seriously people – STOP BUYING MASKS!” Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote in a February 29 tweet. “They are not effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk.”

But mask-wearing has long been common in some countries during respiratory outbreaks, especially in parts of Asia. As questions grow about whether people sometimes can spread the virus before realizing they’re sick – which social distancing is supposed to address – increasingly people ask what it would hurt to wear some form of mask in public.

Trump said Tuesday that his scientific advisers made clear the general public shouldn’t be competing with hospitals and health workers for scarce masks of any type.

His solution: “Use a scarf if you want,” Trump said at the daily White House briefing. “It doesn’t have to be a mask. It’s not a bad idea at least for a period of time.”

Earlier in the day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, had told CNN that once there are enough masks, there might be “some very serious consideration” about broadening the mask recommendations.

For now, the advice posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html">website</a>: “If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a face mask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a face mask).”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584894001370.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) – If you’re not sick with the new coronavirus, should you wear a mask in public? Global health authorities say no. Amid a shortage of masks, the United States is sticking with that advice but Tuesday, President Donald Trump suggested people who are worried wear a scarf.That shortage is so severe that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jointcommission.org/covid-19">Joint Commission</a>, which accredits U.S. hospitals, said Tuesday that if facilities can’t provide proper masks, health workers are allowed to bring their own from home.Front-line health workers have the greatest need for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/the-right-mask-for-the-task.html">masks</a>. And when people are sick, wearing a mask helps lessen the chances of infecting others. In places where relatives care for the sick at home, the World Health Organization also has recommended they wear a mask.But “there is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit,” Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s epidemics chief, told reporters Monday.“In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite,” he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask or touching the face while taking it off or putting it on.For months as the COVID-19 crisis grew and masks disappeared from store shelves, U.S. health officials have agreed. The virus is believed to spread mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, and thus the main advice has been to keep your distance – staying 6 feet away – in addition to frequent hand-washing and not touching your face. Health workers who may be doing procedures that generate tinier particles are supposed to get high priority for tight-fitting filtering masks.“Seriously people – STOP BUYING MASKS!” Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote in a February 29 tweet. “They are not effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk.”But mask-wearing has long been common in some countries during respiratory outbreaks, especially in parts of Asia. As questions grow about whether people sometimes can spread the virus before realizing they’re sick – which social distancing is supposed to address – increasingly people ask what it would hurt to wear some form of mask in public.Trump said Tuesday that his scientific advisers made clear the general public shouldn’t be competing with hospitals and health workers for scarce masks of any type.His solution: “Use a scarf if you want,” Trump said at the daily White House briefing. “It doesn’t have to be a mask. It’s not a bad idea at least for a period of time.”Earlier in the day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, had told CNN that once there are enough masks, there might be “some very serious consideration” about broadening the mask recommendations.For now, the advice posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html">website</a>: “If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a face mask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a face mask).”

Should you wear mask in public if not sick with coronavirus?

As Kansas went under a statewide stay at home order Monday Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy said the county has yet to have a confirmed case of the virus, but keeping it that way will be up to everyone doing their part.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e7fed84afae0f4d5f5e6e07">"I would encourage everyone to read the executive order," Kennedy said, noting there is a lot of important information contained in it.</a>

Also important, he said is understanding the order's intent of limiting all activities outside of the home.

Kennedy said if the activity is necessary for the well being of yourself or your family, it is generally permitted — but, outside of those activities, it should be avoided.

"The social distancing piece is still extremely important," he said.

He also said the order should also not replace other best practices, like good handwashing, maintaining social distancing and practicing good cleaning practices.

"The virus is spread person to person, so that's really the key piece that we need to understand," he said.&nbsp;"The more that we can break those bonds, the more that we can separate and socially distance ourselves the faster we can either slow or control the spread to some degree."

The action by the governor, he said, is just another step to reinforce the social distancing and stop the spread.

Kennedy said testing for the virus on the individual level has been a hot topic across the U.S., but is only one piece of tracking and stopping the spread of the virus.

By using testing when needed and by using sampling, officials can understand where the virus is and what measures can be used to contain it.

In Ellis County, Kennedy said, every test for COVID-19 has been negative, but testing is generally reserved for someone who is symptomatic and has traveled to an area with a confirmed outbreak.

And those people would be tested by the primary care physician, not the health department.

"We know for a fact that anyone that has been sampled or tested in Ellis County as of (Monday) has come back negative for COVID-19," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said his department only tests first responders, and those tests are sent directly to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lab.

Early in the week, he said, there was some confusion with the KDHE when they changed their testing criteria.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e6a74abafae0f4d5f5cd975">The guidance from the department was to put a priority on testing for high-risk populations and health care workers, but that did not mean that testing was limited to only those groups, Kennedy said.</a>

He did not know precisely how many tests are available the county, as those are managed by the physicians themselves, but said private labs in Hays were going to begin testing locally as directed by physicians.

He also said it should not be assumed that the virus is in Ellis County just because some have been ill, but have not been tested directly for COVID-19. He said continuing to take recommended precautions could ensure COVID-19 does not make it to Ellis County.

"The most important thing right now, if we want to keep it out of our community, is to avoid any unnecessary travel outside of Ellis County. Period," Kennedy said.

If that travel is required, limiting social interaction is important.

"If we say we have to do (social distancing) inside our county, we definitely have to do it outside of our county," Kennedy said.

Right now, he said, the most effective thing is for everyone to act like they have the virus and act accordingly.

Anyone with any of the symptoms should stay home, contact their primary care physician and follow their recommendations, Kennedy said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e71294aafae0f4d5f5d5413">For those without a primary care physician, HaysMed has set up a COVID-19 a hotline.</a>

"It doesn't matter at this point if is the flu or a cold. If you don't feel well, stay home, isolate yourself," Kennedy said. "That's the key piece."

Taking the recommended actions will not only help protect yourself but also others in the community.

"We have a large portion of at-risk population in our community," Kenedy said. "We want to do everything we can to protect them.

"To date, we have taken every step that is advised to flatten the curve, to protect vital infrastructure and to protect the at-risk population," he added. "Now it is up to the individual."

<div><iframe title="Keeping COVID-19 out of Ellis Co. is up to everyone" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/u4uid-d7ade5?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&skin=3&btn-skin=101&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582733724162.jpeg" alt="Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostAs Kansas went under a statewide stay at home order Monday Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy said the county has yet to have a confirmed case of the virus, but keeping it that way will be up to everyone doing their part.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e7fed84afae0f4d5f5e6e07">"I would encourage everyone to read the executive order," Kennedy said, noting there is a lot of important information contained in it.</a>Also important, he said is understanding the order's intent of limiting all activities outside of the home.Kennedy said if the activity is necessary for the well being of yourself or your family, it is generally permitted — but, outside of those activities, it should be avoided."The social distancing piece is still extremely important," he said.He also said the order should also not replace other best practices, like good handwashing, maintaining social distancing and practicing good cleaning practices."The virus is spread person to person, so that's really the key piece that we need to understand," he said.&nbsp;"The more that we can break those bonds, the more that we can separate and socially distance ourselves the faster we can either slow or control the spread to some degree."The action by the governor, he said, is just another step to reinforce the social distancing and stop the spread.Kennedy said testing for the virus on the individual level has been a hot topic across the U.S., but is only one piece of tracking and stopping the spread of the virus.By using testing when needed and by using sampling, officials can understand where the virus is and what measures can be used to contain it.In Ellis County, Kennedy said, every test for COVID-19 has been negative, but testing is generally reserved for someone who is symptomatic and has traveled to an area with a confirmed outbreak.And those people would be tested by the primary care physician, not the health department.<h2>"We know for a fact that anyone that has been sampled or tested in Ellis County as of (Monday) has come back negative for COVID-19," Kennedy said.</h2>Kennedy said his department only tests first responders, and those tests are sent directly to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lab.Early in the week, he said, there was some confusion with the KDHE when they changed their testing criteria.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e6a74abafae0f4d5f5cd975">The guidance from the department was to put a priority on testing for high-risk populations and health care workers, but that did not mean that testing was limited to only those groups, Kennedy said.</a>He did not know precisely how many tests are available the county, as those are managed by the physicians themselves, but said private labs in Hays were going to begin testing locally as directed by physicians.He also said it should not be assumed that the virus is in Ellis County just because some have been ill, but have not been tested directly for COVID-19. He said continuing to take recommended precautions could ensure COVID-19 does not make it to Ellis County."The most important thing right now, if we want to keep it out of our community, is to avoid any unnecessary travel outside of Ellis County. Period," Kennedy said. If that travel is required, limiting social interaction is important."If we say we have to do (social distancing) inside our county, we definitely have to do it outside of our county," Kennedy said.Right now, he said, the most effective thing is for everyone to act like they have the virus and act accordingly.Anyone with any of the symptoms should stay home, contact their primary care physician and follow their recommendations, Kennedy said.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e71294aafae0f4d5f5d5413">For those without a primary care physician, HaysMed has set up a COVID-19 a hotline.</a>"It doesn't matter at this point if is the flu or a cold. If you don't feel well, stay home, isolate yourself," Kennedy said. "That's the key piece."Taking the recommended actions will not only help protect yourself but also others in the community."We have a large portion of at-risk population in our community," Kenedy said. "We want to do everything we can to protect them."To date, we have taken every step that is advised to flatten the curve, to protect vital infrastructure and to protect the at-risk population," he added. "Now it is up to the individual."

🎤Kennedy: Following guidelines could keep COVID-19 out of Ellis Co.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “hell of a bad two weeks” ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.

Public health officials stressed that the number could be less if people across the country bear down on keeping their distance from one another.

“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.

Added Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, “This is a number that we need to anticipate, but we don’t necessarily have to accept it as being inevitable.”

Trump called it “a matter of life and death” for Americans to heed his administration’s guidelines and predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in a pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more.

“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said.

“This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we’ve ever had in our country,” Trump added. “We’re going to lose thousands of people.”

The jaw-dropping projections were laid out during a grim, two-hour White House briefing. Officials described a death toll that in a best-case scenario would likely be greater than the more than 53,000 American lives lost during World War I. And the model’s high end neared the realm of possibility that Americans lost to the virus could approach the 291,000 Americans killed on the battlefield during World II.

“There’s no magic bullet,” Birx said. “There’s no magic vaccine or therapy. It’s just behaviors. Each of our behaviors, translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic.”

Fauci called the numbers “sobering” and urged Americans to “step on the accelerator” with their collective mitigation efforts.

“We are continuing to see things go up,” Fauci said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.”

Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus through social distancing. She added that states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.

It’s not only social distancing that could make a difference, but also the frantic efforts by hospitals around the country to prepare for an onslaught of seriously ill patients. The better prepared hospitals are, the greater the chances of lives being saved.

There’s also a wild card when it comes to treatment: whether the experimental drug combination Trump has touted — a medicine for malaria and an antibiotic — will actually make a difference. That combination is already being used on thousands of patients, and Fauci said he would want to see a rigorous test of its effectiveness.

Trump’s comments came after he announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that advise Americans to cease large gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.

It was an abrupt reversal for Trump, who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.

Trump called the data “very sobering,” saying it was his understanding that 100,000 deaths was a minimum that would be difficult to avoid. He also sought to rewrite his past minimization of the outbreak, saying he rejected those who compared the new coronavirus to the flu — when in fact he repeatedly did so publicly.

"This could be hell of a bad two weeks,’” Trump said. He added: “You know 100,000 is, according to modeling, a very low number. In fact, when I first saw the number ... they said it was unlikely you’ll be able to attain that. We have to see but I think we’re doing better than that.”

Trump played down concerns from New York’s Andrew Cuomo and other governors that their states’ hospitals don’t have enough ventilators to treat an anticipated crush of patients. Trump said the federal government currently has a stockpile of 10,000 ventilators that it plans on distributing as needed.

“Now, when the surge occurs, if it occurs fairly evenly, we’ll be able to distribute them very quickly before they need them,” Trump said. “But we want to have a reserve right now. It’s like having oil reserves.”

Birx said the experiences of Washington state and California give her hope that other states can keep the coronavirus under control through social distancing. That’s because they moved quickly to contain the early clusters of coronavirus by closing schools, urging people to work from home, banning large gatherings and taking other measures now familiar to most Americans, she noted.

“I am reassured by looking at the Seattle line,” she added. “California and Washington state reacted very early to this.” Many other states and local governments already have stiff controls in place on mobility and gatherings.

Trump said he would also ask Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow the docking of two cruise ships with passengers who have had contact with patients suffering from COVID-19. Passengers are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but DeSantis said the state’s health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on a ship’s coronavirus caseload.

“They’re dying on the ship,” Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right, not only for us for but humanity.”

Trump also said he planned to curtail his travel for the month ahead and stay close to the White House to safeguard his health. The president hasn’t held one of his signature big-stadium rallies since early March, and it’s unlikely he’ll be holding another one anytime soon.

“I think it’s important that I remain healthy. I really do,” Trump said. “So for the most part we’re staying here.”

Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market, which has been in a free fall as the cononavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and left millions unemployed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points, or roughly 1.9%, to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585692040069.png" alt="Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “hell of a bad two weeks” ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691283364.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>Public health officials stressed that the number could be less if people across the country bear down on keeping their distance from one another.“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.Added Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, “This is a number that we need to anticipate, but we don’t necessarily have to accept it as being inevitable.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691441605.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump called it “a matter of life and death” for Americans to heed his administration’s guidelines and predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in a pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more.“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said.“This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we’ve ever had in our country,” Trump added. “We’re going to lose thousands of people.”The jaw-dropping projections were laid out during a grim, two-hour White House briefing. Officials described a death toll that in a best-case scenario would likely be greater than the more than 53,000 American lives lost during World War I. And the model’s high end neared the realm of possibility that Americans lost to the virus could approach the 291,000 Americans killed on the battlefield during World II.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691504295.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>“There’s no magic bullet,” Birx said. “There’s no magic vaccine or therapy. It’s just behaviors. Each of our behaviors, translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic.”Fauci called the numbers “sobering” and urged Americans to “step on the accelerator” with their collective mitigation efforts.“We are continuing to see things go up,” Fauci said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.”Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus through social distancing. She added that states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.It’s not only social distancing that could make a difference, but also the frantic efforts by hospitals around the country to prepare for an onslaught of seriously ill patients. The better prepared hospitals are, the greater the chances of lives being saved.There’s also a wild card when it comes to treatment: whether the experimental drug combination Trump has touted — a medicine for malaria and an antibiotic — will actually make a difference. That combination is already being used on thousands of patients, and Fauci said he would want to see a rigorous test of its effectiveness.Trump’s comments came after he announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that advise Americans to cease large gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.It was an abrupt reversal for Trump, who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691352994.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump called the data “very sobering,” saying it was his understanding that 100,000 deaths was a minimum that would be difficult to avoid. He also sought to rewrite his past minimization of the outbreak, saying he rejected those who compared the new coronavirus to the flu — when in fact he repeatedly did so publicly."This could be hell of a bad two weeks,’” Trump said. He added: “You know 100,000 is, according to modeling, a very low number. In fact, when I first saw the number ... they said it was unlikely you’ll be able to attain that. We have to see but I think we’re doing better than that.”Trump played down concerns from New York’s Andrew Cuomo and other governors that their states’ hospitals don’t have enough ventilators to treat an anticipated crush of patients. Trump said the federal government currently has a stockpile of 10,000 ventilators that it plans on distributing as needed.“Now, when the surge occurs, if it occurs fairly evenly, we’ll be able to distribute them very quickly before they need them,” Trump said. “But we want to have a reserve right now. It’s like having oil reserves.”Birx said the experiences of Washington state and California give her hope that other states can keep the coronavirus under control through social distancing. That’s because they moved quickly to contain the early clusters of coronavirus by closing schools, urging people to work from home, banning large gatherings and taking other measures now familiar to most Americans, she noted.“I am reassured by looking at the Seattle line,” she added. “California and Washington state reacted very early to this.” Many other states and local governments already have stiff controls in place on mobility and gatherings.Trump said he would also ask Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow the docking of two cruise ships with passengers who have had contact with patients suffering from COVID-19. Passengers are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but DeSantis said the state’s health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on a ship’s coronavirus caseload.“They’re dying on the ship,” Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right, not only for us for but humanity.”Trump also said he planned to curtail his travel for the month ahead and stay close to the White House to safeguard his health. The president hasn’t held one of his signature big-stadium rallies since early March, and it’s unlikely he’ll be holding another one anytime soon.“I think it’s important that I remain healthy. I really do,” Trump said. “So for the most part we’re staying here.”Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market, which has been in a free fall as the cononavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and left millions unemployed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points, or roughly 1.9%, to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history.

White House projects up to 240K US deaths from virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — A $500 billion federal aid package for companies and governments hurt by the coronavirus includes rules aimed at ensuring that the taxpayer money is used in ways that would help sustain the economy. But questions are being raised about whether those guardrails will prevent the kinds of abuses that have marked some corporate bailouts of the past.

In return for the emergency loans, which could be spun by the Federal Reserve into up to $4.5 trillion, companies will face temporary limits on what they can pay executives. They’ll also need to keep their workforces stable or at least not lay off more than 10% for several months. And they’ll face restrictions on stock buybacks and dividend increases.

Yet loopholes may lurk in the legislation.

“On paper, it looks like we learned the lessons,’’ said James Angel, an associate professor of finance at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “But the devil is in the details. ... There’s a lot of room around the edges.”

The legislation establishes a system of oversight on how companies use the rescue money. The oversight is widely thought to exceed the standards for the bailouts of banks and automakers in the 2008-09 financial crisis. Critics have long attacked those bailouts as an unwarranted giveaway to corporations whose conduct contributed directly to the crisis.

Under the just-enacted $2.2 trillion package, a government watchdog and a panel appointed by Congress will monitor how the billions in aid are deployed and whether its corporate recipients are meeting the restrictions.

President Donald Trump wasted little time, though, in throwing the oversight system into question. After signing the relief package Friday, Trump issued a statement that seemed to reject the independence of a new inspector general’s office. He said he wouldn't recognize the inspector general's right to report to Congress without “presidential supervision.” Trump's statement went on to dispute other aspects of the oversight rules, including that Congress should be consulted in the allocation of relief money.

It will be up to Trump to appoint the special inspector general for the bailout fund, who will have to be confirmed by the Senate.

By any standards, the overall package is a staggering pot of money — by far the largest in the history of crisis relief for industries and local governments. About $425 billion is to be used by the Treasury Department to support the Fed's emergency lending programs. These include loans for small and medium-sized businesses. Because the companies, states and cities are deemed likely to repay the loans, the Fed is able to to leverage the money into up to roughly $4 trillion in actual lending.

“A program of this scale and scope ... when things are moving so fast, will need vigorous scrutiny,” said Phil Angelides, a former California state treasurer who led the 10-member congressional oversight panel for the financial-crisis bailout.

Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University and a former Justice Department attorney, notes that the bailout program gives wide latitude to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

“Secretary Mnuchin has authority to basically negotiate any kind of loan that he wants," Henning said. “We'll see who gets favored and who doesn't."

For companies that receive emergency aid, there may be wiggle room in the conditions attached to it. While they can’t shrink their workforce by more than 10% through the fall, there’s no prohibition against cutting employee wages — except for airlines that receive direct grants. These grants must be used for employee pay and benefits.

Companies could also reduce workers’ hours and overtime without running afoul of a ban on breaching union contracts.

“A lot of people are going to see their compensation fall even though they still have a job,” Georgetown’s Angel said. “Just the fear of that puts the brakes on the economy.”

In addition, some corporate recipients of aid will likely find ways to bypass limits on executive compensation, Angel suggested, through how stock options are valued or through non-financial perks like housing and travel expenses.

During the financial crisis, public advocates railed against revelations of excessive pay packages for executives at some banks and automakers that received billions in taxpayer aid. The Treasury did take equity stakes in the companies in exchange for emergency loans — an idea that Trump has endorsed for the new aid program. This is likely to be the case for airlines that receive direct federal grants.

Another condition is that recipient companies cannot buy back their own shares from investors for at least a year after the loan term ends. This restriction may be easier than others to monitor because of public reporting requirements for stock transactions.

Buybacks tend to inflate stock prices by reducing the number of shares in circulation. This can produce a bonanza for executives whose compensation comes mainly in stock awards and options rather than salary. Better to use the aid, critics say, to preserve employee jobs or wages, invest in expansion or build cash reserves for future emergencies.

Four big airlines — American, United, Delta and Southwest — spent a combined $39 billion in the past five years on share buybacks, according to S&amp;P Global. The new $500 billion relief fund earmarks up to $50 billion for loans and grants to airlines; $8 billion for cargo carriers; and up to $17 billion for “businesses critical to maintaining national security" — regarded as a life vest for Boeing. The struggles of the aircraft giant, reeling from the grounding of its 737 Max jet, have deepened as air travel has nearly halted.

In addition to airlines, the distressed industries that have pleaded for federal help include hotels, restaurants, retailers and manufacturers.

The emergency loans for corporations, to run up to five years, bar executives at recipient companies who earned over $425,000 last year from receiving compensation that would exceed their 2019 total. Nor will “golden parachutes” payments for senior executives who are let go be allowed to exceed twice an executive's 2019 compensation if it topped $425,000. And executives who earned over $3 million last year cannot receive compensation exceeding $3 million plus half of any 2019 pay over $3 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584462219509.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A $500 billion federal aid package for companies and governments hurt by the coronavirus includes rules aimed at ensuring that the taxpayer money is used in ways that would help sustain the economy. But questions are being raised about whether those guardrails will prevent the kinds of abuses that have marked some corporate bailouts of the past.In return for the emergency loans, which could be spun by the Federal Reserve into up to $4.5 trillion, companies will face temporary limits on what they can pay executives. They’ll also need to keep their workforces stable or at least not lay off more than 10% for several months. And they’ll face restrictions on stock buybacks and dividend increases.Yet loopholes may lurk in the legislation.“On paper, it looks like we learned the lessons,’’ said James Angel, an associate professor of finance at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “But the devil is in the details. ... There’s a lot of room around the edges.”The legislation establishes a system of oversight on how companies use the rescue money. The oversight is widely thought to exceed the standards for the bailouts of banks and automakers in the 2008-09 financial crisis. Critics have long attacked those bailouts as an unwarranted giveaway to corporations whose conduct contributed directly to the crisis.Under the just-enacted $2.2 trillion package, a government watchdog and a panel appointed by Congress will monitor how the billions in aid are deployed and whether its corporate recipients are meeting the restrictions.President Donald Trump wasted little time, though, in throwing the oversight system into question. After signing the relief package Friday, Trump issued a statement that seemed to reject the independence of a new inspector general’s office. He said he wouldn't recognize the inspector general's right to report to Congress without “presidential supervision.” Trump's statement went on to dispute other aspects of the oversight rules, including that Congress should be consulted in the allocation of relief money.It will be up to Trump to appoint the special inspector general for the bailout fund, who will have to be confirmed by the Senate.By any standards, the overall package is a staggering pot of money — by far the largest in the history of crisis relief for industries and local governments. About $425 billion is to be used by the Treasury Department to support the Fed's emergency lending programs. These include loans for small and medium-sized businesses. Because the companies, states and cities are deemed likely to repay the loans, the Fed is able to to leverage the money into up to roughly $4 trillion in actual lending.“A program of this scale and scope ... when things are moving so fast, will need vigorous scrutiny,” said Phil Angelides, a former California state treasurer who led the 10-member congressional oversight panel for the financial-crisis bailout.Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University and a former Justice Department attorney, notes that the bailout program gives wide latitude to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.“Secretary Mnuchin has authority to basically negotiate any kind of loan that he wants," Henning said. “We'll see who gets favored and who doesn't."For companies that receive emergency aid, there may be wiggle room in the conditions attached to it. While they can’t shrink their workforce by more than 10% through the fall, there’s no prohibition against cutting employee wages — except for airlines that receive direct grants. These grants must be used for employee pay and benefits.Companies could also reduce workers’ hours and overtime without running afoul of a ban on breaching union contracts.“A lot of people are going to see their compensation fall even though they still have a job,” Georgetown’s Angel said. “Just the fear of that puts the brakes on the economy.”In addition, some corporate recipients of aid will likely find ways to bypass limits on executive compensation, Angel suggested, through how stock options are valued or through non-financial perks like housing and travel expenses.During the financial crisis, public advocates railed against revelations of excessive pay packages for executives at some banks and automakers that received billions in taxpayer aid. The Treasury did take equity stakes in the companies in exchange for emergency loans — an idea that Trump has endorsed for the new aid program. This is likely to be the case for airlines that receive direct federal grants.Another condition is that recipient companies cannot buy back their own shares from investors for at least a year after the loan term ends. This restriction may be easier than others to monitor because of public reporting requirements for stock transactions.Buybacks tend to inflate stock prices by reducing the number of shares in circulation. This can produce a bonanza for executives whose compensation comes mainly in stock awards and options rather than salary. Better to use the aid, critics say, to preserve employee jobs or wages, invest in expansion or build cash reserves for future emergencies.Four big airlines — American, United, Delta and Southwest — spent a combined $39 billion in the past five years on share buybacks, according to S&amp;P Global. The new $500 billion relief fund earmarks up to $50 billion for loans and grants to airlines; $8 billion for cargo carriers; and up to $17 billion for “businesses critical to maintaining national security" — regarded as a life vest for Boeing. The struggles of the aircraft giant, reeling from the grounding of its 737 Max jet, have deepened as air travel has nearly halted.In addition to airlines, the distressed industries that have pleaded for federal help include hotels, restaurants, retailers and manufacturers.The emergency loans for corporations, to run up to five years, bar executives at recipient companies who earned over $425,000 last year from receiving compensation that would exceed their 2019 total. Nor will “golden parachutes” payments for senior executives who are let go be allowed to exceed twice an executive's 2019 compensation if it topped $425,000. And executives who earned over $3 million last year cannot receive compensation exceeding $3 million plus half of any 2019 pay over $3 million.__

Conditions for companies that get virus aid: Room for abuse?

TOPEKA –&nbsp;People who attended the Kansas East Jurisdiction’s 2020 Ministers and Workers Conference at the Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ located at 2106 Quindaro Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66104 from March 16-22, may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Health.

This event has been identified as a place of exposure for multiple people in Kansas who have since become ill and tested positive for COVID-19.

Symptoms for COVID-19 appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other rarer symptoms that may develop include malaise, sore throat and diarrhea.

If you develop any of these symptoms, but are not ill enough to seek medical care, you must stay home for at least 7 days after symptom started or for 72 hours after fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and with a significant improvement in symptoms, whichever is longer. If you develop these symptoms and need to seek medical care, call your healthcare provider beforehand to inform them that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and require medical attention.

If you attended this event and develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 between 2 and 14 days later, please call your local health department as they will conduct a confidential investigation to prevent further transmission of COVID-19.

For more information about COVID-19 in Kansas, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C042a1edf1de145d374d508d7d5b47766%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637212843374682280&amp;sdata=qleGonZO74ZQP%2FUtHLm5kLVzOSHE6pVERomGOC8e%2FeE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. For questions regarding isolation and quarantine for COVID-19, please contact your local health department or KDHE’s Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;People who attended the Kansas East Jurisdiction’s 2020 Ministers and Workers Conference at the Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ located at 2106 Quindaro Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66104 from March 16-22, may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Health.This event has been identified as a place of exposure for multiple people in Kansas who have since become ill and tested positive for COVID-19.Symptoms for COVID-19 appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other rarer symptoms that may develop include malaise, sore throat and diarrhea.If you develop any of these symptoms, but are not ill enough to seek medical care, you must stay home for at least 7 days after symptom started or for 72 hours after fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and with a significant improvement in symptoms, whichever is longer. If you develop these symptoms and need to seek medical care, call your healthcare provider beforehand to inform them that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and require medical attention.If you attended this event and develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 between 2 and 14 days later, please call your local health department as they will conduct a confidential investigation to prevent further transmission of COVID-19.For more information about COVID-19 in Kansas, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C042a1edf1de145d374d508d7d5b47766%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637212843374682280&amp;sdata=qleGonZO74ZQP%2FUtHLm5kLVzOSHE6pVERomGOC8e%2FeE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. For questions regarding isolation and quarantine for COVID-19, please contact your local health department or KDHE’s Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317.

KDHE: Attendees at church conference may have been exposed to virus

The Ellis County Health Department has released a list of local businesses offering "safe shopping hours" for seniors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585688540835.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department has released a list of local businesses offering "safe shopping hours" for seniors.

'Safe shopping' hours at Walmart, Dillons, dollar stores

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed an Executive Order Tuesday that will provide temporary relief from certain unemployment insurance requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

The governor addressed the issues during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO-20-17-Executed.pdf">Click here to read</a> details on the new executive order 20-17.

&nbsp;It will ensure Kansans can draw down millions in federal dollars under the federal CARES Act.

The federal stimulus will expand unemployment insurance to include self-employed, 1099-independent contractors, gig and low-wage workers who can no longer work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement also increases weekly benefits for all unemployed workers by $600 a week for up to four months.

"Certain provisions of Kansas employment security law will impede Kansas’ ability to draw down millions in federal funds for unemployment insurance programs,” Kelly said. “This order will allow flexibility to ensure Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis.”

Executive Order 20-17 makes three, temporary changes to Kansas employment security law:

“This flexibility will ensure that our Department of Labor can keep up with the surge of unemployment claims our state is experiencing and that Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis,” Kelly said.

Kelly also addressed the unprecedented volume of calls coming into the Kansas Department of Labor. Just yesterday, the agency received over 877,000 calls to their unemployment line. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the agency received an average of 1,100 calls per week.

“Labor Secretary Delia Garcia and her team are working quickly to expand capacity at the call centers,” Kelly said. “They have added phone lines, hired additional employees and are working with employers to speed up the benefit process. The website remains the fastest and most efficient way to file for benefits, but if you must call in, please be patient. This is an incredibly stressful time for everybody, and the Department of Labor is working hard to get applications processed and benefits distributed.”

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed an Executive Order Tuesday that will provide temporary relief from certain unemployment insurance requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The governor addressed the issues during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F210912297003625%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO-20-17-Executed.pdf">Click here to read</a> details on the new executive order 20-17.&nbsp;It will ensure Kansans can draw down millions in federal dollars under the federal CARES Act.The federal stimulus will expand unemployment insurance to include self-employed, 1099-independent contractors, gig and low-wage workers who can no longer work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement also increases weekly benefits for all unemployed workers by $600 a week for up to four months."Certain provisions of Kansas employment security law will impede Kansas’ ability to draw down millions in federal funds for unemployment insurance programs,” Kelly said. “This order will allow flexibility to ensure Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis.”Executive Order 20-17 makes three, temporary changes to Kansas employment security law:<ol>
 <li>The waiting week requirement for unemployment benefits is temporarily waived for all claimants;</li><li>The requirement that Kansans receiving unemployment benefits actively seek work each week is temporarily waived for all claimants to allow Kansans to continue the necessary social distancing practices;</li><li>All Kansas employers, as required by the federal Department of Labor, must notify separated employees if they qualify for unemployment insurance.</li>
 </ol>“This flexibility will ensure that our Department of Labor can keep up with the surge of unemployment claims our state is experiencing and that Kansas workers and small business owners can secure the safety and protection that unemployment insurance is designed to provide at times of crisis,” Kelly said.Kelly also addressed the unprecedented volume of calls coming into the Kansas Department of Labor. Just yesterday, the agency received over 877,000 calls to their unemployment line. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the agency received an average of 1,100 calls per week.“Labor Secretary Delia Garcia and her team are working quickly to expand capacity at the call centers,” Kelly said. “They have added phone lines, hired additional employees and are working with employers to speed up the benefit process. The website remains the fastest and most efficient way to file for benefits, but if you must call in, please be patient. This is an incredibly stressful time for everybody, and the Department of Labor is working hard to get applications processed and benefits distributed.”

 🎥 New executive order will help Kansans with unemployment insurance

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. Monday's report indicated the youngest coronavirus patient as a 4-year-old old. Tuesday's report includes a patient less than a year-old.

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. Monday's report indicated the youngest coronavirus patient as a 4-year-old old. Tuesday's report includes a patient less than a year-old.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585681530635.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Latest coronavirus numbers in Kan. includes infant to 95-year-old

NEW YORK (AP) — When will the money arrive?

That’s the urgent question for small business owners who have been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They’re awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that’s all but shut down, owners are worried about survival.

Millions of owners face April 1 due dates for rent, mortgage, credit card and other payments. Some have been granted leniency from landlords and lenders. But even then, there are other business and personal bills that are owed. And employees — at least those who haven’t been laid off — must be paid.

“How quick can we get these funds?” says Adam Rammel, co-owner of Brewfontaine, a bar and restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio, that’s now limited to takeout and delivery service. His revenue is down 60%. Yet he has eight staffers, down from his usual 25, whom he must pay.

“Relief can’t come soon enough — we’re a cash business with small margins,” says Rammel, who is looking to Small Business Administration loans. He needs the money despite receiving some concessions from his banker.

Freelancers and people whose gig work has vanished are also anxious about having to wait.

“I need to pay my electric bill and the mortgage,” says Krista Kowalcyzk, whose Southwest Florida photography business has come to a halt as weddings have been canceled and customers have decided against having portraits shot.

She feels somewhat reassured that she can receive unemployment benefits. But while she waits, “I am terrified that not only do I have no revenue coming in, I have also been asked for thousands of dollars in refunds.”

At companies small and large, from restaurants and retailers to sports and entertainment venues, revenue has essentially dried up. The same for the businesses that support those companies. Even employers that are still operating have lost business as their customers have became too cautious to continue doing business.

The rescue package signed into law Friday provides for Small Business Administration loans to companies as well as to sole proprietors and freelancers. The loans can be used for payroll, mortgages, rent and utilities, with those amounts forgiven and payments deferred. It will also supply small loans that can, depending on an owner’s credit score, be approved quickly. Employers can receive tax credits for retaining workers, though not if they have obtained one of the SBA loans.

Many owners are also seeking separate SBA economic injury disaster loans. And the Federal Reserve plans to set up a program to lend directly to small business owners.

In addition, freelancers are now eligible for unemployment benefits. And owners can be eligible for the $1,200 per person payment that’s available to many Americans depending on their income.

Whatever the source of funding, how fast it arrives at businesses across the country is sure to have a significant impact on the economy. Slightly more than half of American workers are employed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Every lost job means another person will struggle to pay rent or other bills. Unpaid bills, in turn, cut revenue for other businesses.

Layoffs are mounting, and most analysts forecast that the economy will shrink significantly in the April-June quarter, with some estimating a a 30% annual plunge for the quarter. That would be deepest economic contraction for any quarter in records dating to Word War II. In the week that ended March 21, roughly 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits — more than 10 times the number for the previous week and nearly five times the prior record high.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the small loans would be available starting Friday, and in an interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said he hoped to release loan forms later Monday.

Katie Vliestra, an executive at the National Association for the Self-Employed, an advocacy group, says she’s concerned about the lag time between application and approval for even the small loans that are intended to have the fastest turnaround. Most small companies have only 15 to 30 days of cash on hand, she said.

There are also worries about potential logjams at the SBA. The agency’s inspector general’s office found that the SBA failed to quickly turn around thousands of loans after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area in 2017. (The SBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for information about handling an influx of applications.)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342982232.png" alt="President Trump signed the $2.2T virus aid package Friday -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the $2.2T virus aid package Friday -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — When will the money arrive?That’s the urgent question for small business owners who have been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They’re awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that’s all but shut down, owners are worried about survival.Millions of owners face April 1 due dates for rent, mortgage, credit card and other payments. Some have been granted leniency from landlords and lenders. But even then, there are other business and personal bills that are owed. And employees — at least those who haven’t been laid off — must be paid.“How quick can we get these funds?” says Adam Rammel, co-owner of Brewfontaine, a bar and restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio, that’s now limited to takeout and delivery service. His revenue is down 60%. Yet he has eight staffers, down from his usual 25, whom he must pay.“Relief can’t come soon enough — we’re a cash business with small margins,” says Rammel, who is looking to Small Business Administration loans. He needs the money despite receiving some concessions from his banker.Freelancers and people whose gig work has vanished are also anxious about having to wait.“I need to pay my electric bill and the mortgage,” says Krista Kowalcyzk, whose Southwest Florida photography business has come to a halt as weddings have been canceled and customers have decided against having portraits shot.She feels somewhat reassured that she can receive unemployment benefits. But while she waits, “I am terrified that not only do I have no revenue coming in, I have also been asked for thousands of dollars in refunds.”At companies small and large, from restaurants and retailers to sports and entertainment venues, revenue has essentially dried up. The same for the businesses that support those companies. Even employers that are still operating have lost business as their customers have became too cautious to continue doing business.The rescue package signed into law Friday provides for Small Business Administration loans to companies as well as to sole proprietors and freelancers. The loans can be used for payroll, mortgages, rent and utilities, with those amounts forgiven and payments deferred. It will also supply small loans that can, depending on an owner’s credit score, be approved quickly. Employers can receive tax credits for retaining workers, though not if they have obtained one of the SBA loans.Many owners are also seeking separate SBA economic injury disaster loans. And the Federal Reserve plans to set up a program to lend directly to small business owners.In addition, freelancers are now eligible for unemployment benefits. And owners can be eligible for the $1,200 per person payment that’s available to many Americans depending on their income.Whatever the source of funding, how fast it arrives at businesses across the country is sure to have a significant impact on the economy. Slightly more than half of American workers are employed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Every lost job means another person will struggle to pay rent or other bills. Unpaid bills, in turn, cut revenue for other businesses.Layoffs are mounting, and most analysts forecast that the economy will shrink significantly in the April-June quarter, with some estimating a a 30% annual plunge for the quarter. That would be deepest economic contraction for any quarter in records dating to Word War II. In the week that ended March 21, roughly 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits — more than 10 times the number for the previous week and nearly five times the prior record high.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the small loans would be available starting Friday, and in an interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said he hoped to release loan forms later Monday.Katie Vliestra, an executive at the National Association for the Self-Employed, an advocacy group, says she’s concerned about the lag time between application and approval for even the small loans that are intended to have the fastest turnaround. Most small companies have only 15 to 30 days of cash on hand, she said.There are also worries about potential logjams at the SBA. The agency’s inspector general’s office found that the SBA failed to quickly turn around thousands of loans after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area in 2017. (The SBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for information about handling an influx of applications.)John Arensmeyer, CEO of the advocacy group Small Business Majority, says he’s concerned that the loans will be processed through the SBA’s traditional business loan program, which relies on banks to handle the initial applications.“Banks have to retool their technology to do this,” Arensmeyer says. “It’s going to be months before this money gets out there. How many people are going to be able to maintain payroll, hoping to get this money?”On its face, the rescue aid appears to address some of the most vital needs of small businesses, notably their ability to maintain or hire back furloughed workers eventually. The issue is whether it will come quickly enough.“The challenge is cash flow,” says Jason Duff, owner of Six Hundred Downtown, a restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has a staff of eight, down from 27, handling deliveries and pickups.Duff has less than a week of working capital funds available. He is seeking loans from family and friends as well as some patience from vendors while he awaits federal help.Don Allison has bills coming due this week for his business, a publisher of books about the Civil War and northwest Ohio history. He and his wife are looking forward to a combined $2,400. But the royalty checks he must send out require a bigger cash infusion. And he’s concerned about being in a long line of owners hoping to receive SBA loans.“They’re going to be slammed,” Allison says of the SBA. “How big a delay is there going to be?”

Coronavirus Update