Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, and until further notice, Victoria City Hall will be closed to the public. 

Citizens can make utility payments online, by mail or utilize the drop box. 

City employees will still be available during regular office hours. If you are needing assistance feel free to call city hall at 785-735-2259. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584581352381.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CITY OF VICTORIAEffective Thursday, March 19, 2020, and until further notice, Victoria City Hall will be closed to the public. Citizens can make utility payments online, by mail or utilize the drop box. City employees will still be available during regular office hours. If you are needing assistance feel free to call city hall at 785-735-2259. We apologize for any inconvenience.&nbsp;

Victoria City Hall closed to public

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus is causing much anxiety among Americans.

Although no confirmed cases have been reported in High Plains Mental Health's northwest Kansas coverage area, Kaley Conner, HPMH marketing coordinator, on Wednesday recommended ways people can take care of their mental health during the crisis.

"We know this is an unprecedented time for many of us in our lifetime. We have never gone through anything quite like this," Conner said. "People are feeling some anxiety because that is very much out of our control."

Limit your intake of news on the virus; seek reliable sources.

"Obviously it is important to be informed and to know what is going on," Conner said. "It is important to know what precautions you should to be taking for your family, but it is also important to make sure you are getting that information from reliable sources."

Constant media exposure might not be helpful.

"Sometimes it is best to get the information you need for the day, but then kind of take a break and distance yourself from the upsetting stories and upsetting images," Conner said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;"Remind yourself that the strong feelings are going to fade," Conner said.

Keeping as much of a normal routine as possible might be helpful to keep your mind off everything that is happening in the greater world, she said.

Now could be a good time to spend time with your family, Conner suggested.

"That could be one positive that comes out of this is — that chance to have that quality time with your family," she said.

Do your best to maintain a sense of hope

"Remind yourself that this is temporary," she said. "It is important through all of this to give yourself time to process all of your emotions."

Schools closing for the rest of the year is promoting strong emotions among, teachers, parents and students, she said.

Try talking about those emotions with someone you trust, Conner said.

Try to maintain healthy relationships

People may be in isolation by choice or under quarantine, but you can still reach out to them via phone, text, online chat, social media or video chat or conferencing.

"Practice social distancing and best practices, but don't completely isolate yourself to the point you are not communicating with other people," she said.&nbsp;

This may especially be important if you have a mental health diagnosis or you know someone who does. Conner said these vulnerable individuals may need more support during this stressful time.

"I think now more than ever it is going to be important for our community to take care of each other as best we can. If you know someone who is elderly or immune compromised, someone who has a known history of a mental illness, now is an excellent time to check on those folks," Conner said. 

"Send them an email. Send them a message. Give them a call and check in on them. ... "That is one thing I think we do pretty well in northwest Kansas is taking care of each other. I know things are pretty scary right now and we need to follow those best practices and try to keep ourselves safe. We also need to keep taking care of each other."

High Plains Mental Health announced it was moving most face-to-face services to telephone or video conferencing.&nbsp; This applies to clinical services, most medical services and case management/support services.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e728c12afae0f4d5f5d7282">SEE RELATED STORY: High Plains Mental Health moving services online, phone</a>

However, High Plains reassured the public in a news release services will still be available.&nbsp;

If you have unexplained physical symptoms, please contact your medical provider

"We want to encourage people that it is OK to reach out for help," Conner said. "This is a really difficult time, and it is important to take care of your brain health as well as your physical health."

If you are in crisis and need to speak to someone right away, please call High Plains'&nbsp; 24/7 crisis hotline: 1-800-432-0333. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be accessed by calling 1-800-273-8255 or texting MHFA to 741741.

In addition, High Plains offers frees, enhanced access to 7 Cups of Tea, an online emotional wellness tool. This can be accessed at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/">https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/</a>, pass code is highplains for new members.&nbsp;

Conner also recommended several other apps for people who may be struggling with anxiety.

<a href="http://calm.com">calm.com</a>&nbsp;(Help with sleep)

<a href="https://www.sanvello.com/">Sanvello</a>&nbsp;(Help with anxiety stress and depression)

<a href="https://woebot.io/">woebot</a> (Talk online to reduce)&nbsp;

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/09/12/mental-health-first-aid-anxiety-disorders-not-only-a-matter-of-the-mind/">RELATED STORY: Mental Health First Aid: Anxiety disorders not only a matter of mind</a>

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus is causing much anxiety among Americans.Although no confirmed cases have been reported in High Plains Mental Health's northwest Kansas coverage area, Kaley Conner, HPMH marketing coordinator, on Wednesday recommended ways people can take care of their mental health during the crisis."We know this is an unprecedented time for many of us in our lifetime. We have never gone through anything quite like this," Conner said. "People are feeling some anxiety because that is very much out of our control."<h2>Tips on staying calm during the crisis</h2>Limit your intake of news on the virus; seek reliable sources."Obviously it is important to be informed and to know what is going on," Conner said. "It is important to know what precautions you should to be taking for your family, but it is also important to make sure you are getting that information from reliable sources."Constant media exposure might not be helpful."Sometimes it is best to get the information you need for the day, but then kind of take a break and distance yourself from the upsetting stories and upsetting images," Conner said.&nbsp;Take care of your bodyThis should include:<ul>
 <li>Eating well</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Getting seven to nine hours of sleep</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Avoiding too much alcohol or caffeine</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Take time to relax — enjoy a hobby, read a book, make a craft, watch a movie, listen to music, meditate, pray, practice deep breathing.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Get light exercise if possible</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Get fresh air and sunlight if possible</li>
 </ul>&nbsp;"Remind yourself that the strong feelings are going to fade," Conner said.Keeping as much of a normal routine as possible might be helpful to keep your mind off everything that is happening in the greater world, she said.Now could be a good time to spend time with your family, Conner suggested."That could be one positive that comes out of this is — that chance to have that quality time with your family," she said.Do your best to maintain a sense of hope"Remind yourself that this is temporary," she said. "It is important through all of this to give yourself time to process all of your emotions."Schools closing for the rest of the year is promoting strong emotions among, teachers, parents and students, she said.Try talking about those emotions with someone you trust, Conner said.Try to maintain healthy relationshipsPeople may be in isolation by choice or under quarantine, but you can still reach out to them via phone, text, online chat, social media or video chat or conferencing."Practice social distancing and best practices, but don't completely isolate yourself to the point you are not communicating with other people," she said.&nbsp;This may especially be important if you have a mental health diagnosis or you know someone who does. Conner said these vulnerable individuals may need more support during this stressful time."I think now more than ever it is going to be important for our community to take care of each other as best we can. If you know someone who is elderly or immune compromised, someone who has a known history of a mental illness, now is an excellent time to check on those folks," Conner said. "Send them an email. Send them a message. Give them a call and check in on them. ... "That is one thing I think we do pretty well in northwest Kansas is taking care of each other. I know things are pretty scary right now and we need to follow those best practices and try to keep ourselves safe. We also need to keep taking care of each other."High Plains Mental Health announced it was moving most face-to-face services to telephone or video conferencing.&nbsp; This applies to clinical services, most medical services and case management/support services.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e728c12afae0f4d5f5d7282">SEE RELATED STORY: High Plains Mental Health moving services online, phone</a>However, High Plains reassured the public in a news release services will still be available.&nbsp;<h2>Sign and symptoms of anxiety, stress</h2><ul>
 <li>Energy or activity levels increase or decrease</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>More irritable</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Trouble relaxing or sleeping</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Frequent crying</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Excessive worry</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Desire to be alone</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Difficulty listening or communicating</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Loss of interest in pleasurable activities</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Being easily startled</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Physical symptoms, including stomach aches, digestive problems, headaches, sweating, tremors or muscle twitches&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>If you have unexplained physical symptoms, please contact your medical provider<h2>Help via phone, app or internet</h2>"We want to encourage people that it is OK to reach out for help," Conner said. "This is a really difficult time, and it is important to take care of your brain health as well as your physical health."If you are in crisis and need to speak to someone right away, please call High Plains'&nbsp; 24/7 crisis hotline: 1-800-432-0333. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be accessed by calling 1-800-273-8255 or texting MHFA to 741741. In addition, High Plains offers frees, enhanced access to 7 Cups of Tea, an online emotional wellness tool. This can be accessed at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/">https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/</a>, pass code is highplains for new members.&nbsp;Conner also recommended several other apps for people who may be struggling with anxiety.<a href="http://calm.com">calm.com</a>&nbsp;(Help with sleep)<a href="https://www.sanvello.com/">Sanvello</a>&nbsp;(Help with anxiety stress and depression)<a href="https://woebot.io/">woebot</a> (Talk online to reduce)&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/09/12/mental-health-first-aid-anxiety-disorders-not-only-a-matter-of-the-mind/">RELATED STORY: Mental Health First Aid: Anxiety disorders not only a matter of mind</a>

HPMH offers tips on finding calm during virus crisis

In an effort to support local businesses dealing with restrictions and recommendations to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce has developed a list of restaurant hours and the status of their dine-in options.

The full list was published Tuesday and may have changed as business hours are quickly adjusting in light of outbreak concerns, but chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger said they will update information as quickly as possible.

<a href="https://hayschamber.com/sites/default/files/hays_restaurant_list_during_covid-19.pdf">The restaurant status list can be found by clicking here.</a>

"The Hays Chamber is working diligently to be a conduit of information for businesses and the Hays community during the COVID-19 crisis," its website said. "Keeping our community safe and vital is our top priority.  We are working with health care providers, schools, restaurants, retailers, banks, daycare providers, state agencies and other partners to collect resources on our website hayschamber.com."

They ask anyone with business updates to call 785-628-8201.

<a href="https://hayschamber.com/news-announcements/covid-19-resources">All current COVID-19 resources can be found on the Chambers website, hayschamber.com</a>

By JAMES BELL Hays PostIn an effort to support local businesses dealing with restrictions and recommendations to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce has developed a list of restaurant hours and the status of their dine-in options.The full list was published Tuesday and may have changed as business hours are quickly adjusting in light of outbreak concerns, but chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger said they will update information as quickly as possible.<a href="https://hayschamber.com/sites/default/files/hays_restaurant_list_during_covid-19.pdf">The restaurant status list can be found by clicking here.</a>"The Hays Chamber is working diligently to be a conduit of information for businesses and the Hays community during the COVID-19 crisis," its website said. "Keeping our community safe and vital is our top priority. We are working with health care providers, schools, restaurants, retailers, banks, daycare providers, state agencies and other partners to collect resources on our website hayschamber.com."They ask anyone with business updates to call 785-628-8201.<a href="https://hayschamber.com/news-announcements/covid-19-resources">All current COVID-19 resources can be found on the Chambers website, hayschamber.com</a>

Hays chamber offers restaurant hours and services list

(Additional virus cases have been reported since Wednesday's news conference)

TOPEKA—Wednesday's coronavirus press conference with KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman covered several  updates, including new testing procedures due to community spread in Johnson County, Kansas.&nbsp;

Watch the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KDHEnews/videos/300134447646003/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&amp;eid=ARA2tJT0v1wx3QxUQ5yh8P8twIdgRNHDUecczqftKP6nJ3nJ9SbpbxHk2fWmegqcbp-Zyxb11T1pRKUK">press conference here.</a>

During the press conference, Norman said that of the 21 who had tested positive for coronavirus in Kansas, 19 were tested at KDHE labs and two at private, commercial labs.

There is one case in Douglas County, one in Franklin County, two in Leavenworth County, five in Wyandotte County, one in Butler County and eleven in Johnson County. The patient in Ford County traveled from out of state and is not a part of the state total, according to Norman.&nbsp;

The state is testing between 130 -200 samples per day, according to Norman and he said he didn't expect that number to drop. Approximately 4 percent of the tests come back positive.

In addition, Johnson County has now reached the level of community transmission, according to Norman.&nbsp; "Five of the 11 cases were acquired locally and not through travel and not any known contacts. With that, the testing&nbsp;<a href="https://jocogov.org/press-release/county-management/joint-county-announcement-covid-19-kc-metro">strategies there will change.</a>&nbsp;Only those Johnson County patients hospitalized with illness that could be coronavirus will be tested.

Johnson County residents with mild symptoms that they would not typically seek care will not be tested. Those individual should isolate at home, away from others for at least seven days from after symptoms started or 72 hours from after the fever is gone. Anyone with more severe symptoms should contact their healthcare provider. Those with mild symptoms should not expect to be tested."

Coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/COVID-19_One_Pager.pdf">fact sheet here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580602266609.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary</figcaption>
 </figure>(Additional virus cases have been reported since Wednesday's news conference)TOPEKA—Wednesday's coronavirus press conference with KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman covered several updates, including new testing procedures due to community spread in Johnson County, Kansas.&nbsp;Watch the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KDHEnews/videos/300134447646003/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&amp;eid=ARA2tJT0v1wx3QxUQ5yh8P8twIdgRNHDUecczqftKP6nJ3nJ9SbpbxHk2fWmegqcbp-Zyxb11T1pRKUK">press conference here.</a>During the press conference, Norman said that of the 21 who had tested positive for coronavirus in Kansas, 19 were tested at KDHE labs and two at private, commercial labs.There is one case in Douglas County, one in Franklin County, two in Leavenworth County, five in Wyandotte County, one in Butler County and eleven in Johnson County. The patient in Ford County traveled from out of state and is not a part of the state total, according to Norman.&nbsp;The state is testing between 130 -200 samples per day, according to Norman and he said he didn't expect that number to drop. Approximately 4 percent of the tests come back positive.In addition, Johnson County has now reached the level of community transmission, according to Norman.&nbsp; "Five of the 11 cases were acquired locally and not through travel and not any known contacts. With that, the testing&nbsp;<a href="https://jocogov.org/press-release/county-management/joint-county-announcement-covid-19-kc-metro">strategies there will change.</a>&nbsp;Only those Johnson County patients hospitalized with illness that could be coronavirus will be tested.Johnson County residents with mild symptoms that they would not typically seek care will not be tested. Those individual should isolate at home, away from others for at least seven days from after symptoms started or 72 hours from after the fever is gone. Anyone with more severe symptoms should contact their healthcare provider. Those with mild symptoms should not expect to be tested."Coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/COVID-19_One_Pager.pdf">fact sheet here.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584560418621.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥 KDHE: New virus testing procedures due to community spread 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Describing himself as a “wartime president” fighting an invisible enemy, President Donald Trump invoked rarely used emergency powers to marshal critical medical supplies against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Trump also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0373a78b0aacc49d1f6bd8901c8ccc67">an aid package</a>&nbsp;— which the Senate approved earlier Wednesday — that will guarantee sick leave to workers who fall ill.

Trump tapped his authority under the 70-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/16bf293467703f6b4fceae5a7f272ab5">Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to give the government more power to steer production by private companies and try to overcome shortages in masks, ventilators and other supplies.

Yet he seemed to minimize the urgency of the decision, later tweeting that he “only signed the Defense Production Act to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a7c233f0b3bcdb72c06cca6271ba6713">the Chinese Virus</a>&nbsp;should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future.”

“Hopefully there will be no need,” he added, “but we are all in this TOGETHER!”

The mixed messaging came as Trump took a series of other extraordinary steps to steady the nation, its day-to-day life suddenly and fundamentally altered.

The Canada-U.S. border, the world’s longest,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47f7d6b0de23ad98a6742aa725b30435">was effectively closed</a>, save for commerce and essential travel, while the administration pushed its plan to send relief checks to millions of Americans.

Trump said he will expand the nation’s diagnostic testing capacity and deploy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/379cf72b9fe2c0774d873a57afe44a94">a Navy hospital ship</a>&nbsp;to New York City, which is rapidly becoming an epicenter of the pandemic, and another such ship to the West Coast. And the Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions through April to help the growing number of Americans who face losing jobs and missing rent and mortgage payments.

But as Trump laid out efforts to help the economy, markets plummeted. Gone were nearly all the gains that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had made since Trump took office.

The administration announcements came on a fast-moving day of developments across the capital, its empty streets standing in contrast to the whirlwind of activity inside the grand spaces of the White House and the Capitol.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a second coronavirus response bill, which Trump signed Wednesday night. The vote was a lopsided 90-8 despite worries by many Republicans about a temporary new employer mandate to provide sick leave to workers who get COVID-19. The measure is also aimed at making tests for the virus free.

Meanwhile the administration pushed forward its broad economic rescue plan, which proposes $500 billion in checks to millions of Americans, with the first checks to come April 6 if Congress approves.

The White House urged hospitals to cancel all elective surgeries to reduce the risk of being overwhelmed by cases. The president was pressed on why a number of celebrities, like professional basketball players, seemed to have easier access to diagnostic tests than ordinary citizens.

“Perhaps that’s the story of life,” Trump said. “I’ve heard that happens on occasion.”

Trump dismissed a suggestion from his own treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, that the nation could face 20% unemployment at least in the short term.

That’s an “absolute total worst case scenario,” Trump said. “We’re no way near it.”

The government has told Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people and the elderly to stay home while a pointed reminder was given to millennials to follow the guidelines and avoid social gatherings. Trump likened the effort to the measures taken during World War II and said it would require national “sacrifice.”

“It’s a war,” he said. “I view it as a, in a sense, a wartime president. It’s a very tough situation.”

No longer able to run for reelection on a healthy economy, he was taking on the mantle of a wartime leader after played down the severity of the crisis for weeks.

The president also employed more nativist, us-vs-them rhetoric at the briefing, continuing his recent habit of referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus,” which has been sharply criticized as racist. “It’s not racist at all,” Trump said. “It comes from China, that’s all.”

He was asked about a report that a White House aide had referred to the virus as the “Kung flu” when talking to an Asian-American reporter and Trump did not signal disapproval of the offensive term.

Trump later met nursing leaders and expressed “gratitude for those on the front lines in our war against the global pandemic” as he held out hope that the pandemic would be over soon.

“It’s been something, but we’re winning and we will win,” he said. “It’s a question of when and I think it’s going to go quickly. We hope it’s going to go quickly.”

A limited number of people gathered around a large table, their chairs spread apart in a display of social distancing.

The Defense Production Act gives the president broad authority to shape the domestic industrial base so that it is capable of providing essential materials and goods needed in a national security crisis. The law allows the president to require businesses and corporations to give priority to and accept contracts for required materials and services.

The executive order issued by Trump gives Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar the authority to determine “the proper nationwide priorities and allocation of all health and medical resources, including controlling the distribution of such materials ... in the civilian market, for responding to the spread of COVID-19 within the United States.” It also applies to certain health services.

Azar released a statement Wednesday night, saying, “we are coordinating closely with private suppliers, healthcare purchasers, and our federal partners like the Commerce Department to ensure that resources are going where they’re needed.”

Trump also said he would soon invoke a rarely used federal statute that would enable the U.S. to tighten controls along the southwest border because of the new coronavirus, based on a recommendation of the U.S. surgeon general.

The president said the law, intended to halt the spread of communicable diseases, would give authorities “great latitude” to help control the outbreak. Earlier, U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the administration would invoke the law to immediately turn back all people who cross the border illegally from Mexico and to refuse people the right to claim asylum there.

More than eight weeks after the first U.S. case of the virus was detected, the federal government is still struggling to conduct widescale testing for the virus. Compounding the problem, laboratories are reporting shortages of supplies needed to run the tests, which officials urged to be given to those most likely to have COVID-19.

Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the White House response, cautioned that there has been a backlog of swabs waiting in labs to be tested, and as that backlog clears “we will see the number of people diagnosed dramatically increased” in the next few days.

Asked about the administration’s mixed messages when it comes to the threat posed by the virus, Birx said new studies about how long the virus can be transmissible on hard surfaces helped prompt the administration’s tightening of recommendations on social distancing. “None of us really understood” that, she said. “We’re still working out how much is by human transmission and how much is it by surface.” She added, “Don’t exposure yourself to surfaces outside the home.”

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

As it tries to get its message to the public, the White House said a series of ads, digital and on television, will feature the president and first lady Melania Trump urging Americans to follow the guidelines. Birx also renewed her call for younger people to follow federal guidelines and stop meeting in groups.

She said there have been “concerning reports” from France and Italy about young people becoming seriously ill. The task force last week urged young generations to avoid going out to bars and restaurants and to avoid groups of more than 10 people.

“We cannot have these large gatherings that continue throughout the country for people who are off work,” Birx said. She added that the federal pandemic task force so far has not seen any “significant mortality” in children.

The White House has had several coronavirus-related health scares, with the president himself exposed to at least three people who later tested positive. Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Wednesday that she had tested negative for the virus. McDaniel, who met last week with the president and Senate Republicans, had previously been exposed to someone who tested positive.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Senate has overwhelming passed a second coronavirus response bill, and is sending it to President Donald Trump to enact with his signature. The vote was a lopsided 90-8 despite misgivings among many Republicans over a temporary new employer mandate to provide sick leave to workers who contract COVID-19. The measure is also aimed at making diagnostic tests for the virus free.  

Confronting twin health and economic crises, President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will invoke emergency powers to marshal critical medical supplies against a coronavirus pandemic threatening to overwhelm hospitals and other treatment centers.

Trump described himself as a “wartime president” as virus cases surged and the markets fell, and he took a series of extraordinary steps to steady a battered nation, its day-to-day life fundamentally altered.

Most immediately, Trump said he would employ the Defense Production Act as needed, giving the government more power to steer production by private companies and try to overcome shortages in masks, ventilators and other supplies.

Trump also said he will expand the nation’s testing capacity and deploy a Navy hospital ship to New York City, which is rapidly becoming an epicenter of the pandemic, and another such ship to the West Coast.

The Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions through April. A growing number of Americans face losing jobs and missing rent and mortgage payments.

But as Trump laid out efforts to steady the economy, the markets plummeted. Gone were the last of the gains that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had made since Trump took office.

Administration announcements came on a fast-moving day of developments across the nation’s capitol, its empty streets standing in contrast to the whirlwind of activity inside the grand spaces of the White House and the Capitol.

The Senate approved financial aid package, economic relief plan provides $500 billion in checks to millions of Americans, with the first checks to come April 6. 

Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jointly announced that the U.S.-Canada border would be closed, except for essential personnel and for trade. The virus is afflicting people in both countries.

The White House urged hospitals to cancel all elective surgeries to reduce the risk of being overwhelmed by rising cases. The president was pressed on why a number of celebrities, like professional basketball players, seemed to have easier access to diagnostic tests than ordinary citizens.

Trump dismissed talk from his own treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, who suggested that the nation could face 20% unemployment at least in the short term.

The administration has told Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people and the elderly to stay home while a pointed reminder was given to millennials to follow the guidelines and avoid social gatherings. Trump likened the effort to the measures taken during World War II and said it would require national “sacrifice.”

No long able to run for reelection on a healthy economy, he was taking on the mantle of a wartime leader after played down the severity of the crisis for weeks.

The Defense Production Act gives the president a broad set of authorities to shape the domestic industrial base so that it is capable of providing essential materials and goods needed in a national security crisis.

The law allows the president to require businesses and corporations to prioritize and accept contracts for required materials and services. It also allows the president to provide incentives for the domestic industrial base to expand the production and supply of critical materials and goods, according to a March 2 report by the Congressional Research Service.

More than eight weeks after the first U.S. case of the virus was detected, the federal government is still struggling to conduct widescale testing for the virus. Compounding the problem, laboratories are reporting shortages of key supplies needed to run tests.

Vice President Mike Pence reiterated Wednesday that testing should give priority to those most likely to have COVID-19.

“It’s important to remember that people without symptoms should not get tested,” Pence said. “We want to make sure the supply of testing is there for those who need it most.”

Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the White House response, cautioned there has been a backlog of swabs waiting in labs to be tested, and as that backlog clears “we will see the number of people diagnosed dramatically increased” in the next few days.

Birx said the science discovering how long the virus can be transmissible on hard surfaces helped prompt the administration’s tightening of recommendations on social distancing. “None of us really understood the level of surface piece,” she said. “We’re still working out how much is it by human-human transmission and how much is it by surface.” She said: “Don’t exposure yourself to surfaces outside the home.”

Birx also renewed her call for younger people to follow federal guideline and stop meeting in groups.

She said there have been “concerning reports” from France and Italy about young people becoming seriously ill. The task force last week urged young generations to avoid going out to bars and restaurants and to not meet in groups of more than 10 people.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584547845573.png" alt="President Trump made the announcement Wednesday-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump made the announcement Wednesday-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Describing himself as a “wartime president” fighting an invisible enemy, President Donald Trump invoked rarely used emergency powers to marshal critical medical supplies against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Trump also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0373a78b0aacc49d1f6bd8901c8ccc67">an aid package</a>&nbsp;— which the Senate approved earlier Wednesday — that will guarantee sick leave to workers who fall ill.Trump tapped his authority under the 70-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/16bf293467703f6b4fceae5a7f272ab5">Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to give the government more power to steer production by private companies and try to overcome shortages in masks, ventilators and other supplies.Yet he seemed to minimize the urgency of the decision, later tweeting that he “only signed the Defense Production Act to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a7c233f0b3bcdb72c06cca6271ba6713">the Chinese Virus</a>&nbsp;should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future.”“Hopefully there will be no need,” he added, “but we are all in this TOGETHER!”The mixed messaging came as Trump took a series of other extraordinary steps to steady the nation, its day-to-day life suddenly and fundamentally altered.The Canada-U.S. border, the world’s longest,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47f7d6b0de23ad98a6742aa725b30435">was effectively closed</a>, save for commerce and essential travel, while the administration pushed its plan to send relief checks to millions of Americans.Trump said he will expand the nation’s diagnostic testing capacity and deploy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/379cf72b9fe2c0774d873a57afe44a94">a Navy hospital ship</a>&nbsp;to New York City, which is rapidly becoming an epicenter of the pandemic, and another such ship to the West Coast. And the Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions through April to help the growing number of Americans who face losing jobs and missing rent and mortgage payments.But as Trump laid out efforts to help the economy, markets plummeted. Gone were nearly all the gains that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had made since Trump took office.The administration announcements came on a fast-moving day of developments across the capital, its empty streets standing in contrast to the whirlwind of activity inside the grand spaces of the White House and the Capitol.The Senate overwhelmingly passed a second coronavirus response bill, which Trump signed Wednesday night. The vote was a lopsided 90-8 despite worries by many Republicans about a temporary new employer mandate to provide sick leave to workers who get COVID-19. The measure is also aimed at making tests for the virus free.Meanwhile the administration pushed forward its broad economic rescue plan, which proposes $500 billion in checks to millions of Americans, with the first checks to come April 6 if Congress approves.The White House urged hospitals to cancel all elective surgeries to reduce the risk of being overwhelmed by cases. The president was pressed on why a number of celebrities, like professional basketball players, seemed to have easier access to diagnostic tests than ordinary citizens.“Perhaps that’s the story of life,” Trump said. “I’ve heard that happens on occasion.”Trump dismissed a suggestion from his own treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, that the nation could face 20% unemployment at least in the short term.That’s an “absolute total worst case scenario,” Trump said. “We’re no way near it.”The government has told Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people and the elderly to stay home while a pointed reminder was given to millennials to follow the guidelines and avoid social gatherings. Trump likened the effort to the measures taken during World War II and said it would require national “sacrifice.”“It’s a war,” he said. “I view it as a, in a sense, a wartime president. It’s a very tough situation.”No longer able to run for reelection on a healthy economy, he was taking on the mantle of a wartime leader after played down the severity of the crisis for weeks.The president also employed more nativist, us-vs-them rhetoric at the briefing, continuing his recent habit of referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus,” which has been sharply criticized as racist. “It’s not racist at all,” Trump said. “It comes from China, that’s all.”He was asked about a report that a White House aide had referred to the virus as the “Kung flu” when talking to an Asian-American reporter and Trump did not signal disapproval of the offensive term.Trump later met nursing leaders and expressed “gratitude for those on the front lines in our war against the global pandemic” as he held out hope that the pandemic would be over soon.“It’s been something, but we’re winning and we will win,” he said. “It’s a question of when and I think it’s going to go quickly. We hope it’s going to go quickly.”A limited number of people gathered around a large table, their chairs spread apart in a display of social distancing.The Defense Production Act gives the president broad authority to shape the domestic industrial base so that it is capable of providing essential materials and goods needed in a national security crisis. The law allows the president to require businesses and corporations to give priority to and accept contracts for required materials and services.The executive order issued by Trump gives Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar the authority to determine “the proper nationwide priorities and allocation of all health and medical resources, including controlling the distribution of such materials ... in the civilian market, for responding to the spread of COVID-19 within the United States.” It also applies to certain health services.Azar released a statement Wednesday night, saying, “we are coordinating closely with private suppliers, healthcare purchasers, and our federal partners like the Commerce Department to ensure that resources are going where they’re needed.”Trump also said he would soon invoke a rarely used federal statute that would enable the U.S. to tighten controls along the southwest border because of the new coronavirus, based on a recommendation of the U.S. surgeon general.The president said the law, intended to halt the spread of communicable diseases, would give authorities “great latitude” to help control the outbreak. Earlier, U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the administration would invoke the law to immediately turn back all people who cross the border illegally from Mexico and to refuse people the right to claim asylum there.More than eight weeks after the first U.S. case of the virus was detected, the federal government is still struggling to conduct widescale testing for the virus. Compounding the problem, laboratories are reporting shortages of supplies needed to run the tests, which officials urged to be given to those most likely to have COVID-19.Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the White House response, cautioned that there has been a backlog of swabs waiting in labs to be tested, and as that backlog clears “we will see the number of people diagnosed dramatically increased” in the next few days.Asked about the administration’s mixed messages when it comes to the threat posed by the virus, Birx said new studies about how long the virus can be transmissible on hard surfaces helped prompt the administration’s tightening of recommendations on social distancing. “None of us really understood” that, she said. “We’re still working out how much is by human transmission and how much is it by surface.” She added, “Don’t exposure yourself to surfaces outside the home.”For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.As it tries to get its message to the public, the White House said a series of ads, digital and on television, will feature the president and first lady Melania Trump urging Americans to follow the guidelines. Birx also renewed her call for younger people to follow federal guidelines and stop meeting in groups.She said there have been “concerning reports” from France and Italy about young people becoming seriously ill. The task force last week urged young generations to avoid going out to bars and restaurants and to avoid groups of more than 10 people.“We cannot have these large gatherings that continue throughout the country for people who are off work,” Birx said. She added that the federal pandemic task force so far has not seen any “significant mortality” in children.The White House has had several coronavirus-related health scares, with the president himself exposed to at least three people who later tested positive. Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Wednesday that she had tested negative for the virus. McDaniel, who met last week with the president and Senate Republicans, had previously been exposed to someone who tested positive.___-----------WASHINGTON (AP) —The Senate has overwhelming passed a second coronavirus response bill, and is sending it to President Donald Trump to enact with his signature. The vote was a lopsided 90-8 despite misgivings among many Republicans over a temporary new employer mandate to provide sick leave to workers who contract COVID-19. The measure is also aimed at making diagnostic tests for the virus free. Confronting twin health and economic crises, President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will invoke emergency powers to marshal critical medical supplies against a coronavirus pandemic threatening to overwhelm hospitals and other treatment centers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I only signed the Defense Production Act to combat the Chinese Virus should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future. Hopefully there will be no need, but we are all in this TOGETHER!&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1240391871026864130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump described himself as a “wartime president” as virus cases surged and the markets fell, and he took a series of extraordinary steps to steady a battered nation, its day-to-day life fundamentally altered.Most immediately, Trump said he would employ the Defense Production Act as needed, giving the government more power to steer production by private companies and try to overcome shortages in masks, ventilators and other supplies.Trump also said he will expand the nation’s testing capacity and deploy a Navy hospital ship to New York City, which is rapidly becoming an epicenter of the pandemic, and another such ship to the West Coast.The Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions through April. A growing number of Americans face losing jobs and missing rent and mortgage payments.But as Trump laid out efforts to steady the economy, the markets plummeted. Gone were the last of the gains that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had made since Trump took office.Administration announcements came on a fast-moving day of developments across the nation’s capitol, its empty streets standing in contrast to the whirlwind of activity inside the grand spaces of the White House and the Capitol.The Senate approved financial aid package, economic relief plan provides $500 billion in checks to millions of Americans, with the first checks to come April 6. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jointly announced that the U.S.-Canada border would be closed, except for essential personnel and for trade. The virus is afflicting people in both countries.The White House urged hospitals to cancel all elective surgeries to reduce the risk of being overwhelmed by rising cases. The president was pressed on why a number of celebrities, like professional basketball players, seemed to have easier access to diagnostic tests than ordinary citizens.“Perhaps that’s the story of life,” Trump said. “I’ve heard that happens on occasion.”Trump dismissed talk from his own treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, who suggested that the nation could face 20% unemployment at least in the short term.That’s an “absolute total worst case scenario,” Trump said. “We’re no way near it.”The administration has told Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people and the elderly to stay home while a pointed reminder was given to millennials to follow the guidelines and avoid social gatherings. Trump likened the effort to the measures taken during World War II and said it would require national “sacrifice.”“It’s a war,” he said. “I view it as a, in a sense, a wartime president. It’s a very tough situation.”No long able to run for reelection on a healthy economy, he was taking on the mantle of a wartime leader after played down the severity of the crisis for weeks.The president also employed more nativist, us-vs-them rhetoric at the briefing, continuing his recent habit of referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus,” which has been sharply criticized as racist. “It’s not racist at all,” Trump said. “It comes from China, that’s all.”He was asked about a report that a White House aide had referred to the virus as the “Kung flu” when talking to an Asian-American reporter and Trump did not signal disapproval of the offensive term.The Defense Production Act gives the president a broad set of authorities to shape the domestic industrial base so that it is capable of providing essential materials and goods needed in a national security crisis.The law allows the president to require businesses and corporations to prioritize and accept contracts for required materials and services. It also allows the president to provide incentives for the domestic industrial base to expand the production and supply of critical materials and goods, according to a March 2 report by the Congressional Research Service.Trump also said he would soon invoke a rarely used federal statute that would enable the U.S. to tighten controls along the southwest border because of the new coronavirus, based on a recommendation of the U.S. surgeon general.The president said the law, intended to halt the spread of communicable diseases, would give authorities “great latitude” to help control the outbreak. Earlier, U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the administration would invoke the law to immediately turn back all people who cross the border illegally from Mexico and to refuse people the right to claim asylum there.More than eight weeks after the first U.S. case of the virus was detected, the federal government is still struggling to conduct widescale testing for the virus. Compounding the problem, laboratories are reporting shortages of key supplies needed to run tests.Vice President Mike Pence reiterated Wednesday that testing should give priority to those most likely to have COVID-19.“It’s important to remember that people without symptoms should not get tested,” Pence said. “We want to make sure the supply of testing is there for those who need it most.”Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the White House response, cautioned there has been a backlog of swabs waiting in labs to be tested, and as that backlog clears “we will see the number of people diagnosed dramatically increased” in the next few days.Birx said the science discovering how long the virus can be transmissible on hard surfaces helped prompt the administration’s tightening of recommendations on social distancing. “None of us really understood the level of surface piece,” she said. “We’re still working out how much is it by human-human transmission and how much is it by surface.” She said: “Don’t exposure yourself to surfaces outside the home.”For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.Birx also renewed her call for younger people to follow federal guideline and stop meeting in groups.She said there have been “concerning reports” from France and Italy about young people becoming seriously ill. The task force last week urged young generations to avoid going out to bars and restaurants and to not meet in groups of more than 10 people.“We cannot have these large gatherings that continue throughout the country for people who are off work,” Birx said. She added that the federal pandemic task force so far has not seen any “significant mortality” in children.___

The Latest: Trump taps emergency powers as virus relief plan proceeds

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio">Ohio</a>, more than 48,000 people applied for jobless benefits during the first two days of this week. The tally during the same period the prior week: just 1,825.

In neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>, about 70,000 people sought unemployment aid in a single day — six times the total for the entire previous week.

Jobless claims are surging across the U.S. after government officials ordered millions of workers, students and shoppers to stay at home as a precaution against spreading the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

“We’ve been getting flooded with calls,” said John Dodds, director of the nonprofit Philadelphia Unemployment Project. “It's going to be a big mess, a double mess: illness and unemployment.”

<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;lawmakers worked quickly Tuesday to pass legislation that eliminates a one-week wait to begin receiving benefits and expands their duration from 16 to 26 weeks. But House Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican, expressed concern that the economic problems caused by the virus pandemic could deplete the state's unemployment fund in less than a year, even though it's ranked in the top quarter nationally.

"What we are seeing is something totally unique here, where the switch has flipped from historically low claims numbers to a dramatic escalation that's going to affect multiple segments of the economy," said Kansas Deputy Labor Department Secretary Brett Flachsbarth.

The growing number of people filing for unemployment checks raises fresh questions about whether states have stockpiled enough money since the last recession to tide over idled workers until the crisis ends. Some fear the demand for help could outpace the states' ability to pay claims.

“Our unemployment insurance fund is getting hit pretty hard right now,” said Gov. Gina Raimondo of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a>, where coronavirus-related jobless claims accelerated from zero to nearly 18,000 in barely one week.

Raimondo, a Democrat, said the state needs to start replenishing its fund and appealed for help from the federal government.

President Donald Trump's administration is proposing an economic stimulus package that could approach $1 trillion and include sending checks to Americans within a matter of weeks to help them pay for groceries, bills, mortgages and rent. The Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a separate bill that would inject $1 billion into state unemployment insurance programs.

The federal aid could rival or exceed that of the Great Recession in 2008, when a financial industry crisis led to widespread layoffs. Economic analysts warn the country is likely entering — or already in — its first recession since then.

Valerie Costa, a 41-year-old mother of two, quickly applied for unemployment benefits after the Rhode Island casino where she worked as a bartender and cocktail server closed because of virus precautions. For now, her husband is still working.

“We’re limiting our spending. But we also really don’t know what to expect,” she said. “Most of us live through our tips, and if no tips are coming in, that makes things tough.”

The last recession led to the insolvency of unemployment trust funds in 35 states that collectively racked up more than $40 billion of debt to keep paying unemployed workers. In many states, those debts were repaid through higher taxes on employers.

To shore up their trust funds, some states also cut the amount and duration of benefits for those who became unemployed in the future.

"States aren’t really recession-ready, because it’s so hard for people to get benefits, stay in the program, and the benefits are insufficient,” said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>-based group that advocates for low-wage workers and the unemployed.

Jobless claims and unemployment also are rising around the globe. The U.N.’s International Labor Organization estimates that fallout from the coronavirus outbreak could lead to nearly 25 million job losses worldwide and drain up to $3.4 trillion worth of income by the end of this year.

In the U.S., state unemployment trust funds generally are in better financial shape than they were before the last recession. Yet 21 states began the year with less than the amount recommended to remain solvent in an average recession, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report. At the bottom of the solvency list are many of the most populous states —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas">Texas</a>, New York,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois">Illinois</a>, Ohio and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/massachusetts">Massachusetts</a>.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, was among the first to shut down schools, sporting events and certain businesses because of the coronavirus. Unemployment claims have since skyrocketed.

DeWine's administration acknowledged that state lawmakers likely will have to intervene to shore up the state's shaky unemployment trust fund.

“The workers out there should not be worried. It will be funded for their needs," said Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, also a Republican.

Pennsylvania in January finally made the last payment on billions of dollars of bonds issued in 2012 to cover the unemployment fund debt from the last recession. But its fund remains in danger of insolvency, according to the U.S. Labor Department report.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/tennessee">Tennessee</a>, new unemployment claims tripled over the past week.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan">Michigan</a>'s unemployment agency said Wednesday that it has received over five times as many unemployment applications as normal.

Warnings to stay away from public gathering spots also have made it more complicated to apply for benefits, with some state unemployment offices closed to the public. Instead, states have shifted more applicants from offices to websites and phone calls, but even those systems are being taxed.

<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>&nbsp;Gov. Phil Murphy said the number of unemployment insurance requests was so high at the start of this week that it crashed the state labor department's website.

New York's labor department said it's experiencing “an unprecedented increase” in calls and online visits for unemployment benefits. During the first half of Tuesday, it had 110,000 website visits and 21,000 phone calls. That's 2 1/2 times the web traffic and 10 times the phone calls of the entire previous Tuesday. At times, the surge was too much for the agency to handle.

Governors and lawmakers in many states took action this week to make unemployment benefits easier and quicker to get. Some also waived rules that disregard the first week of unemployment or extended the total number of weeks people can be eligible.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/north-carolina">North Carolina</a>, which offers less in jobless benefits than most states, displaced workers won't have to be actively looking for a new job, as is required for traditional benefits, and employers who must lay off workers won't be financially responsible for the benefits their workers receive.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio">Ohio</a>, more than 48,000 people applied for jobless benefits during the first two days of this week. The tally during the same period the prior week: just 1,825.In neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>, about 70,000 people sought unemployment aid in a single day — six times the total for the entire previous week.Jobless claims are surging across the U.S. after government officials ordered millions of workers, students and shoppers to stay at home as a precaution against spreading the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.“We’ve been getting flooded with calls,” said John Dodds, director of the nonprofit Philadelphia Unemployment Project. “It's going to be a big mess, a double mess: illness and unemployment.”<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;lawmakers worked quickly Tuesday to pass legislation that eliminates a one-week wait to begin receiving benefits and expands their duration from 16 to 26 weeks. But House Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican, expressed concern that the economic problems caused by the virus pandemic could deplete the state's unemployment fund in less than a year, even though it's ranked in the top quarter nationally."What we are seeing is something totally unique here, where the switch has flipped from historically low claims numbers to a dramatic escalation that's going to affect multiple segments of the economy," said Kansas Deputy Labor Department Secretary Brett Flachsbarth.The growing number of people filing for unemployment checks raises fresh questions about whether states have stockpiled enough money since the last recession to tide over idled workers until the crisis ends. Some fear the demand for help could outpace the states' ability to pay claims.“Our unemployment insurance fund is getting hit pretty hard right now,” said Gov. Gina Raimondo of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a>, where coronavirus-related jobless claims accelerated from zero to nearly 18,000 in barely one week.Raimondo, a Democrat, said the state needs to start replenishing its fund and appealed for help from the federal government.President Donald Trump's administration is proposing an economic stimulus package that could approach $1 trillion and include sending checks to Americans within a matter of weeks to help them pay for groceries, bills, mortgages and rent. The Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a separate bill that would inject $1 billion into state unemployment insurance programs.The federal aid could rival or exceed that of the Great Recession in 2008, when a financial industry crisis led to widespread layoffs. Economic analysts warn the country is likely entering — or already in — its first recession since then.Valerie Costa, a 41-year-old mother of two, quickly applied for unemployment benefits after the Rhode Island casino where she worked as a bartender and cocktail server closed because of virus precautions. For now, her husband is still working.“We’re limiting our spending. But we also really don’t know what to expect,” she said. “Most of us live through our tips, and if no tips are coming in, that makes things tough.”The last recession led to the insolvency of unemployment trust funds in 35 states that collectively racked up more than $40 billion of debt to keep paying unemployed workers. In many states, those debts were repaid through higher taxes on employers.To shore up their trust funds, some states also cut the amount and duration of benefits for those who became unemployed in the future."States aren’t really recession-ready, because it’s so hard for people to get benefits, stay in the program, and the benefits are insufficient,” said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>-based group that advocates for low-wage workers and the unemployed.Jobless claims and unemployment also are rising around the globe. The U.N.’s International Labor Organization estimates that fallout from the coronavirus outbreak could lead to nearly 25 million job losses worldwide and drain up to $3.4 trillion worth of income by the end of this year.In the U.S., state unemployment trust funds generally are in better financial shape than they were before the last recession. Yet 21 states began the year with less than the amount recommended to remain solvent in an average recession, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report. At the bottom of the solvency list are many of the most populous states —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas">Texas</a>, New York,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois">Illinois</a>, Ohio and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/massachusetts">Massachusetts</a>.Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, was among the first to shut down schools, sporting events and certain businesses because of the coronavirus. Unemployment claims have since skyrocketed.DeWine's administration acknowledged that state lawmakers likely will have to intervene to shore up the state's shaky unemployment trust fund.“The workers out there should not be worried. It will be funded for their needs," said Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, also a Republican.Pennsylvania in January finally made the last payment on billions of dollars of bonds issued in 2012 to cover the unemployment fund debt from the last recession. But its fund remains in danger of insolvency, according to the U.S. Labor Department report.In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/tennessee">Tennessee</a>, new unemployment claims tripled over the past week.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan">Michigan</a>'s unemployment agency said Wednesday that it has received over five times as many unemployment applications as normal.Warnings to stay away from public gathering spots also have made it more complicated to apply for benefits, with some state unemployment offices closed to the public. Instead, states have shifted more applicants from offices to websites and phone calls, but even those systems are being taxed.<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>&nbsp;Gov. Phil Murphy said the number of unemployment insurance requests was so high at the start of this week that it crashed the state labor department's website.New York's labor department said it's experiencing “an unprecedented increase” in calls and online visits for unemployment benefits. During the first half of Tuesday, it had 110,000 website visits and 21,000 phone calls. That's 2 1/2 times the web traffic and 10 times the phone calls of the entire previous Tuesday. At times, the surge was too much for the agency to handle.Governors and lawmakers in many states took action this week to make unemployment benefits easier and quicker to get. Some also waived rules that disregard the first week of unemployment or extended the total number of weeks people can be eligible.In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/north-carolina">North Carolina</a>, which offers less in jobless benefits than most states, displaced workers won't have to be actively looking for a new job, as is required for traditional benefits, and employers who must lay off workers won't be financially responsible for the benefits their workers receive.___

Coronavirus layoffs spark surge in state jobless claims

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, High Plains Mental Health Center is implementing additional measures to keep our staff and our clients safe, while also making sure we meet the needs of our clients.

Other than crises and inpatient psychiatric screens, we temporarily will discontinue providing most services face-to-face.&nbsp;Services will continue to be provided by telephone — or by video conferencing, in some instances. This applies to clinical services, most medical services and case management/support services. Certain medications will continue to be administered in person. These changes will be effective Friday, March 20. This change was made to address growing client concerns about social distancing amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Our staff will attempt to contact clients who have already confirmed in-person appointments this week to advise of the changes. These changes will be effective until at least April 3, and staff will re-evaluate at that time.

In addition, psycho-social rehabilitation groups and community trainings and events have been canceled, heeding the advice of state and federal health officials to practice social distancing. Placements for our Homeward Bound family respite program will be temporarily halted, with extra support offered to these families. &nbsp;

If you are in crisis and need to speak to someone right away, please call our 24/7 crisis hotline: 1-800-432-0333. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be accessed by calling 1-800-273-8255 or texting to 741741. In addition, we are proud to offer free, enhanced access to 7 Cups of Tea, an online emotional wellness tool. This can be accessed at <a href="https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/">https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/</a>, pass code is highplains for new members.&nbsp;

We understand this is a difficult time for all, and our staff is committed to providing the best level of care possible to our clients and communities. We look forward to returning to regular services in the near future and appreciate your patience and support as we navigate these unprecedented events.&nbsp; Despite these current, challenging circumstances, we are still Here for You.

See Thursday morning's Hays Post for a complete story caring for your mental health during the coronavirus crisis.

High Plains Mental HealthAs the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, High Plains Mental Health Center is implementing additional measures to keep our staff and our clients safe, while also making sure we meet the needs of our clients.Other than crises and inpatient psychiatric screens, we temporarily will discontinue providing most services face-to-face.&nbsp;Services will continue to be provided by telephone — or by video conferencing, in some instances. This applies to clinical services, most medical services and case management/support services. Certain medications will continue to be administered in person. These changes will be effective Friday, March 20. This change was made to address growing client concerns about social distancing amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Our staff will attempt to contact clients who have already confirmed in-person appointments this week to advise of the changes. These changes will be effective until at least April 3, and staff will re-evaluate at that time.In addition, psycho-social rehabilitation groups and community trainings and events have been canceled, heeding the advice of state and federal health officials to practice social distancing. Placements for our Homeward Bound family respite program will be temporarily halted, with extra support offered to these families. &nbsp;If you are in crisis and need to speak to someone right away, please call our 24/7 crisis hotline: 1-800-432-0333. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be accessed by calling 1-800-273-8255 or texting to 741741. In addition, we are proud to offer free, enhanced access to 7 Cups of Tea, an online emotional wellness tool. This can be accessed at <a href="https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/">https://www.7cups.com/p/highplains/</a>, pass code is highplains for new members.&nbsp;We understand this is a difficult time for all, and our staff is committed to providing the best level of care possible to our clients and communities. We look forward to returning to regular services in the near future and appreciate your patience and support as we navigate these unprecedented events.&nbsp; Despite these current, challenging circumstances, we are still Here for You.See Thursday morning's Hays Post for a complete story caring for your mental health during the coronavirus crisis.

High Plains Mental Health moving services online, phone

TOPEKA&nbsp;- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issued new mandates Wednesday surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested.

KDHE is now&nbsp;mandating&nbsp;14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:

There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return. Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6cce6db4259f4318515108d7cb80c906%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637201626289069435&amp;sdata=vfq8RNsgDqfUkvBVZNP9RC%2FXG%2F%2BH2Xm4GgC7FgYz5R0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.&nbsp;

Those who are under home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain at about a 6-foot distance from other people.

If a person under quarantine develops symptoms of COVID-19 during their 14-day quarantine period, including a measured fever of 100.4 (F) or higher and lower respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath, they should contact their healthcare provider and tell them about their recent travel or other COVID-19 exposure.

Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. COVID-19 is a reportable condition in Kansas and all suspect cases should be reported by healthcare providers. COVID-19 testing requests can only be made by healthcare providers and local health departments.

In counties with known community transmission, currently Johnson County, testing will be limited to people hospitalized with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Johnson County residents&nbsp;with mild symptoms should isolate at home and away from others for at least seven days after symptoms started or for 72 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medications and symptoms have significantly improved, whichever is longer. Anyone with more severe symptoms should call their healthcare provider. Individuals who have mild symptoms should not expect to be tested at this time.&nbsp;Testing needs to be prioritized to the sickest patients who are seriously ill and require admission to the hospital. Excessive testing of patients with minor symptoms may put too much strain on laboratories and hospital resources. Since there is no treatment currently for COVID-19 testing patients with mild illness needs to be a lower priority.

People who are currently being tested for COVID-19 should remain in home isolation, or hospital isolation if symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized, until test results are available. If the test result is negative, isolation is no longer required. If test results are positive for COVID-19, the person must remain in isolation until released by public health.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid spreading the virus and to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other for at least 10 minutes through droplets from coughing and sneezing.

For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6cce6db4259f4318515108d7cb80c906%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637201626289069435&amp;sdata=TIqM1cZklDAmdpy%2BZfSugUU7pII%2FhgGyMuMViwW1Z%2Bc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, COVID-19@ks.gov.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issued new mandates Wednesday surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested.KDHE is now&nbsp;mandating&nbsp;14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:<ol>
 <li>Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (currently California,&nbsp;Florida, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15.</li><li>Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado in the week prior to March 15 or after.</li><li>Traveled on a cruise ship or&nbsp;river cruise&nbsp;on or after March 15.People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Traveled internationally on or after March 15.People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. You should quarantine at home for 14 days since your last contact with the case.&nbsp; (A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.)</li>
 </ol>There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return. Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6cce6db4259f4318515108d7cb80c906%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637201626289069435&amp;sdata=vfq8RNsgDqfUkvBVZNP9RC%2FXG%2F%2BH2Xm4GgC7FgYz5R0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.&nbsp;Home Quarantine GuidelinesThose who are under home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain at about a 6-foot distance from other people.If a person under quarantine develops symptoms of COVID-19 during their 14-day quarantine period, including a measured fever of 100.4 (F) or higher and lower respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath, they should contact their healthcare provider and tell them about their recent travel or other COVID-19 exposure.Testing for COVID-19Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. COVID-19 is a reportable condition in Kansas and all suspect cases should be reported by healthcare providers. COVID-19 testing requests can only be made by healthcare providers and local health departments.In counties with known community transmission, currently Johnson County, testing will be limited to people hospitalized with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Johnson County residents&nbsp;with mild symptoms should isolate at home and away from others for at least seven days after symptoms started or for 72 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medications and symptoms have significantly improved, whichever is longer. Anyone with more severe symptoms should call their healthcare provider. Individuals who have mild symptoms should not expect to be tested at this time.&nbsp;Testing needs to be prioritized to the sickest patients who are seriously ill and require admission to the hospital. Excessive testing of patients with minor symptoms may put too much strain on laboratories and hospital resources. Since there is no treatment currently for COVID-19 testing patients with mild illness needs to be a lower priority.People who are currently being tested for COVID-19 should remain in home isolation, or hospital isolation if symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized, until test results are available. If the test result is negative, isolation is no longer required. If test results are positive for COVID-19, the person must remain in isolation until released by public health.PreventionThere is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid spreading the virus and to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other for at least 10 minutes through droplets from coughing and sneezing.To reduce risk, everyone should:<ol>
 <li>Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.</li><li>Stay home if you are sick.</li><li>Cover coughs and sneezes.</li><li>Clean and disinfect surfaces daily.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6cce6db4259f4318515108d7cb80c906%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637201626289069435&amp;sdata=TIqM1cZklDAmdpy%2BZfSugUU7pII%2FhgGyMuMViwW1Z%2Bc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, COVID-19@ks.gov.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

KDHE issues new mandates for quarantine, isolation of those tested

The Hays Police Department has taken a proactive approach in light of the COVID-19 outbreak to protect their officers and the public.

"We are obviously taking it very seriously," said Police Chief Don Scheibler. "We are encouraging our people to take some proactive steps."

As shifts come on duty and leave, they are disinfecting the vehicles and the squad room, along with maintaining a clean work environment throughout the building, he said.

Scheibler said they are also working to maintain social distancing between officers and staff.

When they are interacting with the public they are also implementing social distancing and limiting hands-on contact.

"We are having a more stand-off approach. We are not going to be shaking hands with people and stuff like that, trying to limit the spread," Scheibler said. "We hope people don't get offended. It's not us trying to be rude or disrespectful."

They have also implemented plans to help keep offenders safe, by issuing citations to appear when appropriate or filing long-form reports to the Ellis County Attorney.

"We are trying to limit the number of people we are putting into the jail system," Scheibler said, "understanding that some people still need to be arrested."

Suspects in violent crimes or crimes of domestic violence, for example, he said, will still be detained.

"We are still arresting people," Scheibler said.

In case someone does become infected, the department has a plan ready.

"We have an emergency operations plan, so there is a plan in place," Scheibler said. 

That plan exists outside of the current outbreak concerns.

"If something should happen, a major disaster like a tornado striking town, there's a plan in place to make sure we have enough people to cover the streets," he said.

Scheibler also encouraged everyone to respect the recommendations limiting group activities.

"Any events that expect 50 or more people," he said, "we expect people to cancel.

"At this point, my expectations are for people to be responsible and not engage in conduct that is going to be a danger, not only to them but also the most vulnerable people of our community," he said. "This is truly a threat to the elderly and, if we are careless with this, if we just throw caution to the wind ... we are exposing other people to danger.

"We encourage people to take care of themselves and take care of their neighbors, buy what you need, but let's not go to the store and buy a month's worth of something because that's going to limit others from buy what they need," Scheibler said.

"If we take basic safety precautions," he said. "We will be all right."

By JAMES BELL Hays PostThe Hays Police Department has taken a proactive approach in light of the COVID-19 outbreak to protect their officers and the public."We are obviously taking it very seriously," said Police Chief Don Scheibler. "We are encouraging our people to take some proactive steps."As shifts come on duty and leave, they are disinfecting the vehicles and the squad room, along with maintaining a clean work environment throughout the building, he said.Scheibler said they are also working to maintain social distancing between officers and staff.When they are interacting with the public they are also implementing social distancing and limiting hands-on contact."We are having a more stand-off approach. We are not going to be shaking hands with people and stuff like that, trying to limit the spread," Scheibler said. "We hope people don't get offended. It's not us trying to be rude or disrespectful."They have also implemented plans to help keep offenders safe, by issuing citations to appear when appropriate or filing long-form reports to the Ellis County Attorney."We are trying to limit the number of people we are putting into the jail system," Scheibler said, "understanding that some people still need to be arrested."Suspects in violent crimes or crimes of domestic violence, for example, he said, will still be detained."We are still arresting people," Scheibler said.In case someone does become infected, the department has a plan ready."We have an emergency operations plan, so there is a plan in place," Scheibler said. That plan exists outside of the current outbreak concerns."If something should happen, a major disaster like a tornado striking town, there's a plan in place to make sure we have enough people to cover the streets," he said.Scheibler also encouraged everyone to respect the recommendations limiting group activities."Any events that expect 50 or more people," he said, "we expect people to cancel."At this point, my expectations are for people to be responsible and not engage in conduct that is going to be a danger, not only to them but also the most vulnerable people of our community," he said. "This is truly a threat to the elderly and, if we are careless with this, if we just throw caution to the wind ... we are exposing other people to danger."We encourage people to take care of themselves and take care of their neighbors, buy what you need, but let's not go to the store and buy a month's worth of something because that's going to limit others from buy what they need," Scheibler said."If we take basic safety precautions," he said. "We will be all right."

HPD taking precautions to protect officers, public during outbreak

NEW YORK (AP) — Can my kids go on a play date? Is it OK if I visit the gym?

In this time of coronavirus, once-easy questions have suddenly become complex.

Here are some questions and answers about the “social distancing” efforts to slow the epidemic in the U.S.

Social distancing are practices implemented by public health officials to keep contagious diseases from spreading.

The measures are aimed at trying to cut down the amount of virus spreading around, and ultimately protect those most vulnerable, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Governments have closed borders, and millions of workers and students have been ordered to stay home. On Monday, U.S. officials recommended that older people and those with underlying health conditions “stay home and away from other people.” The U.S. is also telling people not to gather in large groups.

And experts also recommend people try to stay at least 6 feet (about 2 meters) away from each other.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584462056058.png" alt="Reporters practice social distancing in the White House press room Tuesday-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Reporters practice social distancing in the White House press room Tuesday-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Can my kids go on a play date? Is it OK if I visit the gym?In this time of coronavirus, once-easy questions have suddenly become complex.Here are some questions and answers about the “social distancing” efforts to slow the epidemic in the U.S.WHAT IS SOCIAL DISTANCING?Social distancing are practices implemented by public health officials to keep contagious diseases from spreading.The measures are aimed at trying to cut down the amount of virus spreading around, and ultimately protect those most vulnerable, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.WHAT MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN?Governments have closed borders, and millions of workers and students have been ordered to stay home. On Monday, U.S. officials recommended that older people and those with underlying health conditions “stay home and away from other people.” The U.S. is also telling people not to gather in large groups.And experts also recommend people try to stay at least 6 feet (about 2 meters) away from each other.WHY 6 FEET?Experts believe the virus is mainly spread through droplets that come out of your mouth and nose. When an infected person speaks or exhales or coughs or sneezes, the droplets travel about 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) before gravity pulls them to the ground.“They fall pretty quickly,” said Dr. Jill Weatherhead, an infectious disease expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.It's important to try to block coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, so as to not send those droplet flying directly toward someone nearby.CAN I GO OUTSIDE AT ALL?Yes, with some exceptions. And the guidelines vary based on where you live.“We're not being told to stay at home and lock the doors," said Dr. Willam Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. “We're not there yet, and I don't think we'll get there.”People who have coughs and sneezes should stay home as much as possible, and call ahead to the doctor's office if they're planning to get their illness checked out, he added.People who have confirmed coronavirus illness should stay home, as should those who were in close contact with a confirmed case.WHERE CAN I GO?Options are becoming limited, with school, gym and restaurant closures in some places, and work-from-home edicts.Officials in six San Francisco-area counties on Monday told nearly 7 million people to stay inside and venture out only for necessities.If you live someplace without such restrictions, it's best just to use good judgment. If restaurants are open, it's OK to go to eat. But go in a small group and try to get a table away from others.It's necessary to buy food. But try to go to the supermarket at times when it's less crowded, stay 6 feet away from other shoppers as much as you can, and wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.CAN I GO TO THE GYM?Exercise is important. But maybe stick to the machines, wiping them down before and after you use them, and skip games of basketball or other activities that put you in close physical contact with others. If possible, cut back on the gym and go for jogs, walks or bike rides instead, experts said.WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL GATHERINGS?The CDC on Sunday recommended that for the next eight weeks, organizers put off events that would draw at least 50 people. On Monday, the number was reduced to 10.That could ice a lot of weddings, family reunions and birthday parties.Dr. Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the federal response to the virus, said the change from 50 to 10 was influenced by research that tried to estimate the impact of different possible steps.A CDC official, Dr. Jay Butler, said Monday there's no hard-and-fast rule. Officials are simply trying to set a reasonable parameter to “increase social distancing while not creating social isolation,” he said in an interview streamed by the Journal of the American Medical Association.CAN I GO ON DATES? OR SEND MY KIDS ON PLAY DATES?There's some debate among experts about dates and play dates.Adults who are not sick or considered to be at risk can still date, Schaffner said. But skip the bars, concerts and crowded theaters, and instead think about an intimate dinner at home.For kids, play dates can be OK, especially if they're outside in parks and involve a small number of kids, he said. Of course, kids who are sick or who are particularly vulnerable to respiratory illness should not go, he added.Weatherhead had different advice, saying play dates are not recommended. Children generally have had more mild COVID-19 illnesses and therefore might spread the disease before anyone realizes they are sick.WILL SOCIAL DISTANCING WORK?It will be tricky to prove these measures made a difference.Testing for the coronavirus was delayed in the U.S., but it is now starting to come online. That means a lot of new cases may be diagnosed in the coming days, as labs finally find infections that happened weeks ago.“We're going to see increasing (case) numbers, and that's going to be frustrating to people who are doing social distancing. But that doesn't mean social distancing isn't working” Weatherhead said.

Coronavirus Update