MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/tdi" target="_blank">Technology Development Institute</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas State University&nbsp;<a href="https://engg.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Carl R. Ice College of Engineering</a>&nbsp;has assembled a COVID-19 resource guide and is disseminating this information through the&nbsp;<a href="https://greatplainstmc.org/" target="_blank">Great Plains Technology and Manufacturing Cluster</a>&nbsp;initiative.

The Great Plains TMC is an initiative launched in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters program and several local partners across the state of Kansas. 

This initiative was established to serve as an informational and networking hub for manufacturers and technical entrepreneurs throughout the Great Plains region to access resources that can assist in developing, launching and growing new products and businesses.

In regards to the COVID-19 crisis, the Great Plains TMC is expanding its focus to provide affected K-State researchers, Kansas manufacturers and small business owners and their employees with the most up to date and relevant information from federal and state leaders. 

Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.greatplainstmc.org/" target="_blank">greatplainstmc.org</a>&nbsp;and click on the top banner for the COVID-19 resources page. In addition to COVID-19 business assistance, there are tips and advice for working from home, staying mentally healthy and resourceful webinars to utilize during the outbreak. This information will be updated frequently, so the TDI recommends bookmarking the page and checking it often.

TDI also suggests signing up for a free Great Plains TMC membership to view additional innovative information and updates, as well as sharing the information with any colleagues or businesses that could benefit from the COVID-19 resources and Great Plains TMC services.For additional assistance or more information, email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@greatplainstmc.org" target="_blank"></a><a href="mailto:info@greatplainstmc.org" target="_blank">info@greatplainstmc.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586882675246.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KSU News ServiceMANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/tdi" target="_blank">Technology Development Institute</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas State University&nbsp;<a href="https://engg.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Carl R. Ice College of Engineering</a>&nbsp;has assembled a COVID-19 resource guide and is disseminating this information through the&nbsp;<a href="https://greatplainstmc.org/" target="_blank">Great Plains Technology and Manufacturing Cluster</a>&nbsp;initiative. The Great Plains TMC is an initiative launched in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters program and several local partners across the state of Kansas. This initiative was established to serve as an informational and networking hub for manufacturers and technical entrepreneurs throughout the Great Plains region to access resources that can assist in developing, launching and growing new products and businesses.In regards to the COVID-19 crisis, the Great Plains TMC is expanding its focus to provide affected K-State researchers, Kansas manufacturers and small business owners and their employees with the most up to date and relevant information from federal and state leaders. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.greatplainstmc.org/" target="_blank">greatplainstmc.org</a>&nbsp;and click on the top banner for the COVID-19 resources page. In addition to COVID-19 business assistance, there are tips and advice for working from home, staying mentally healthy and resourceful webinars to utilize during the outbreak. This information will be updated frequently, so the TDI recommends bookmarking the page and checking it often. TDI also suggests signing up for a free Great Plains TMC membership to view additional innovative information and updates, as well as sharing the information with any colleagues or businesses that could benefit from the COVID-19 resources and Great Plains TMC services.For additional assistance or more information, email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@greatplainstmc.org" target="_blank"></a><a href="mailto:info@greatplainstmc.org" target="_blank">info@greatplainstmc.org</a>.

Kan. small businesses, manufacturers helped with COVID-19 through Great Plains TMC initiative

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas plans to start using 3D printers to manufacture its own swabs to test for the novel coronavirus as officials look to improve the state’s near-bottom national rank in testing before lifting a stay-at-home order.

Gov. Laura Kelly and her top public health administrator, Dr. Lee Norman, have complained for weeks that Kansas isn’t a priority for testing supplies and personal protective equipment from the federal government or even private vendors, making it difficult to get them. 

The state’s struggles have continued with the Democratic governor under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">increasing pressure</a>&nbsp;from the Republican-controlled Legislature to lift restrictions hindering economic activity, with her stay-at-home order set to remain in place until May 3.

But Kelly said Friday that testing people both with and without symptoms is key. Norman said the state might not be able to loosen restrictions until later in May, a couple of weeks after the Kansas outbreak’s expected late-April peak. Kelly’s stay-at-home order took effect March 30 and is set to stay in place until May 3.

“Our ability to test and contact trace must be much more robust before we can safely proceed to open,” Kelly said during her daily coronavirus news conference at the Statehouse.

Kansas as of Friday had reported testing about 17,000 of its 2.9 million residents for coronavirus, or 5.8 for every 1,000 residents, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://covidtracking.com/" target="_blank">The COVID Tracking Project,</a>&nbsp;a website managed by journalists and analysts, with The Associated Press among the contributors to the data. That rate is the second-lowest among states, just behind Virginia’s 5.75 per 1,000 residents and a little more than half of the national figure of 10.82 per 1,000 citizens.

Testing generally has been limited to people who are showing coronavirus symptoms, though it has expanded in a handful of the state’s 105 counties, including the biggest hotspots in the Kansas City area.

Dr. Beth Oller, a family-practice physician in Stockton, said it’s “ridiculous” that in her area of northwest Kansas, testing still isn’t recommended for people who know they’ve had close contact with an infected person but aren’t yet showing symptoms.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s the way it is right now,” she said. “There are still not enough tests.”

Norman said earlier this week that the state had spent “a lot of money” on testing supplies, though the health department didn’t specify the amount, and was awaiting on some shipments of supplies.

He also said the state expects to use 3D printers next week to start manufacturing 1,000 testing swabs a week. The state would like to do another 15,500 tests on people not showing symptoms to determine how prevalent coronavirus infections are in the general population, he said.

The state Department of Health and Environment, led by Norman, reported Friday that Kansas had 1,705 confirmed coronavirus cases in 66 of its 105 counties. That was an increase of 117, or 7.4% from Thursday, with cases in three additional counties.

COVID-19-related deaths also rose 5%, up four to 84, according to the department.

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

Despite its low testing rate, Kansas’ rate of COVID-19 deaths is in the middle of the pack among states, 2.89 for every 100,000 residents as of Friday, ranking 26th, and against a national figure of 9.89.

“Always, we’re working on, what’s the pinch point, in terms of a our supply chain? Norman said Friday. “I really think that the floodgates will open up and be allowing much more broad testing within the next week.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, eager to get the economy moving again,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1251186839983132673" target="_blank">tweeted</a>&nbsp;Friday, “The States have to step up their TESTING!”

“Well, we know that,” Kelly said when asked about the tweet. “We’ve known that for a long time.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587156578878.png" alt="Drive up testing in Johnson County -photo Johnson Co. Health Department" />
 <figcaption>Drive up testing in Johnson County -photo Johnson Co. Health Department</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas plans to start using 3D printers to manufacture its own swabs to test for the novel coronavirus as officials look to improve the state’s near-bottom national rank in testing before lifting a stay-at-home order.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587176759937.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman listens to a question during Friday's news conference" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman listens to a question during Friday's news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Laura Kelly and her top public health administrator, Dr. Lee Norman, have complained for weeks that Kansas isn’t a priority for testing supplies and personal protective equipment from the federal government or even private vendors, making it difficult to get them. The state’s struggles have continued with the Democratic governor under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">increasing pressure</a>&nbsp;from the Republican-controlled Legislature to lift restrictions hindering economic activity, with her stay-at-home order set to remain in place until May 3.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587150220230.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly answers questions during Friday's news conference" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly answers questions during Friday's news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>But Kelly said Friday that testing people both with and without symptoms is key. Norman said the state might not be able to loosen restrictions until later in May, a couple of weeks after the Kansas outbreak’s expected late-April peak. Kelly’s stay-at-home order took effect March 30 and is set to stay in place until May 3.“Our ability to test and contact trace must be much more robust before we can safely proceed to open,” Kelly said during her daily coronavirus news conference at the Statehouse.Kansas as of Friday had reported testing about 17,000 of its 2.9 million residents for coronavirus, or 5.8 for every 1,000 residents, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://covidtracking.com/" target="_blank">The COVID Tracking Project,</a>&nbsp;a website managed by journalists and analysts, with The Associated Press among the contributors to the data. That rate is the second-lowest among states, just behind Virginia’s 5.75 per 1,000 residents and a little more than half of the national figure of 10.82 per 1,000 citizens.Testing generally has been limited to people who are showing coronavirus symptoms, though it has expanded in a handful of the state’s 105 counties, including the biggest hotspots in the Kansas City area.Dr. Beth Oller, a family-practice physician in Stockton, said it’s “ridiculous” that in her area of northwest Kansas, testing still isn’t recommended for people who know they’ve had close contact with an infected person but aren’t yet showing symptoms.“It’s frustrating, but it’s the way it is right now,” she said. “There are still not enough tests.”Norman said earlier this week that the state had spent “a lot of money” on testing supplies, though the health department didn’t specify the amount, and was awaiting on some shipments of supplies.He also said the state expects to use 3D printers next week to start manufacturing 1,000 testing swabs a week. The state would like to do another 15,500 tests on people not showing symptoms to determine how prevalent coronavirus infections are in the general population, he said.The state Department of Health and Environment, led by Norman, reported Friday that Kansas had 1,705 confirmed coronavirus cases in 66 of its 105 counties. That was an increase of 117, or 7.4% from Thursday, with cases in three additional counties.COVID-19-related deaths also rose 5%, up four to 84, according to the department.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.Despite its low testing rate, Kansas’ rate of COVID-19 deaths is in the middle of the pack among states, 2.89 for every 100,000 residents as of Friday, ranking 26th, and against a national figure of 9.89.“Always, we’re working on, what’s the pinch point, in terms of a our supply chain? Norman said Friday. “I really think that the floodgates will open up and be allowing much more broad testing within the next week.”Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, eager to get the economy moving again,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1251186839983132673" target="_blank">tweeted</a>&nbsp;Friday, “The States have to step up their TESTING!”“Well, we know that,” Kelly said when asked about the tweet. “We’ve known that for a long time.”___

Kansas lags in COVID-19 testing, clouding state's reopening

WICHITA—The Wichita Police Department (WPD) and area Domestic Violence (DV) providers are seeing an increase in violent DV incidents since the beginning of the stay-at-home put into place to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to officer Charley Davidson.

&nbsp;Wichita has seen a 65% increase in aggravated battery – DV cases and a 39% increase in the aggravated assault – DV cases when compared to the average of the past three years during the same period.&nbsp; The stay-at-home order went into effect for Sedgwick County on March 25.

“Even amidst this current pandemic, WPD continues to diligently investigate DV related crimes that affect our city’s families and prosecute those responsible, WPD Chief Gordon Ramsay said.&nbsp; “If you know of someone in a dangerous situation, please reach out, resources are available.”

If you know of someone in a dangerous domestic relationship, please reach out to one of the following resources: Call 911; National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter, 263-6000;&nbsp;Wichita Family Crisis Crisis Center, 267-7233; Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, 263-3002; StepStone, 265-1611; or The&nbsp;

WICHITA—The Wichita Police Department (WPD) and area Domestic Violence (DV) providers are seeing an increase in violent DV incidents since the beginning of the stay-at-home put into place to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;Wichita has seen a 65% increase in aggravated battery – DV cases and a 39% increase in the aggravated assault – DV cases when compared to the average of the past three years during the same period.&nbsp; The stay-at-home order went into effect for Sedgwick County on March 25.“Even amidst this current pandemic, WPD continues to diligently investigate DV related crimes that affect our city’s families and prosecute those responsible, WPD Chief Gordon Ramsay said.&nbsp; “If you know of someone in a dangerous situation, please reach out, resources are available.”If you know of someone in a dangerous domestic relationship, please reach out to one of the following resources: Call 911; National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter, 263-6000;&nbsp;Wichita Family Crisis Crisis Center, 267-7233; Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, 263-3002; StepStone, 265-1611; or The&nbsp;

Police: More domestic violence cases during stay-at-home order

By CORINNE BOYER <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/kansas-meatpacking-plants-have-coronavirus-cases-and-stay-open-amid-safety-concerns">Kansas News Service</a>

GARDEN CITY — The continuing spread of 
COVID-19 among workers who slaughter livestock and package meat poses a 
growing threat to keeping the industry’s plants in operation.

Already, the coronavirus temporarily shut down a pork-processing plant in <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/14/834470141/how-one-city-mayor-forced-a-pork-giant-to-close-its-virus-stricken-plant" target="_blank">Sioux Falls, South Dakota</a>, and a beefpacking facility in <a href="https://jbssa.com/about/news/2020/04-13/#.XpeDsshKhPb" target="_blank">Greeley, Colorado</a>.&nbsp;

Now
 in the cattle slaughterhouses of southwest Kansas, both National Beef 
Packing Co. and Cargill Inc. have confirmed cases of the coronavirus 
among workers at their plants in Dodge City and Liberal.&nbsp;

Tyson 
Foods Inc. has not publicly confirmed the number of cases or which of 
its locations have the virus. In an email, a spokeswoman for Finney 
County government declined to say whether there are confirmed cases at 
the plant — the county’s largest employer.

As the global pandemic
 reaches deeper into small cities on the Great Plains where meatpacking 
is concentrated — the number of COVID-19 cases in Ford County went from 
17 to 107 in the last week — the industry could face a stall.

In 
the meantime, unions have begun pressing for better coronavirus 
protections inside plants where workers stand-side-by side to cut meat 
from carcases. And while plants have implemented extra sanitation shifts
 and social distancing efforts, it’s not always possible for workers to 
stand 6 feet apart.

Martin Rosas is president of the <a href="https://www.unionfacts.com/lu/540631/UFCW/2/" target="_blank">United Food &amp; Commercial Workers District Union Local 2</a>, which represents 9,000 meatpacking and food processing workers in Kansas. He said workers are anxious.&nbsp;

“One
 of the biggest concerns that our members have … is social distancing 
while they’re lunch time and break times occur” he said.&nbsp;

National
 Beef and Cargill have met the union’s requests to stagger break times 
and have provided more space and barriers to employees during breaks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rosas said the union wants meatpacking plants to slow down production lines for workers’ safety.&nbsp;

“Because
 if their line hasn’t been slowed down yet, that’s going to create 
another safety hazard,” Rosas said. “If … people try to change their 
masks and try to grab a hold of their product, it makes it difficult.”

On April 8, National Beef announced the first positive case at its Dodge City plant.&nbsp;

On April 11, the company confirmed COVID-19 cases among its workers, 
but it did not specify the number of cases at its Liberal location.&nbsp;

“These
 employees have not been in our Liberal facility for several days and 
are now in quarantine at home for time required for a full recovery,” 
the statement said.&nbsp;

On April 16,&nbsp; Keith Welty with National Beef
 said the company is not confirming specific numbers of cases but said 
employees have tested positive in Dodge City. Now that plant has moved 
its scheduled cleaning up by a week. From April 16 through the 21, the 
plant will shut down, and Welty said that will stop beef production for 
three days.&nbsp;

The plant is using that time to install stainless 
steel partitions between workers on the production floor. Heated tents 
have been set up outside for lunch breaks and National Beef has said it 
has provided face masks and face shields for workers.

Daniel 
Sullivan, a Cargill spokesman, confirmed the company’s Dodge City 
location has confirmed positive cases, but did not specify how many.&nbsp;

“Our
 priority is limiting the spread of the virus where we can,” Sullivan 
said. “We are working with local health officials to ensure appropriate 
prevention, testing, cleaning and quarantine protocols are followed.”

Sullivan
 said Cargill is also taking workers’ temperatures, providing face 
coverings and practicing social distancing where possible.

Tyson 
spokeswoman Liz Croston said the company is checking employees’ 
temperatures and supplying face coverings, has installed plastic 
dividers and is practicing social distancing.&nbsp;

In the meantime, 
the union asked Gov. Laura Kelly to issue an executive order that would 
mandate meatpacking plants and grocery stores abide by the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines to keep workers 
safe. Rosas said the governor hasn’t replied.&nbsp;

Glynn
 Tonsor, a professor in the department of Agricultural Economics at 
Kansas State University, estimates that southwest Kansas plants account 
for about 25 to 30% of the country's beef production.&nbsp;

“If we 
have more than three of the large plants down for more than a week, then
 you start having a bigger problem of cattle stacking up,” he said.

As of mid-April, Tonsor said he doesn’t think the nation is on the brink of a meat shortage.&nbsp;

“Mainly because we haven't had multiple plants with that (coronavirus) challenge yet,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tyson
 has shut down its Columbus Junction, Iowa, pork plant, Croston said in 
an email. She added that the company has “scaled back production” at its
 Finney County plant.

“We’re beginning to experience varying 
levels of production at some locations,” she said. “Some is planned due 
to additional worker safety precautions, but some is occurring because 
of absenteeism.”

Nicole’s
 fiance works at National Beef. She’s raising two young children with 
compromised immune systems. The Kansas News Service is only using her 
middle name because she fears that talking publicly could create 
problems for her fiance at work.

He’s the family’s only source of income, and his potential exposure to a virus at work is a source of anxiety for the family.&nbsp;

“He
 gets right into the shower to wash off any bacteria that he possibly 
can,” she said. “It’s very stressful because he is scared to hold or 
touch the kids just in case he may have come into contact with anybody 
or anything.”&nbsp;

Corinne Boyer covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter<a href="https://kannews.slack.com/team/UFFCS11T5"> @Corinne</a>_boyer or email cboyer@hppr.org. The
 Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, 
KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social 
determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587239834149.png" alt=" Meat on sale at a grocery store in Garden City, Kansas. Four large meatpacking plants employ thousands of workers in southwest Kansas. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Meat on sale at a grocery store in Garden City, Kansas. Four large meatpacking plants employ thousands of workers in southwest Kansas. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CORINNE BOYER <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/kansas-meatpacking-plants-have-coronavirus-cases-and-stay-open-amid-safety-concerns">Kansas News Service</a>GARDEN CITY — The continuing spread of 
COVID-19 among workers who slaughter livestock and package meat poses a 
growing threat to keeping the industry’s plants in operation.Already, the coronavirus temporarily shut down a pork-processing plant in <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/14/834470141/how-one-city-mayor-forced-a-pork-giant-to-close-its-virus-stricken-plant" target="_blank">Sioux Falls, South Dakota</a>, and a beefpacking facility in <a href="https://jbssa.com/about/news/2020/04-13/#.XpeDsshKhPb" target="_blank">Greeley, Colorado</a>.&nbsp;Now
 in the cattle slaughterhouses of southwest Kansas, both National Beef 
Packing Co. and Cargill Inc. have confirmed cases of the coronavirus 
among workers at their plants in Dodge City and Liberal.&nbsp;Tyson 
Foods Inc. has not publicly confirmed the number of cases or which of 
its locations have the virus. In an email, a spokeswoman for Finney 
County government declined to say whether there are confirmed cases at 
the plant — the county’s largest employer.As the global pandemic
 reaches deeper into small cities on the Great Plains where meatpacking 
is concentrated — the number of COVID-19 cases in Ford County went from 
17 to 107 in the last week — the industry could face a stall.In 
the meantime, unions have begun pressing for better coronavirus 
protections inside plants where workers stand-side-by side to cut meat 
from carcases. And while plants have implemented extra sanitation shifts
 and social distancing efforts, it’s not always possible for workers to 
stand 6 feet apart.<h2>Factory conditions</h2>Martin Rosas is president of the <a href="https://www.unionfacts.com/lu/540631/UFCW/2/" target="_blank">United Food &amp; Commercial Workers District Union Local 2</a>, which represents 9,000 meatpacking and food processing workers in Kansas. He said workers are anxious.&nbsp;“One
 of the biggest concerns that our members have … is social distancing 
while they’re lunch time and break times occur” he said.&nbsp;National
 Beef and Cargill have met the union’s requests to stagger break times 
and have provided more space and barriers to employees during breaks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rosas said the union wants meatpacking plants to slow down production lines for workers’ safety.&nbsp;“Because
 if their line hasn’t been slowed down yet, that’s going to create 
another safety hazard,” Rosas said. “If … people try to change their 
masks and try to grab a hold of their product, it makes it difficult.”On April 8, National Beef announced the first positive case at its Dodge City plant.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587239901438.png" alt=" The National Beef Plant in Dodge City has confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but the company has not confirmed how many. Credit Bethany Wood / For the Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> The National Beef Plant in Dodge City has confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but the company has not confirmed how many. Credit Bethany Wood / For the Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>On April 11, the company confirmed COVID-19 cases among its workers, 
but it did not specify the number of cases at its Liberal location.&nbsp;“These
 employees have not been in our Liberal facility for several days and 
are now in quarantine at home for time required for a full recovery,” 
the statement said.&nbsp;On April 16,&nbsp; Keith Welty with National Beef
 said the company is not confirming specific numbers of cases but said 
employees have tested positive in Dodge City. Now that plant has moved 
its scheduled cleaning up by a week. From April 16 through the 21, the 
plant will shut down, and Welty said that will stop beef production for 
three days.&nbsp;The plant is using that time to install stainless 
steel partitions between workers on the production floor. Heated tents 
have been set up outside for lunch breaks and National Beef has said it 
has provided face masks and face shields for workers.Daniel 
Sullivan, a Cargill spokesman, confirmed the company’s Dodge City 
location has confirmed positive cases, but did not specify how many.&nbsp;“Our
 priority is limiting the spread of the virus where we can,” Sullivan 
said. “We are working with local health officials to ensure appropriate 
prevention, testing, cleaning and quarantine protocols are followed.”Sullivan
 said Cargill is also taking workers’ temperatures, providing face 
coverings and practicing social distancing where possible.Tyson 
spokeswoman Liz Croston said the company is checking employees’ 
temperatures and supplying face coverings, has installed plastic 
dividers and is practicing social distancing.&nbsp;In the meantime, 
the union asked Gov. Laura Kelly to issue an executive order that would 
mandate meatpacking plants and grocery stores abide by the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines to keep workers 
safe. Rosas said the governor hasn’t replied.&nbsp;<h2>Meat production</h2>Glynn
 Tonsor, a professor in the department of Agricultural Economics at 
Kansas State University, estimates that southwest Kansas plants account 
for about 25 to 30% of the country's beef production.&nbsp;“If we 
have more than three of the large plants down for more than a week, then
 you start having a bigger problem of cattle stacking up,” he said.As of mid-April, Tonsor said he doesn’t think the nation is on the brink of a meat shortage.&nbsp;“Mainly because we haven't had multiple plants with that (coronavirus) challenge yet,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tyson
 has shut down its Columbus Junction, Iowa, pork plant, Croston said in 
an email. She added that the company has “scaled back production” at its
 Finney County plant.“We’re beginning to experience varying 
levels of production at some locations,” she said. “Some is planned due 
to additional worker safety precautions, but some is occurring because 
of absenteeism.”<h2>Meatpacking workers</h2>Nicole’s
 fiance works at National Beef. She’s raising two young children with 
compromised immune systems. The Kansas News Service is only using her 
middle name because she fears that talking publicly could create 
problems for her fiance at work.He’s the family’s only source of income, and his potential exposure to a virus at work is a source of anxiety for the family.&nbsp;“He
 gets right into the shower to wash off any bacteria that he possibly 
can,” she said. “It’s very stressful because he is scared to hold or 
touch the kids just in case he may have come into contact with anybody 
or anything.”&nbsp;Corinne Boyer covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter<a href="https://kannews.slack.com/team/UFFCS11T5"> @Corinne</a>_boyer or email cboyer@hppr.org. The
 Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, 
KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social 
determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

Kan. meatpacking plants have virus cases, but stay open

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Brooklyn Dotson needed food. Her first unemployment check had yet to arrive after she was let go by the warehouse where she used to work.

So the 25-year-old Nashville woman scrounged up some gas money and drove 30 miles to the GraceWorks Ministries food pantry in Franklin. There, at the pantry’s new drive-thru, workers wearing masks and gloves loaded her van with about $350 worth of groceries.

“I don’t have any income coming in, I don’t get any food stamps, so it’s just hard to get any help right now,” Dotson said while waiting in line at GraceWorks.

Food pantries stay busy even in the best of economic times; the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a spike in demand as millions of people like Dotson find themselves furloughed, laid off or with businesses that have suffered huge financial blows.

“About 50% of the people coming through our lines have never been here before,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://graceworksministries.net/" target="_blank">GraceWorks&nbsp;</a>President and CEO Valencia A. Breckenridge.

Just as demand is skyrocketing, however, many of the food banks’ sources are drying up. Restaurants, hotels and resorts — many of which are shuttered or sharply limiting their operations — are no longer supplying them with food, while other suppliers are busy restocking grocery shelves. Farmers have switched from shipping vegetables and meats in bulk to individual packaging for grocery stores.

“It is a perfect storm scenario,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief operating officer for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/" target="_blank">Feeding America</a>, a nationwide association of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries.

Feeding America has seen an increase in demand from 98% of its member banks, according to a recent survey. The average increase for a member was 63%, while 95% of the association’s food banks reported an increase in operating expenses, the organization said.

Congress included a significant boost for emergency food assistance in its coronavirus relief legislation, but Fitzgerald warned that funding may take months to reach localities while food banks contend with a flood of need in the near term. The $100 million that billionaire Jeff Bezos pledged to the association on April 2 was already being deployed last week, she said.

“When people say what do you need the most, we need food and money,” said Nancy Keil, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

In addition to finding ways to meet the spike in demand, food banks have had to devise creative new ways to distribute ever greater amounts of food while keeping both recipients and their staff safe from exposure to the coronavirus.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank in California has built “pop-up” pantries after some of its previous 275 or so sites had to stop operating during the pandemic, spokeswoman Keely Hopkins said. The new sites, many of which are serving hundreds of people per day, stay open for longer hours and use open spaces such as parking lots to facilitate social distancing, she added.

Paid staffers are diving in at many food banks to stock, sort and bag food for either delivery or drive-thru pickups, a measure they realized was necessary to protect volunteers, many of whom are older and particularly at risk for complications from the virus. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee limits volunteers to 10 per room to fill boxes.

The board of the East Nashville Cooperative Ministry has proposed closing because so many of its volunteers are elderly, including Judy Wahlstrom, who runs the program.

Wahlstrom, 70, has refused, but she said she is taking precautions, allowing only one person inside at a time to select food off the shelves while she wears a mask and gloves.

“I said, ‘If I get it, I get it,’” Wahlstrom said. “I don’t have anybody at home dependent on me. I said, ‘I got to keep it open.’ And I gave the volunteers all the options.”

At the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, spokeswoman Cathy Nestlen said nearly 45,000 volunteers helped out last year. This year, in order to adopt best practices for social distancing to combat the virus, staffers have stepped up to help.

Nestlen said the bank, which acts as a food distribution center for hundreds of member agencies, moved to a six-day work week this month and would consider moving to seven days a week if demand called for it.

Oklahoma had ranked among the hungriest states in the nation before the coronavirus, Nestlen noted. “This pandemic on top of it just shines a light on how so many households, not just in Oklahoma but around the country, live paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “When a household becomes economically insecure, they almost immediately become food-insecure.”

Food banks like Nestlen’s are realizing the sharp increase in demand could continue for months, which she said makes donations even more crucial.

For now, one thing is certain: Whatever food they do acquire is flying off the shelves just as fast as it arrives.

“The food’s coming in the back door, and it’s going right out the front to the customers,” said Courtney Vrablik, executive director of The Store, a supermarket founded by singer Brad Paisley and his wife last month in Nashville to provide free food for those in need.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587138251980.png" alt="Photo courtesy Feeding America" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Feeding America</figcaption>
 </figure>FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Brooklyn Dotson needed food. Her first unemployment check had yet to arrive after she was let go by the warehouse where she used to work.So the 25-year-old Nashville woman scrounged up some gas money and drove 30 miles to the GraceWorks Ministries food pantry in Franklin. There, at the pantry’s new drive-thru, workers wearing masks and gloves loaded her van with about $350 worth of groceries.“I don’t have any income coming in, I don’t get any food stamps, so it’s just hard to get any help right now,” Dotson said while waiting in line at GraceWorks.Food pantries stay busy even in the best of economic times; the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a spike in demand as millions of people like Dotson find themselves furloughed, laid off or with businesses that have suffered huge financial blows.“About 50% of the people coming through our lines have never been here before,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://graceworksministries.net/" target="_blank">GraceWorks&nbsp;</a>President and CEO Valencia A. Breckenridge.Just as demand is skyrocketing, however, many of the food banks’ sources are drying up. Restaurants, hotels and resorts — many of which are shuttered or sharply limiting their operations — are no longer supplying them with food, while other suppliers are busy restocking grocery shelves. Farmers have switched from shipping vegetables and meats in bulk to individual packaging for grocery stores.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587147581911.png" alt="Cars wait in line at food pantry in Florida-image courtesy Feeding America" />
 <figcaption>Cars wait in line at food pantry in Florida-image courtesy Feeding America</figcaption>
 </figure>“It is a perfect storm scenario,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief operating officer for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/" target="_blank">Feeding America</a>, a nationwide association of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries.Feeding America has seen an increase in demand from 98% of its member banks, according to a recent survey. The average increase for a member was 63%, while 95% of the association’s food banks reported an increase in operating expenses, the organization said.Congress included a significant boost for emergency food assistance in its coronavirus relief legislation, but Fitzgerald warned that funding may take months to reach localities while food banks contend with a flood of need in the near term. The $100 million that billionaire Jeff Bezos pledged to the association on April 2 was already being deployed last week, she said.“When people say what do you need the most, we need food and money,” said Nancy Keil, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.In addition to finding ways to meet the spike in demand, food banks have had to devise creative new ways to distribute ever greater amounts of food while keeping both recipients and their staff safe from exposure to the coronavirus.The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank in California has built “pop-up” pantries after some of its previous 275 or so sites had to stop operating during the pandemic, spokeswoman Keely Hopkins said. The new sites, many of which are serving hundreds of people per day, stay open for longer hours and use open spaces such as parking lots to facilitate social distancing, she added.Paid staffers are diving in at many food banks to stock, sort and bag food for either delivery or drive-thru pickups, a measure they realized was necessary to protect volunteers, many of whom are older and particularly at risk for complications from the virus. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee limits volunteers to 10 per room to fill boxes.The board of the East Nashville Cooperative Ministry has proposed closing because so many of its volunteers are elderly, including Judy Wahlstrom, who runs the program.Wahlstrom, 70, has refused, but she said she is taking precautions, allowing only one person inside at a time to select food off the shelves while she wears a mask and gloves.“I said, ‘If I get it, I get it,’” Wahlstrom said. “I don’t have anybody at home dependent on me. I said, ‘I got to keep it open.’ And I gave the volunteers all the options.”At the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, spokeswoman Cathy Nestlen said nearly 45,000 volunteers helped out last year. This year, in order to adopt best practices for social distancing to combat the virus, staffers have stepped up to help.Nestlen said the bank, which acts as a food distribution center for hundreds of member agencies, moved to a six-day work week this month and would consider moving to seven days a week if demand called for it.Oklahoma had ranked among the hungriest states in the nation before the coronavirus, Nestlen noted. “This pandemic on top of it just shines a light on how so many households, not just in Oklahoma but around the country, live paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “When a household becomes economically insecure, they almost immediately become food-insecure.”Food banks like Nestlen’s are realizing the sharp increase in demand could continue for months, which she said makes donations even more crucial.For now, one thing is certain: Whatever food they do acquire is flying off the shelves just as fast as it arrives.“The food’s coming in the back door, and it’s going right out the front to the customers,” said Courtney Vrablik, executive director of The Store, a supermarket founded by singer Brad Paisley and his wife last month in Nashville to provide free food for those in need.

Pandemic provokes spike in demand for food pantries in US

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 85 to&nbsp; 1,790 total, the state health department reported Saturday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 85 to&nbsp; 1,790 total, the state health department reported Saturday.&nbsp;COVID-19 deaths increased to 86<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587230222061.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

BROWN COUNTY&nbsp; — Authorities&nbsp; investigating the cause of a fatal Kansas house fire have identified the victim as&nbsp;74-year-old Delores Goens, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Just before 3:30a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a fire at a home near U.S. 36 highway and Sycamore Street in Fairview, Kansas, according to Merchant.

A family member reported that Goens and her husband initially escaped the fire, but that she went back inside to try to save a dog and did not survive, according to Merchant. Her husband was hospitalized.

The state fire marshals office has been notified as standard procedure to investigate the cause of the fire, according to Merchant.&nbsp;

Brown County —Officials say a woman has died in a rural northeastern Kansas house fire.

The fire was reported around 3 a.m. Thursday in Brown County, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

A family member reported that the 74-year-old woman and her husband initially escaped the fire, but that the woman went back inside to try to save a dog and did not survive.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says it's investigating the cause of the fire, but noted that no foul play was suspected. Officials said the man who escaped the fire was hospitalized. Authorities have not released the victims' names.

BROWN COUNTY&nbsp; — Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal Kansas house fire.

Just before 3:30a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a fire at a home near U.S. 36 highway and Sycamore Street in Fairview, Kansas, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

The fire claimed the life of one of the residents of the home. No foul play is suspected.&nbsp; Merchant did not release the victim's name.

The state fire marshals office has been notified as standard procedure to investigate the cause of the fire, according to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587212373648.png" alt="Scene of the fatal house fire photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the fatal house fire photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY&nbsp; — Authorities&nbsp; investigating the cause of a fatal Kansas house fire have identified the victim as&nbsp;74-year-old Delores Goens, according to Sheriff John Merchant.Just before 3:30a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a fire at a home near U.S. 36 highway and Sycamore Street in Fairview, Kansas, according to Merchant.A family member reported that Goens and her husband initially escaped the fire, but that she went back inside to try to save a dog and did not survive, according to Merchant. Her husband was hospitalized.The state fire marshals office has been notified as standard procedure to investigate the cause of the fire, according to Merchant.&nbsp;&nbsp;No foul play is suspected.&nbsp;------Brown County —Officials say a woman has died in a rural northeastern Kansas house fire.The fire was reported around 3 a.m. Thursday in Brown County, according to Sheriff John Merchant.A family member reported that the 74-year-old woman and her husband initially escaped the fire, but that the woman went back inside to try to save a dog and did not survive.The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says it's investigating the cause of the fire, but noted that no foul play was suspected. Officials said the man who escaped the fire was hospitalized. Authorities have not released the victims' names.-----------BROWN COUNTY&nbsp; — Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal Kansas house fire.Just before 3:30a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a fire at a home near U.S. 36 highway and Sycamore Street in Fairview, Kansas, according to Sheriff John Merchant.The fire claimed the life of one of the residents of the home. No foul play is suspected.&nbsp; Merchant did not release the victim's name.The state fire marshals office has been notified as standard procedure to investigate the cause of the fire, according to Merchant.&nbsp;No foul play is suspected.&nbsp;

Sheriff IDs Kan. woman who died trying to save dog in house fire

By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/wichita-airline-expert-pandemic-changes-everything-way-we-fly">Kansas News Service</a>

The coronavirus pandemic is raining on just about every type of business.

For the airline industry, though, it’s a full-blown monsoon.

The
 major domestic carriers are losing tens of millions of dollars a day. 
Airline traffic has fallen to levels last seen 60 years ago as carriers 
cancel flights and park their planes.

Not only is this bad news for the commercial airline industry, it’s 
also a problem for Wichita. The city’s largest employer, Spirit 
AeroSystems, makes parts for every Boeing airliner – and for several 
Airbus models as well. And thousands of other jobs here are tied to the 
supply chain that supports Spirit.

Dean Headley is a professor 
emeritus of marketing at Wichita State University and an expert on the 
airline industry. He’s co-author of the annual Airline Quality Rating, 
which ranks the performance of the nation’s largest airlines.

Headley watched the industry buckle and then rebound after 9/11.

He talked with Tom Shine and The Range about what’s ahead for the airline industry and for travelers.

The interview was edited for length and clarity.

On
 March 1, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) screened 
about 2.3 million people at U.S airports. Last week, it was well below 
100,000 for several days. What we're seeing is unprecedented, isn't it?

It's
 certainly unprecedented. Not even 9/11 took us down this far. The 
airline industry took about 20% of the seat capacity during 9/11 out of 
the service. Now, we've got about 90% of the domestic seat capacity not 
flying, which is dramatically different.

Last Tuesday, April the 7th, was the lowest number of screened passengers since the 1960s in the domestic system.

After
 9/11, there was no commercial or travel in the U.S. for less than a 
week. It took, though, about two years for U.S. passenger traffic to 
return to pre-9/11 levels. How long is it going to take the airlines 
this time to return to pre-coronavirus levels?

That's 
really difficult to say at this point, obviously. A couple things play 
into that. I think the biggest one is the nature of the fear. … We don't
 know what that fear looks like. It's our spouse, our neighbor. It's a 
door knob. It's a seat in an airplane. It can be anywhere. It's 
faceless. It doesn't have a nature to it that we can see. So the fear 
that kept people from flying after 9/11 is different than the way the 
fear strikes us now with this, ‘Well, I can’t see it’ type of a problem 
that we’re facing.

And that has a good chance to push this recovery back further, doesn't it?

Certainly.
 This recovery will take certainly a lot longer than the 9/11 recovery. 
Like you said, it took about two years for that to get back to … 
pre-9/11 levels. And the airlines were cautious about that, and they're 
being overly cautious now, for good reason. And I think they will 
continue to be cautious about that.

This changes everything in 
the way we fly. The big change we saw after 9/11 was TSA and screening 
and being overly cautious about who we let on an airplane. How do we do 
that after the coronavirus? I don't know that we've really figured that 
one out yet. So that's going to add additional time – months certainly, 
if not maybe years – before this gets back to normal.

United
 Airlines is losing about $100 million a day. Delta is about $60 million
 a day. Congress has set aside about $50 billion in aid for passenger 
airlines. Is that going to be enough or are we going to see some 
airlines go under?

I don't think $50 billion is even 
going to come close to being enough for that. And it's possible that 
airlines could go under. But we don't have that many to go under, quite 
frankly.

Since then (9/11, we've had a lot of consolidation, so 
to speak. I don't know how much more consolidation or bankruptcy or 
going out of existence of airlines that this country can stand or that 
the flying public will tolerate. Choice is something that Americans tend
 to like, and right now we have a lot of choice in air travel for the 
most part. And if we start losing airlines, I'm not sure how the flying 
public's really gonna like that.

People flying, of 
course, is critical to planemakers like Boeing and Airbus, which means 
it's also critical to the Wichita economy because we … make planes for 
Boeing and Airbus. Does the slow buildup of airline travel also going to
 mean a slow buildup for the Wichita economy going forward?

Well,
 certainly airlines have a full cadre of airplanes that they park. They 
always have airplanes scheduled for delivery. And it really depends on 
how quickly the airline feels comfortable in going ahead with those 
plans … after surviving a financial disaster.

And, on the other 
side of the ledger, how quickly the production facility can bring its 
people back together and start producing a plane. It takes several weeks
 to produce a plane. So when everybody says go again, it's going to be 
two or three months before we can even hope to see some semblance of, 
"Well, that’s kind of what it was before."

I think Dr. (Anthony) Fauci was on TV the other day saying that we're just not going to turn the switch back on.

First
 of all, we don't know exactly which switches to turn on. And secondly, 
the switch turning on relies on the fact that there's somebody out there
 that wants to see that light, so to speak, or wants to use that 
service. And this is gonna make a lot of people gun shy. There's no 
question about it. We have seriously changed the way our country will 
function for a long time to come.

Some of that's going to be 
good, though. I mean, let's face it, people are a lot more caring and 
giving and understanding and appreciative, and there's a lot of good 
things there. But at the same token, there's going to be a lot of 
hesitation about re-engaging in the way that our American "Do what we 
want to do, when we want to do it" type of attitude has been in the 
past.

If we can … let's look two or three years out, four
 years out. What changes might your average traveler – the person who 
flies maybe two times a year, three times a year – see in the airline 
industry?

It's hard to say exactly how security will 
change. I'm not sure they can do the health screening, so to speak. 
They're not going to be taking your temperature and all that kind of 
stuff.

There may be some type of a health question that they ask.
 I could see that being possible, particularly if this virus lingers or 
comes back over and over again at various countries that maybe aren't 
quite as quick to shut it down or recognize it or control it as best you
 can.

I could see that … for the flying public. And they may have to have a note from your doctor … in that process.

But
 let's face it, we like to move around and anything that limits our 
movement, that seems a little bit out of reason, is going to take a 
while for the flying public to warm up to. How long did it take us to 
get used to the TSA stuff? … "No, you’ve got to take your shoes. You've 
got to take your belt off. You know, go ahead and disrobe while you're 
at it. So you might as well cause we're going to check everything."

How
 long did it take for them (TSA) to begin to soften that or ease that? 
This is a little different, but it's that type of a thing. It's taken 
several years with the TSA to ease some of their restrictions, and I 
expect the TSA will continue to play a role somehow in the screening of 
the traveling public. So they're going to be front and center in this 
process for the traveler.

I'm going to guess you're a frequent flyer given your job. You won't have any hesitancy about flying going forward, right?

Right
 now, yes. In the future, it depends on where I'm going and how that 
part of the world or the country is faring at this point. I've always 
taken precautions, even before the coronavirus thing. I wiped down the 
tray table in front of me. I wipe down the seats with disinfectant 
wipes. I keep my shoes on. I don't use their headphones … I didn't trust
 the interior of airplanes given that that airplane could be in four or 
five different states in one day, and who knows where everybody had come
 from. I didn't trust that in the first place. So I'm going to be a 
little bit more careful, shall we say, as I go forward.

Anything else that I haven't asked you that you'd like to mention or make a point about?

Well,
 just the point of encouragement really, and that is that this will 
pass, it will change things. Just like 9/11 changed the way we flew and 
used the air travel system. This will change the air travel system. It's
 hard to say exactly how.

I think one thing this has taught us is
 that … literally the world is so interconnected that we have to be 
aware of what's going on all the way around us. And … as I've said 
before, every traveler must be prepared to take care of themselves. 
Whether it's a glitch in a reservation or a missed connection or a 
health issue, you must be prepared to take care of yourself because 
while the airlines try their best, they can't do that for you. You must 
be responsible for your own outcomes as much as possible.

Tom Shine is director of news and public affairs at KMUW. Follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/thomaspshine">@thomaspshine</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587153698111.jpeg" alt="Delta Airlines" />
 <figcaption>Delta Airlines</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/wichita-airline-expert-pandemic-changes-everything-way-we-fly">Kansas News Service</a>The coronavirus pandemic is raining on just about every type of business.For the airline industry, though, it’s a full-blown monsoon.The
 major domestic carriers are losing tens of millions of dollars a day. 
Airline traffic has fallen to levels last seen 60 years ago as carriers 
cancel flights and park their planes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587153748265.jpeg" alt=" Dean Headley / Wichita State University" />
 <figcaption> Dean Headley / Wichita State University</figcaption>
 </figure>Not only is this bad news for the commercial airline industry, it’s 
also a problem for Wichita. The city’s largest employer, Spirit 
AeroSystems, makes parts for every Boeing airliner – and for several 
Airbus models as well. And thousands of other jobs here are tied to the 
supply chain that supports Spirit.Dean Headley is a professor 
emeritus of marketing at Wichita State University and an expert on the 
airline industry. He’s co-author of the annual Airline Quality Rating, 
which ranks the performance of the nation’s largest airlines.Headley watched the industry buckle and then rebound after 9/11.He talked with Tom Shine and The Range about what’s ahead for the airline industry and for travelers.The interview was edited for length and clarity.On
 March 1, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) screened 
about 2.3 million people at U.S airports. Last week, it was well below 
100,000 for several days. What we're seeing is unprecedented, isn't it?It's
 certainly unprecedented. Not even 9/11 took us down this far. The 
airline industry took about 20% of the seat capacity during 9/11 out of 
the service. Now, we've got about 90% of the domestic seat capacity not 
flying, which is dramatically different.Last Tuesday, April the 7th, was the lowest number of screened passengers since the 1960s in the domestic system.After
 9/11, there was no commercial or travel in the U.S. for less than a 
week. It took, though, about two years for U.S. passenger traffic to 
return to pre-9/11 levels. How long is it going to take the airlines 
this time to return to pre-coronavirus levels?That's 
really difficult to say at this point, obviously. A couple things play 
into that. I think the biggest one is the nature of the fear. … We don't
 know what that fear looks like. It's our spouse, our neighbor. It's a 
door knob. It's a seat in an airplane. It can be anywhere. It's 
faceless. It doesn't have a nature to it that we can see. So the fear 
that kept people from flying after 9/11 is different than the way the 
fear strikes us now with this, ‘Well, I can’t see it’ type of a problem 
that we’re facing.And that has a good chance to push this recovery back further, doesn't it?Certainly.
 This recovery will take certainly a lot longer than the 9/11 recovery. 
Like you said, it took about two years for that to get back to … 
pre-9/11 levels. And the airlines were cautious about that, and they're 
being overly cautious now, for good reason. And I think they will 
continue to be cautious about that.This changes everything in 
the way we fly. The big change we saw after 9/11 was TSA and screening 
and being overly cautious about who we let on an airplane. How do we do 
that after the coronavirus? I don't know that we've really figured that 
one out yet. So that's going to add additional time – months certainly, 
if not maybe years – before this gets back to normal.United
 Airlines is losing about $100 million a day. Delta is about $60 million
 a day. Congress has set aside about $50 billion in aid for passenger 
airlines. Is that going to be enough or are we going to see some 
airlines go under?I don't think $50 billion is even 
going to come close to being enough for that. And it's possible that 
airlines could go under. But we don't have that many to go under, quite 
frankly.Since then (9/11, we've had a lot of consolidation, so 
to speak. I don't know how much more consolidation or bankruptcy or 
going out of existence of airlines that this country can stand or that 
the flying public will tolerate. Choice is something that Americans tend
 to like, and right now we have a lot of choice in air travel for the 
most part. And if we start losing airlines, I'm not sure how the flying 
public's really gonna like that.People flying, of 
course, is critical to planemakers like Boeing and Airbus, which means 
it's also critical to the Wichita economy because we … make planes for 
Boeing and Airbus. Does the slow buildup of airline travel also going to
 mean a slow buildup for the Wichita economy going forward?Well,
 certainly airlines have a full cadre of airplanes that they park. They 
always have airplanes scheduled for delivery. And it really depends on 
how quickly the airline feels comfortable in going ahead with those 
plans … after surviving a financial disaster.And, on the other 
side of the ledger, how quickly the production facility can bring its 
people back together and start producing a plane. It takes several weeks
 to produce a plane. So when everybody says go again, it's going to be 
two or three months before we can even hope to see some semblance of, 
"Well, that’s kind of what it was before."I think Dr. (Anthony) Fauci was on TV the other day saying that we're just not going to turn the switch back on.First
 of all, we don't know exactly which switches to turn on. And secondly, 
the switch turning on relies on the fact that there's somebody out there
 that wants to see that light, so to speak, or wants to use that 
service. And this is gonna make a lot of people gun shy. There's no 
question about it. We have seriously changed the way our country will 
function for a long time to come.Some of that's going to be 
good, though. I mean, let's face it, people are a lot more caring and 
giving and understanding and appreciative, and there's a lot of good 
things there. But at the same token, there's going to be a lot of 
hesitation about re-engaging in the way that our American "Do what we 
want to do, when we want to do it" type of attitude has been in the 
past.If we can … let's look two or three years out, four
 years out. What changes might your average traveler – the person who 
flies maybe two times a year, three times a year – see in the airline 
industry?It's hard to say exactly how security will 
change. I'm not sure they can do the health screening, so to speak. 
They're not going to be taking your temperature and all that kind of 
stuff.There may be some type of a health question that they ask.
 I could see that being possible, particularly if this virus lingers or 
comes back over and over again at various countries that maybe aren't 
quite as quick to shut it down or recognize it or control it as best you
 can.I could see that … for the flying public. And they may have to have a note from your doctor … in that process.But
 let's face it, we like to move around and anything that limits our 
movement, that seems a little bit out of reason, is going to take a 
while for the flying public to warm up to. How long did it take us to 
get used to the TSA stuff? … "No, you’ve got to take your shoes. You've 
got to take your belt off. You know, go ahead and disrobe while you're 
at it. So you might as well cause we're going to check everything."How
 long did it take for them (TSA) to begin to soften that or ease that? 
This is a little different, but it's that type of a thing. It's taken 
several years with the TSA to ease some of their restrictions, and I 
expect the TSA will continue to play a role somehow in the screening of 
the traveling public. So they're going to be front and center in this 
process for the traveler.I'm going to guess you're a frequent flyer given your job. You won't have any hesitancy about flying going forward, right?Right
 now, yes. In the future, it depends on where I'm going and how that 
part of the world or the country is faring at this point. I've always 
taken precautions, even before the coronavirus thing. I wiped down the 
tray table in front of me. I wipe down the seats with disinfectant 
wipes. I keep my shoes on. I don't use their headphones … I didn't trust
 the interior of airplanes given that that airplane could be in four or 
five different states in one day, and who knows where everybody had come
 from. I didn't trust that in the first place. So I'm going to be a 
little bit more careful, shall we say, as I go forward.Anything else that I haven't asked you that you'd like to mention or make a point about?Well,
 just the point of encouragement really, and that is that this will 
pass, it will change things. Just like 9/11 changed the way we flew and 
used the air travel system. This will change the air travel system. It's
 hard to say exactly how.I think one thing this has taught us is
 that … literally the world is so interconnected that we have to be 
aware of what's going on all the way around us. And … as I've said 
before, every traveler must be prepared to take care of themselves. 
Whether it's a glitch in a reservation or a missed connection or a 
health issue, you must be prepared to take care of yourself because 
while the airlines try their best, they can't do that for you. You must 
be responsible for your own outcomes as much as possible.Tom Shine is director of news and public affairs at KMUW. Follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/thomaspshine">@thomaspshine</a>.

Kan. airline expert: 'This changes everything in the way we fly' 

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump held a call with faith leaders on Friday that included discussion about a phased-in return to broader in-person worship after weeks of religious services largely shifting online in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump’s call with faith leaders came one day after the White House included houses of worship among “large venues” that could be able to reopen while observing “strict physical distancing protocols” in the first stage of a three-part&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/420a38ec14101eab70e07be367ee6422">plan to reopen</a>&nbsp;a U.S. economy that’s been frozen by the toll of the highly contagious virus.

Trump “mentioned his memories as a young child attending Billy Graham’s service at Yankee Stadium, and acknowledged that while he has enjoyed watching services online from the White House, he told the faith leaders it is important for people to soon be able to once again come together, pray, and worship,” the White House said in its statement.

Participants in the call with faith leaders said it featured discussion about how restarting in-person worship could work, without any conclusion reached, and underscored their commitment to not imperiling the health of the faithful. Indeed, Trump has said that governors would be empowered to spearhead their states’ paces of economic reopening.

Jack Graham, pastor of Texas-based Prestonwood Baptist Church, said the call included conversation about “how would we go about bringing people back together,” adding that those involved agreed that “we’re going to do that carefully and gradually, and not put people at risk.”

Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Council, said that religious institutions “want to be a blessing and not a burden” by not returning to practices that could “cause more harm than good” if taken up too early.

Rodriguez added that he hoped to see clergy and other faith leaders nationwide identified as essential workers, as well as a clear resumption of outdoor religious services that can be conducted with people remaining in their automobiles. That sort of step would “help us transition to a new normal,” he said.

Cissie Graham Lynch of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, said churches would be committed to keeping their congregations safe and emphasized the importance of healing the spiritual pain caused by widespread social distancing restrictions imposed to fight the virus.

“People are lonely, people are scared,” Lynch said.

Those who participated in the call described Trump as closely engaged in the discussion.

“We may be opening, but we’re putting safety first,” the president told reporters Friday.

The faith leaders’ conversation with Trump is not the only sign that religious leaders are beginning to explore how to resume in-person worship services. The Christian executive search firm Vanderbloemen has launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vanderbloemen.com/reopening-church" target="_blank">ReopeningChurch.com</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vanderbloemen.com/reopening-school" target="_blank">ReopeningSchool.com</a>&nbsp;websites to start a conversation on that process.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587172818525.png" alt="President Trump discussed his visit with faith leaders to open Friday's Coronavirus Task Force press briefing -White House image" />
 <figcaption>President Trump discussed his visit with faith leaders to open Friday's Coronavirus Task Force press briefing -White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump held a call with faith leaders on Friday that included discussion about a phased-in return to broader in-person worship after weeks of religious services largely shifting online in response to the coronavirus pandemic.Trump’s call with faith leaders came one day after the White House included houses of worship among “large venues” that could be able to reopen while observing “strict physical distancing protocols” in the first stage of a three-part&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/420a38ec14101eab70e07be367ee6422">plan to reopen</a>&nbsp;a U.S. economy that’s been frozen by the toll of the highly contagious virus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587086887250.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump “mentioned his memories as a young child attending Billy Graham’s service at Yankee Stadium, and acknowledged that while he has enjoyed watching services online from the White House, he told the faith leaders it is important for people to soon be able to once again come together, pray, and worship,” the White House said in its statement.Participants in the call with faith leaders said it featured discussion about how restarting in-person worship could work, without any conclusion reached, and underscored their commitment to not imperiling the health of the faithful. Indeed, Trump has said that governors would be empowered to spearhead their states’ paces of economic reopening.Jack Graham, pastor of Texas-based Prestonwood Baptist Church, said the call included conversation about “how would we go about bringing people back together,” adding that those involved agreed that “we’re going to do that carefully and gradually, and not put people at risk.”Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Council, said that religious institutions “want to be a blessing and not a burden” by not returning to practices that could “cause more harm than good” if taken up too early.Rodriguez added that he hoped to see clergy and other faith leaders nationwide identified as essential workers, as well as a clear resumption of outdoor religious services that can be conducted with people remaining in their automobiles. That sort of step would “help us transition to a new normal,” he said.Cissie Graham Lynch of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, said churches would be committed to keeping their congregations safe and emphasized the importance of healing the spiritual pain caused by widespread social distancing restrictions imposed to fight the virus.“People are lonely, people are scared,” Lynch said.Those who participated in the call described Trump as closely engaged in the discussion.“We may be opening, but we’re putting safety first,” the president told reporters Friday.The faith leaders’ conversation with Trump is not the only sign that religious leaders are beginning to explore how to resume in-person worship services. The Christian executive search firm Vanderbloemen has launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vanderbloemen.com/reopening-church" target="_blank">ReopeningChurch.com</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vanderbloemen.com/reopening-school" target="_blank">ReopeningSchool.com</a>&nbsp;websites to start a conversation on that process.___

Trump consults faith leaders on phased-in reopening

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge is considering whether to block enforcement of Gov. Laura Kelly’s order banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

U.S. District Judge John Broomes said he would rule by Saturday, if not sooner, on whether to grant a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments in a telephone conference call with the attorneys.

Broomes also set an in-person hearing for Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Wichita on the request for a preliminary injunction that would be in place until the case is resolved.

The churches and their pastors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Kelly, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights, as well as their right to assembly.

Their attorneys argued at the hearing that there are less restrictive measures that could be imposed, saying the churches would agree to maintain a six-foot distance between congregants at their gatherings. They also contend the governor’s order is not neutral because it allows 26 exceptions for other secular activities and does not allow any for religious activity.

Kansas has identified 35 COVID-19 clusters in the state, including 13 at private companies and five at churches, said Tyson Langhofer, who represents the places of worship.

Lumen Mulligan, who represented the governor at the hearing, argued that Kelly was protecting the public interest amid the coronavirus outbreak. The governor “disagrees strongly,” he said, with the churches’ position that her order targets religion.

The judge noted during the hearing that the governor’s order allows other essential functions as long as such social distancing measures are in place.

Top Republican legislative leaders had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/79490ae7c241fab1301bd66e87afd224">attempted last week to revoke</a>&nbsp;Kelly’s order themselves, only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9cc005f93f1daa0edd5fcfbc581351e5">let her order stand</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds, without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions.

The lawsuit was filed by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris.

Kelly spokeswoman Dena Sattler said Thursday that the governor’s office is reviewing the lawsuit but added, “This is not about restricting religion, it is about keeping people safe and saving Kansans’ lives.”

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Lawyers for two Kansas churches and Gov. Laura Kelly are set to appear Friday afternoon in a federal court video conference, where the churches will ask a judge to block enforcement of Kelly’s order banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

The hearing before U.S. District Judge John Broomes is set for 4 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586999622631.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly announced during her Wednesday news conference she was extending the stay-at-home order to May 3. The&nbsp;order prohibits religious gatherings&nbsp; with more than 10 people." />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly announced during her Wednesday news conference she was extending the stay-at-home order to May 3. The&nbsp;order prohibits religious gatherings&nbsp; with more than 10 people.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge is considering whether to block enforcement of Gov. Laura Kelly’s order banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.U.S. District Judge John Broomes said he would rule by Saturday, if not sooner, on whether to grant a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments in a telephone conference call with the attorneys.Broomes also set an in-person hearing for Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Wichita on the request for a preliminary injunction that would be in place until the case is resolved.The churches and their pastors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Kelly, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights, as well as their right to assembly.Their attorneys argued at the hearing that there are less restrictive measures that could be imposed, saying the churches would agree to maintain a six-foot distance between congregants at their gatherings. They also contend the governor’s order is not neutral because it allows 26 exceptions for other secular activities and does not allow any for religious activity.Kansas has identified 35 COVID-19 clusters in the state, including 13 at private companies and five at churches, said Tyson Langhofer, who represents the places of worship.Lumen Mulligan, who represented the governor at the hearing, argued that Kelly was protecting the public interest amid the coronavirus outbreak. The governor “disagrees strongly,” he said, with the churches’ position that her order targets religion.The judge noted during the hearing that the governor’s order allows other essential functions as long as such social distancing measures are in place.Top Republican legislative leaders had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/79490ae7c241fab1301bd66e87afd224">attempted last week to revoke</a>&nbsp;Kelly’s order themselves, only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9cc005f93f1daa0edd5fcfbc581351e5">let her order stand</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds, without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions.The lawsuit was filed by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris.Kelly spokeswoman Dena Sattler said Thursday that the governor’s office is reviewing the lawsuit but added, “This is not about restricting religion, it is about keeping people safe and saving Kansans’ lives.”---------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Lawyers for two Kansas churches and Gov. Laura Kelly are set to appear Friday afternoon in a federal court video conference, where the churches will ask a judge to block enforcement of Kelly’s order banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.The churches and their pastors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Kelly, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights, as well as their right to assembly.Top Republican legislative leaders had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/79490ae7c241fab1301bd66e87afd224">attempted last week to revoke</a>&nbsp;Kelly’s order themselves, only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9cc005f93f1daa0edd5fcfbc581351e5">let her order stand</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds, without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions.The lawsuit was filed by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris.Kelly spokeswoman Dena Sattler said Thursday that the governor’s office is reviewing the lawsuit but added, “This is not about restricting religion, it is about keeping people safe and saving Kansans’ lives.”The hearing before U.S. District Judge John Broomes is set for 4 p.m.

Update: Federal court asked to block Kan. limit on church services

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials announced Friday that they had signed a new contract for medical services at prisons as frustrations mount with the current health care provider amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Kansas Department of Corrections said in a news release that it awarded Centurion of Kansas LLC a two-year contract that begins July 1. The contract can be extended to 2026.

The announcement comes a week after Gov. Laura Kelly criticized the health care provided in the state’s prisons by Tennessee-based Corizon Health. That contract will expire June 30.

“Inmates and staff are concerned about the level of care inmates have been receiving from the corrections medical provider, Corizon. I understand the frustrations. In fact, I share them,” the governor said.

Corizon declined to comment on the process for the new prison contract but shared a copy of a letter dated Thursday sent to DOC Secretary Jeff Zmuda. In the letter, Corizon pushed back against allegations from the state that it had failed to acquire an adequate stock of personal protective equipment for use by its medical staff, lacked critical staffing, and failed to issue protocols for COVID-19 testing and treatment.

The letter, signed by Corizon CEO James Hyman, said it is not accurate to allege Corizon was unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.

”We have always maintained an adequate supply of PPEs and have continuously educated our staff,” he wrote. “Corizon has been preparing for this pandemic since February.”

Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/98c0a37931c24fad89f31ed9d1d9cc47">penalized Corizon</a>&nbsp;more than $500,000 for not meeting performance standards in 2018. It also cut $2.8 million in payments to Corizon because the company didn’t provide the required number of employees and work hours last year.

Centurian will provide medical services at the eight adult facilities and for juveniles at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex.

Payments to Centurion are not to exceed $86.5 million the first year, with annual increases up to a cost of $98.7 million, prison officials said. The total six-year contract is not to exceed $554 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586546500562.png" alt="Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda during an April 10 news conference with the governor and KDHE Secretary" />
 <figcaption>Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda during an April 10 news conference with the governor and KDHE Secretary</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials announced Friday that they had signed a new contract for medical services at prisons as frustrations mount with the current health care provider amid the coronavirus outbreak.The Kansas Department of Corrections said in a news release that it awarded Centurion of Kansas LLC a two-year contract that begins July 1. The contract can be extended to 2026.The announcement comes a week after Gov. Laura Kelly criticized the health care provided in the state’s prisons by Tennessee-based Corizon Health. That contract will expire June 30.“Inmates and staff are concerned about the level of care inmates have been receiving from the corrections medical provider, Corizon. I understand the frustrations. In fact, I share them,” the governor said.Corizon declined to comment on the process for the new prison contract but shared a copy of a letter dated Thursday sent to DOC Secretary Jeff Zmuda. In the letter, Corizon pushed back against allegations from the state that it had failed to acquire an adequate stock of personal protective equipment for use by its medical staff, lacked critical staffing, and failed to issue protocols for COVID-19 testing and treatment.The letter, signed by Corizon CEO James Hyman, said it is not accurate to allege Corizon was unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.”We have always maintained an adequate supply of PPEs and have continuously educated our staff,” he wrote. “Corizon has been preparing for this pandemic since February.”Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/98c0a37931c24fad89f31ed9d1d9cc47">penalized Corizon</a>&nbsp;more than $500,000 for not meeting performance standards in 2018. It also cut $2.8 million in payments to Corizon because the company didn’t provide the required number of employees and work hours last year.Centurian will provide medical services at the eight adult facilities and for juveniles at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex.Payments to Centurion are not to exceed $86.5 million the first year, with annual increases up to a cost of $98.7 million, prison officials said. The total six-year contract is not to exceed $554 million.

Kansas changes prison health providers amid ongoing concerns

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly and Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard this week announced the agency will begin issuing an emergency food assistance benefit to current program households. The emergency
 allotment increases a household’s monthly benefit to the maximum allowed for the size of the family. The maximum monthly benefit for a family of four is $646.

“The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows states to provide this emergency assistance,” Howard said. “We know these additional
 funds will allow families to purchase more essential groceries for their family while also reducing their visits to grocery stores during this time of social distancing.”


“At a time when we are seeing long lines at food distribution sites these additional funds are necessary to keep Kansans fed,” Kelly said. “I also want to thank all of the eligibility workers who are making sure
 this money gets to families quickly.”


No application is necessary to receive the emergency funds. Families should start to see their March emergency benefit on their EBT card beginning April 15. The distribution will follow the standard alphabetical
 schedule. DCF will distribute April emergency benefits in mid to late May.


Households that already receive the maximum monthly allotment are not eligible for emergency assistance. The allotment is for March and April only.

Those interested in applying for food assistance can visit the DCF website at
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcf.ks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184898520&amp;sdata=lldH%2FHluxjAmACvzUTerP%2BMPrE0%2FU6Q7ZeS0VhC5eMc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.dcf.ks.gov</a>.

For more information on COVID-19 visit:
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184908478&amp;sdata=ENme12t9pM%2FqYsvopzF7gjpWZU7K1%2FJnu0EcJMtx%2BzY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

DCFTOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly and Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard this week announced the agency will begin issuing an emergency food assistance benefit to current program households. The emergency
 allotment increases a household’s monthly benefit to the maximum allowed for the size of the family. The maximum monthly benefit for a family of four is $646.“The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows states to provide this emergency assistance,” Howard said. “We know these additional
 funds will allow families to purchase more essential groceries for their family while also reducing their visits to grocery stores during this time of social distancing.”
“At a time when we are seeing long lines at food distribution sites these additional funds are necessary to keep Kansans fed,” Kelly said. “I also want to thank all of the eligibility workers who are making sure
 this money gets to families quickly.”
No application is necessary to receive the emergency funds. Families should start to see their March emergency benefit on their EBT card beginning April 15. The distribution will follow the standard alphabetical
 schedule. DCF will distribute April emergency benefits in mid to late May.
Households that already receive the maximum monthly allotment are not eligible for emergency assistance. The allotment is for March and April only.
Those interested in applying for food assistance can visit the DCF website at
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcf.ks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184898520&amp;sdata=lldH%2FHluxjAmACvzUTerP%2BMPrE0%2FU6Q7ZeS0VhC5eMc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.dcf.ks.gov</a>. 

For more information on COVID-19 visit:
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184908478&amp;sdata=ENme12t9pM%2FqYsvopzF7gjpWZU7K1%2FJnu0EcJMtx%2BzY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

DCF to distribute emergency food assistance benefit in Kan.

A 25-bed hospital is selling blood 
tests it says will tell people if they have COVID-19 immunity, but 
public health officials say that's not what the tests do.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587149517051.png" alt="Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman displays a swab used for COVID-19 testing. A small hospital in central Kansas has deployed blood tests that state health officials say can produce false positives among people with common colds. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman displays a swab used for COVID-19 testing. A small hospital in central Kansas has deployed blood tests that state health officials say can produce false positives among people with common colds. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A 25-bed hospital is selling blood 
tests it says will tell people if they have COVID-19 immunity, but 
public health officials say that's not what the tests do.</h2>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-17/a-small-kansas-hospital-bought-its-own-coronavirus-tests-but-state-officials-say-it-only-detects-colds">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE — Herington Municipal Hospital got fed up 
with long waits for lab results that would tell its patients with 
respiratory symptoms whether they have the novel coronavirus.So 
when a sales representative called the 25-bed hospital in rural central 
Kansas offering tests that produce results in less than half an hour, 
Herington ordered 500.“We answered the phone on the right day,” CEO Isabel Schmedemann said in an interview this week. “I wish we had ordered more.”One hundred people in her community have already come in for the test.“They want answers,” she said. “They want to know. And they’re scared.”Amid
 a pandemic that has hospitalized hundreds of Kansans and killed more 
than 80, supply shortages have slowed typical COVID-19 nose swab tests 
and health providers have scrambled to find solutions.But public 
health officials around the world worry that desperation to access 
testing could open the way for unproven products that give patients a 
false sense of safety — putting them in greater danger.Herington Hospital’s rollout of new blood-based tests triggered swift action from state and local health officials.On
 its website, the hospital advertises the technology as approved by the 
state. “It tells you if you have immunity,” the hospital claims.Wrong
 on both counts, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says. 
Attempts to convince the hospital of the test’s problems over the phone 
weren’t successful, the agency says.State health secretary Lee 
Norman said he would alert other hospitals and labs around the state to 
concerns about the tests. He warned the public in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/videos/214325436538782/" target="_blank">a press conference</a>
 viewed by tens of thousands of people on Facebook that many antibody 
tests — meant to show a patient’s exposure to a virus — don’t 
necessarily tell people what they want to know.People who test 
positive with the Herington tests aren’t being counted toward the 
state’s COVID-19 tally. The state has about 1,500 known cases, including
 one in Dickinson County.“You could get a positive if you had nothing other than a common cold,” county public health director John Hultgren said.Dickinson County began calling Herington’s patients to inform them directly.“I’m livid about this,” Schmedemann said. “We’re serious about providing quality health care.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587149611485.png" alt="From the website of Herington Municipal Hospital. It says: "Our clinic is now offering onsite Kansas Department of Health and Environment COVID-19 testing that generates results in just 20 minutes. Think you’ve had COVID-19? We also offer a 20 minute antibody test that not only tells you if you are positive or negative, it tells you if you have immunity. This COVID-19 test has an overall sensitivity ≥ 89.2%, the overall specificity is 100% and the overall accuracy is ≥ 96%."" />
 <figcaption>From the website of Herington Municipal Hospital. It says: "Our clinic is now offering onsite Kansas Department of Health and Environment COVID-19 testing that generates results in just 20 minutes. Think you’ve had COVID-19? We also offer a 20 minute antibody test that not only tells you if you are positive or negative, it tells you if you have immunity. This COVID-19 test has an overall sensitivity ≥ 89.2%, the overall specificity is 100% and the overall accuracy is ≥ 96%."</figcaption>
 </figure>But KDHE points to the test manufacturer’s <a href="https://ucpbiosciences.com/product/covid-19/" target="_blank">own fine print</a>, which says a positive result could mean patients have or have had any of four coronaviruses that cause the common cold. Consequently, the results can’t confirm that a person has or had COVID-19, or that they are now immune.Herington
 Hospital also advertises the product on its website as 100% specific to
 the virus that causes COVID-19. Manufacturer UCP Biosciences gave the 
hospital pamphlets bearing that claim, though clarifying that its 
calculations are based on about 100 samples. The company didn’t return a
 call to its California office.The disclaimer about cold viruses doesn’t worry Shmedemann.“The test is specific to COVID-19, but as with any test, this is part of the disclaimer,” she wrote in a follow-up email.The
 kits, like most COVID-19 antibody tests on the market, aren’t approved 
by the Food and Drug Administration and haven’t received an expedited, 
emergency approval from the agency. Yet selling them is legal and 
Herington has continued to offer the product.People with and 
without symptoms are eager for testing. The kits Herington bought seek 
to check whether someone has COVID-19 antibodies in their blood.The
 goal of antibody testing is to check whether someone has been exposed 
to a specific virus and whether that could shield them from it in the 
future. (Antibodies wouldn’t yet be present for some people with current
 infections.)Herington says on its website that the UCP test “not
 only tells you if you are positive or negative, it tells you if you 
have immunity.”Scientists and public health experts say it’s not 
that simple. In addition to the risk that antibodies from the common 
cold could trigger a positive result, researchers don’t yet know how 
effective COVID-19 antibodies will be for staving off future infections.They’re scrambling to figure that out.“It’s
 an attractive hypothesis,” said Jim Zehnder, a professor of pathology 
and medicine at Stanford University, “but it hasn't been rigorously 
proven yet.”Stanford has developed its own test for the antibodies that result from COVID-19.But it hasn’t evaluated UCP’s test, and couldn’t speak to its quality. Similar tests have raised concerns, Zehnder said.“I
 believe partly in response to these concerns raised, the FDA announced 
that they are going to start evaluating this class of test,” he said. 
“There just is not enough information at the moment to say anything 
definitive” about the UCP product.Kansas wants to start antibody testing soon, too, health secretary Norman said this week.In
 a followup email, the agency said it would use a platform with minimal 
risk for confusion of various viruses, and combine that with other steps
 to verify results.The University of Kansas is researching 
COVID-19 antibodies in clinical trials. It believes widespread antibody 
testing could ultimately prove vital to the battle to control COVID-19, 
ease social distancing measures and return to life as normal.“We 
think there will be an absolute need,” said Dana Hawkinson, a professor 
and medical director of infection control at KU Health System. “But at 
this point in time, there hasn’t been really good validated tests that 
we can use to determine that.”Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.