MISSION, Kan. (AP) — The state Department of Corrections says all inmates at a work release facility in downtown Wichita have been moved to another Kansas facility after 38 of them tested positive for the coronavirus. 

Department spokeswoman Rebecca Witte says about 100 inmates at the Wichita Work Release Facility were moved Thursday to the Lansing Correctional Facility, where 88 staff members and 750 inmates have tested positive for the virus. 

Witte said the dormitory set-up at the Wichita facility doesn't allow for the separation of the sick and healthy, but that Lansing is better able to quarantine and isolate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589573025096.png" alt="Inmates during the relocation from Wichita on Thursday -photo by Nolan Roth&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kake.com/story/42131508/all-wichita-work-release-inmates-moved-to-lansing-after-discovery-of-covid-19-cluster">courtesy KAKE</a>" />
 <figcaption>Inmates during the relocation from Wichita on Thursday -photo by Nolan Roth&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kake.com/story/42131508/all-wichita-work-release-inmates-moved-to-lansing-after-discovery-of-covid-19-cluster">courtesy KAKE</a></figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — The state Department of Corrections says all inmates at a work release facility in downtown Wichita have been moved to another Kansas facility after 38 of them tested positive for the coronavirus. Department spokeswoman Rebecca Witte says about 100 inmates at the Wichita Work Release Facility were moved Thursday to the Lansing Correctional Facility, where 88 staff members and 750 inmates have tested positive for the virus. Witte said the dormitory set-up at the Wichita facility doesn't allow for the separation of the sick and healthy, but that Lansing is better able to quarantine and isolate.

Kan. inmates relocated after coronavirus cases increase

Governor Laura Kelly will hold a&nbsp;press briefing Friday afternoon to answer questions on her decision to slow the reopening of the Kansas economy.

Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will also answer questions.

Governor Laura Kelly will hold a&nbsp;press briefing Friday afternoon to answer questions on her decision to slow the reopening of the Kansas economy.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F280569762984055%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will also answer questions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589490713721.png" alt="" />
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🎥 Governor on Phase 1.5 of plan to reopen Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump named a former pharmaceutical executive to lead his administration’s all-out effort to produce and distribute a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year.

Moncef Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, will lead “Operation Warp Speed,” Trump’s push to accelerate the vaccine development process for COVID-19.

Slaoui is to serve in a volunteer capacity, and will be assisted by Army Gen. Gustave Perna, the commander of United States Army Materiel Command. 

The move comes as the president and White House aides hope to produce vaccines for the coronavirus faster than what many scientists believe is realistic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump named a former pharmaceutical executive to lead his administration’s all-out effort to produce and distribute a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Operation Warp Speed is &quot;a massive scientific, industrial, and logistical endeavor unlike anything our country has seen since the Manhattan Project.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/dkfU3vPnnA">pic.twitter.com/dkfU3vPnnA</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1261354450259763200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Moncef Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, will lead “Operation Warp Speed,” Trump’s push to accelerate the vaccine development process for COVID-19.Slaoui is to serve in a volunteer capacity, and will be assisted by Army Gen. Gustave Perna, the commander of United States Army Materiel Command. The move comes as the president and White House aides hope to produce vaccines for the coronavirus faster than what many scientists believe is realistic.

🎥 Trump names virus vaccine development team


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;As of Friday morning, Reno County has no active cases of COVID-19.

"We've held steady all this week at 41 total cases," said Nick Baldetti with the Health Department. "We now have 41 recovered, so we have zero active cases as of this morning for Reno County, which is fantastic."

Baldetti said at this point the goal to get ready for COVID-19 illness has been achieved.

"The policy of allowing us to prepare did what it was supposed to do," Baldetti said. "Our health care system is eminently prepared for whatever happens, in addition to the public health infrastructure. We did what we were supposed to do and we're ready."

Governor Kelly's decision Thursday in her slower opening of the state was surprising to Baldetti.

"For myself and for Reno County, we're ready to advance," Baldetti said. "We are very well poised and positioned in this community. The closures, the stay at home order was exactly that strategic retreat to regroup and plan and move forward."

With that said, people are still going to get sick from COVID-19 and if there is a large amount of communal spread, then that data will be dealt with at that time and current social distancing and protective measures need to be taken even during the phased reopening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589472383275.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;As of Friday morning, Reno County has no active cases of COVID-19."We've held steady all this week at 41 total cases," said Nick Baldetti with the Health Department. "We now have 41 recovered, so we have zero active cases as of this morning for Reno County, which is fantastic."Baldetti said at this point the goal to get ready for COVID-19 illness has been achieved."The policy of allowing us to prepare did what it was supposed to do," Baldetti said. "Our health care system is eminently prepared for whatever happens, in addition to the public health infrastructure. We did what we were supposed to do and we're ready."Governor Kelly's decision Thursday in her slower opening of the state was surprising to Baldetti."For myself and for Reno County, we're ready to advance," Baldetti said. "We are very well poised and positioned in this community. The closures, the stay at home order was exactly that strategic retreat to regroup and plan and move forward."With that said, people are still going to get sick from COVID-19 and if there is a large amount of communal spread, then that data will be dealt with at that time and current social distancing and protective measures need to be taken even during the phased reopening.

Baldetti: No active cases as of Friday morning, ready to move forward

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday slowed<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-adds-new-phase-to-ad-astra-plan/"> down the reopening</a> of Kansas’ economy, ordering bars and bowling alleys to remain closed through the end of the month and keeping some coronavirus-inspired restrictions in place until near the end of June.

Top Republican legislators already have moved aggressively to take control of the reopening by extending a disaster declaration Kelly issued only through Memorial Day, May 25, to give lawmakers a chance to rewrite their own law guiding the process. State law gives Kelly broad power under an emergency declaration, and she had wanted the current one extended into mid-June.

The governor had expected to <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Reopen-Kansas-Framework-v5-2.pdf">lift some restrictions Monday, </a>but her new order modifies that plan to reflect her administration’s concern that the spread of the novel coronavirus is not yet decreasing. A limit on public gatherings of 10 or fewer people will remain in place, rather than being increased to 30 on Monday.

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-adds-new-phase-to-ad-astra-plan/">Kelly’s new order</a> will allow barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors, tanning salons, gyms and fitness centers to reopen as planned Monday. Owners of such businesses had been among the loudest critics of Kelly’s reopening plan, saying they could resume operations safely with deep cleaning and social distancing.

Under the governor’s new order, salons still will have to take customers by appointment only, while gym and fitness centers won’t be allowed to have group classes or use their locker rooms for anything other than bathroom facilities.

Bars, night clubs, bowling alleys would remain closed until at least June 1 under Kelly’s new order, and summer camps, fairs and festivals would not be allowed until at least June 15.

The governor is allowing high school and college graduations to go forward, but only if indoor ceremonies are limited to 10 people at a time. Outdoor ceremonies are allowed, either with people 6 feet apart in a large space or as “drive-through” events in which families drive up to a stage, the graduate gets out, walks across and gets back into a car.

The changes mean that public gatherings of up to 30 people won’t be allowed until June 1, and gatherings of up to 90 people won’t be allowed until June 15. The last restrictions wouldn’t be lifted until June 29 — two weeks later than previously planned.

Meanwhile, an eastern Kansas county is defending a policy that directs business owners to collect information about their customers as an effort to help trace the contacts of infected people.

Attorneys for Linn County, its county commission and its health director filed a response Thursday to a federal lawsuit from two business operators. The county’s attorneys said a May 1 order by the local health director does not violate rights against unreasonable searches that are protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The county said in its filing that the business operators wrongly suggest that the county would make blanket demands for information when the local health department would ask only for data about specific customers in contact with infected people over the previous month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589486982029.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly during her press briefing Wednesday in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly during her press briefing Wednesday in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday slowed<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-adds-new-phase-to-ad-astra-plan/"> down the reopening</a> of Kansas’ economy, ordering bars and bowling alleys to remain closed through the end of the month and keeping some coronavirus-inspired restrictions in place until near the end of June.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589490713721.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Top Republican legislators already have moved aggressively to take control of the reopening by extending a disaster declaration Kelly issued only through Memorial Day, May 25, to give lawmakers a chance to rewrite their own law guiding the process. State law gives Kelly broad power under an emergency declaration, and she had wanted the current one extended into mid-June.The governor had expected to <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Reopen-Kansas-Framework-v5-2.pdf">lift some restrictions Monday, </a>but her new order modifies that plan to reflect her administration’s concern that the spread of the novel coronavirus is not yet decreasing. A limit on public gatherings of 10 or fewer people will remain in place, rather than being increased to 30 on Monday.<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-adds-new-phase-to-ad-astra-plan/">Kelly’s new order</a> will allow barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors, tanning salons, gyms and fitness centers to reopen as planned Monday. Owners of such businesses had been among the loudest critics of Kelly’s reopening plan, saying they could resume operations safely with deep cleaning and social distancing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588354883549.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Under the governor’s new order, salons still will have to take customers by appointment only, while gym and fitness centers won’t be allowed to have group classes or use their locker rooms for anything other than bathroom facilities.Bars, night clubs, bowling alleys would remain closed until at least June 1 under Kelly’s new order, and summer camps, fairs and festivals would not be allowed until at least June 15.The governor is allowing high school and college graduations to go forward, but only if indoor ceremonies are limited to 10 people at a time. Outdoor ceremonies are allowed, either with people 6 feet apart in a large space or as “drive-through” events in which families drive up to a stage, the graduate gets out, walks across and gets back into a car.The changes mean that public gatherings of up to 30 people won’t be allowed until June 1, and gatherings of up to 90 people won’t be allowed until June 15. The last restrictions wouldn’t be lifted until June 29 — two weeks later than previously planned.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588354966337.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Meanwhile, an eastern Kansas county is defending a policy that directs business owners to collect information about their customers as an effort to help trace the contacts of infected people.Attorneys for Linn County, its county commission and its health director filed a response Thursday to a federal lawsuit from two business operators. The county’s attorneys said a May 1 order by the local health director does not violate rights against unreasonable searches that are protected by the U.S. Constitution.The county said in its filing that the business operators wrongly suggest that the county would make blanket demands for information when the local health department would ask only for data about specific customers in contact with infected people over the previous month.___

Kansas governor slows reopening; limits to go into late June

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Thursday released some of their long-delayed guidance that schools, businesses and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html">Click here</a> to read the guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted six one-page “decision tool” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations what they should consider before reopening.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html" target="_blank">tools</a>&nbsp;are for schools, workplaces, camps, childcare centers, mass transit systems, and bars and restaurants. The CDC originally also authored a document for churches and other religious facilities, but that wasn’t posted Thursday. The agency declined to say why.

Early versions of the documents included detailed information for churches wanting to restart in-person services, with suggestions including maintaining distance between parishioners and limiting the size of gatherings. The faith-related guidance was taken out after the White House raised concerns about the recommended restrictions, according to government emails obtained by The Associated Press and a person inside the agency who didn’t have permission to talk with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Thursday, a Trump administration official also speaking on condition of anonymity said there were concerns about the propriety of the government making specific dictates to places of worship.

And Roger Severino, director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, said “protections against religious discrimination aren’t suspended during an emergency. This means the federal government cannot single out religious conduct as somehow being more dangerous or worthy of scrutiny than comparable secular behavior.”

President Donald Trump has championed religious freedom as a way to connect with conservative evangelical voters and has shown eagerness for in-person religious services to restart. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97d56433ec9ece3f8a74ec8ab2b32abf">consulted</a>&nbsp;interfaith leaders last month for suggestions on how to reopen and said on a recent Fox News town hall that “we have to get our people back to churches, and we’re going to start doing it soon.”

The CDC drafted the reopening guidance more than a month ago and it was initially shelved by the administration, the AP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7a00d5fba3249e573d2ead4bd323a4d4">reported</a>&nbsp;last week.

The agency also had prepared even more extensive guidance — about 57 pages of it — that has not been posted.

That&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6889330-Guidance-for-Opening-Up-America-Again-Framework.html" target="_blank">longer document</a>, which the AP obtained, would give different organizations specifics about how to reopen while still limiting spread of the virus, including by spacing workers or students 6 feet apart and closing break rooms and cafeterias to limit gatherings. Many of the suggestions already appear on federal websites but they haven’t been presented as reopening advice.

Some health experts and politicians have been pushing for the CDC to release as much guidance as possible to help businesses and organizations decide how to proceed.

“They want to be able to tell their own employees the guidance of the federal government,” Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University, said at a congressional hearing Wednesday. “They want to be able to tell their customers, ‘We’ve done everything that’s been asked of us.’”

The guidance relates to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/" target="_blank">another document</a>&nbsp;released by the Trump administration on April 17. That phased-in reopening plan broadly outlines how to move away from stay-at-home orders, school closures and other measures designed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus that has caused more than 1.3 million reported U.S. illnesses and more than 80,000 deaths.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, on Wednesday offered a resolution — blocked by Republicans — to encourage release of all the documents.

“America needs and must have the candid guidance of our best scientists unfiltered, unedited, uncensored by president Trump or his political minions. The CDC report on reopening the country is an important piece of that guidance,” Schumer said.

The decision tools have been undergoing review by different federal officials, and they’ve been edited from earlier versions.

For example, an earlier draft of the one-page document on camps obtained by the AP asked organizers if their program would limit attendance to people who live nearby. If the answer was no, the camp was advised not to reopen. That local attendance limitation was dropped and was not in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Camps-Decision-Tree.pdf" target="_blank">the version</a>&nbsp;posted Thursday.

And in that document and others, language has been dropped that asked if the organization is in a community that is still requiring significant disease mitigation. If the answer was yes, the organization was advised not to reopen.

Many of the changes provide more wiggle room than what was in the initial versions.

For example, in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Childcare-Decision-Tree.pdf" target="_blank">document</a>&nbsp;for people who run child care centers, the older version obtained by the AP stated that CDC recommended “checking for signs and symptoms of children and staff.” The new guidelines add “as feasible” to the end.

Similar new language about feasibility appears in sections about promoting healthy hygiene such as hand washing and employees wearing cloth masks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589540522116.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Thursday released some of their long-delayed guidance that schools, businesses and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html">Click here</a> to read the guidelinesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted six one-page “decision tool” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations what they should consider before reopening.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html" target="_blank">tools</a>&nbsp;are for schools, workplaces, camps, childcare centers, mass transit systems, and bars and restaurants. The CDC originally also authored a document for churches and other religious facilities, but that wasn’t posted Thursday. The agency declined to say why.Early versions of the documents included detailed information for churches wanting to restart in-person services, with suggestions including maintaining distance between parishioners and limiting the size of gatherings. The faith-related guidance was taken out after the White House raised concerns about the recommended restrictions, according to government emails obtained by The Associated Press and a person inside the agency who didn’t have permission to talk with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity.On Thursday, a Trump administration official also speaking on condition of anonymity said there were concerns about the propriety of the government making specific dictates to places of worship.And Roger Severino, director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, said “protections against religious discrimination aren’t suspended during an emergency. This means the federal government cannot single out religious conduct as somehow being more dangerous or worthy of scrutiny than comparable secular behavior.”President Donald Trump has championed religious freedom as a way to connect with conservative evangelical voters and has shown eagerness for in-person religious services to restart. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97d56433ec9ece3f8a74ec8ab2b32abf">consulted</a>&nbsp;interfaith leaders last month for suggestions on how to reopen and said on a recent Fox News town hall that “we have to get our people back to churches, and we’re going to start doing it soon.”The CDC drafted the reopening guidance more than a month ago and it was initially shelved by the administration, the AP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7a00d5fba3249e573d2ead4bd323a4d4">reported</a>&nbsp;last week.The agency also had prepared even more extensive guidance — about 57 pages of it — that has not been posted.That&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6889330-Guidance-for-Opening-Up-America-Again-Framework.html" target="_blank">longer document</a>, which the AP obtained, would give different organizations specifics about how to reopen while still limiting spread of the virus, including by spacing workers or students 6 feet apart and closing break rooms and cafeterias to limit gatherings. Many of the suggestions already appear on federal websites but they haven’t been presented as reopening advice.Some health experts and politicians have been pushing for the CDC to release as much guidance as possible to help businesses and organizations decide how to proceed.“They want to be able to tell their own employees the guidance of the federal government,” Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University, said at a congressional hearing Wednesday. “They want to be able to tell their customers, ‘We’ve done everything that’s been asked of us.’”The guidance relates to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/" target="_blank">another document</a>&nbsp;released by the Trump administration on April 17. That phased-in reopening plan broadly outlines how to move away from stay-at-home orders, school closures and other measures designed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus that has caused more than 1.3 million reported U.S. illnesses and more than 80,000 deaths.U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, on Wednesday offered a resolution — blocked by Republicans — to encourage release of all the documents.“America needs and must have the candid guidance of our best scientists unfiltered, unedited, uncensored by president Trump or his political minions. The CDC report on reopening the country is an important piece of that guidance,” Schumer said.The decision tools have been undergoing review by different federal officials, and they’ve been edited from earlier versions.For example, an earlier draft of the one-page document on camps obtained by the AP asked organizers if their program would limit attendance to people who live nearby. If the answer was no, the camp was advised not to reopen. That local attendance limitation was dropped and was not in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Camps-Decision-Tree.pdf" target="_blank">the version</a>&nbsp;posted Thursday.And in that document and others, language has been dropped that asked if the organization is in a community that is still requiring significant disease mitigation. If the answer was yes, the organization was advised not to reopen.Many of the changes provide more wiggle room than what was in the initial versions.For example, in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Childcare-Decision-Tree.pdf" target="_blank">document</a>&nbsp;for people who run child care centers, the older version obtained by the AP stated that CDC recommended “checking for signs and symptoms of children and staff.” The new guidelines add “as feasible” to the end.Similar new language about feasibility appears in sections about promoting healthy hygiene such as hand washing and employees wearing cloth masks.___

U.S. officials release edited coronavirus reopening guidance


NEWTON,
Kan. — 
The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed its 14th case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Harvey County.

The confirmed case is a man in his 40s. The man was in contact with an individual with COVID-19 in another county.

Testing was completed by a private lab. The man is in home isolation. The Health Department will regularly monitor the individual, as well as follow up on all contacts.

As of Wednesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 7,468 cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. That number does not include this new Harvey County case. Harvey County has had 14 total cases, including 10 confirmed and four probable cases. Of the 14 total cases, 11 have met recovery criteria.

The KDHE recently began including probable cases in its county case counts. At this time, the KDHE does not include two probable Harvey County cases in the State’s counts because of the KDHE’s testing standards for older tests. However, Harvey County includes them in its counts.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has issued the State’s guidance for reopening, “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas.” The state is currently in the first phase of the guidance. The plan in its entirety can be found at covid.ks.gov.

The KDHE has a phone hotline available to answer questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 at 1-866-534-3463.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589395508107.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
NEWTON,
Kan. — 
The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed its 14th case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Harvey County.The confirmed case is a man in his 40s. The man was in contact with an individual with COVID-19 in another county.Testing was completed by a private lab. The man is in home isolation. The Health Department will regularly monitor the individual, as well as follow up on all contacts.As of Wednesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 7,468 cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. That number does not include this new Harvey County case. Harvey County has had 14 total cases, including 10 confirmed and four probable cases. Of the 14 total cases, 11 have met recovery criteria.The KDHE recently began including probable cases in its county case counts. At this time, the KDHE does not include two probable Harvey County cases in the State’s counts because of the KDHE’s testing standards for older tests. However, Harvey County includes them in its counts.Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has issued the State’s guidance for reopening, “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas.” The state is currently in the first phase of the guidance. The plan in its entirety can be found at covid.ks.gov.The KDHE has a phone hotline available to answer questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 at 1-866-534-3463.

Case count in Harvey County now 14; 3 active


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti has not spoken to the local legislative delegation after the revelation yesterday that action is planned to limit the powers of Governor Laura Kelly as part of their work next Thursday in Topeka.

"I haven't had specific conversations with our local representatives or senator with regard to the actions or communication having come out in the last day or two," Baldetti said. "That being said, our local delegation has been very active locally in terms of local issues in response to COVID-19."

Baldetti, for his part, would like to see decisions made closer to home on COVID-19 policy.

"I think there's an application of regional data metrics that can be used to inform our decision making," Baldetti said. "I would generally advocate for a much greater leveraging of home rule and the ability of local jurisdictions to monitor their environment."

Baldetti says we're still not testing enough to rely on data points alone, but he likes that more information is coming and thinks the modeling that is happening is getting better.

"We are getting to a point where we can, in some respects, begin to model, based off of the real data that we have to this point to inform moving forward," Baldetti said. "The more we get real data, the more informed our modeling out in to the future becomes."

Right now, still under 2% of Reno County residents have been tested for COVID-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589472383275.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti has not spoken to the local legislative delegation after the revelation yesterday that action is planned to limit the powers of Governor Laura Kelly as part of their work next Thursday in Topeka."I haven't had specific conversations with our local representatives or senator with regard to the actions or communication having come out in the last day or two," Baldetti said. "That being said, our local delegation has been very active locally in terms of local issues in response to COVID-19."Baldetti, for his part, would like to see decisions made closer to home on COVID-19 policy."I think there's an application of regional data metrics that can be used to inform our decision making," Baldetti said. "I would generally advocate for a much greater leveraging of home rule and the ability of local jurisdictions to monitor their environment."Baldetti says we're still not testing enough to rely on data points alone, but he likes that more information is coming and thinks the modeling that is happening is getting better."We are getting to a point where we can, in some respects, begin to model, based off of the real data that we have to this point to inform moving forward," Baldetti said. "The more we get real data, the more informed our modeling out in to the future becomes."Right now, still under 2% of Reno County residents have been tested for COVID-19.

Baldetti: Still need more testing, but decisions closer to home would be better

Tallahassee, Fla. (AP) — Republican attorneys general in 14 states asked President Donald Trump on Wednesday to form a state-federal partnership to hold China accountable for damages caused by the spread of the new coronavirus.

The letter to the president says “the Chinese communist government” may have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bf685dcf52125be54e030834ab7062a8">failed to provide information or provided misinformation&nbsp;</a>about the virus that led to its spread.

“The spread of COVID-19 has grievously harmed each of our States. Many of our citizens have suffered and died from this virus. Our economies have been effectively shut down. Businesses, big and small, have been devastated to the point that many will not reopen,” the letter said.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson are taking the lead on the coalition. The letter is also signed by attorneys general in Kansas, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.

While the coalition is made up of Republicans, Moody said in a phone interview that she wants to add more attorneys generals, including Democrats, as part of an effort to make China pay in some way for the pandemic.

“I don’t see this as a partisan issue. Holding a country accountable for misinformation or lack of action that could have mitigated the spread of this devastating virus is something of concern to all of us regardless of party,” she said. “Seeking damages is of concern to all of us.”

The letter is part of a growing call among state elected officials pointing blame at China for economic loss and deaths caused by the coronavirus, joining dozens of patients and businesses looking to sue China over the outbreak that has killed more than 83,000 people in the United States.

Trump is clearly not happy with China’s role in the spread of the virus. While not a response to the attorneys general letter, he criticized the country on Twitter on Wednesday, saying the virus began spreading just after the U.S. and China reached a trade deal.

“The ink was barely dry, and the World was hit by the Plague from China. 100 Trade Deals wouldn’t make up the difference - and all those innocent lives lost!,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1260578860992737285" target="_blank">tweeted.</a>

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis began calling for China to be held accountable in March, saying, “How Americans view them will never be the same. They’ve never been terribly popular as a country here, but I think that we have got to hold China accountable.”

Since then, he has almost weekly criticized China and called for less U.S. reliance on the country for goods, particularly medical equipment.

Moody said the attorneys generals are examining state and federal laws to determine the best course of action against China and whether steps need to be modified to be more successful in their pursuit of accountability.

“What is the mechanism that we may utilize based on the facts that we have and based on the laws that exist or as they are modified ... that we could see success at true accountability from China?” Moody said.

The letter to Trump says state and federal governments need to look at legal, economic, diplomatic and security measures that could be taken against China.

“This will allow us to share information and resources and ensure that any remedy sought takes into consideration our legal capabilities and the devastating impact the virus has had on our States,” it said.

China informed the World Health Organization of the outbreak on Dec. 31 of last year. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8.

Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government’s missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information and officials hesitant to report bad news.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589452633094.png" alt="President Trump during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing last month in the Rose Garden -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing last month in the Rose Garden -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Tallahassee, Fla. (AP) — Republican attorneys general in 14 states asked President Donald Trump on Wednesday to form a state-federal partnership to hold China accountable for damages caused by the spread of the new coronavirus.The letter to the president says “the Chinese communist government” may have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bf685dcf52125be54e030834ab7062a8">failed to provide information or provided misinformation&nbsp;</a>about the virus that led to its spread.“The spread of COVID-19 has grievously harmed each of our States. Many of our citizens have suffered and died from this virus. Our economies have been effectively shut down. Businesses, big and small, have been devastated to the point that many will not reopen,” the letter said.Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson are taking the lead on the coalition. The letter is also signed by attorneys general in Kansas, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.While the coalition is made up of Republicans, Moody said in a phone interview that she wants to add more attorneys generals, including Democrats, as part of an effort to make China pay in some way for the pandemic.“I don’t see this as a partisan issue. Holding a country accountable for misinformation or lack of action that could have mitigated the spread of this devastating virus is something of concern to all of us regardless of party,” she said. “Seeking damages is of concern to all of us.”The letter is part of a growing call among state elected officials pointing blame at China for economic loss and deaths caused by the coronavirus, joining dozens of patients and businesses looking to sue China over the outbreak that has killed more than 83,000 people in the United States.Trump is clearly not happy with China’s role in the spread of the virus. While not a response to the attorneys general letter, he criticized the country on Twitter on Wednesday, saying the virus began spreading just after the U.S. and China reached a trade deal.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As I have said for a long time, dealing with China is a very expensive thing to do. We just made a great Trade Deal, the ink was barely dry, and the World was hit by the Plague from China. 100 Trade Deals wouldn’t make up the difference - and all those innocent lives lost!&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1260578860992737285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The ink was barely dry, and the World was hit by the Plague from China. 100 Trade Deals wouldn’t make up the difference - and all those innocent lives lost!,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1260578860992737285" target="_blank">tweeted.</a>Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis began calling for China to be held accountable in March, saying, “How Americans view them will never be the same. They’ve never been terribly popular as a country here, but I think that we have got to hold China accountable.”Since then, he has almost weekly criticized China and called for less U.S. reliance on the country for goods, particularly medical equipment.Moody said the attorneys generals are examining state and federal laws to determine the best course of action against China and whether steps need to be modified to be more successful in their pursuit of accountability.“What is the mechanism that we may utilize based on the facts that we have and based on the laws that exist or as they are modified ... that we could see success at true accountability from China?” Moody said.The letter to Trump says state and federal governments need to look at legal, economic, diplomatic and security measures that could be taken against China.“This will allow us to share information and resources and ensure that any remedy sought takes into consideration our legal capabilities and the devastating impact the virus has had on our States,” it said.China informed the World Health Organization of the outbreak on Dec. 31 of last year. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8.Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government’s missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information and officials hesitant to report bad news.___

AG in Kansas, 13 other states to Trump: Let's hold China accountable

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are joining a broader effort to shield doctors, hospitals and businesses from lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus, with business and medical groups pushing them to act quickly.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZhwJRwvbg">Click here to watch</a> Wednesday's Kansas House judiciary committee hearing on the issue. It begins at 3:30p.m.

The effort faces strong opposition from labor unions, trial lawyers and some Democrats. They fear that such measures could be too broad and keep patients, consumers and employees from using the court system to hold businesses and medical providers accountable for negligence or misconduct.

Similar efforts are underway&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/349c07ce4b3e6321b0d5f1c2a706a67c">in Congress,</a>&nbsp;with Derek Schmidt of Kansas joining other GOP state attorneys general in calling for legislation to head off “frivolous” lawsuits. Legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e91a7747f673558df1abf8e9e802d1a">in multiple states,</a>&nbsp;including Mississippi, North Carolina and Utah, are considering their own laws.

In Kansas, the state House Judiciary Committee planned to have the first of three Zoom meetings on the issue on Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZhwJRwvbg">Click here to watch</a> and listen to the meeting that begins at 3:30p.m.

The Senate counterpart is expected to meet on the topic next week. 

The full GOP-controlled Legislature plans to meet May 21 for its last remaining day in session this year.

“What about a company who re-purposes their facilities because they’re closed as nonessential but they have the equipment to manufacture masks?” said Eric Stafford, a Kansas Chamber of Commerce lobbyist. “Somebody who’s trying to do a good deed, should they be punished, for liability for failure to prevent someone from getting sick?”

Groups pushing for quick legislative action said they fear businesses that reopened after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9892bd95f6f6179dc01c4769adbab428">lifted a statewide stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;on May 4 will face lawsuits if customers or employees get sick, or that customers or employees will sue businesses that were deemed essential and remained open while others closed.

Stafford said the chamber wants to ensure that businesses are protected if they followed health officials’ guidelines for operating safely.

The debate also comes after President Donald Trump directed meatpacking plants to stay open despite the spread of the coronavirus among workers. Kansas has seen seven large outbreaks at such plants, accounting for nearly 1,300 confirmed cases, or 18% of the state’s total, with two COVID-19-related deaths.

Dr. Beth Oller, a family physician in Rooks County in northwestern Kansas, said she thinks businesses should face legal liability if, for example, they won’t provide proper protective equipment for employees. But, she said, it could be “a bad precedent” to allow lawsuits when one customer of a business following health guidelines gets the virus from another customer.

She also said in nursing homes, even with aggressive steps to contain the virus if there’s one case, “It’s going to be exceptionally difficult to prevent the spread of any cases.”

Health care providers worry that they could face lawsuits if a patient’s health declined or a patient dies after providers delayed surgeries or other care because of concerns about spreading the virus.

Chad Austin, the Kansas Hospital Association’s executive vice president, said the group wants to protect medical providers “who did what they were asked to do” by focusing on combating the coronavirus.

“They were focused probably where they were instructed to be focused for sure, but you never know, there could be somebody forgoing care at that time who ended up having an issue,” added Cindy Samuelson, the association’s membership vice president.

David Morantz, a Leawood attorney and the Kansas Trial Lawyers’ Association president, said medical providers already aren’t subject to paying damages for injuries if they can show they followed generally accepted standards of care. He said adhering to government recommendations or directives to cancel elective surgeries because of the pandemic would qualify.

While Kelly has been open to proposals for protecting medical professionals, Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat and key ally of the governor’s, said the issue is too big, too complex and too contentious for lawmakers to tackle before adjourning May 21.

And labor unions have been quick to object to the proposals to prevent lawsuits, both in Kansas and nationally. The Working Kansas Alliance, a coalition of union groups, called it a “dangerous agenda” that would put workers at risk for “saving a buck on the corporate balance sheet.”

Morantz said he fears that any new law could be “pushed beyond what anybody ever intended” to cover actions or cases not directly involving the coronavirus. He also said shielding businesses from lawsuits will give them an incentive not to be as safe and would make consumers wary.

“If it’s safe reopen the economy, why is immunity needed?” Morantz said. “If immunity’s there, it’s going to make people scared and it’s going to delay rebooting the economy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589403059623.png" alt="Members of the House Judiciary committee meet online Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Members of the House Judiciary committee meet online Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are joining a broader effort to shield doctors, hospitals and businesses from lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus, with business and medical groups pushing them to act quickly.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZhwJRwvbg">Click here to watch</a> Wednesday's Kansas House judiciary committee hearing on the issue. It begins at 3:30p.m.The effort faces strong opposition from labor unions, trial lawyers and some Democrats. They fear that such measures could be too broad and keep patients, consumers and employees from using the court system to hold businesses and medical providers accountable for negligence or misconduct.Similar efforts are underway&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/349c07ce4b3e6321b0d5f1c2a706a67c">in Congress,</a>&nbsp;with Derek Schmidt of Kansas joining other GOP state attorneys general in calling for legislation to head off “frivolous” lawsuits. Legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e91a7747f673558df1abf8e9e802d1a">in multiple states,</a>&nbsp;including Mississippi, North Carolina and Utah, are considering their own laws.In Kansas, the state House Judiciary Committee planned to have the first of three Zoom meetings on the issue on Wednesday.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZhwJRwvbg">Click here to watch</a> and listen to the meeting that begins at 3:30p.m.The Senate counterpart is expected to meet on the topic next week. The full GOP-controlled Legislature plans to meet May 21 for its last remaining day in session this year.“What about a company who re-purposes their facilities because they’re closed as nonessential but they have the equipment to manufacture masks?” said Eric Stafford, a Kansas Chamber of Commerce lobbyist. “Somebody who’s trying to do a good deed, should they be punished, for liability for failure to prevent someone from getting sick?”Groups pushing for quick legislative action said they fear businesses that reopened after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9892bd95f6f6179dc01c4769adbab428">lifted a statewide stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;on May 4 will face lawsuits if customers or employees get sick, or that customers or employees will sue businesses that were deemed essential and remained open while others closed.Stafford said the chamber wants to ensure that businesses are protected if they followed health officials’ guidelines for operating safely.The debate also comes after President Donald Trump directed meatpacking plants to stay open despite the spread of the coronavirus among workers. Kansas has seen seven large outbreaks at such plants, accounting for nearly 1,300 confirmed cases, or 18% of the state’s total, with two COVID-19-related deaths.Dr. Beth Oller, a family physician in Rooks County in northwestern Kansas, said she thinks businesses should face legal liability if, for example, they won’t provide proper protective equipment for employees. But, she said, it could be “a bad precedent” to allow lawsuits when one customer of a business following health guidelines gets the virus from another customer.She also said in nursing homes, even with aggressive steps to contain the virus if there’s one case, “It’s going to be exceptionally difficult to prevent the spread of any cases.”Health care providers worry that they could face lawsuits if a patient’s health declined or a patient dies after providers delayed surgeries or other care because of concerns about spreading the virus.Chad Austin, the Kansas Hospital Association’s executive vice president, said the group wants to protect medical providers “who did what they were asked to do” by focusing on combating the coronavirus.“They were focused probably where they were instructed to be focused for sure, but you never know, there could be somebody forgoing care at that time who ended up having an issue,” added Cindy Samuelson, the association’s membership vice president.David Morantz, a Leawood attorney and the Kansas Trial Lawyers’ Association president, said medical providers already aren’t subject to paying damages for injuries if they can show they followed generally accepted standards of care. He said adhering to government recommendations or directives to cancel elective surgeries because of the pandemic would qualify.While Kelly has been open to proposals for protecting medical professionals, Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat and key ally of the governor’s, said the issue is too big, too complex and too contentious for lawmakers to tackle before adjourning May 21.And labor unions have been quick to object to the proposals to prevent lawsuits, both in Kansas and nationally. The Working Kansas Alliance, a coalition of union groups, called it a “dangerous agenda” that would put workers at risk for “saving a buck on the corporate balance sheet.”Morantz said he fears that any new law could be “pushed beyond what anybody ever intended” to cover actions or cases not directly involving the coronavirus. He also said shielding businesses from lawsuits will give them an incentive not to be as safe and would make consumers wary.“If it’s safe reopen the economy, why is immunity needed?” Morantz said. “If immunity’s there, it’s going to make people scared and it’s going to delay rebooting the economy.”___

 🎥 Kan. lawmakers look to prevent lawsuits over coronavirus

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Things are starting to open back up in the state legal system.

In Reno County, the 27th judicial district released how it will reopen the court system and it follows the orders of the state.

Starting Monday, remote proceedings will be used as practicable for any hearings.

In-person counter service will be open through the clerk’s office on the first floor of the courthouse in the former Register of Deeds Counter to give the public and employees more space. Two clerks will staff the desk and accept payments, pro se filings, marriage license applications and provide hearing times.

The probations office will be open only for intake and assessment of newly-assigned clients and UA’s. Probation clients will report by Zoom or by phone as directed by their officer.

The office says telework is preferred and social distancing and the use of masks will be enforced. If all goes as planned, in-person court proceedings could resume June 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575400618003.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Things are starting to open back up in the state legal system.In Reno County, the 27th judicial district released how it will reopen the court system and it follows the orders of the state.Starting Monday, remote proceedings will be used as practicable for any hearings.In-person counter service will be open through the clerk’s office on the first floor of the courthouse in the former Register of Deeds Counter to give the public and employees more space. Two clerks will staff the desk and accept payments, pro se filings, marriage license applications and provide hearing times.The probations office will be open only for intake and assessment of newly-assigned clients and UA’s. Probation clients will report by Zoom or by phone as directed by their officer.The office says telework is preferred and social distancing and the use of masks will be enforced. If all goes as planned, in-person court proceedings could resume June 1.

Some courthouse services resume Monday

TOPEKA Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;A Kansas plant that makes sausage has shut down after five employees tested positive for the coronavirus amid continued problems at meatpacking plants in the state and across the country. 

The shutdown at the Johnsonville plant in Holton took effect Wednesday.

“It’s a tough decision to halt production, but we appreciate Johnsonville for doing this to help us stop the spread of COVID-19,” says Angie Reith, Jackson County Health Officer. “The Johnsonville team has implemented aggressive safety measures and did so early on to protect their workforce, and those efforts have helped immensely in identifying the virus in the facility as quickly as possible. We’ll continue our collaboration to minimize the spread of the virus.”

Johnsonville said all employees will continue to get paid, and downtime will be used to implement even more aggressive safety protocols before reopening. Some new safety protocols include placing additional barriers between workstations where social distancing is not possible.

Meanwhile, counties in southwest Kansas with plants continue to deal with outbreaks among employees. Ford, Seward and Finney counties together had more than 2,700 cases as of Monday, or 38% of the state’s total. They had the highest rates of cases per 1,000 residents in the state.

But some neighboring counties also are seeing higher-than-average rates of cases as well. Kearney County has 30 cases, for a rate of 7.61 for every 1,000 residents -- far above the state’s figure of 2.44.

Dr. Drew Miller, a family physician in Lakin, said the cases there are tied to the meatpacking industry.

“We’re seeing community spread, or household spread and community spread, from those that were initially affected in the meatpacking plants, and I guess that’s the part that concerns us more than the young, healthy workforce population,” Miller said in a Zoom interview. “They expose their parents or others living in their house that have other chronic illnesses to the virus.”

He expects to Kearny County to diverge with the state when it reaches the second phase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9892bd95f6f6179dc01c4769adbab428">Kelly’s plan to reopen the economy</a>&nbsp;on May 18.

“It is an eerie thought, but as everybody else talks about reopening, it still feels like we’re looking COVID-19 straight in the eyes,” he said

Johns Hopkins University has reported 184 deaths and 7,200 cases in Kansas, although the actual number is thought to be higher in part because of the initial limits in testing.

For most people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, or death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589389305635.png" alt="Johnsonville Plant in Holton Google image" />
 <figcaption>Johnsonville Plant in Holton Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;A Kansas plant that makes sausage has shut down after five employees tested positive for the coronavirus amid continued problems at meatpacking plants in the state and across the country. The shutdown at the Johnsonville plant in Holton took effect Wednesday.“It’s a tough decision to halt production, but we appreciate Johnsonville for doing this to help us stop the spread of COVID-19,” says Angie Reith, Jackson County Health Officer. “The Johnsonville team has implemented aggressive safety measures and did so early on to protect their workforce, and those efforts have helped immensely in identifying the virus in the facility as quickly as possible. We’ll continue our collaboration to minimize the spread of the virus.”Johnsonville said all employees will continue to get paid, and downtime will be used to implement even more aggressive safety protocols before reopening. Some new safety protocols include placing additional barriers between workstations where social distancing is not possible.Meanwhile, counties in southwest Kansas with plants continue to deal with outbreaks among employees. Ford, Seward and Finney counties together had more than 2,700 cases as of Monday, or 38% of the state’s total. They had the highest rates of cases per 1,000 residents in the state.But some neighboring counties also are seeing higher-than-average rates of cases as well. Kearney County has 30 cases, for a rate of 7.61 for every 1,000 residents -- far above the state’s figure of 2.44.Dr. Drew Miller, a family physician in Lakin, said the cases there are tied to the meatpacking industry.“We’re seeing community spread, or household spread and community spread, from those that were initially affected in the meatpacking plants, and I guess that’s the part that concerns us more than the young, healthy workforce population,” Miller said in a Zoom interview. “They expose their parents or others living in their house that have other chronic illnesses to the virus.”He expects to Kearny County to diverge with the state when it reaches the second phase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9892bd95f6f6179dc01c4769adbab428">Kelly’s plan to reopen the economy</a>&nbsp;on May 18.“It is an eerie thought, but as everybody else talks about reopening, it still feels like we’re looking COVID-19 straight in the eyes,” he saidJohns Hopkins University has reported 184 deaths and 7,200 cases in Kansas, although the actual number is thought to be higher in part because of the initial limits in testing.For most people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, or death.

Kansas sausage making plant shuts down amid COVID-19 cases


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti updated the county's statistics on tests administered on Wednesday morning, leaving out the ones taken at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

"Nine hundred and sixty-six tests were run in Reno County external of the Walmart testing site," Baldetti said. "With 925 negatives, external of the Walmart testing site, we're at a case positive rate of about 4.25%."

All 150 Walmart tests on the county's dashboard have come back negative, but there are some other Reno County tests outstanding.

"As of this morning, we are still awaiting 82 test results that are in queue to be reported," Baldetti said. 

According to the county's dashboard on Wednesday, only three cases have required ventilation throughout the pandemic, only five were admitted to the ICU and just one is still in the hospital.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585343971615.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti updated the county's statistics on tests administered on Wednesday morning, leaving out the ones taken at the Kansas State Fairgrounds."Nine hundred and sixty-six tests were run in Reno County external of the Walmart testing site," Baldetti said. "With 925 negatives, external of the Walmart testing site, we're at a case positive rate of about 4.25%."All 150 Walmart tests on the county's dashboard have come back negative, but there are some other Reno County tests outstanding."As of this morning, we are still awaiting 82 test results that are in queue to be reported," Baldetti said. According to the county's dashboard on Wednesday, only three cases have required ventilation throughout the pandemic, only five were admitted to the ICU and just one is still in the hospital.

Baldetti: Positive case rate of non-Fairgrounds tests stays below 5%

LONG BEACH, CA. —The&nbsp;<a href="http://calstate.edu/">California State University</a>, the largest system of four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, 53,000 faculty and staff and 482,000 students announced Tuesday will continue with online classes this fall.

According to a media release, Chancellor Tim White said,&nbsp;“This approach to virtual planning is necessary for many reasons. First and foremost is the health, safety and welfare of our students, faculty and staff, and the evolving data surrounding the progression of COVID-19 – current and as forecast throughout the 2020-21 academic year. 

This planning approach is necessary because a course that might begin in a face-to-face modality would likely have to be switched to a virtual format during the term if a serious second wave of the pandemic occurs, as forecast. Virtual planning is necessary because it might not be possible for some students, faculty and staff to safely travel to campus.&nbsp;

Said another way, this virtual planning approach preserves as many options for as many students as possible.

Consequently, our planning approach will result in CSU courses primarily being delivered virtually for the fall 2020 term, with limited exceptions for in-person teaching, learning and research activities that cannot be delivered virtually, are indispensable to the university's core mission and can be conducted within rigorous standards of safety and welfare. There will be hybrid approaches and there will be variability across the 23 campuses due to specific context and circumstances.

Some possible examples of potential exceptions&nbsp; - and only when there are sufficient resources available and protocols in place to assure that rigorous health and safety requirements are in place - include clinical classes with training mannequins for our nursing students such that we keep students on track for licensure and entry into the state's healthcare workforce; essential physical and life science laboratory classes enabling degree completion and entry into the energy and bioscience fields; access to kilns and other unique facilities to enable students in the performing and creative arts to explore and express the depth, breadth and beauty of humanity; hands-on experience with unique instrumentation and senior capstone projects for engineering, architecture and agriculture students; and access to the blue-water hands-on interactive simulator for boat and ship handling, to provide students with knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for the maritime industry and required for licensure by the US Coast Guard and UN International Maritime Organization.

The granting of limited exceptions to permit in-person activities will continue to be informed by thoughtful consultation with academic senates, associated students, staff councils and union leadership, and will be based on compelling educational and research needs, while continuing to meet safety benchmarks. Any exceptions may be permitted only in the continued presence of the aforementioned rigorous safety measures and training, and only in consideration of resource availability and other matters of local context, and be in accordance with the guidance of local and state public health agencies, the repopulation directives of governmental authorities along with other relevant regulatory agencies.

This combination, really a myriad of factors, will result in variability across the 23 campuses due to specific context and circumstances, but predominately there will be limited in-person experiential learning and research occurring on campuses for the fall 2020 term. On some campuses and in some academic disciplines course offerings are likely to be exclusively virtual."

​​​​​​<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585958389195.jpeg" alt="Classes will continue online for all 23 campuses in the California State University system this fall." />
 <figcaption>Classes will continue online for all 23 campuses in the California State University system this fall.</figcaption>
 </figure>LONG BEACH, CA. —The&nbsp;<a href="http://calstate.edu/">California State University</a>, the largest system of four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, 53,000 faculty and staff and 482,000 students announced Tuesday will continue with online classes this fall.According to a media release, Chancellor Tim White said,&nbsp;“This approach to virtual planning is necessary for many reasons. First and foremost is the health, safety and welfare of our students, faculty and staff, and the evolving data surrounding the progression of COVID-19 – current and as forecast throughout the 2020-21 academic year. This planning approach is necessary because a course that might begin in a face-to-face modality would likely have to be switched to a virtual format during the term if a serious second wave of the pandemic occurs, as forecast. Virtual planning is necessary because it might not be possible for some students, faculty and staff to safely travel to campus.&nbsp;Said another way, this virtual planning approach preserves as many options for as many students as possible.Consequently, our planning approach will result in CSU courses primarily being delivered virtually for the fall 2020 term, with limited exceptions for in-person teaching, learning and research activities that cannot be delivered virtually, are indispensable to the university's core mission and can be conducted within rigorous standards of safety and welfare. There will be hybrid approaches and there will be variability across the 23 campuses due to specific context and circumstances.Some possible examples of potential exceptions&nbsp; - and only when there are sufficient resources available and protocols in place to assure that rigorous health and safety requirements are in place - include clinical classes with training mannequins for our nursing students such that we keep students on track for licensure and entry into the state's healthcare workforce; essential physical and life science laboratory classes enabling degree completion and entry into the energy and bioscience fields; access to kilns and other unique facilities to enable students in the performing and creative arts to explore and express the depth, breadth and beauty of humanity; hands-on experience with unique instrumentation and senior capstone projects for engineering, architecture and agriculture students; and access to the blue-water hands-on interactive simulator for boat and ship handling, to provide students with knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for the maritime industry and required for licensure by the US Coast Guard and UN International Maritime Organization.The granting of limited exceptions to permit in-person activities will continue to be informed by thoughtful consultation with academic senates, associated students, staff councils and union leadership, and will be based on compelling educational and research needs, while continuing to meet safety benchmarks. Any exceptions may be permitted only in the continued presence of the aforementioned rigorous safety measures and training, and only in consideration of resource availability and other matters of local context, and be in accordance with the guidance of local and state public health agencies, the repopulation directives of governmental authorities along with other relevant regulatory agencies.This combination, really a myriad of factors, will result in variability across the 23 campuses due to specific context and circumstances, but predominately there will be limited in-person experiential learning and research occurring on campuses for the fall 2020 term. On some campuses and in some academic disciplines course offerings are likely to be exclusively virtual."

Virus will keep nation's largest public university system closed this fall


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer is proud of his staff for how they are handling the adjustments needed in the midst of a pandemic.

"They don't write a playbook for this type of stuff," Beer said. "Firefighters are masters at making things happen and making sure that we take care of our citizens. We adapt really easy to changing conditions. This is definitely what has happened through this COVID-19 pandemic."

The point is that on medical calls the firefighters with EMT training face risks others might not.

"Our troops come in each day to work, they get their temperature taken," Beer said. "They are asked seven questions in the morning when they start their shift. The next morning when they go off shift again, they get their temperature taken, they go through the same seven questions and everything's documented. To date, knock on wood, I think we're one of the few agencies, we have not had one person hit quarantine."

Beer knows that is because the staff has been disciplined and they have the resources they need.

"I've got to give a shout out to Adam Weishaar," Beer said of the Reno County Emergency Management Director. "He's been able to keep us in PPE and maintaining a good inventory here. We've got stuff in queue all the time here and even some stuff that we've got donated from the community."

Having those stocks of Personal Protective Equipment has allowed the department to go into the homes of the sickest people in Hutchinson and help them without to this point having any staff losses due to illness.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer is proud of his staff for how they are handling the adjustments needed in the midst of a pandemic."They don't write a playbook for this type of stuff," Beer said. "Firefighters are masters at making things happen and making sure that we take care of our citizens. We adapt really easy to changing conditions. This is definitely what has happened through this COVID-19 pandemic."The point is that on medical calls the firefighters with EMT training face risks others might not."Our troops come in each day to work, they get their temperature taken," Beer said. "They are asked seven questions in the morning when they start their shift. The next morning when they go off shift again, they get their temperature taken, they go through the same seven questions and everything's documented. To date, knock on wood, I think we're one of the few agencies, we have not had one person hit quarantine."Beer knows that is because the staff has been disciplined and they have the resources they need."I've got to give a shout out to Adam Weishaar," Beer said of the Reno County Emergency Management Director. "He's been able to keep us in PPE and maintaining a good inventory here. We've got stuff in queue all the time here and even some stuff that we've got donated from the community."Having those stocks of Personal Protective Equipment has allowed the department to go into the homes of the sickest people in Hutchinson and help them without to this point having any staff losses due to illness.

Beer: No playbook, but proud of preparation

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners got their weekly update on the pandemic during Tuesday’s meeting. 

One topic that drew the most discussion comes from the state’s decision to add probable cases of COVID-19 to the overall number of positive cases in the state. 

“The Kansas Department of Health and Environment made the decision May 7 to begin to include probable cases in addition to laboratory-confirmed cases,” Health Department Director Nick Baldetti said. “There was no real communication in terms of that new methodology.”

Baldetti says that change has accounted for 11 cases in the county.

“If you were to go out on the state’s website right now as opposed to our dashboard, we’re reporting 41 total cases with three active. If you go to the KDHE they have us listed at 52,” Baldetti said. “Those probable cases are identified via a disease investigation at the local level, but again the decision to count them in total counts at the state level, we’re still seeking an explanation on that.”

The other matter discussed was the continued issues with the Walmart testing site at the fairgrounds and the lack of information that has come from the two weekends of testing. Baldetti wanted to stress that the tests at the fairgrounds are in no way connected to the Health Department.

“That testing site is not administered by the Reno County Health Department,” Baldetti said. “That is a program that is a partnership between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and it is funded by Walmart and the lab that Walmart has partnered with for that is eTrueNorth Labs.”

Baldetti said it has been difficult to get information from the entities that conducted the tests and has already questioned their accuracy due to the way the tests were administered. One other issue that has come up is that there is at least one case where a person who took the Walmart test may have forged their results in an effort to get time off from work.

“In this particular instance, it looks like someone copied and pasted the language from the actual document into another document and edited it to say what they wanted it to say,” Baldetti said. “It raised some questions because some of the communication that was being relayed to the employer . . . did not synchronize with standard guidelines of what we would communicate, which raised red flags.”

Baldetti says they continue to try to work with the KDHE and the health agency that administered the tests to get the proper information out regarding the case rate. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585343971615.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners got their weekly update on the pandemic during Tuesday’s meeting. One topic that drew the most discussion comes from the state’s decision to add probable cases of COVID-19 to the overall number of positive cases in the state. “The Kansas Department of Health and Environment made the decision May 7 to begin to include probable cases in addition to laboratory-confirmed cases,” Health Department Director Nick Baldetti said. “There was no real communication in terms of that new methodology.”Baldetti says that change has accounted for 11 cases in the county.“If you were to go out on the state’s website right now as opposed to our dashboard, we’re reporting 41 total cases with three active. If you go to the KDHE they have us listed at 52,” Baldetti said. “Those probable cases are identified via a disease investigation at the local level, but again the decision to count them in total counts at the state level, we’re still seeking an explanation on that.”The other matter discussed was the continued issues with the Walmart testing site at the fairgrounds and the lack of information that has come from the two weekends of testing. Baldetti wanted to stress that the tests at the fairgrounds are in no way connected to the Health Department.“That testing site is not administered by the Reno County Health Department,” Baldetti said. “That is a program that is a partnership between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and it is funded by Walmart and the lab that Walmart has partnered with for that is eTrueNorth Labs.”Baldetti said it has been difficult to get information from the entities that conducted the tests and has already questioned their accuracy due to the way the tests were administered. One other issue that has come up is that there is at least one case where a person who took the Walmart test may have forged their results in an effort to get time off from work.“In this particular instance, it looks like someone copied and pasted the language from the actual document into another document and edited it to say what they wanted it to say,” Baldetti said. “It raised some questions because some of the communication that was being relayed to the employer . . . did not synchronize with standard guidelines of what we would communicate, which raised red flags.”Baldetti says they continue to try to work with the KDHE and the health agency that administered the tests to get the proper information out regarding the case rate.

Baldetti questions actions from KDHE regarding COVID-19 numbers

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson USD 308 announced it will continue the drive-thru meal service into the summer. The service was put in place to provide meals to students during the shutdown caused by the pandemic. The district normally provides lunches during the summer.&nbsp;

The district will finish out the school year by serving through May 22 before taking the Memorial Day holiday. The district will then pick back up again on May 26. Starting June 1, the district will add two more locations: the Hutchinson library and fairgrounds splash park.

The district says the information going out to students and families will say the district will serve through June 30. The district hopes to continue drive-thru service through July 24. 

The district provides meals for all Hutchinson students along with students from USD 313 that live in Hutchinson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575668793667.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson USD 308 announced it will continue the drive-thru meal service into the summer. The service was put in place to provide meals to students during the shutdown caused by the pandemic. The district normally provides lunches during the summer.&nbsp;The district will finish out the school year by serving through May 22 before taking the Memorial Day holiday. The district will then pick back up again on May 26. Starting June 1, the district will add two more locations: the Hutchinson library and fairgrounds splash park.The district says the information going out to students and families will say the district will serve through June 30. The district hopes to continue drive-thru service through July 24. The district provides meals for all Hutchinson students along with students from USD 313 that live in Hutchinson.

USD 308 will continue with drive-thru food service

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are many stories about area residents doing their part to help others during the pandemic. 

It happened again Tuesday when the Hutchinson Community College Athletic Department, the Hutchinson Police Department and the Hutchinson Fire Department were recipients of 500 donated masks.

The masks were donated by Victor Jou, owner of Imperial Garden in Hutchinson. The masks were delivered in the lobby of the Hutchinson Sports Arena Tuesday morning.

<figure>
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 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are many stories about area residents doing their part to help others during the pandemic. It happened again Tuesday when the Hutchinson Community College Athletic Department, the Hutchinson Police Department and the Hutchinson Fire Department were recipients of 500 donated masks.The masks were donated by Victor Jou, owner of Imperial Garden in Hutchinson. The masks were delivered in the lobby of the Hutchinson Sports Arena Tuesday morning.

Local restaurant donates masks to HPD, HFD and HutchCC

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Eight nonprofit organizations received a total of $25,150 Monday in the third round of grants issued from the Rally Reno Nonprofit Response Fund.

The money comes from a $110,000 pool funded by donors of the United Way of Reno County and the Hutchinson Community Foundation. The grants are aimed at expanding local nonprofits’ capacities to continue providing services during the COVID-19 crisis.

A total of $95,700 in grants have been awarded to 26 organizations since the fund was established in April.

 A panel of community leaders awarded the following grants:

Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson – $5,000: Support the purchase of two shade structures and two adjustable basketball goals to expand the outdoor play area to help club members maintain advised social distancing during summer programming.

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland – $2,000: Funds will be used for the costs of implementing programming, such as “Camp At Home” and “Camp in a Box,” which allow for the continuation of Girl Scout leadership development in Reno County during times of social distancing limitations. Funds may also be used as financial aid for member registration and to cover costs of badges and patches for girls in need of financial aid.

Hadley Day Care Center – $5,000: Grant will assist with Hadley’s operational expenses until the center is functioning at full capacity again as families return to work.

Plainview Mennonite Church – $2,500: Funds will allow the group to continue providing food to families in rural Reno County whose children (50-60 total) participate in the program, helping meet an immediate need during a time when the full congregation is not gathering and able to make regular food donations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585236822615.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Eight nonprofit organizations received a total of $25,150 Monday in the third round of grants issued from the Rally Reno Nonprofit Response Fund.The money comes from a $110,000 pool funded by donors of the United Way of Reno County and the Hutchinson Community Foundation. The grants are aimed at expanding local nonprofits’ capacities to continue providing services during the COVID-19 crisis.A total of $95,700 in grants have been awarded to 26 organizations since the fund was established in April. A panel of community leaders awarded the following grants: Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson – $5,000: Support the purchase of two shade structures and two adjustable basketball goals to expand the outdoor play area to help club members maintain advised social distancing during summer programming.Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland – $2,000: Funds will be used for the costs of implementing programming, such as “Camp At Home” and “Camp in a Box,” which allow for the continuation of Girl Scout leadership development in Reno County during times of social distancing limitations. Funds may also be used as financial aid for member registration and to cover costs of badges and patches for girls in need of financial aid.Hadley Day Care Center – $5,000: Grant will assist with Hadley’s operational expenses until the center is functioning at full capacity again as families return to work.Plainview Mennonite Church – $2,500: Funds will allow the group to continue providing food to families in rural Reno County whose children (50-60 total) participate in the program, helping meet an immediate need during a time when the full congregation is not gathering and able to make regular food donations.Prairie Independent Living Resource Center – $2,500: Allow for purchase of personal hygiene items and nonperishable food items to distribute to clients who are in need.TECH, Inc. – $3,500: Funds will allow for the purchase of tablets, webcams and other pieces of technology that will allow staff to engage more clients with activities, such as art classes, games and connecting with friends during times of social distancing.TFI Family Services – $1,500: Grant will assist with the purchase of equipment, such as weighted blankets, calming portable tents, fidget manipulatives and other materials, used to make up Calming Kits distributed to foster children in Reno County during times of increased anxiety.United Way of Reno County – $3,150: Funds will be used to purchase no-touch thermometers for nonprofit organizations that need this equipment to monitor staff and clients but could not have anticipated COVID-19 and the need for this high-cost equipment when budgeting for 2020.Those who would like to make a gift to the Rally Reno Nonprofit Response Fund may contact Hutchinson Community Foundation President and CEO Aubrey Abbott Patterson at <a href="mailto:aubrey@hutchcf.org">aubrey@hutchcf.org</a> or 620-200-0175 or United Way of Reno County Executive Director Lisa Gleason at <a href="mailto:lgleason@unitedwayofrenocounty.org">lgleason@unitedwayofrenocounty.org</a> or 620-669-9329.

Coronavirus Update