JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) — States across the U.S. are allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to respond to the coronavirus, even as the U.S. government prepares to send billions more their way.

Many states have built up sizable stockpiles in their “rainy day” funds during several robust years of tax collections. Some governors and state lawmakers now are tapping into those savings for emergency expenses. Others are looking to set aside even more in reserve, fearing the economic uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus could send tax revenues into a tailspin.

“Forget the closure on Broadway — the loss of revenue to the state government, right now, is incalculable,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.

He pulled the curtain on Broadway theaters this past week while banning gatherings of 500 or more people.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he would free up as much as $50 billion for state and local governments as he declared the virus pandemic a national emergency. Many governors also have declared emergencies, giving themselves greater flexibility to spend money and waive regulations as needed.

“All the resources we can have on hand — to make sure if things get worse — we want,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, while announcing a state of emergency just hours after the president did so.

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

State and local public health agencies have been on the front lines of the response, monitoring and testing those suspected of having the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Costs are mounting for staff time and medical supplies.

But states also are bracing for a potential ripple effect on their revenues. The cancellation of major sporting and entertainment events could mean less tax revenue from tourists and local residents. Directives to work and study at home instead of at offices, schools and colleges could mean less revenue from fuel taxes and public transit fares. And if some employees can't go to work, that could put a damper on state income and withholding taxes while driving up spending for public welfare programs such as unemployment insurance and state Medicaid health care programs.

“It definitely has the potential to have a significant impact on state budgets — both on the spending and revenue side,” said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers.

“One positive, if you want to use that word, is that this is coming after a period where states have seen strong revenue growth for the past couple of years ... and have been able to increase the size of their rainy day funds and reserves,” Sigritz added.

Across all states last fiscal year, the median rainy day fund balance equaled 7.6% of general fund expenditures. That's a record high that was way up from a 1.6% share of general fund expenditures in the 2010 fiscal year, according to the budget officers group.

In Washington state, which has seen the greatest number of U.S. coronavirus deaths, lawmakers this past week approved a budget that draws $200 million from the state's rainy day fund. Of that, $175 million is to go to the public health system with the rest going to a special unemployment fund for affected businesses and workers.

“The urgency of this is clear, the demand for action is clear, and we’ll stretch this as far as we can and we’ll find some way to finance more if we have to,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat.

While tapping the emergency fund, Washington state lawmakers also pared back some proposed spending, allowing the state's reserves to continue to grow in case the coronavirus causes more budgetary hardships.

Georgia lawmakers this past week approved shifting $100 million from the state’s $2.8 billion of reserves into a governor’s emergency fund for the coronavirus. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, signed legislation allowing the state to tap up to $50 million from its rainy day fund.

The spread of the coronavirus has coincided with crunch time in some state legislatures. Florida lawmakers, for example, extended their 60-day session that was scheduled to end Friday while working on a budget plan that has been complicated by the coronavirus outbreak. Concern about the economy has prompted budget writers to consider adding hundreds of millions of additional dollars to the state's reserves to help offset any potential shortfalls.

Some states where legislatures already had wrapped up budgets are now scrambling to account for the coronavirus costs.

New Mexico lawmakers adjourned Feb. 20. This past week, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed about $150 million in infrastructure spending as coronavirus concerns caused world oil prices to plunge. The oil sector is a mainstay of the New Mexico economy.

The cuts included nearly $50 million for local transportation projects plus funding for a rural water system, a preschool and senior center at Native American communities, and improvements at district courts.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) — States across the U.S. are allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to respond to the coronavirus, even as the U.S. government prepares to send billions more their way.Many states have built up sizable stockpiles in their “rainy day” funds during several robust years of tax collections. Some governors and state lawmakers now are tapping into those savings for emergency expenses. Others are looking to set aside even more in reserve, fearing the economic uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus could send tax revenues into a tailspin.“Forget the closure on Broadway — the loss of revenue to the state government, right now, is incalculable,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.He pulled the curtain on Broadway theaters this past week while banning gatherings of 500 or more people.President Donald Trump said Friday that he would free up as much as $50 billion for state and local governments as he declared the virus pandemic a national emergency. Many governors also have declared emergencies, giving themselves greater flexibility to spend money and waive regulations as needed.“All the resources we can have on hand — to make sure if things get worse — we want,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, while announcing a state of emergency just hours after the president did so.For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.State and local public health agencies have been on the front lines of the response, monitoring and testing those suspected of having the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Costs are mounting for staff time and medical supplies.But states also are bracing for a potential ripple effect on their revenues. The cancellation of major sporting and entertainment events could mean less tax revenue from tourists and local residents. Directives to work and study at home instead of at offices, schools and colleges could mean less revenue from fuel taxes and public transit fares. And if some employees can't go to work, that could put a damper on state income and withholding taxes while driving up spending for public welfare programs such as unemployment insurance and state Medicaid health care programs.“It definitely has the potential to have a significant impact on state budgets — both on the spending and revenue side,” said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers.“One positive, if you want to use that word, is that this is coming after a period where states have seen strong revenue growth for the past couple of years ... and have been able to increase the size of their rainy day funds and reserves,” Sigritz added.Across all states last fiscal year, the median rainy day fund balance equaled 7.6% of general fund expenditures. That's a record high that was way up from a 1.6% share of general fund expenditures in the 2010 fiscal year, according to the budget officers group.In Washington state, which has seen the greatest number of U.S. coronavirus deaths, lawmakers this past week approved a budget that draws $200 million from the state's rainy day fund. Of that, $175 million is to go to the public health system with the rest going to a special unemployment fund for affected businesses and workers.“The urgency of this is clear, the demand for action is clear, and we’ll stretch this as far as we can and we’ll find some way to finance more if we have to,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat.While tapping the emergency fund, Washington state lawmakers also pared back some proposed spending, allowing the state's reserves to continue to grow in case the coronavirus causes more budgetary hardships.Georgia lawmakers this past week approved shifting $100 million from the state’s $2.8 billion of reserves into a governor’s emergency fund for the coronavirus. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, signed legislation allowing the state to tap up to $50 million from its rainy day fund.The spread of the coronavirus has coincided with crunch time in some state legislatures. Florida lawmakers, for example, extended their 60-day session that was scheduled to end Friday while working on a budget plan that has been complicated by the coronavirus outbreak. Concern about the economy has prompted budget writers to consider adding hundreds of millions of additional dollars to the state's reserves to help offset any potential shortfalls.Some states where legislatures already had wrapped up budgets are now scrambling to account for the coronavirus costs.New Mexico lawmakers adjourned Feb. 20. This past week, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed about $150 million in infrastructure spending as coronavirus concerns caused world oil prices to plunge. The oil sector is a mainstay of the New Mexico economy.The cuts included nearly $50 million for local transportation projects plus funding for a rural water system, a preschool and senior center at Native American communities, and improvements at district courts.

States turn to cash reserves as coronavirus strains budgets

CHICAGO (AP) — The CDC is recommending that gatherings of 50 people or more in US be canceled or postponed over next eight weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with governors closing restaurants, bars, and schools and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.

The shutdowns came as the nation sank deeper into chaos over the crisis. Travelers returning home from overseas trips were stuck in line for hours at major airports for screenings, causing them to be crammed into just the kind of crowded spaces that public health officials have been urging people to avoid.

In a sign of the impending economic gloom on the horizon, the Federal Reserve slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero. President Donald Trump sought to calm a jittery nation by declaring that the government has “tremendous control” over the situation and urging people to stop the panic buying of grocery staples that has depleted the shelves of stores around the country. Gun stores started seeing a similar run on weapons and ammunition as the panic intensified.

Parts of the country already look like a ghost town, and others are about to follow as theme parks closed, Florida beaches shooed away spring breakers, Starbucks said it will accept only drive-thru and takeout orders and the governors of Ohio and Illinois ordered bars and restaurants shuttered. California’s governor asked the state’s bars and restaurants to do the same, but didn’t order it. New York City, New Jersey and elsewhere are considering similar measures.

“The time for persuasion and public appeals is over,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “This is not a joke. No one is immune to this.”

His decision came hours after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, said he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed to prevent the virus’s spread.

“I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” said Fauci, a member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus. He heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.

There is no indication Trump is considering such a move.

The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 162,000 people and left more than 6,000 dead, with thousands of new cases confirmed each day. The death toll in the United States climbed to 64, while infections passed 3,200.

Meanwhile, harsh criticism rained on Trump and his administration Sunday from state and local officials over long lines of returning international passengers at some U.S. airports that could have turned them into coronavirus carriers as they tried to get home.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lambasted the administration for allowing about 3,000 Americans returning from Europe to be stuck for hours inside the customs area at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday, violating federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people practice “social distancing.”

The passengers, many of them rushing home because of fears they would be stuck in Europe, were screened for coronavirus symptoms before they were allowed to leave the airport.

Long lines also formed Saturday in Boston, Dallas and others of the 13 airports that are accepting return flights from Europe.

“People were forced into conditions that are against CDC guidance and are totally unacceptable,” Lightfoot said.

Elizabeth Pulvermacher, a University of Wisconsin student, arrived Saturday at O’Hare from Madrid, where she had been studying and spent hours in line. The customs process made her feel “unsafe,” she said.

“The whole idea is getting rid of the spread of coronavirus, but there were hundreds and hundreds of people in very close proximity,” Pulvermacher said.

Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University, said he was “appalled” by what he saw Saturday at nearby O’Hare.

“If they weren’t exposed to COVID-19 before, they probably are now. From a public health perspective, this is malpractice,” Murphy said in a statement Sunday. “The lack of preparation and concern is unfathomable.”

But the situation improved markedly Sunday at O’Hare and elsewhere. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said wait times are down to 30 minutes after processes have been adjusted to better handle the influx and extra personnel sent to the airports that are “funneling” passengers returning from overseas.

Bailey Miles, a 20-year-old sophomore at Taylor University in Indiana, arrived also from Madrid fearing the worst, but she got through customs and a health screening in about an hour. She said officials seemed to have learned their lesson from Saturday, when some of her friends returned.

“The employees were really helpful, had positive attitudes and had a lot of grace,” she said. She said a woman even passed out snacks.

At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Amanda Kay said she was asked to keep her distance from other passengers when she arrived from Paris at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

“They wanted 50 people at a time. So the first 50 people got off, and they asked us to keep a large distance between ourselves,” she said. “We showed them the first form and then as we walk there’s a person who has the scan for your temperature. And then you go through Customs and then that was it.”

Going forward, Wolf said he could not rule out a future halt to air travel within the U.S. Fauci said earlier Sunday on television that halting domestic travel had been discussed, though not seriously.

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

And that may have given some people false hope, causing them to venture into crowds that Fauci and others would prefer they avoid. Even if someone doesn’t become visibly ill, they can still carry the disease and spread it to others.

In New Orleans and Chicago, people clad in green for St. Patrick’s Day packed bars and spilled onto crowded sidewalks on Saturday even after the cities canceled their parades.

New York City, which has the nation’s largest public school district, announced that it will be closed starting Monday, joining most of the rest of the country. Mayor Bill de Blasio had originally balked, but under pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others he said Sunday, “I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice.”

In Florida, Walt Disney World and Universal-Orlando were closing Sunday night for the rest of the month, joining their California siblings, which already closed. Farther south, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale officials announced that they are closing their beaches, where thousands of college spring breakers from around the world have flocked. The cities also ordered restaurants and bars closed by 10 p.m. and to keep crowds below 250.

“We cannot become a petri dish for a very dangerous virus,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “Spring break is over. The party is over.”

Starbucks said Sunday it is closing seating in its cafes and patio areas nationwide, but customers can still order at the counter, at drive-thrus or on the Starbucks app. It will also close or reduce hours in areas where there are a high-number of cases.

But not all government officials were as concerned. Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted a picture of himself and his children at a crowded metro restaurant Saturday night.

Republican Rep. Devin Nunes had a similar message on Fox News Sunday, encouraging people to go to local restaurants and pubs despite the warnings of health officials.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584319369602.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, during Sunday's Caronavirus Task Force media briefings -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, during Sunday's Caronavirus Task Force media briefings -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — The CDC is recommending that gatherings of 50 people or more in US be canceled or postponed over next eight weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.Officials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with governors closing restaurants, bars, and schools and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.The shutdowns came as the nation sank deeper into chaos over the crisis. Travelers returning home from overseas trips were stuck in line for hours at major airports for screenings, causing them to be crammed into just the kind of crowded spaces that public health officials have been urging people to avoid.In a sign of the impending economic gloom on the horizon, the Federal Reserve slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero. President Donald Trump sought to calm a jittery nation by declaring that the government has “tremendous control” over the situation and urging people to stop the panic buying of grocery staples that has depleted the shelves of stores around the country. Gun stores started seeing a similar run on weapons and ammunition as the panic intensified.Parts of the country already look like a ghost town, and others are about to follow as theme parks closed, Florida beaches shooed away spring breakers, Starbucks said it will accept only drive-thru and takeout orders and the governors of Ohio and Illinois ordered bars and restaurants shuttered. California’s governor asked the state’s bars and restaurants to do the same, but didn’t order it. New York City, New Jersey and elsewhere are considering similar measures.“The time for persuasion and public appeals is over,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “This is not a joke. No one is immune to this.”His decision came hours after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, said he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed to prevent the virus’s spread.“I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” said Fauci, a member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus. He heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.There is no indication Trump is considering such a move.The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 162,000 people and left more than 6,000 dead, with thousands of new cases confirmed each day. The death toll in the United States climbed to 64, while infections passed 3,200.Meanwhile, harsh criticism rained on Trump and his administration Sunday from state and local officials over long lines of returning international passengers at some U.S. airports that could have turned them into coronavirus carriers as they tried to get home.Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lambasted the administration for allowing about 3,000 Americans returning from Europe to be stuck for hours inside the customs area at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday, violating federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people practice “social distancing.”The passengers, many of them rushing home because of fears they would be stuck in Europe, were screened for coronavirus symptoms before they were allowed to leave the airport.Long lines also formed Saturday in Boston, Dallas and others of the 13 airports that are accepting return flights from Europe.“People were forced into conditions that are against CDC guidance and are totally unacceptable,” Lightfoot said.Elizabeth Pulvermacher, a University of Wisconsin student, arrived Saturday at O’Hare from Madrid, where she had been studying and spent hours in line. The customs process made her feel “unsafe,” she said.“The whole idea is getting rid of the spread of coronavirus, but there were hundreds and hundreds of people in very close proximity,” Pulvermacher said.Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University, said he was “appalled” by what he saw Saturday at nearby O’Hare.“If they weren’t exposed to COVID-19 before, they probably are now. From a public health perspective, this is malpractice,” Murphy said in a statement Sunday. “The lack of preparation and concern is unfathomable.”But the situation improved markedly Sunday at O’Hare and elsewhere. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said wait times are down to 30 minutes after processes have been adjusted to better handle the influx and extra personnel sent to the airports that are “funneling” passengers returning from overseas.Bailey Miles, a 20-year-old sophomore at Taylor University in Indiana, arrived also from Madrid fearing the worst, but she got through customs and a health screening in about an hour. She said officials seemed to have learned their lesson from Saturday, when some of her friends returned.“The employees were really helpful, had positive attitudes and had a lot of grace,” she said. She said a woman even passed out snacks.At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Amanda Kay said she was asked to keep her distance from other passengers when she arrived from Paris at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.“They wanted 50 people at a time. So the first 50 people got off, and they asked us to keep a large distance between ourselves,” she said. “We showed them the first form and then as we walk there’s a person who has the scan for your temperature. And then you go through Customs and then that was it.”Going forward, Wolf said he could not rule out a future halt to air travel within the U.S. Fauci said earlier Sunday on television that halting domestic travel had been discussed, though not seriously.For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover.And that may have given some people false hope, causing them to venture into crowds that Fauci and others would prefer they avoid. Even if someone doesn’t become visibly ill, they can still carry the disease and spread it to others.In New Orleans and Chicago, people clad in green for St. Patrick’s Day packed bars and spilled onto crowded sidewalks on Saturday even after the cities canceled their parades.New York City, which has the nation’s largest public school district, announced that it will be closed starting Monday, joining most of the rest of the country. Mayor Bill de Blasio had originally balked, but under pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others he said Sunday, “I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice.”In Florida, Walt Disney World and Universal-Orlando were closing Sunday night for the rest of the month, joining their California siblings, which already closed. Farther south, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale officials announced that they are closing their beaches, where thousands of college spring breakers from around the world have flocked. The cities also ordered restaurants and bars closed by 10 p.m. and to keep crowds below 250.“We cannot become a petri dish for a very dangerous virus,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “Spring break is over. The party is over.”Starbucks said Sunday it is closing seating in its cafes and patio areas nationwide, but customers can still order at the counter, at drive-thrus or on the Starbucks app. It will also close or reduce hours in areas where there are a high-number of cases.But not all government officials were as concerned. Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted a picture of himself and his children at a crowded metro restaurant Saturday night.Republican Rep. Devin Nunes had a similar message on Fox News Sunday, encouraging people to go to local restaurants and pubs despite the warnings of health officials.___

CDC recommends no gatherings of 50 or more for 8 weeks

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

KDHE is now recommending 14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:

“We know there are a lot of questions and concerns from people,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “One thing we want to stress is that having contact with someone who may have been exposed to someone who may be a COVID-19 case is not a reason to worry or quarantine yourself. Public health officials will notify you if you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.”

There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return. Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391858233&amp;sdata=8Yn2ESj7OgBdURzPo4x7vPAiFHCaYCezFrWaCSHFyO0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.&nbsp;

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

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

Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. KDHE only approves COVID-19 testing requests from healthcare providers and local health departments.

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

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

For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391868226&amp;sdata=cJJZ5jKWxO0IzLq46qhiTh%2FL%2Fa35DWhqhvK7eWjkFVE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, COVID-19@ks.gov.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)&nbsp; issued new guidance Sunday surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested.KDHE is now recommending 14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:<ol>
 <li>Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (currently California, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15.</li><li>Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado within the past week.</li><li>Traveled on a cruise ship on or after March 15. People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Traveled internationally on or after March 15. People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. You should quarantine at home for 14 days since your last contact with the case.&nbsp; (A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.)</li>
 </ol>“We know there are a lot of questions and concerns from people,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “One thing we want to stress is that having contact with someone who may have been exposed to someone who may be a COVID-19 case is not a reason to worry or quarantine yourself. Public health officials will notify you if you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.”There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return. Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391858233&amp;sdata=8Yn2ESj7OgBdURzPo4x7vPAiFHCaYCezFrWaCSHFyO0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.&nbsp;Home Quarantine GuidelinesThose who are under home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain at about a 6-foot distance from other people.If a person under quarantine develops symptoms of COVID-19 during their 14-day quarantine period, including a measured fever of 100.4 (F) or higher and lower respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath, they should contact their healthcare provider and tell them about their recent travel or other COVID-19 exposure.Testing for COVID-19Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. KDHE only approves COVID-19 testing requests from healthcare providers and local health departments.People who are currently being tested for COVID-19 should remain in home isolation, or hospital isolation if symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized, until test results are available. If the test result is negative, isolation is no longer required. If test results are positive for COVID-19, the person must remain in isolation until released by public health.PreventionThere is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid spreading the virus and to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other for at least 10 minutes through droplets from coughing and sneezing.To reduce risk, everyone should:<ol>
 <li>Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.</li><li>Stay home if you are sick.</li><li>Cover coughs and sneezes.</li><li>Clean and disinfect surfaces daily.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391868226&amp;sdata=cJJZ5jKWxO0IzLq46qhiTh%2FL%2Fa35DWhqhvK7eWjkFVE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, COVID-19@ks.gov.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

KDHE issues new quarantine suggestions, isolation of travelers

Clara Barton Hospital says call ahead before coming to hospital with coronavirus-like symptoms 

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has prompted multiple religious faiths to change or cancel services as houses of worship try to help contain the disease. But some church leaders are also tackling another task: communicating a message that elevates both faith and science.

That goal is particularly challenging in a time of sharp political polarization, as partisan scuffles over religion’s influence on policymaking can caricature Christians as skeptical of science. For pastors across Christian denominations, however, rising public anxiety over coronavirus only reinforces the importance of believing in God while heeding the advice of public health experts.

“Science is a wonderful arena of truth and understanding truth. It is an amazing tool that can help human flourishing. We just believe it can’t address all truth that exists,” said D.J. Jenkins, pastor at Anthology Church in Studio City, Calif.

Jenkins, who got his undergraduate degree in biology, acknowledged that “for a lot of folks, it’s probably pretty strange to see” a Christian or other devout person “asking for divine help -- and then also trusting in science and health professionals and doctors. But it’s not strange for me.”

While past natural disasters have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/151633f83b7ed2452ca1c8ab7135af8e">found a few</a>&nbsp;high-profile Christians asserting a link to specific divine punishment, the coronavirus outbreak has generated little if any of that religious rhetoric. Instead, churches are rising to the moment with a mixture of spiritual aid and practical counsel that presents its own challenges, beyond the political tensions kicked up by the virus.

Scott Sauls, senior pastor at Nashville’s Christ Presbyterian Church, said he’s discussing ways to “move toward the pain rather than away from it,” acting on his faith’s edict to love one’s neighbor amid rising anxiety.

But that goal is complicated by the social distancing that’s been recommended as a best practice to slow down the disease, Sauls noted, since “Christians’ responsibility is to, No. 1, not send the irresponsible, unloving message” of downplaying the virus’ risk. He said conversations about how best to help have so far focused on assisting the high-risk elderly and health care workers overtaxed by the crisis.

National Association of Evangelicals President Walter Kim said his guidance to denominations is prioritizing the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and other experts, because “the sense of reassurance we want to give is coupled with prudence in seeking out the best information.”

Citing the high religiosity among early scientific pioneers such as Isaac Newton, Kim said that although friction between faith and science has occurred in the past, “the scientific community and people of faith really should serve as collaborators.”

Religious institutions from coast to coast have upended their service schedules to prevent close contact that could spread coronavirus, with Kentucky’s governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf943036e5e71ae85c827a66f4adedf">encouraging&nbsp;</a>churches to cancel their services this week. While not every church in the state plans to fully close, pastors such as Steve Weaver, of Farmdale Baptist Church in Frankfort, Ky., said they are keenly aware of both scientific and faith considerations.

“We want to take seriously the health challenges that experts are describing and their prescriptions to address those challenges,” Weaver said by email. “However, we have to balance that by our responsibility to continue our regular expressions of worshiping and gathering, which I believe is commanded of us as Christians.”

In Washington state’s King County, where the outbreak&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e27307edc5b133a67f3ba2036a97dc27">has claimed</a>&nbsp;more than two dozen victims, pastors are already dealing with the spiritual struggles wrought by the pandemic.

“There’s a lot of fear right now, so we have an opportunity to be bearers of hope and peace,” said Andrew Fouché, pastor of Sunset Community Church in Renton, Wash. Fouché added that he resists “pat answers” about prayer providing complete protection.

Aaron Monts, pastor at United Church Seattle, said he’s seen “a tension of fear and faith” among congregants who are not yet directly affected by the virus but facing growing isolation. Last Sunday, Monts said, his church suggested a way for believers to blend worship with doctors’ advice: reciting a 20-second prayer while washing their hands.

“We taught, let’s do something a little more intentional with this space” than the increasingly popular advice to sing 20 seconds of “Happy Birthday,” Monts said.

Yet the act of prayer itself often proves fodder for political division over faith and science, and the government’s response to coronavirus is no exception. When Vice President Mike Pence tweeted a photo of a group prayer before a meeting of the Trump administration’s virus response task force that he leads, one commentator’s online pushback met with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkMeadows/status/1234526122014126081?s=20" target="_blank">condemnation from</a>&nbsp;prominent Republicans who accused progressives of maligning religion.

In fact, Pence’s photo sparked a complex reaction from Christians who said prayer is valuable but not the sole solution to a crisis, whether personal or pandemic.

Chris Green, professor of theology at Southeastern University, said he has seen “magical thinking” about the power of prayer among both conservative and liberal Christians, but “that is a minority, very clearly a quieter voice in the conversation.”

“Overwhelmingly, I think the groups I work with would say, pray and work” to solve problems, said Green, who’s also a teaching pastor at Sanctuary Church in Tulsa.

Katelyn Beaty, a former veteran editor at Christianity Today, described the Pence photo as a politicized bid to court conservative Christian support. But she separated that critical response from her view of prayer itself -- as not incompatible with respect for scientific fact.

A majority of Americans pray at least daily, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/frequency-of-prayer/" target="_blank">2014 poll</a>&nbsp;by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Referring to Muslim and Jewish neighbors who communicate with God, Beaty said that she “would never ... assume that because they pray, they’re also distrustful of science.”

Beaty added that “the ‘divide’ between faith and science is much more about culture wars and the politicization of everything in our common life than it is about what people think and believe.”

Underscoring that point, Pew polling also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/science-and-religion/" target="_blank">has found</a>&nbsp;that while 59% of Americans view religion and science as often in conflict, only 30% said science conflicts with their own personal beliefs.

James Dew Jr., president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, acknowledged what he called the “warfare” theory of faith’s relationship to science but offered an alternate view of religion and science as “dialogue partners.”

“We need God’s grace more than ever before,” said Dew, who writes extensively on theology and philosophy. “We also need our medical community to do its best work right now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584278183206.png" alt="Trinity Episcopal in Lawrence, Kansas&nbsp; is among many churches not holding public worship Sunday in light of the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Until after March 29, the church will not be hosting any ministry or group functions, according to it's website- Google image" />
 <figcaption>Trinity Episcopal in Lawrence, Kansas&nbsp; is among many churches not holding public worship Sunday in light of the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Until after March 29, the church will not be hosting any ministry or group functions, according to it's website- Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has prompted multiple religious faiths to change or cancel services as houses of worship try to help contain the disease. But some church leaders are also tackling another task: communicating a message that elevates both faith and science.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/kpaGEAzRZY">https://t.co/kpaGEAzRZY</a>&mdash; Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence/status/1239176998045519873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>That goal is particularly challenging in a time of sharp political polarization, as partisan scuffles over religion’s influence on policymaking can caricature Christians as skeptical of science. For pastors across Christian denominations, however, rising public anxiety over coronavirus only reinforces the importance of believing in God while heeding the advice of public health experts.“Science is a wonderful arena of truth and understanding truth. It is an amazing tool that can help human flourishing. We just believe it can’t address all truth that exists,” said D.J. Jenkins, pastor at Anthology Church in Studio City, Calif.Jenkins, who got his undergraduate degree in biology, acknowledged that “for a lot of folks, it’s probably pretty strange to see” a Christian or other devout person “asking for divine help -- and then also trusting in science and health professionals and doctors. But it’s not strange for me.”While past natural disasters have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/151633f83b7ed2452ca1c8ab7135af8e">found a few</a>&nbsp;high-profile Christians asserting a link to specific divine punishment, the coronavirus outbreak has generated little if any of that religious rhetoric. Instead, churches are rising to the moment with a mixture of spiritual aid and practical counsel that presents its own challenges, beyond the political tensions kicked up by the virus.Scott Sauls, senior pastor at Nashville’s Christ Presbyterian Church, said he’s discussing ways to “move toward the pain rather than away from it,” acting on his faith’s edict to love one’s neighbor amid rising anxiety.But that goal is complicated by the social distancing that’s been recommended as a best practice to slow down the disease, Sauls noted, since “Christians’ responsibility is to, No. 1, not send the irresponsible, unloving message” of downplaying the virus’ risk. He said conversations about how best to help have so far focused on assisting the high-risk elderly and health care workers overtaxed by the crisis.National Association of Evangelicals President Walter Kim said his guidance to denominations is prioritizing the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and other experts, because “the sense of reassurance we want to give is coupled with prudence in seeking out the best information.”Citing the high religiosity among early scientific pioneers such as Isaac Newton, Kim said that although friction between faith and science has occurred in the past, “the scientific community and people of faith really should serve as collaborators.”Religious institutions from coast to coast have upended their service schedules to prevent close contact that could spread coronavirus, with Kentucky’s governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf943036e5e71ae85c827a66f4adedf">encouraging&nbsp;</a>churches to cancel their services this week. While not every church in the state plans to fully close, pastors such as Steve Weaver, of Farmdale Baptist Church in Frankfort, Ky., said they are keenly aware of both scientific and faith considerations.“We want to take seriously the health challenges that experts are describing and their prescriptions to address those challenges,” Weaver said by email. “However, we have to balance that by our responsibility to continue our regular expressions of worshiping and gathering, which I believe is commanded of us as Christians.”In Washington state’s King County, where the outbreak&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e27307edc5b133a67f3ba2036a97dc27">has claimed</a>&nbsp;more than two dozen victims, pastors are already dealing with the spiritual struggles wrought by the pandemic.“There’s a lot of fear right now, so we have an opportunity to be bearers of hope and peace,” said Andrew Fouché, pastor of Sunset Community Church in Renton, Wash. Fouché added that he resists “pat answers” about prayer providing complete protection.Aaron Monts, pastor at United Church Seattle, said he’s seen “a tension of fear and faith” among congregants who are not yet directly affected by the virus but facing growing isolation. Last Sunday, Monts said, his church suggested a way for believers to blend worship with doctors’ advice: reciting a 20-second prayer while washing their hands.“We taught, let’s do something a little more intentional with this space” than the increasingly popular advice to sing 20 seconds of “Happy Birthday,” Monts said.Yet the act of prayer itself often proves fodder for political division over faith and science, and the government’s response to coronavirus is no exception. When Vice President Mike Pence tweeted a photo of a group prayer before a meeting of the Trump administration’s virus response task force that he leads, one commentator’s online pushback met with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkMeadows/status/1234526122014126081?s=20" target="_blank">condemnation from</a>&nbsp;prominent Republicans who accused progressives of maligning religion.In fact, Pence’s photo sparked a complex reaction from Christians who said prayer is valuable but not the sole solution to a crisis, whether personal or pandemic.Chris Green, professor of theology at Southeastern University, said he has seen “magical thinking” about the power of prayer among both conservative and liberal Christians, but “that is a minority, very clearly a quieter voice in the conversation.”“Overwhelmingly, I think the groups I work with would say, pray and work” to solve problems, said Green, who’s also a teaching pastor at Sanctuary Church in Tulsa.Katelyn Beaty, a former veteran editor at Christianity Today, described the Pence photo as a politicized bid to court conservative Christian support. But she separated that critical response from her view of prayer itself -- as not incompatible with respect for scientific fact.A majority of Americans pray at least daily, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/frequency-of-prayer/" target="_blank">2014 poll</a>&nbsp;by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Referring to Muslim and Jewish neighbors who communicate with God, Beaty said that she “would never ... assume that because they pray, they’re also distrustful of science.”Beaty added that “the ‘divide’ between faith and science is much more about culture wars and the politicization of everything in our common life than it is about what people think and believe.”Underscoring that point, Pew polling also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/science-and-religion/" target="_blank">has found</a>&nbsp;that while 59% of Americans view religion and science as often in conflict, only 30% said science conflicts with their own personal beliefs.James Dew Jr., president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, acknowledged what he called the “warfare” theory of faith’s relationship to science but offered an alternate view of religion and science as “dialogue partners.”“We need God’s grace more than ever before,” said Dew, who writes extensively on theology and philosophy. “We also need our medical community to do its best work right now.”___

Pray and wash: Religion joins with science amid virus crisis

LOS ANGELES&nbsp;- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, International Mail Facility (IMF, intercepted a package containing suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits arriving from the United Kingdom, according to a media release from CBP.

On Thursday, CBP officers discovered six plastic bags containing various vials, while conducting an enforcement examination of a parcel manifested as “Purified Water Vials” with a declared value of $196.81. A complete examination of the shipment, led to the finding of vials filled with a white liquid and labeled “Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19)” and “Virus1 Test Kit”.&nbsp;&nbsp;The shipment was turned over to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for analysis.

“Protecting the health and safety of the American people is a top priority for CBP,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “This&nbsp;significant interception, at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a National Emergency, demonstrates our CBP officers’ vigilance and commitment to ensure dangerous goods are intercepted and not a threat to our communities and our people.”

Authorized diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is conducted in verified state and local public health laboratories across the United States. The American public should be aware of bogus home testing kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings.

“CBP commits substantial resources to detect, intercept and seize illicit goods arriving in the air package environment,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP Port Director at LAX.&nbsp; “Smugglers are constantly attempting to take advantage of consumers by disguising their illicit goods as legitimate shipments.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/u280/Fake%20COVID-19%20Test%20Kits%203.jpg" alt="Photos courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES&nbsp;- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, International Mail Facility (IMF, intercepted a package containing suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits arriving from the United Kingdom, according to a media release from CBP.On Thursday, CBP officers discovered six plastic bags containing various vials, while conducting an enforcement examination of a parcel manifested as “Purified Water Vials” with a declared value of $196.81. A complete examination of the shipment, led to the finding of vials filled with a white liquid and labeled “Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19)” and “Virus1 Test Kit”.&nbsp;&nbsp;The shipment was turned over to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for analysis.“Protecting the health and safety of the American people is a top priority for CBP,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “This&nbsp;significant interception, at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a National Emergency, demonstrates our CBP officers’ vigilance and commitment to ensure dangerous goods are intercepted and not a threat to our communities and our people.”<figure>
 <img src="https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/u280/Fake%20COVID-19%20Test%20Kits%201.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Authorized diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is conducted in verified state and local public health laboratories across the United States. The American public should be aware of bogus home testing kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings.“CBP commits substantial resources to detect, intercept and seize illicit goods arriving in the air package environment,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP Port Director at LAX.&nbsp; “Smugglers are constantly attempting to take advantage of consumers by disguising their illicit goods as legitimate shipments.”&nbsp;

Officers seize fake coronavirus test kits arriving at U.S. airport

By&nbsp;CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, Kansas News Service

The first person to die of COVID-19 in Kansas stayed at a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County owned by the national chain with a suburban Seattle facility tied to 22 deaths from the virus.

Friday’s news comes as Wichita reported its first case of the novel coronavirus, involving a man who had taken a Caribbean cruise. That brought the state’s total known cases to six. Two more were reported Saturday.

Kansas Secretary of Health and Environment Lee Norman says the Wyandotte County man in his 70s who died Wednesday was staying at Life Care Center of Kansas City. It remains unclear how the virus reached the man, Norman said.

In a statement, the facility's owner said the man arrived there from Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, on Feb. 25. The long-term care facility then sent him to a hospital on March 7 for care “entirely unrelated to symptoms or signs of COVID-19.”

He came back from the emergency room later that day, and on March 10 “became unresponsive in our facility. We called 911 and the patient was transferred back to the hospital.”

The statement said he didn't have symptoms of respiratory illness at that time, but died the next day. Post-mortem testing revealed he had COVID-19.&nbsp;

The company said it quickly isolated other patients who had contact with the man, but so far none have coronavirus symptoms. Its staff follow federal, state and local guidelines for COVID-19, the statement said.

“Every associate is also screened when they arrive for work, including checking temperature,”&nbsp;it said. “If they have a fever over 100.4, we send them home and ask they contact their personal physician.”

One or more health workers from Providence Medical Center are self-quarantining after caring for the man, Norman said.

More than 20 people from the Kirkland, Washington, nursing home have died. It is run by Life Care Centers of America. Dozens of others at the center have been infected,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/518de9e8e86303be7e8dc132167b3c60" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;reported.

<a href="https://lcca.com/locations/" target="_blank">The company operates</a>&nbsp;three locations in the Kansas City area, two in the Wichita metro and three others in rural eastern Kansas towns.

The Kansas City, Kansas, location has the lowest possible overall rating from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, as do its centers in Osawatomie and Burlington, Kansas, and Grandview, Missouri.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html" target="_blank">These scores</a>&nbsp;take into account nursing staff, health inspections and other quality factors.

Meanwhile, state officials say a 72-year-old Butler County man has come down with COVID-19 after taking a cruise in the western Caribbean. He began showing symptoms shortly after his return. Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center said in a news release that it is treating the patient and has isolated him in the hospital.

State health officials said Friday they were working with their local counterparts to reach out to people who had contact with the patient.

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

State health officials say anyone with fever, coughing or shortness or breath who believes they had contact with a COVID-19 patient should stay home and call their doctor.

Kansas has identified eight COVID-19 cases; in addition to the men from Butler and Wyandotte counties, a Johnson County woman became sick after domestic travel and three Johnson County men tested positive for the virus after attending a conference in Florida.

On Friday, Sedgwick County banned all gatherings with more than 250 people, including at churches. The rule applies until further notice, and doesn’t include grocery stores.

Reporter Stephan Bisaha contributed to this report.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>&nbsp;or email her at celia (at) kcur (dot) org.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584240336536.png" alt="image by CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>image by CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, Kansas News ServiceThe first person to die of COVID-19 in Kansas stayed at a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County owned by the national chain with a suburban Seattle facility tied to 22 deaths from the virus.Friday’s news comes as Wichita reported its first case of the novel coronavirus, involving a man who had taken a Caribbean cruise. That brought the state’s total known cases to six. Two more were reported Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584135906321.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Lee Norman during Friday's news conference" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Lee Norman during Friday's news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Secretary of Health and Environment Lee Norman says the Wyandotte County man in his 70s who died Wednesday was staying at Life Care Center of Kansas City. It remains unclear how the virus reached the man, Norman said.In a statement, the facility's owner said the man arrived there from Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, on Feb. 25. The long-term care facility then sent him to a hospital on March 7 for care “entirely unrelated to symptoms or signs of COVID-19.”He came back from the emergency room later that day, and on March 10 “became unresponsive in our facility. We called 911 and the patient was transferred back to the hospital.”The statement said he didn't have symptoms of respiratory illness at that time, but died the next day. Post-mortem testing revealed he had COVID-19.&nbsp;The company said it quickly isolated other patients who had contact with the man, but so far none have coronavirus symptoms. Its staff follow federal, state and local guidelines for COVID-19, the statement said.“Every associate is also screened when they arrive for work, including checking temperature,”&nbsp;it said. “If they have a fever over 100.4, we send them home and ask they contact their personal physician.”One or more health workers from Providence Medical Center are self-quarantining after caring for the man, Norman said.More than 20 people from the Kirkland, Washington, nursing home have died. It is run by Life Care Centers of America. Dozens of others at the center have been infected,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/518de9e8e86303be7e8dc132167b3c60" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;reported.<a href="https://lcca.com/locations/" target="_blank">The company operates</a>&nbsp;three locations in the Kansas City area, two in the Wichita metro and three others in rural eastern Kansas towns.The Kansas City, Kansas, location has the lowest possible overall rating from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, as do its centers in Osawatomie and Burlington, Kansas, and Grandview, Missouri.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html" target="_blank">These scores</a>&nbsp;take into account nursing staff, health inspections and other quality factors.Meanwhile, state officials say a 72-year-old Butler County man has come down with COVID-19 after taking a cruise in the western Caribbean. He began showing symptoms shortly after his return. Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center said in a news release that it is treating the patient and has isolated him in the hospital.State health officials said Friday they were working with their local counterparts to reach out to people who had contact with the patient.COVID-19 usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, like a fever or cough. Most people with mild symptoms recover in two weeks. More severe cases, found in older adults and people with health issues, can have up to six weeks’ recovery time.State health officials say anyone with fever, coughing or shortness or breath who believes they had contact with a COVID-19 patient should stay home and call their doctor.Kansas has identified eight COVID-19 cases; in addition to the men from Butler and Wyandotte counties, a Johnson County woman became sick after domestic travel and three Johnson County men tested positive for the virus after attending a conference in Florida.On Friday, Sedgwick County banned all gatherings with more than 250 people, including at churches. The rule applies until further notice, and doesn’t include grocery stores.Reporter Stephan Bisaha contributed to this report.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>&nbsp;or email her at celia (at) kcur (dot) org.&nbsp;

Update: Kan. virus death involves same nursing home owner as deadly Seattle outbreak

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has tested negative for the new coronavirus, according to the president's personal physician.

The White House released the test results Saturday night after Trump told reporters hours earlier that he had taken the coronavirus test, following days of resisting being screened despite the fact that he had been in recent contact with three people who have tested positive for the virus.

Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Saturday that he had his temperature taken and it was “totally normal,” shortly before stepping into the room to discuss the government’s efforts to halt the spread of the virus. The pandemic has now infected more than 2,200 people in the U.S. and caused at least 50 deaths.

The president had multiple direct and indirect contacts with people who have since tested positive for the virus, including three people he spent time with last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

The Brazilian Embassy in Washington said late Friday that the country’s chargé d’affaires, Nestor Forster, tested positive after sitting at Trump’s dinner table. So, too, have a top aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took a photo with Trump and attended a party with him, and another person who attended a campaign fundraiser with the president that Sunday, according to two Republican officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.

Trump, after days of insisting that he was not exhibiting symptoms of the virus, relented after being pressed by reporters about his resistance to testing when multiple lawmakers and countless citizens across the country who have had the same degree of exposure have not only tried to get tested, but also chosen to try to avoid potentially infecting others.

WASHINGTON — After days of resistance, President Donald Trump said Saturday that he was tested for the coronavirus and is awaiting his results as the White House stepped up precautions around him following his repeated direct and indirect exposures to COVID-19.

Trump also told reporters at a White House briefing that he had his temperature taken and it was "totally normal" before stepping into the room to discuss the government's efforts to halt the spread of the virus. The pandemic has now infected more than 2,200 people in the U.S. and caused at least 50 deaths.

The President also announced that the United States will broaden its European travel ban, adding Britain and Ireland to its list. And he says he's considering imposing restrictions on travel within the U.S. to areas hit hard by the coronavirus spread.

Under the restrictions on European travel, American citizens, green card holders and others are still allowed to return home to the U.S., but will be funneled to 13 airports and be subjected to health screenings and quarantine orders. Trump is urging people not to travel unless they have to.

Trump had held out on testing for days — concerned that it would make him appear weak — despite his interactions with at least three people who have since tested positive for COVID-19. Trump had said Friday that he would "most likely" submit to testing "fairly soon," but the White House doctor said in a memo released shortly before midnight that no test was called for, despite the contact, because he wasn't exhibiting symptoms like a fever or cough.

The president said he'd gone ahead with it anyway after repeated questions from reporters at a news conference Friday and would have the results in "a day or two days, whatever it is." Vice President Mike Pence, speaking at the same briefing, said he and his wife, Karen Pence, would also "be more than happy to be tested," despite the doctors' guidance, and would be contacting White House medical staff to arrange it.

Multiple lawmakers and countless citizens across the country who have had the same degree of exposure have not only tried to get tested, but also chosen to quarantine themselves as a precaution and to avoid potentially infecting others.

The president, according to two people close to the White House, had been reluctant to take the test for fear it would project weakness or worry. Trump has wanted to appear in full control during the crisis, and had expressed concerns that taking personal steps could undermine that appearance.

But as the White House grapples with repeated exposures by Trump and multiple senior aides, it has tightened precautions. On Saturday, the White House announced that it is now conducting temperature checks on anyone who is in close contact with Trump and Pence, including reporters who attended the Saturday White House briefing.

To that end, a representative from the White House physician's office took the temperature of members of the media at the briefing, going around and putting the device to their heads. One reporter with a suspected elevated temperature was not allowed in.

Trump, 73, is considered to be at higher risk of complications from the disease because of his age. He has long tried to minimize the threat posed by the virus and continued to engage in behaviors that health officials are warning the public against.

On Friday, Trump shook the hands of multiple officials at his Rose Garden news conference and he has continued to appear at large gatherings despite tweeting Saturday morning that Americans should be practicing "SOCIAL DISTANCING!"

"It almost becomes a habit," Trump said when asked why he continues to shake hands contrary to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

"People come up to me, they shake hands, they put their hand out, it's sort of a natural reflex.," he said. "We're all getting out of it. All of us have that problem." He added: "Shaking hands is not a great thing to be doing right now, I agree."

Trump has now had multiple direct and indirect contacts with people who have since tested positive for the virus, including three people he spent time with last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club on Florida.

The Brazilian Embassy in Washington said late Friday that the country's chargé d'affaires, Nestor Forster, tested positive after sitting at Trump's dinner table. So, too, have a top aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took a photo with Trump and attended a party with him, and another person who attended a campaign fundraiser with the president that Sunday, according to two Republican officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.

Several top administration officials, including Attorney General William Barr and Trump's daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, also met last week with an Australian Cabinet minister who on Friday was confirmed positive.

The White House has been saying, citing CDC guidelines, that the president and other White House officials don't need to be tested or isolate themselves unless they are exhibiting symptoms, even though that advice is contradicted by many health professionals who note that the virus can be spread even by people who are asymptomatic.

The reporter who was not allowed into the White House briefing Saturday had a temperature above the 100.4-degree guidelines in three checks over 15 minutes, tweeted Pence's spokeswoman, Katie Miller, citing the White House Medical Unit.

Public health officials say that people with a cough and elevated temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher are deemed concerning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584230146036.png" alt="President Trump during Saturday's press briefing -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during Saturday's press briefing -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has tested negative for the new coronavirus, according to the president's personal physician.The White House released the test results Saturday night after Trump told reporters hours earlier that he had taken the coronavirus test, following days of resisting being screened despite the fact that he had been in recent contact with three people who have tested positive for the virus.Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Saturday that he had his temperature taken and it was “totally normal,” shortly before stepping into the room to discuss the government’s efforts to halt the spread of the virus. The pandemic has now infected more than 2,200 people in the U.S. and caused at least 50 deaths.The president had multiple direct and indirect contacts with people who have since tested positive for the virus, including three people he spent time with last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.The Brazilian Embassy in Washington said late Friday that the country’s chargé d’affaires, Nestor Forster, tested positive after sitting at Trump’s dinner table. So, too, have a top aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took a photo with Trump and attended a party with him, and another person who attended a campaign fundraiser with the president that Sunday, according to two Republican officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.Trump, after days of insisting that he was not exhibiting symptoms of the virus, relented after being pressed by reporters about his resistance to testing when multiple lawmakers and countless citizens across the country who have had the same degree of exposure have not only tried to get tested, but also chosen to try to avoid potentially infecting others.------------WASHINGTON — After days of resistance, President Donald Trump said Saturday that he was tested for the coronavirus and is awaiting his results as the White House stepped up precautions around him following his repeated direct and indirect exposures to COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584212056629.png" alt="President Trump with members of the coronavirus task force during Saturday's announcement- image courtesy White House " />
 <figcaption>President Trump with members of the coronavirus task force during Saturday's announcement- image courtesy White House </figcaption>
 </figure>Trump also told reporters at a White House briefing that he had his temperature taken and it was "totally normal" before stepping into the room to discuss the government's efforts to halt the spread of the virus. The pandemic has now infected more than 2,200 people in the U.S. and caused at least 50 deaths.The President also announced that the United States will broaden its European travel ban, adding Britain and Ireland to its list. And he says he's considering imposing restrictions on travel within the U.S. to areas hit hard by the coronavirus spread.Under the restrictions on European travel, American citizens, green card holders and others are still allowed to return home to the U.S., but will be funneled to 13 airports and be subjected to health screenings and quarantine orders. Trump is urging people not to travel unless they have to.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584211964216.png" alt="President Trump confirmed Saturday he had been tested for COVID-19- image courtesy White House&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Trump confirmed Saturday he had been tested for COVID-19- image courtesy White House&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump had held out on testing for days — concerned that it would make him appear weak — despite his interactions with at least three people who have since tested positive for COVID-19. Trump had said Friday that he would "most likely" submit to testing "fairly soon," but the White House doctor said in a memo released shortly before midnight that no test was called for, despite the contact, because he wasn't exhibiting symptoms like a fever or cough.The president said he'd gone ahead with it anyway after repeated questions from reporters at a news conference Friday and would have the results in "a day or two days, whatever it is." Vice President Mike Pence, speaking at the same briefing, said he and his wife, Karen Pence, would also "be more than happy to be tested," despite the doctors' guidance, and would be contacting White House medical staff to arrange it.Multiple lawmakers and countless citizens across the country who have had the same degree of exposure have not only tried to get tested, but also chosen to quarantine themselves as a precaution and to avoid potentially infecting others.The president, according to two people close to the White House, had been reluctant to take the test for fear it would project weakness or worry. Trump has wanted to appear in full control during the crisis, and had expressed concerns that taking personal steps could undermine that appearance.But as the White House grapples with repeated exposures by Trump and multiple senior aides, it has tightened precautions. On Saturday, the White House announced that it is now conducting temperature checks on anyone who is in close contact with Trump and Pence, including reporters who attended the Saturday White House briefing.To that end, a representative from the White House physician's office took the temperature of members of the media at the briefing, going around and putting the device to their heads. One reporter with a suspected elevated temperature was not allowed in.Trump, 73, is considered to be at higher risk of complications from the disease because of his age. He has long tried to minimize the threat posed by the virus and continued to engage in behaviors that health officials are warning the public against.On Friday, Trump shook the hands of multiple officials at his Rose Garden news conference and he has continued to appear at large gatherings despite tweeting Saturday morning that Americans should be practicing "SOCIAL DISTANCING!""It almost becomes a habit," Trump said when asked why he continues to shake hands contrary to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines."People come up to me, they shake hands, they put their hand out, it's sort of a natural reflex.," he said. "We're all getting out of it. All of us have that problem." He added: "Shaking hands is not a great thing to be doing right now, I agree."Trump has now had multiple direct and indirect contacts with people who have since tested positive for the virus, including three people he spent time with last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club on Florida.The Brazilian Embassy in Washington said late Friday that the country's chargé d'affaires, Nestor Forster, tested positive after sitting at Trump's dinner table. So, too, have a top aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took a photo with Trump and attended a party with him, and another person who attended a campaign fundraiser with the president that Sunday, according to two Republican officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.Several top administration officials, including Attorney General William Barr and Trump's daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, also met last week with an Australian Cabinet minister who on Friday was confirmed positive.The White House has been saying, citing CDC guidelines, that the president and other White House officials don't need to be tested or isolate themselves unless they are exhibiting symptoms, even though that advice is contradicted by many health professionals who note that the virus can be spread even by people who are asymptomatic.The reporter who was not allowed into the White House briefing Saturday had a temperature above the 100.4-degree guidelines in three checks over 15 minutes, tweeted Pence's spokeswoman, Katie Miller, citing the White House Medical Unit.Public health officials say that people with a cough and elevated temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher are deemed concerning.---------

The Latest: President Trump tests negative for coronavirus

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post


















In the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, Barton Community College has made
adjustments to their spring break and the remaining classes this semester. The
college in Great Bend was already scheduled to hold their spring break the week of March 16-20, but now it will be extended through next, with classes not resuming until
March 30. 

Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman says the college will
assess the circumstances as they evolve.


"You have to apply common sense and be problematic to what you can do," said Heilman.&nbsp; "You need to find how you can be effective for students, faculty, the public, and our many partners in the industry."


Faculty and staff will maintain their work schedules for the week of March 23,
and for the remainder of the term.&nbsp; Face-to-face classes, however; will
resume March 30 via Zoom, Barton’s online streaming video service,
fully online or via other alternative instructional formats. 

Heilman did not
anticipate the changes delaying the semester or graduation.


"We will simply fold the course schedule of the one week short into the finals week," said Heilman. "At this time, we do not believe this will delay graduation."


However, Barton’s 50th Annual Commencement on May 8 at
the Kirkman Center, is in question. Heilman hopes to have the ceremony at the
Barton Gym, but will reassess the possibility as the date gets closer.

"With what the county, state, and federal government is advising and dictating we will take care of our responsibilities," Heilman said. "We will be looking at other events where we have more than 200 people and gauge how those events will continue."


















Students are required to attend class remotely unless access to an
Internet connection is prohibitive or places undue financial burdenon
the student. In those situations, Barton will work with students to identify
a&nbsp;resource or solution.


Many
of the college’s events for the spring semester may be canceled depending on
the associated risk and status of the pandemic.





<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581019321034.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend Post
















In the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, Barton Community College has made
adjustments to their spring break and the remaining classes this semester. The
college in Great Bend was already scheduled to hold their spring break the week of March 16-20, but now it will be extended through next, with classes not resuming until
March 30. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman says the college will
assess the circumstances as they evolve.
"You have to apply common sense and be problematic to what you can do," said Heilman.&nbsp; "You need to find how you can be effective for students, faculty, the public, and our many partners in the industry."
Faculty and staff will maintain their work schedules for the week of March 23,
and for the remainder of the term.&nbsp; Face-to-face classes, however; will
resume March 30 via Zoom, Barton’s online streaming video service,
fully online or via other alternative instructional formats. Heilman did not
anticipate the changes delaying the semester or graduation.
"We will simply fold the course schedule of the one week short into the finals week," said Heilman. "At this time, we do not believe this will delay graduation."
However, Barton’s 50th Annual Commencement on May 8 at
the Kirkman Center, is in question. Heilman hopes to have the ceremony at the
Barton Gym, but will reassess the possibility as the date gets closer."With what the county, state, and federal government is advising and dictating we will take care of our responsibilities," Heilman said. "We will be looking at other events where we have more than 200 people and gauge how those events will continue."
















Students are required to attend class remotely unless access to an
Internet connection is prohibitive or places undue financial burdenon
the student. In those situations, Barton will work with students to identify
a&nbsp;resource or solution.
Many
of the college’s events for the spring semester may be canceled depending on
the associated risk and status of the pandemic.

Coronavirus causes adjustments for Barton CC; graduation ceremony in question

TOPEKA&nbsp; – A Kansas price-gouging law that prohibits profiteering by&nbsp;raising prices on items consumers find necessary because of the COVID-19 virus outbreak is now in effect statewide, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today.

“The Kansas anti-profiteering statute is rarely invoked but is designed to prevent opportunistic greed from overcoming the public need for necessary virus-response products and services during this time of emergency,” Schmidt said. “We take the law’s requirements seriously and will diligently investigate complaints and vigorously prosecute any violations.”

The law generally prohibits unjustifiably raising prices for goods and services for which consumer demand is likely to increase because of the virus outbreak. A price increase is presumed unjustified if it exceeds by 25 percent or more the price at which the goods or services were available on March 11 or the price for which the same goods or services are available from other sellers in the trade area.&nbsp;

Examples of consumer goods and services governed by the anti-profiteering law include, but are not limited to, food items, sanitary and cleaning supplies such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, emergency supplies, medical supplies and services, lodging, and any other property or service for which consumer demand may increase in response to the virus outbreak. The law carries a penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.

The anti-profiteering law, which is enforced by the Attorney General’s Office and county and district attorneys, was triggered yesterday by Governor Laura Kelly’s declaration of a state of emergency related to the virus outbreak. It will remain in effect through April 11, or until the disaster declaration is lifted, whichever is later. The law was enacted in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and is codified at K.S A. 50-6,106.

Anyone with information about price-gouging in violation of the anti-profiteering law should file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/" target="_blank">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or call (800) 432-2310 to request a paper complaint form be sent by mail.

TOPEKA&nbsp; – A Kansas price-gouging law that prohibits profiteering by&nbsp;raising prices on items consumers find necessary because of the COVID-19 virus outbreak is now in effect statewide, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today.“The Kansas anti-profiteering statute is rarely invoked but is designed to prevent opportunistic greed from overcoming the public need for necessary virus-response products and services during this time of emergency,” Schmidt said. “We take the law’s requirements seriously and will diligently investigate complaints and vigorously prosecute any violations.”The law generally prohibits unjustifiably raising prices for goods and services for which consumer demand is likely to increase because of the virus outbreak. A price increase is presumed unjustified if it exceeds by 25 percent or more the price at which the goods or services were available on March 11 or the price for which the same goods or services are available from other sellers in the trade area.&nbsp;Examples of consumer goods and services governed by the anti-profiteering law include, but are not limited to, food items, sanitary and cleaning supplies such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, emergency supplies, medical supplies and services, lodging, and any other property or service for which consumer demand may increase in response to the virus outbreak. The law carries a penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.The anti-profiteering law, which is enforced by the Attorney General’s Office and county and district attorneys, was triggered yesterday by Governor Laura Kelly’s declaration of a state of emergency related to the virus outbreak. It will remain in effect through April 11, or until the disaster declaration is lifted, whichever is later. The law was enacted in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and is codified at K.S A. 50-6,106.Anyone with information about price-gouging in violation of the anti-profiteering law should file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/" target="_blank">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or call (800) 432-2310 to request a paper complaint form be sent by mail.

State price-gouging law now in effect for virus-response supplies

JOHNSON COUNTY —Health officials in northeastern Kansas have confirmed the state's seventh and eighth cases of COVID-19. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment said in a news release Saturday that the presumptive positive case is a woman in her 50s associated with Johnson County Community College.

The department says it's the region's first known case to have been contracted locally.&nbsp;The  woman is hospitalized and “doing well." Her family members have been quarantined, and those who may have been exposed by contact with the woman are being contacted by the health department.

The other case is a man in Franklin County, according to the KDHE.

Officials in Franklin County have released no additional details on their patient. The county health department recommended that all inside events with over 100 people be cancelled.&nbsp; Franklin County is located in eastern Kansas south of Lawrence. It is the fourth county in Kansas with a positive case of caronavirus along with Butler, Wyandotte and Johnson County, according to the KDHE.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Health officials in northeastern Kansas have confirmed the state's seventh and eighth cases of COVID-19. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment said in a news release Saturday that the presumptive positive case is a woman in her 50s associated with Johnson County Community College.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Be Aware. Prepare. Act. <a href="https://twitter.com/KDHE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KDHE</a> <a href="https://t.co/vfrGtntx5P">pic.twitter.com/vfrGtntx5P</a>&mdash; KDEM (@KansasEmergency) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasEmergency/status/1238922084031569921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The department says it's the region's first known case to have been contracted locally.&nbsp;The woman is hospitalized and “doing well." Her family members have been quarantined, and those who may have been exposed by contact with the woman are being contacted by the health department.The other case is a man in Franklin County, according to the KDHE.Officials in Franklin County have released no additional details on their patient. The county health department recommended that all inside events with over 100 people be cancelled.&nbsp; Franklin County is located in eastern Kansas south of Lawrence. It is the fourth county in Kansas with a positive case of caronavirus along with Butler, Wyandotte and Johnson County, according to the KDHE.

The Latest KDHE: 8th case of coronavirus in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved legislation early Saturday to provide direct relief to Americans suffering physically, financially and emotionally from the coronavirus pandemic. Passage came after President Donald Trump had declared the outbreak a national emergency, freeing up money and resources to fight it, and threw his support behind the congressional aid package.

From the Rose Garden, Trump said, “I am officially declaring a national emergency,” unleashing as much as $50 billion for state and local governments to respond to the crisis.

Trump also announced a range of executive actions, including a new public-private partnership to expand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d7cb8610b50a2e79ce1a72929f23f02b">coronavirus testing</a>&nbsp;capabilities with drive-through locations, as Washington tries to subdue the new virus whose spread is roiling markets, shuttering institutions and disrupting the lives of everyday Americans.

But he denied any responsibility for delays in making testing available as his administration has come under criticism for being too slow to respond.

Trump said, “I don’t take responsibility at all” for the slow rollout of testing.

As the House prepared to vote late Friday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi trumpeted the hard-fought package that will provide free testing, sick pay for workers, enhanced unemployment benefits and bolstered food programs.

“We did what we said we were going to do: Put families first,” said Pelosi, flanked by Democratic lawmakers, including many freshmen. The House passed the bill after midnight on a bipartisan vote, 363-40. It now goes to the Senate.

Trump’s tweet of approval instilled fresh energy in the measure, all but ensuring that wary Republicans would join with a robust vote.

“I encourage all Republicans and Democrats to come together and VOTE YES!” Trump wrote, “Look forward to signing the final Bill, ASAP!” On Saturday morning, he praised both parties: “Good teamwork between Republicans &amp; Democrats as the House passes the big CoronaVirus Relief Bill. People really pulled together. Nice to see!”

The crush of late-day activity capped a tumultuous week in Washington as the fast-moving virus left ordinary Americans suddenly navigating self-quarantines, school closures and a changed way of life.

The White House was under enormous pressure, dealing with the crisis on multiple fronts as it encroached ever closer on the president.

Trump has been known to flout public health advice — and was eagerly shaking hands during the more than hour-long afternoon event — but acknowledged he “most likely” will be tested soon after exposures to individuals who have tested positive for the virus. The White House physician indicated later his interactions were low-risk and testing is not necessary.

Still, Trump said officials don’t want people taking the test unless they have certain symptoms. “We don’t want people without symptoms to go and do that test,” Trump said, adding, “It’s totally unnecessary.”

Additionally, Trump took a number of other actions to bolster energy markets, ease the financial burden for Americans with student loans and give medical professionals additional “flexibility” in treating patients during the public health crisis.

“Through a very collective action and shared sacrifice, national determination, we will overcome the threat of the virus,” Trump said.

Central to the aid package from Congress, which builds on an emergency $8.3 billion measure approved last week, are the free testing, sick pay and family leave provisions.

Providing sick pay for workers is a crucial element of federal efforts to stop the rapid spread of the infection. Officials warn that the nation’s healthcare system could quickly become overwhelmed with gravely sick patients, as suddenly happened in Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by the virus.

Coronavirus Update