There was concern early in&nbsp; the coronavirus pandemic about the impact it would have on sales tax revenue in Junction City. But City Manager Allen Dinkel said this week that beginning in June sales tax revenues have been unbelievable. "Which would have been April sales, we were worried about COVID. In June we had the second highest month ever in local sales tax and it was 21 percent higher than last year. July was up 12 percent from last year."

DInkel noted the compensating use tax from internet sales was at an all-time high. For the month of August the sales tax revenue which reflected June sales, there was a 20 percent increase and the compensating use tax was at a record all-time high. "We've had our four highest months of sales tax ( revenue ) all this year."

The tax revenue is collected by&nbsp; the State and then later distributed to individual cities and counties.

Dinkel thinks one reason for the increase in Junction City is that residents are shopping at home. "Number two the internet sales are going up because maybe the internet stuff that I or anybodye else was driving to Manhattan, Topeka or Salina for, because of COVID we're now buying it online instead."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599097519549.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostThere was concern early in&nbsp; the coronavirus pandemic about the impact it would have on sales tax revenue in Junction City. But City Manager Allen Dinkel said this week that beginning in June sales tax revenues have been unbelievable. "Which would have been April sales, we were worried about COVID. In June we had the second highest month ever in local sales tax and it was 21 percent higher than last year. July was up 12 percent from last year."DInkel noted the compensating use tax from internet sales was at an all-time high. For the month of August the sales tax revenue which reflected June sales, there was a 20 percent increase and the compensating use tax was at a record all-time high. "We've had our four highest months of sales tax ( revenue ) all this year."The tax revenue is collected by&nbsp; the State and then later distributed to individual cities and counties.Dinkel thinks one reason for the increase in Junction City is that residents are shopping at home. "Number two the internet sales are going up because maybe the internet stuff that I or anybodye else was driving to Manhattan, Topeka or Salina for, because of COVID we're now buying it online instead."

Sales tax revenue records are being set for Junction City

Riley County health officials have confirmed a sixth resident of&nbsp; the county, a 91-year old man who had tested positive for COVID-19 died Wednesday at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. The man had been a resident of Manhattan Assisted Living Facility.

The Homestead facility has not yet been declared an area of outbreak. Testing of staff and patients is ongoing.

Riley County reported 123 new positive COVID-19 cases and 53 recoveries since a report that they issued on Monday. A total of 108, or 88% of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age group.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for three positive patients at this time.

Riley County health officials have confirmed a sixth resident of&nbsp; the county, a 91-year old man who had tested positive for COVID-19 died Wednesday at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. The man had been a resident of Manhattan Assisted Living Facility.The Homestead facility has not yet been declared an area of outbreak. Testing of staff and patients is ongoing.Riley County reported 123 new positive COVID-19 cases and 53 recoveries since a report that they issued on Monday. A total of 108, or 88% of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age group.Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for three positive patients at this time.

Sixth Riley County resident who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away

Geary County health officials have reported 43 active positive COVID-19 cases in the county. A total of 176 people have recovered and 221 have been confirmed positive since the pandemic began in March.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599055542948.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Geary County health officials have reported 43 active positive COVID-19 cases in the county. A total of 176 people have recovered and 221 have been confirmed positive since the pandemic began in March.

Latest COVID-19 information released by the Health Department

A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.

AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.

Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.

“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.

NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."

AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.

Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.

Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.

Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.

The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.

There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.

“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.

There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.

They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.

Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.

For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:

The Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.

Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.

These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.

Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.

Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.

Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.

China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.

Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.

Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.

Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.

Novavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.

There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and CARLA K. JOHNSONAP Medical WritersA handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:GENETIC CODE VACCINESThe Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.TROJAN HORSE VACCINESBritain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.‘KILLED’ VACCINESMaking vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.PROTEIN VACCINESNovavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.___

Third virus vaccine reaches major hurdle: final US testing

We heard from many of you regarding the increase of COVID-19 cases in our communities. Two of our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/">key indicators</a>, active cases and positive testing rate, are being carefully monitored due to the rapid increases. While these numbers are concerning, our decision-making process takes a holistic approach to what is happening in our communities. Initial planning took into account an expected rise in cases when students returned to our campuses.&nbsp;

At this point, we still have significant capabilities when it comes to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. We also have significant capabilities for on-campus quarantining and isolation, ability to clean and disinfect our public spaces, hospital and clinic capacity, and personal protective equipment. The behaviors exhibited in our classrooms and university housing have helped manage the spread in areas we control. The determining factor in being able to continue in-person learning is likely the off-campus behaviors in our communities.&nbsp;

A decision to return to remote learning could be for a period of time or for the duration of the semester. The approach will be more nuanced than our spring shutdown — we've learned a lot about how to maintain some of our operations during this pandemic. Our leadership team is in daily discussions with medical and city, county and community officials. We will keep you apprised of decisions that affect our operations and your health.

Chuck Taber, provost and executive vice president&nbsp;

Thomas Lane, vice president for student life

Kyle Goerl, medical director for Lafene Health Center&nbsp;

Dear K-State Community:&nbsp;We heard from many of you regarding the increase of COVID-19 cases in our communities. Two of our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/">key indicators</a>, active cases and positive testing rate, are being carefully monitored due to the rapid increases. While these numbers are concerning, our decision-making process takes a holistic approach to what is happening in our communities. Initial planning took into account an expected rise in cases when students returned to our campuses.&nbsp;At this point, we still have significant capabilities when it comes to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. We also have significant capabilities for on-campus quarantining and isolation, ability to clean and disinfect our public spaces, hospital and clinic capacity, and personal protective equipment. The behaviors exhibited in our classrooms and university housing have helped manage the spread in areas we control. The determining factor in being able to continue in-person learning is likely the off-campus behaviors in our communities.&nbsp;A decision to return to remote learning could be for a period of time or for the duration of the semester. The approach will be more nuanced than our spring shutdown — we've learned a lot about how to maintain some of our operations during this pandemic. Our leadership team is in daily discussions with medical and city, county and community officials. We will keep you apprised of decisions that affect our operations and your health.Sincerely,&nbsp;Richard Myers, president&nbsp;Chuck Taber, provost and executive vice president&nbsp;Thomas Lane, vice president for student lifeKyle Goerl, medical director for Lafene Health Center&nbsp;

KSU leaders release statement on measures in response to COVID-19

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.

The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.

The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.

The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.

As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.

“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.

But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.

Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.

“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”

Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.

More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.

For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598927207022.png" alt="Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference" />
 <figcaption>Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference</figcaption>
 </figure>By BEATRICE DUPUY, Associated PressThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

CDC has not reduced the death count for COVID-19

Riley County has 112 new positive cases and no (0) recoveries since Friday’s report. There are now 523 active cases, and 394 recovered. A total of 106, or 95%, of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age group. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 2 positive patients, and 1 Person Under Investigation (PUI)* at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. “The more interaction you have with others, the greater your risk of catching the virus,” said Local Health Officer, Julie Gibbs. “Take steps to slow the spread, and when you do have to be around others, make sure to keep your distance and exercise caution.” The Riley County Health Department (RCHD) also has identified four additional areas of outbreak. The new outbreaks are associated with K-State Football (10), Delta Sigma Phi (8) and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (5) fraternities, and Pi Beta Phi (5) sorority. A COVID-19 outbreak indicates potentially extensive transmission within a setting or organization. An outbreak investigation involves several overlapping epidemiologic, case, and contact investigations, with a surge in the need for public health resources. Active Outbreaks in Riley County:

“Many of the positive patients and close contacts associated with Greek housing are choosing to complete their isolation and quarantine periods at their permanent residence,” said Gibbs. “We have met with leaders of these organizations, and will continue to encourage communication.”

Riley County has 112 new positive cases and no (0) recoveries since Friday’s report. There are now 523 active cases, and 394 recovered. A total of 106, or 95%, of the new positive patients are in the 18-24 age group. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 2 positive patients, and 1 Person Under Investigation (PUI)* at this time. The patients have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. “The more interaction you have with others, the greater your risk of catching the virus,” said Local Health Officer, Julie Gibbs. “Take steps to slow the spread, and when you do have to be around others, make sure to keep your distance and exercise caution.” The Riley County Health Department (RCHD) also has identified four additional areas of outbreak. The new outbreaks are associated with K-State Football (10), Delta Sigma Phi (8) and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (5) fraternities, and Pi Beta Phi (5) sorority. A COVID-19 outbreak indicates potentially extensive transmission within a setting or organization. An outbreak investigation involves several overlapping epidemiologic, case, and contact investigations, with a surge in the need for public health resources. Active Outbreaks in Riley County:<ol>
 <li>Alpha Delta Pi: 6</li><li>Alpha Xi Delta: 6</li><li>Chi Omega: 5</li><li>Kappa Delta: 7</li><li>K-State Football: 10</li><li>Pi Beta Phi: 5</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Sigma Alpha Epsilon: 5</li><li>Delta Sigma Phi: 8</li><li>Phi Delta Theta: 21</li><li>USD 384 School District Office: 7</li>
 </ol>“Many of the positive patients and close contacts associated with Greek housing are choosing to complete their isolation and quarantine periods at their permanent residence,” said Gibbs. “We have met with leaders of these organizations, and will continue to encourage communication.”

Riley County COVID-19 cases continue to increase

Junction City Middle School began the school year with a good half-day session on Monday. Heather Oentrich, Principal, noted that the first day was smooth. "In terms of our students they all had their masks on, we didn't have any issues with that. We basically spent most of the day orienting the kids to the school and to the different procedures and routines we will have this new school year." Oentrich added that was especially true about the new students. "They were probably a little bit concerned about coming into a building they had never been to so our teachers really took time to talk to them about their lockers, tour the school and all of those pieces that they didn't get a chance to do before they came to school like we normally have."

Oentrich indicated there was a bit of a challenge involving pick up and drop off. "We had a little bottleneck of traffic rght at the pick up and drop off entrance to our pick up and drop off area for parents and so we've already problem solved some solutions to make that better tomorrow. Once everybody gets the routine down we think that'll run a lot more smoothly."

There were approximately 630 attending school in the building and another total of about 320 attending via remote learning. Oentrich noted that the total enrollment of about 960 is up quite a bit this year.&nbsp;

By Dewey TerrillJC PostJunction City Middle School began the school year with a good half-day session on Monday. Heather Oentrich, Principal, noted that the first day was smooth. "In terms of our students they all had their masks on, we didn't have any issues with that. We basically spent most of the day orienting the kids to the school and to the different procedures and routines we will have this new school year." Oentrich added that was especially true about the new students. "They were probably a little bit concerned about coming into a building they had never been to so our teachers really took time to talk to them about their lockers, tour the school and all of those pieces that they didn't get a chance to do before they came to school like we normally have."Oentrich indicated there was a bit of a challenge involving pick up and drop off. "We had a little bottleneck of traffic rght at the pick up and drop off entrance to our pick up and drop off area for parents and so we've already problem solved some solutions to make that better tomorrow. Once everybody gets the routine down we think that'll run a lot more smoothly."There were approximately 630 attending school in the building and another total of about 320 attending via remote learning. Oentrich noted that the total enrollment of about 960 is up quite a bit this year.&nbsp;

City Middle School begins a new term

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.

To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.

<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.

Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.

Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.

The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.

“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”

Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.

Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.

The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.

The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.

Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.

CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”

The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.

The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.

The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.

“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”

Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.

“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”

CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

New COVID-19 mandates on health care facilities get pushback

When the school year begins Monday in USD 475 best practices for preventing COVID-19 include basic measures. They are the wearing of face masks, social distancing, washing and sanitizing hands and when possible leveraging the use of fresh air.

David Wild, Chief Operations Officer for USD 475, said those measures are a focus in school building operations, along with allowing only essential visitors into facilities, and breaking students up into small cohort groups.

Wild said there is also a cleaning aspect, called Enhanced Clean. "That is where we will have a dedicated custodian, at least one in every school this year that will do nothing but wipe down contact points throughout the school on an ongoing basis with a chemical called Virex, which we've used in the school for a number of years." Wild added that it is a hospital and school-grade decontaminant that will be in every classroom. That version of Virex will have a three minute kill time for COVID-19. "The enhanced custodian team will have a version of it called Virex Plus that has a one minute kill time, and then the evening custodians will go through and sanitize the schools at night."

Electrostatic disinfection will also occur, said Wild. "That is where you have an electrically charged vapor particles where they'll fog the school. It'll adhere itself to all the contact surfaces." The virus is killed when it evaporates.

USD 475 will have control upgrades for the HVAC system beginning shortly after Labor Day. Wild said they will be able to remove all the air in a school building by zones and replenish it with fresh air from outside. " Wild expects the District to try that procedure in the middle of the day. "Because if anybody is infected with the virus we don't want to wait until the end of the day to purge the virus. We're going to try it in the middle of the day. May lead to a little bit of lack of comfort in the building as people feel the temperature change or the humidity level change. We think it will take about an hour to do that process, but that little bit of discomfort I think will be a reassurance that the air is being re-purged and replenished."

The District also has a large supply of hand sanitizer for use in buildings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598742110369.jpeg" alt="USD 475 Devin Center" />
 <figcaption>USD 475 Devin Center</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostWhen the school year begins Monday in USD 475 best practices for preventing COVID-19 include basic measures. They are the wearing of face masks, social distancing, washing and sanitizing hands and when possible leveraging the use of fresh air.David Wild, Chief Operations Officer for USD 475, said those measures are a focus in school building operations, along with allowing only essential visitors into facilities, and breaking students up into small cohort groups.Wild said there is also a cleaning aspect, called Enhanced Clean. "That is where we will have a dedicated custodian, at least one in every school this year that will do nothing but wipe down contact points throughout the school on an ongoing basis with a chemical called Virex, which we've used in the school for a number of years." Wild added that it is a hospital and school-grade decontaminant that will be in every classroom. That version of Virex will have a three minute kill time for COVID-19. "The enhanced custodian team will have a version of it called Virex Plus that has a one minute kill time, and then the evening custodians will go through and sanitize the schools at night."Electrostatic disinfection will also occur, said Wild. "That is where you have an electrically charged vapor particles where they'll fog the school. It'll adhere itself to all the contact surfaces." The virus is killed when it evaporates.USD 475 will have control upgrades for the HVAC system beginning shortly after Labor Day. Wild said they will be able to remove all the air in a school building by zones and replenish it with fresh air from outside. " Wild expects the District to try that procedure in the middle of the day. "Because if anybody is infected with the virus we don't want to wait until the end of the day to purge the virus. We're going to try it in the middle of the day. May lead to a little bit of lack of comfort in the building as people feel the temperature change or the humidity level change. We think it will take about an hour to do that process, but that little bit of discomfort I think will be a reassurance that the air is being re-purged and replenished."The District also has a large supply of hand sanitizer for use in buildings.

USD 475 prepares COVID-19 prevention measures in school buildings

The U.S. Army has developed a protective "bubble" model for major training events, like National Training Center atFort Irwin, California where some Fort Riley Soldiers will be headed in the near future for a rotation.

The Army announced via social media that every Fort Riley Soldier headed to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ntc20_10?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW2atntqCvgNsSwJKD4v_-ii6cqHi3E0XhmkCHhQceVMXfA3R_n1zRkwzrizC3wNk81XZNvvFceGztrEgYVGoJz1hXRqJNAMQXKVBbT9wNUBHvhVfJPxg5w76PYYD_GTgIYnDWK3d0sh4IVoMlBsl1fR0Os-khUnkFfl4E5Kf5WPg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#NTC20_10</a> will be tested for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/covid19?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW2atntqCvgNsSwJKD4v_-ii6cqHi3E0XhmkCHhQceVMXfA3R_n1zRkwzrizC3wNk81XZNvvFceGztrEgYVGoJz1hXRqJNAMQXKVBbT9wNUBHvhVfJPxg5w76PYYD_GTgIYnDWK3d0sh4IVoMlBsl1fR0Os-khUnkFfl4E5Kf5WPg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#COVID19</a> and quarantined prior to movement. Sick personnel will not move, with no exceptions. Once at NTC, the bubble will be carefully monitored to ensure our people train safely. End result? Readiness.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598742887337.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. Army has developed a protective "bubble" model for major training events, like National Training Center atFort Irwin, California where some Fort Riley Soldiers will be headed in the near future for a rotation.The Army announced via social media that every Fort Riley Soldier headed to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ntc20_10?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW2atntqCvgNsSwJKD4v_-ii6cqHi3E0XhmkCHhQceVMXfA3R_n1zRkwzrizC3wNk81XZNvvFceGztrEgYVGoJz1hXRqJNAMQXKVBbT9wNUBHvhVfJPxg5w76PYYD_GTgIYnDWK3d0sh4IVoMlBsl1fR0Os-khUnkFfl4E5Kf5WPg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#NTC20_10</a> will be tested for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/covid19?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW2atntqCvgNsSwJKD4v_-ii6cqHi3E0XhmkCHhQceVMXfA3R_n1zRkwzrizC3wNk81XZNvvFceGztrEgYVGoJz1hXRqJNAMQXKVBbT9wNUBHvhVfJPxg5w76PYYD_GTgIYnDWK3d0sh4IVoMlBsl1fR0Os-khUnkFfl4E5Kf5WPg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#COVID19</a> and quarantined prior to movement. Sick personnel will not move, with no exceptions. Once at NTC, the bubble will be carefully monitored to ensure our people train safely. End result? Readiness.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Army takes protective measures for Soldiers who will be deployed to NTC

School begins for students in Geary USD 475 on Monday. Reginald Eggleston, Superintendent of Schools, said it will be a half-day of classes. "We will not be serving meals on that day so no lunch or breakfast will be served on Monday, but it will be the first day and it will be a half-day for students."

Eggleston also noted that patrons should focus attention on the Facebook and web pages for individual schools. Information will be there on topics ranging from how to turn in computers to supplies and information on COVID-19 safety measures.

The majority of students will attend class in brick and mortar buildings, but many others have chosen a remote learning option for the fall semester.

School begins for students in Geary USD 475 on Monday. Reginald Eggleston, Superintendent of Schools, said it will be a half-day of classes. "We will not be serving meals on that day so no lunch or breakfast will be served on Monday, but it will be the first day and it will be a half-day for students."Eggleston also noted that patrons should focus attention on the Facebook and web pages for individual schools. Information will be there on topics ranging from how to turn in computers to supplies and information on COVID-19 safety measures.The majority of students will attend class in brick and mortar buildings, but many others have chosen a remote learning option for the fall semester.

USD 475 students begin classes on Monday

Seven members of the Kansas State football team have tested positive for COVID-19 in the first outbreak since the Wildcats convened for summer workouts in June.

The Wildcats will continue to practice for the season-opener Sept. 12 against Arkansas State.

Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said this week he was wary about the first rounds of large-scale testing since students arrived on campus.

“I think every institution is worried about that over the new few weeks to a month with all of the students coming back,” Klieman said. “It’s going to be difficult, there’s no question. They’re still 18-to-22-year-old college students.”

Seven members of the Kansas State football team have tested positive for COVID-19 in the first outbreak since the Wildcats convened for summer workouts in June.The Wildcats will continue to practice for the season-opener Sept. 12 against Arkansas State.Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said this week he was wary about the first rounds of large-scale testing since students arrived on campus.“I think every institution is worried about that over the new few weeks to a month with all of the students coming back,” Klieman said. “It’s going to be difficult, there’s no question. They’re still 18-to-22-year-old college students.”

Seven K-State football players test positive for COVID-19

&nbsp;Riley County has 136 new positive cases and 15 more recoveries since Wednesday’s report. The totals are now 411 active, 394 recovered, and 5 deaths. This is the biggest two-day increase in local cases since the start of the pandemic. A total of 128, or 94%, of the new patients are in the 18-24 age group and have had mild symptoms. “I am encouraged by the fact that we are not seeing significantly ill patients at this point,” said Kyle Goerl, MD, CAQSM, Medical Director for K-State’s Lafene Health Center. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 1 positive patient and zero PUI* patients at this time. The patient has symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. New areas of outbreak have been declared in Riley County. The four new outbreaks are associated with the following sororities:&nbsp; Alpha Delta Pi (6), Alpha Xi Delta (6), Chi Omega (5), and Kappa Delta (5). All residents of any Greek house where an outbreak has been declared should quarantine for 14 days. Residents may return to their permanent homes to complete the quarantine period if they prefer. The quarantine time period begins for all of the residents on the date when the outbreak is declared. “The leaders of local fraternities and sororities are cooperating with health department staff, but we have concerns that the safety messages are not reaching all of the members,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “It is imperative that anyone who has had close contact with a positive patient, or who is sick, remains in quarantine or isolation and takes personal responsibility for their actions.” In effort to slow the spread of the virus among this population, all event permits associated with any fraternity and sorority organizations between August 27 and September 10 were canceled or revoked. It is no longer deemed safe to hold these events in person and they may not take place. “Fraternity and sorority members must take individual responsibility to assure the health of their community and Manhattan,” said Jordan Kocher, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at K-State. “While our chapters have their health and safety protocols, now is the time for individuals to mirror their behavior to their values. It is our expectation that members participate in contact tracing, stay in quarantine or isolation when instructed to do so, and obtain testing if recommended. Action will be taken should chapters ignore local health orders and community policies; individual member action will be reported to chapter leadership and/or their international organizations. Any questions or concerns can be filtered through the accountability form on our website, www.fslatkstate.com.” Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Riley County Statistics for Friday, August 28, 2020:

&nbsp;Riley County has 136 new positive cases and 15 more recoveries since Wednesday’s report. The totals are now 411 active, 394 recovered, and 5 deaths. This is the biggest two-day increase in local cases since the start of the pandemic. A total of 128, or 94%, of the new patients are in the 18-24 age group and have had mild symptoms. “I am encouraged by the fact that we are not seeing significantly ill patients at this point,” said Kyle Goerl, MD, CAQSM, Medical Director for K-State’s Lafene Health Center. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 1 positive patient and zero PUI* patients at this time. The patient has symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. New areas of outbreak have been declared in Riley County. The four new outbreaks are associated with the following sororities:&nbsp; Alpha Delta Pi (6), Alpha Xi Delta (6), Chi Omega (5), and Kappa Delta (5). All residents of any Greek house where an outbreak has been declared should quarantine for 14 days. Residents may return to their permanent homes to complete the quarantine period if they prefer. The quarantine time period begins for all of the residents on the date when the outbreak is declared. “The leaders of local fraternities and sororities are cooperating with health department staff, but we have concerns that the safety messages are not reaching all of the members,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “It is imperative that anyone who has had close contact with a positive patient, or who is sick, remains in quarantine or isolation and takes personal responsibility for their actions.” In effort to slow the spread of the virus among this population, all event permits associated with any fraternity and sorority organizations between August 27 and September 10 were canceled or revoked. It is no longer deemed safe to hold these events in person and they may not take place. “Fraternity and sorority members must take individual responsibility to assure the health of their community and Manhattan,” said Jordan Kocher, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at K-State. “While our chapters have their health and safety protocols, now is the time for individuals to mirror their behavior to their values. It is our expectation that members participate in contact tracing, stay in quarantine or isolation when instructed to do so, and obtain testing if recommended. Action will be taken should chapters ignore local health orders and community policies; individual member action will be reported to chapter leadership and/or their international organizations. Any questions or concerns can be filtered through the accountability form on our website, www.fslatkstate.com.” Anyone who has symptoms, is a close contact of a positive patient, or would like information about how to get tested should contact their health care provider or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Riley County Statistics for Friday, August 28, 2020:<ul>
 <li>Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 810</li><li>Total active: 411</li><li>Total recovered: 394</li><li>Total deaths: 5</li><li>&nbsp;Pending test results: 206</li><li>Negative test results: 6,600</li><li>Average age: 28.4 years old</li><li>Gender: Female: 49.6% (402), Male 50.4% (408)</li>
 </ul>

Positive COVID-19 case numbers increase in Riley County

Chapman will not have a Labor Day celebration this year. it has been cancelled due to concerns about COVID-19. The cancellation was confirmed by City officials in a social media announcement and a check with City Hall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a Facebook announcement the City posted a statement. "We are sad to announce that per Dickinson County Health officer, this year's Labor Day festivities have been cancelled.&nbsp; There were already plans not to hold a parade this year and all other activities were scheduled on Sunday, Sept. 6. This would have been the 111th annual celebration.

Chapman will not have a Labor Day celebration this year. it has been cancelled due to concerns about COVID-19. The cancellation was confirmed by City officials in a social media announcement and a check with City Hall.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a Facebook announcement the City posted a statement. "We are sad to announce that per Dickinson County Health officer, this year's Labor Day festivities have been cancelled.&nbsp; There were already plans not to hold a parade this year and all other activities were scheduled on Sunday, Sept. 6. This would have been the 111th annual celebration.

Labor Day celebration in Chapman is cancelled

LONDON&nbsp; (AP)— The World Health Organization says countries should actively test people to find coronavirus cases, even if they have mild or no symptoms.

That’s despite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently switched guidance to say asymptomatic contacts of cases don’t need to be tested.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead for the coronavirus, says when officials are investigating clusters of COVID-19, “testing may need to be expanded to look for individuals who are on the more mild end of the spectrum or who may indeed be asymptomatic.”

Van Kerkhove says countries were free to adapt their testing guidance for their individual needs and its critical how fast countries get results.

“What’s really important is that testing is used as an opportunity, to define active cases so that they can be isolated and so that contact tracing can also take place,” Van Kerkhove said. “This is really fundamental to breaking chains of transmission.”

Earlier in the pandemic, WHO recommend that countries focus on “testing, testing, testing.”

Van Kerkhove also says wearing masks alone to protect against the spread of the coronavirus isn’t enough, expressing concerns that people are growing too lax on maintaining physical distancing.

“So it’s not just masks alone. It’s not just physical distancing alone,” Van Kerkhove said. “It’s not just hand cleaning alone. Do it all.”

LONDON&nbsp; (AP)— The World Health Organization says countries should actively test people to find coronavirus cases, even if they have mild or no symptoms.That’s despite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently switched guidance to say asymptomatic contacts of cases don’t need to be tested.Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead for the coronavirus, says when officials are investigating clusters of COVID-19, “testing may need to be expanded to look for individuals who are on the more mild end of the spectrum or who may indeed be asymptomatic.”Van Kerkhove says countries were free to adapt their testing guidance for their individual needs and its critical how fast countries get results.“What’s really important is that testing is used as an opportunity, to define active cases so that they can be isolated and so that contact tracing can also take place,” Van Kerkhove said. “This is really fundamental to breaking chains of transmission.”Earlier in the pandemic, WHO recommend that countries focus on “testing, testing, testing.”Van Kerkhove also says wearing masks alone to protect against the spread of the coronavirus isn’t enough, expressing concerns that people are growing too lax on maintaining physical distancing.“So it’s not just masks alone. It’s not just physical distancing alone,” Van Kerkhove said. “It’s not just hand cleaning alone. Do it all.”

WHO says test for virus, despite CDC's recent flip flop

Geary Community Hospital currently has five staff members that have tested positive in the Rural Health Clinic for COVID-19.

According to a news release all five are currently at home in isolation. GCH leaders will continue to collaborate with the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment and local agencies to identify those who may have had close contact with the individuals while they were potentially infectious. Close contact people will be monitored for fever, respiratory symptoms, and will be advised to remain quarantined at home in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

"The health and safety of our patients and staff are our top priorities," said GCH CEO, Frank Corcoran. "We will continue to work with our community partners, staff and patients in aligning our response efforts and operations with public health guidance while continuing to provide essential access to quality healthcare services."

A screening hotline for GCH patients staffed by qualified Geary Community Hospital nurses is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Professional staff will provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-210-4214.

Geary Community Hospital currently has five staff members that have tested positive in the Rural Health Clinic for COVID-19.According to a news release all five are currently at home in isolation. GCH leaders will continue to collaborate with the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment and local agencies to identify those who may have had close contact with the individuals while they were potentially infectious. Close contact people will be monitored for fever, respiratory symptoms, and will be advised to remain quarantined at home in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines."The health and safety of our patients and staff are our top priorities," said GCH CEO, Frank Corcoran. "We will continue to work with our community partners, staff and patients in aligning our response efforts and operations with public health guidance while continuing to provide essential access to quality healthcare services."A screening hotline for GCH patients staffed by qualified Geary Community Hospital nurses is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Professional staff will provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-210-4214.

Five GCH staff members test positive for COVID-19

TOPEKA —Gov. Laura Kelly announced a new program Thursday to help essential workers sickened with coronavirus cover the cost of medical care. The program, which will be paid for with $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds, will provide workers in fields such as child care, education and food service up to $25,000 for medical expenses if they are uninsured and $15,000 if they are insured and need help with copays and deductibles.

Before, they were out of luck, trial attorneys and some legislators say. They say the issue is that Kansas law is written so that coronavirus is almost certainly not an occupational disease, which means if you get it on the job, you can’t get benefits through that system. But, because the law says the workers’ compensation system is the exclusive remedy for on-the-job injuries and occupational diseases, you can’t sue your employer, either.

“The dedication and selflessness displayed by Kansas essential workers has been critical to our recovery efforts across the state in cities big and small and rural communities,” Kelly said in a news release. 

“They risk their health each and every day to help others and these funds make it possible for the state of Kansas to help cover expenses in the unfortunate cases when they contract COVID-19.”

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>TOPEKA —Gov. Laura Kelly announced a new program Thursday to help essential workers sickened with coronavirus cover the cost of medical care. The program, which will be paid for with $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds, will provide workers in fields such as child care, education and food service up to $25,000 for medical expenses if they are uninsured and $15,000 if they are insured and need help with copays and deductibles.Before, they were out of luck, trial attorneys and some legislators say. They say the issue is that Kansas law is written so that coronavirus is almost certainly not an occupational disease, which means if you get it on the job, you can’t get benefits through that system. But, because the law says the workers’ compensation system is the exclusive remedy for on-the-job injuries and occupational diseases, you can’t sue your employer, either.“The dedication and selflessness displayed by Kansas essential workers has been critical to our recovery efforts across the state in cities big and small and rural communities,” Kelly said in a news release. “They risk their health each and every day to help others and these funds make it possible for the state of Kansas to help cover expenses in the unfortunate cases when they contract COVID-19.”

Kansas creates COVID-19 essential worker health care fund

This is an informational feature supported by the Pottawatomie County Commission to assist in providing educational information regarding the COVID-19 virus to citizens.

Not every person who tests positive for COVID-19 presents with the same list of symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the following symptoms may appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure to the virus.

· Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

This is not an all-inclusive list. In addition, many of these symptoms are also present with other health concerns, such as the common cold, the flu, seasonal allergies, and others. How can you tell the difference? In many cases, it may come down to a test, but here are some differences:

· It is rare to find fever or diarrhea associated with a cold or seasonal allergies; both are common with the Flu and COVID-19.

· Although sneezing, runny nose, stuffiness, and headache are all present in colds and allergies, itchy eyes indicate allergies, and a cough indicates a cold. Sneezing and stuffiness are not symptom of Covid.

If you have suffered from a cold or seasonal allergies in the past, you may recognize the signs and symptoms. Many physicians are taking a cautious approach and testing individuals showing any of the above symptoms for COVID-19.

This is an informational feature supported by the Pottawatomie County Commission to assist in providing educational information regarding the COVID-19 virus to citizens.Is it the Coronavirus?Not every person who tests positive for COVID-19 presents with the same list of symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the following symptoms may appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure to the virus.· Fever· Chills· Cough· Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing· Fatigue· Muscle/body aches· Headache· New loss of taste/smell· Sore throat· Congestion/runny nose· Nausea/vomiting· DiarrheaThis is not an all-inclusive list. In addition, many of these symptoms are also present with other health concerns, such as the common cold, the flu, seasonal allergies, and others. How can you tell the difference? In many cases, it may come down to a test, but here are some differences:· It is rare to find fever or diarrhea associated with a cold or seasonal allergies; both are common with the Flu and COVID-19.· Although sneezing, runny nose, stuffiness, and headache are all present in colds and allergies, itchy eyes indicate allergies, and a cough indicates a cold. Sneezing and stuffiness are not symptom of Covid.If you have suffered from a cold or seasonal allergies in the past, you may recognize the signs and symptoms. Many physicians are taking a cautious approach and testing individuals showing any of the above symptoms for COVID-19.

COVID Corner

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials sparked criticism and confusion after posting guidelines on coronavirus testing from the White House task force that run counter to what scientists say is necessary to control the pandemic.

The new guidance says it’s not necessary for people who have been in close contact with infected people, but don’t feel sick, to get tested. It was posted earlier this week on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC previously had advised local health departments to test people who have been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.

Across the country, public health experts called the change bizarre. They noted that testing contacts of infected people is a core element of public health efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of infected people — the CDC has said as many as 40% — exhibit no symptoms.

“The recommendation not to test asymptomatic people who likely have been exposed is not in accord with the science,” said John Auerbach, president of Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. preparedness against disease.

“We are seeking clarification from CDC about its recent guidance around testing,” said a spokesman for Michigan’s health department.

Federal officials said the new recommendation was issued by consensus of the White House virus task force.

However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert and perhaps the best known task force member, said Wednesday he wasn’t part of the discussion that green-lighted the change.

Fauci told CNN he was undergoing surgery when the new guidance was discussed last week, adding he was “worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact it is.”

The American Medical Association, in a statement, called the change “a recipe for community spread.” The Association of American Medical Colleges called it “a step backward in fighting the pandemic.”

Some officials — including some state governors — said it was another sign of a dysfunctional federal response to the pandemic.

“This is like a public health version of Vietnam,” said Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which works to strengthen the public health system.

CDC officials referred all media questions to the agency’s parent organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. That suggests that HHS ordered the change, not CDC, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.

After Twitter lit up with head-scratching and alarm about the change, HHS officials sent an email Wednesday saying the guidance was revised “to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions,” but did not detail what the new evidence was.

The decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force, HHS officials said.

In a call with reporters, Dr. Brett Giroir, the HHS assistant secretary for health, said guidance language originated at the CDC. But he also said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said federal officials achieved consensus but it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.

Ultimately, restricting testing could be self-defeating, because it could skew the numbers and create a perception that rates of infection are higher. Testing people who appear to be healthy would tend to lower the overall rate of positive results, while narrowing testing to people who are sick would raise the overall positive rate, Auerbach said.

Why HHS would order such a change quickly became a matter of speculation. Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at Emory University, suggested in a tweet that there are two possible explanations.

One is that it may be driven by testing supply issues that in many parts of the country have caused widely reported delays in results of a week or more, he suggested.

HHS officials suggested that wasn’t the reason, arguing that testing capacity is plentiful.

But Dr. Mysheika Roberts, health commissioner for Columbus, Ohio, said the city had to curtail testing last month because of a shortage of reagents used in lab procedures.

“When we were testing asymptomatic people here in Columbus, we were picking up a large number of individuals” with the virus, she said

Another possible explanation for the change is that President Donald Trump simply wants to see case counts drop, and discouraging more people from getting tested is one way to do it, del Rio said in his tweet.

Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/VirusOutbreak">Virus Outbreak</a>

Giroir said the change was made without input from Trump or Vice President Mike Pence. “There was no weight on the scales by the president or the vice president” or HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Giroir said.

Dr. Tom Frieden, who was head of the CDC during the Obama administration, said the move follows another recent change: to no longer recommend quarantine for travelers coming from areas where infections are more common.

“Both changes are highly problematic” and need to be better explained, said Frieden, who now is president of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit program that works to prevent epidemics.

Frieden said he, too, believes HHS forced CDC to post the changes. He called it “a sad day” because “CDC is being told what to write on their website.”

The governors of California, New York, Washington and Kentucky — all Democrats — criticized the new recommendations.

Washington Gov Jay Inslee said on Twitter that the changes likely will cause thousands of infections in his state to go unrecognized, and allow the virus to spread even more. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the new guidance “reckless.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said their states will not follow the new guidance.

“We will not be influenced by that change,” Newsom said. “We’re influenced by the folks that are experts in the field who feel very differently.”

“Why would you reverse yourself on the quarantine order?” Cuomo told reporters on a conference call. “Because they don’t want publicity that there is a COVID problem. Because the president’s politics are, ‘COVID isn’t a problem We’re past COVID.’”

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials sparked criticism and confusion after posting guidelines on coronavirus testing from the White House task force that run counter to what scientists say is necessary to control the pandemic.The new guidance says it’s not necessary for people who have been in close contact with infected people, but don’t feel sick, to get tested. It was posted earlier this week on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC previously had advised local health departments to test people who have been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.Across the country, public health experts called the change bizarre. They noted that testing contacts of infected people is a core element of public health efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of infected people — the CDC has said as many as 40% — exhibit no symptoms.“The recommendation not to test asymptomatic people who likely have been exposed is not in accord with the science,” said John Auerbach, president of Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. preparedness against disease.“We are seeking clarification from CDC about its recent guidance around testing,” said a spokesman for Michigan’s health department.Federal officials said the new recommendation was issued by consensus of the White House virus task force.However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert and perhaps the best known task force member, said Wednesday he wasn’t part of the discussion that green-lighted the change.Fauci told CNN he was undergoing surgery when the new guidance was discussed last week, adding he was “worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact it is.”The American Medical Association, in a statement, called the change “a recipe for community spread.” The Association of American Medical Colleges called it “a step backward in fighting the pandemic.”Some officials — including some state governors — said it was another sign of a dysfunctional federal response to the pandemic.“This is like a public health version of Vietnam,” said Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which works to strengthen the public health system.CDC officials referred all media questions to the agency’s parent organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. That suggests that HHS ordered the change, not CDC, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.After Twitter lit up with head-scratching and alarm about the change, HHS officials sent an email Wednesday saying the guidance was revised “to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions,” but did not detail what the new evidence was.The decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force, HHS officials said.In a call with reporters, Dr. Brett Giroir, the HHS assistant secretary for health, said guidance language originated at the CDC. But he also said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said federal officials achieved consensus but it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.Ultimately, restricting testing could be self-defeating, because it could skew the numbers and create a perception that rates of infection are higher. Testing people who appear to be healthy would tend to lower the overall rate of positive results, while narrowing testing to people who are sick would raise the overall positive rate, Auerbach said.Why HHS would order such a change quickly became a matter of speculation. Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at Emory University, suggested in a tweet that there are two possible explanations.One is that it may be driven by testing supply issues that in many parts of the country have caused widely reported delays in results of a week or more, he suggested.HHS officials suggested that wasn’t the reason, arguing that testing capacity is plentiful.But Dr. Mysheika Roberts, health commissioner for Columbus, Ohio, said the city had to curtail testing last month because of a shortage of reagents used in lab procedures.“When we were testing asymptomatic people here in Columbus, we were picking up a large number of individuals” with the virus, she saidAnother possible explanation for the change is that President Donald Trump simply wants to see case counts drop, and discouraging more people from getting tested is one way to do it, del Rio said in his tweet.Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/VirusOutbreak">Virus Outbreak</a>Giroir said the change was made without input from Trump or Vice President Mike Pence. “There was no weight on the scales by the president or the vice president” or HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Giroir said.Dr. Tom Frieden, who was head of the CDC during the Obama administration, said the move follows another recent change: to no longer recommend quarantine for travelers coming from areas where infections are more common.“Both changes are highly problematic” and need to be better explained, said Frieden, who now is president of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit program that works to prevent epidemics.Frieden said he, too, believes HHS forced CDC to post the changes. He called it “a sad day” because “CDC is being told what to write on their website.”The governors of California, New York, Washington and Kentucky — all Democrats — criticized the new recommendations.Washington Gov Jay Inslee said on Twitter that the changes likely will cause thousands of infections in his state to go unrecognized, and allow the virus to spread even more. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the new guidance “reckless.”California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said their states will not follow the new guidance.“We will not be influenced by that change,” Newsom said. “We’re influenced by the folks that are experts in the field who feel very differently.”“Why would you reverse yourself on the quarantine order?” Cuomo told reporters on a conference call. “Because they don’t want publicity that there is a COVID problem. Because the president’s politics are, ‘COVID isn’t a problem We’re past COVID.’”___

Officials change COVID testing advice, bewildering experts

Division Chief of Operations Dennis "Scotty" Wetklow will retire from the Junction City Fire Department. The Fire Department said Wetklow will retire on Sept. 22. He has served the community for 33 years after being hired initially as a Firefighter / EMT on July 29,1988.

The public is invited to celebrate his retirement at a reception on Friday, Sept. 11 from 2-4 p.m. in the Municipal Building Gymnasium. Due to current health orders in place, masks or face coverings are required and everyone will be asked to practice social distancing.

Division Chief of Operations Dennis "Scotty" Wetklow will retire from the Junction City Fire Department. The Fire Department said Wetklow will retire on Sept. 22. He has served the community for 33 years after being hired initially as a Firefighter / EMT on July 29,1988.The public is invited to celebrate his retirement at a reception on Friday, Sept. 11 from 2-4 p.m. in the Municipal Building Gymnasium. Due to current health orders in place, masks or face coverings are required and everyone will be asked to practice social distancing.

Coronavirus Update