Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and out of concern for our Veterans, Eastern Kansas is honoring current social isolation and distancing guidelines,” said Joseph Burks, Spokesman.&nbsp; “Through VA’s virtual care tools, we are able to leverage available technology to make sure our patients and staff are as safe as possible during this time.

To help us address&nbsp; Veterans’ most-urgent needs first, the Leavenworth and Topeka VA Medical Centers, along with their eight community-based outpatient clinics including one in Junction City are asking that Veterans use our online tools for routine or non-urgent questions.

Telephone or Video Appointments&nbsp;– Veterans can receive care at home — either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. To set up telephone or video appointments, Veterans can send their provider a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">myhealth.va.gov</a>.&nbsp; Veterans may also call, but VA is requesting that Veterans only call with urgent needs at this time. To learn more about VA Video Connect, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect</a>.

Prescription Refills&nbsp;– Veterans can request prescription refills and order and ship medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill</a>.

Text Message Reminders&nbsp;– Veterans can use Annie’s Coronavirus Precautions protocol to send automated text messages with information about COVID-19. This application helps Veterans monitor for symptoms and can assist if they need to contact their VA facility for care. Enroll at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/annie" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/annie</a>.

Secure Messaging&nbsp;– With My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, Veterans can send online secure messages to your VA health care team to ask them nonurgent health questions.&nbsp; Register at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">www.myhealth.va.gov</a>.

Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and out of concern for our Veterans, Eastern Kansas is honoring current social isolation and distancing guidelines,” said Joseph Burks, Spokesman.&nbsp; “Through VA’s virtual care tools, we are able to leverage available technology to make sure our patients and staff are as safe as possible during this time.To help us address&nbsp; Veterans’ most-urgent needs first, the Leavenworth and Topeka VA Medical Centers, along with their eight community-based outpatient clinics including one in Junction City are asking that Veterans use our online tools for routine or non-urgent questions.Here are some examples:Telephone or Video Appointments&nbsp;– Veterans can receive care at home — either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. To set up telephone or video appointments, Veterans can send their provider a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">myhealth.va.gov</a>.&nbsp; Veterans may also call, but VA is requesting that Veterans only call with urgent needs at this time. To learn more about VA Video Connect, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect</a>.Prescription Refills&nbsp;– Veterans can request prescription refills and order and ship medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill</a>.Text Message Reminders&nbsp;– Veterans can use Annie’s Coronavirus Precautions protocol to send automated text messages with information about COVID-19. This application helps Veterans monitor for symptoms and can assist if they need to contact their VA facility for care. Enroll at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.va.gov/annie" target="_blank">mobile.va.gov/annie</a>.Secure Messaging&nbsp;– With My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, Veterans can send online secure messages to your VA health care team to ask them nonurgent health questions.&nbsp; Register at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myhealth.va.gov/" target="_blank">www.myhealth.va.gov</a>.

Veterans are asked to use online tools for routine or non-urgent questions

At the Geary County Commission meeting held on March 30, 2020; the closure of the Geary County Office Building was extended through April 30, 2020.

County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke said the staff will be available by email or phone as follows:

 Appraiser: appraisalrequest@gearycounty.org 785-238-4407

Clerk: countyclerk@gearycounty.org 785-238-3912

 Commission: Keith.Ascher@gearycounty.org

GIS/Planning and Zoning: Troy.Livingston@gearycounty.org

 Human Resources: GEHumanResources@gearycounty.org 785-238-5700

Register of Deeds: Diane.Briestensky@gearycounty.org or Cathy.Bibbs@gearycounty.org 785-238-5531 or 785-238-6129

 Treasurer: gecotreasmail@gearycounty.org 785-238-6021

Information is also available on our website: www.gearycounty.org 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585675940906.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>At the Geary County Commission meeting held on March 30, 2020; the closure of the Geary County Office Building was extended through April 30, 2020.County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke said the staff will be available by email or phone as follows: Appraiser: appraisalrequest@gearycounty.org 785-238-4407Clerk: countyclerk@gearycounty.org 785-238-3912 Commission: Keith.Ascher@gearycounty.org Brad.Scholz@gearycounty.org Charles.Stimatze@gearycounty.org Charles.Stimatze@gmail.com785-238-4300GIS/Planning and Zoning: Troy.Livingston@gearycounty.org Marissa.Jones-Flaget@gearycounty.org 785-530-6093 or 785-530-5399 Human Resources: GEHumanResources@gearycounty.org 785-238-5700Register of Deeds: Diane.Briestensky@gearycounty.org or Cathy.Bibbs@gearycounty.org 785-238-5531 or 785-238-6129 Treasurer: gecotreasmail@gearycounty.org 785-238-6021Information is also available on our website: www.gearycounty.org

Geary County Office Building closure extended

NEW YORK (AP) — When will the money arrive?

That’s the urgent question for small business owners who have been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They’re awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that’s all but shut down, owners are worried about survival.

Millions of owners face April 1 due dates for rent, mortgage, credit card and other payments. Some have been granted leniency from landlords and lenders. But even then, there are other business and personal bills that are owed. And employees — at least those who haven’t been laid off — must be paid.

“How quick can we get these funds?” says Adam Rammel, co-owner of Brewfontaine, a bar and restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio, that’s now limited to takeout and delivery service. His revenue is down 60%. Yet he has eight staffers, down from his usual 25, whom he must pay.

“Relief can’t come soon enough — we’re a cash business with small margins,” says Rammel, who is looking to Small Business Administration loans. He needs the money despite receiving some concessions from his banker.

Freelancers and people whose gig work has vanished are also anxious about having to wait.

“I need to pay my electric bill and the mortgage,” says Krista Kowalcyzk, whose Southwest Florida photography business has come to a halt as weddings have been canceled and customers have decided against having portraits shot.

She feels somewhat reassured that she can receive unemployment benefits. But while she waits, “I am terrified that not only do I have no revenue coming in, I have also been asked for thousands of dollars in refunds.”

At companies small and large, from restaurants and retailers to sports and entertainment venues, revenue has essentially dried up. The same for the businesses that support those companies. Even employers that are still operating have lost business as their customers have became too cautious to continue doing business.

The rescue package signed into law Friday provides for Small Business Administration loans to companies as well as to sole proprietors and freelancers. The loans can be used for payroll, mortgages, rent and utilities, with those amounts forgiven and payments deferred. It will also supply small loans that can, depending on an owner’s credit score, be approved quickly. Employers can receive tax credits for retaining workers, though not if they have obtained one of the SBA loans.

Many owners are also seeking separate SBA economic injury disaster loans. And the Federal Reserve plans to set up a program to lend directly to small business owners.

In addition, freelancers are now eligible for unemployment benefits. And owners can be eligible for the $1,200 per person payment that’s available to many Americans depending on their income.

Whatever the source of funding, how fast it arrives at businesses across the country is sure to have a significant impact on the economy. Slightly more than half of American workers are employed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Every lost job means another person will struggle to pay rent or other bills. Unpaid bills, in turn, cut revenue for other businesses.

Layoffs are mounting, and most analysts forecast that the economy will shrink significantly in the April-June quarter, with some estimating a a 30% annual plunge for the quarter. That would be deepest economic contraction for any quarter in records dating to Word War II. In the week that ended March 21, roughly 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits — more than 10 times the number for the previous week and nearly five times the prior record high.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the small loans would be available starting Friday, and in an interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said he hoped to release loan forms later Monday.

Katie Vliestra, an executive at the National Association for the Self-Employed, an advocacy group, says she’s concerned about the lag time between application and approval for even the small loans that are intended to have the fastest turnaround. Most small companies have only 15 to 30 days of cash on hand, she said.

There are also worries about potential logjams at the SBA. The agency’s inspector general’s office found that the SBA failed to quickly turn around thousands of loans after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area in 2017. (The SBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for information about handling an influx of applications.)

John Arensmeyer, CEO of the advocacy group Small Business Majority, says he’s concerned that the loans will be processed through the SBA’s traditional business loan program, which relies on banks to handle the initial applications.

“Banks have to retool their technology to do this,” Arensmeyer says. “It’s going to be months before this money gets out there. How many people are going to be able to maintain payroll, hoping to get this money?”

On its face, the rescue aid appears to address some of the most vital needs of small businesses, notably their ability to maintain or hire back furloughed workers eventually. The issue is whether it will come quickly enough.

“The challenge is cash flow,” says Jason Duff, owner of Six Hundred Downtown, a restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has a staff of eight, down from 27, handling deliveries and pickups.

Duff has less than a week of working capital funds available. He is seeking loans from family and friends as well as some patience from vendors while he awaits federal help.

Don Allison has bills coming due this week for his business, a publisher of books about the Civil War and northwest Ohio history. He and his wife are looking forward to a combined $2,400. But the royalty checks he must send out require a bigger cash infusion. And he’s concerned about being in a long line of owners hoping to receive SBA loans.

“They’re going to be slammed,” Allison says of the SBA. “How big a delay is there going to be?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342982232.png" alt="President Trump signed the $2.2T virus aid package Friday -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the $2.2T virus aid package Friday -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — When will the money arrive?That’s the urgent question for small business owners who have been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They’re awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that’s all but shut down, owners are worried about survival.Millions of owners face April 1 due dates for rent, mortgage, credit card and other payments. Some have been granted leniency from landlords and lenders. But even then, there are other business and personal bills that are owed. And employees — at least those who haven’t been laid off — must be paid.“How quick can we get these funds?” says Adam Rammel, co-owner of Brewfontaine, a bar and restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio, that’s now limited to takeout and delivery service. His revenue is down 60%. Yet he has eight staffers, down from his usual 25, whom he must pay.“Relief can’t come soon enough — we’re a cash business with small margins,” says Rammel, who is looking to Small Business Administration loans. He needs the money despite receiving some concessions from his banker.Freelancers and people whose gig work has vanished are also anxious about having to wait.“I need to pay my electric bill and the mortgage,” says Krista Kowalcyzk, whose Southwest Florida photography business has come to a halt as weddings have been canceled and customers have decided against having portraits shot.She feels somewhat reassured that she can receive unemployment benefits. But while she waits, “I am terrified that not only do I have no revenue coming in, I have also been asked for thousands of dollars in refunds.”At companies small and large, from restaurants and retailers to sports and entertainment venues, revenue has essentially dried up. The same for the businesses that support those companies. Even employers that are still operating have lost business as their customers have became too cautious to continue doing business.The rescue package signed into law Friday provides for Small Business Administration loans to companies as well as to sole proprietors and freelancers. The loans can be used for payroll, mortgages, rent and utilities, with those amounts forgiven and payments deferred. It will also supply small loans that can, depending on an owner’s credit score, be approved quickly. Employers can receive tax credits for retaining workers, though not if they have obtained one of the SBA loans.Many owners are also seeking separate SBA economic injury disaster loans. And the Federal Reserve plans to set up a program to lend directly to small business owners.In addition, freelancers are now eligible for unemployment benefits. And owners can be eligible for the $1,200 per person payment that’s available to many Americans depending on their income.Whatever the source of funding, how fast it arrives at businesses across the country is sure to have a significant impact on the economy. Slightly more than half of American workers are employed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Every lost job means another person will struggle to pay rent or other bills. Unpaid bills, in turn, cut revenue for other businesses.Layoffs are mounting, and most analysts forecast that the economy will shrink significantly in the April-June quarter, with some estimating a a 30% annual plunge for the quarter. That would be deepest economic contraction for any quarter in records dating to Word War II. In the week that ended March 21, roughly 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits — more than 10 times the number for the previous week and nearly five times the prior record high.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the small loans would be available starting Friday, and in an interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said he hoped to release loan forms later Monday.Katie Vliestra, an executive at the National Association for the Self-Employed, an advocacy group, says she’s concerned about the lag time between application and approval for even the small loans that are intended to have the fastest turnaround. Most small companies have only 15 to 30 days of cash on hand, she said.There are also worries about potential logjams at the SBA. The agency’s inspector general’s office found that the SBA failed to quickly turn around thousands of loans after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area in 2017. (The SBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for information about handling an influx of applications.)John Arensmeyer, CEO of the advocacy group Small Business Majority, says he’s concerned that the loans will be processed through the SBA’s traditional business loan program, which relies on banks to handle the initial applications.“Banks have to retool their technology to do this,” Arensmeyer says. “It’s going to be months before this money gets out there. How many people are going to be able to maintain payroll, hoping to get this money?”On its face, the rescue aid appears to address some of the most vital needs of small businesses, notably their ability to maintain or hire back furloughed workers eventually. The issue is whether it will come quickly enough.“The challenge is cash flow,” says Jason Duff, owner of Six Hundred Downtown, a restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has a staff of eight, down from 27, handling deliveries and pickups.Duff has less than a week of working capital funds available. He is seeking loans from family and friends as well as some patience from vendors while he awaits federal help.Don Allison has bills coming due this week for his business, a publisher of books about the Civil War and northwest Ohio history. He and his wife are looking forward to a combined $2,400. But the royalty checks he must send out require a bigger cash infusion. And he’s concerned about being in a long line of owners hoping to receive SBA loans.“They’re going to be slammed,” Allison says of the SBA. “How big a delay is there going to be?”

Urgent question from small businesses: When will aid arrive?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City-area officials have cracked down on businesses that remain open despite stay-at-home orders as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri surpassed 1,000.

Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday that Kansas City issued citations to about 200 businesses for violating the city's order.&nbsp; Breaking the social distancing rule is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.

Residents of the Jackson County and Wyandotte and Johnson counties in neighboring Kansas have also been ordered to stay home for anything other than “essential needs.” That includes child care, health care, grocery stores, pharmacies and delivery/carry-out/drive-thru services from restaurants.

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

Jackson County health officials on Monday ordered a Bass Pro Shops store in Independence to close, despite the business' belief that the public has the right to access guns and ammunition during an emergency, the newspaper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241625496.html">reported</a>.

Health officials said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbaf230a8b184912a846261bff73e5ce">as of Monday afternoon</a>, 1,031 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Missouri. That is an increase of 128 from Sunday. Thirteen have died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585236316648.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City-area officials have cracked down on businesses that remain open despite stay-at-home orders as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri surpassed 1,000.Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday that Kansas City issued citations to about 200 businesses for violating the city's order.&nbsp; Breaking the social distancing rule is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.Residents of the Jackson County and Wyandotte and Johnson counties in neighboring Kansas have also been ordered to stay home for anything other than “essential needs.” That includes child care, health care, grocery stores, pharmacies and delivery/carry-out/drive-thru services from restaurants.For most people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the virus</a>&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.Jackson County health officials on Monday ordered a Bass Pro Shops store in Independence to close, despite the business' belief that the public has the right to access guns and ammunition during an emergency, the newspaper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241625496.html">reported</a>.Health officials said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbaf230a8b184912a846261bff73e5ce">as of Monday afternoon</a>, 1,031 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Missouri. That is an increase of 128 from Sunday. Thirteen have died.

Kansas City cracks down on stores breaking stay-at-home rule

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas nursing home chain linked to a coronavirus death in the Kansas City area has reported that 18 staffers and residents tested positive for the virus at another facility.

Life Care Centers of America <a href="https://lcca.com/announcement/covid-19">said Monday that </a>11 residents and seven workers were confirmed to have COVID-19 at the home in Burlington, about 60 miles south of Topeka.

A resident at the Life Care Center in Kansas City, Kansas, was the first COVID-19-related fatality reported in the state on March 12. Both are operated by a company that also runs a Washington state nursing home linked to 22 deaths.

For most people,&nbsp;the coronavirus&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

As a statewide stay-at-home order took effect Monday and President Donald Trump granted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/db8902e8e65561405a85bcf9ed556c87">a major disaster declaration</a>&nbsp;for the state, the number of cases grew. At last count Monday, state health officials said that Kansas has 368 cases, up from 319 on Sunday.

State and local officials reported nine deaths, including four in Wyandotte County. The latest two victims are a Sedgwick County man over 60 with underlying health conditions and a woman in her 40s in Crawford County. The deaths are the first in the state’s southern half. Most others were in the Kansas City area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585657534018.png" alt="Life Care Center in Burlington, Kansas -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Life Care Center in Burlington, Kansas -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas nursing home chain linked to a coronavirus death in the Kansas City area has reported that 18 staffers and residents tested positive for the virus at another facility.Life Care Centers of America <a href="https://lcca.com/announcement/covid-19">said Monday that </a>11 residents and seven workers were confirmed to have COVID-19 at the home in Burlington, about 60 miles south of Topeka.A resident at the Life Care Center in Kansas City, Kansas, was the first COVID-19-related fatality reported in the state on March 12. Both are operated by a company that also runs a Washington state nursing home linked to 22 deaths.For most people,&nbsp;the coronavirus&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.As a statewide stay-at-home order took effect Monday and President Donald Trump granted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/db8902e8e65561405a85bcf9ed556c87">a major disaster declaration</a>&nbsp;for the state, the number of cases grew. At last count Monday, state health officials said that Kansas has 368 cases, up from 319 on Sunday.State and local officials reported nine deaths, including four in Wyandotte County. The latest two victims are a Sedgwick County man over 60 with underlying health conditions and a woman in her 40s in Crawford County. The deaths are the first in the state’s southern half. Most others were in the Kansas City area.

Kansas nursing home reports 18 coronavirus cases

Senator Jerry Moran's Office has released information on the federal CARES ACT, which is designed to help Americans during the COVID-19 period.

On Friday President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The legislation builds on the administration’s ongoing efforts to use the full power of the federal government to provide necessary aid to individuals, small businesses, rural health care providers and other essential employers and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The CARES Act delivers assistance to individuals, employers and their communities,” said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall. “We must protect rural America by supporting our small businesses, keeping our hospitals open and supporting those who lose their job, through no fault of their own, during this pandemic. This bill is not perfect but it includes the assistance our ranchers, manufacturers and health care providers so desperately need right now.”

For the communities of Junction City and Fort Riley this legislation provides additional funding for Geary Community Hospital for any COVID-19 admissions and allows for the production and distribution of additional personal protective equipment for healthcare staff. It also provides additional aid for the Army’s operation and maintenance as it relates to the COVID-19 impact and funding for Irwin Army Community Hospital to purchase equipment and testing supplies to test and treat and coronavirus cases on base. Finally, it provides assistance for the agriculture community, which continues to struggle under adverse market conditions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342982232.png" alt="President Trump signed the legislation Friday afternoon -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the legislation Friday afternoon -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Senator Jerry Moran's Office has released information on the federal CARES ACT, which is designed to help Americans during the COVID-19 period.On Friday President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The legislation builds on the administration’s ongoing efforts to use the full power of the federal government to provide necessary aid to individuals, small businesses, rural health care providers and other essential employers and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.“The CARES Act delivers assistance to individuals, employers and their communities,” said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall. “We must protect rural America by supporting our small businesses, keeping our hospitals open and supporting those who lose their job, through no fault of their own, during this pandemic. This bill is not perfect but it includes the assistance our ranchers, manufacturers and health care providers so desperately need right now.”For the communities of Junction City and Fort Riley this legislation provides additional funding for Geary Community Hospital for any COVID-19 admissions and allows for the production and distribution of additional personal protective equipment for healthcare staff. It also provides additional aid for the Army’s operation and maintenance as it relates to the COVID-19 impact and funding for Irwin Army Community Hospital to purchase equipment and testing supplies to test and treat and coronavirus cases on base. Finally, it provides assistance for the agriculture community, which continues to struggle under adverse market conditions.The CARES Act provides funding for:<ol>
 <li>Airports:&nbsp;Support for Small Airports:&nbsp;Provides $100 million for general aviation airports and $56 million for Essential Air Service (EAS, keeping small and regional airports operational during the crisis.</li><li>Schools:&nbsp;Provides $31 billion to support K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to help our students continue to learn.</li><li>Cities and Towns:&nbsp;Provides $5 billion for Community Development Block Grants that help our cities and towns across Kansas remain strong.</li><li>Community Banks:&nbsp;Will help banks quickly provide loans to those who need them by lowering the Community Bank Leverage Ratio, enabling banks to dip further into their capital reserves for increased lending during these times of stress.</li><li>Farmers and Ranchers:&nbsp;Provides $9.5 billion for Secretary Perdue to provide support to farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19 including livestock producers; and includes an additional $14 billion to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to address low commodity prices and trade disruptions.</li><li>Health Care Providers:&nbsp;Provides $100 billion in direct assistance to health care providers on the front lines of the crisis.</li><li>Small Business Owners:&nbsp;Increases the number of eligible businesses, nonprofits, and lenders that can participate in the SBA’s 7(a) loan program, providing temporary flexibility in the use of the loan, and allows for loan forgiveness measures to keep employees on the payroll during this uncertain time.</li><li>Older Americans: Allows full transfer between congregate and home-delivered meal funding and provides additional flexibility in the type of food that can be served.</li><li>Displaced Employees: Expanded unemployment insurance eligibility to support more individuals and employees laid off during the pandemic.</li><li>Colleges: Assists community and four-year colleges in responding to the impact of the crisis</li>
 </ol>

CARES ACT details are outlined for the public

Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel believes so far the City is coping well during the COVID-19 crisis. "Of course it's unknown territory. We've never had anything like this but I think as a community we're starting to move through it and we will continue on that path."

Dinkel touched on a variety of issues during a JC Post interview.&nbsp; Businesses are being impacted. He noted some businesses that have to close due to the stay at home orders will take a hit. "Will there be enough stimulus money from the government to help them out? I think that's to be seen, and can they move forward, can some of the small businesses that were doing okay, can they survive during this time period? Dinkel added that "only time will tell."

The city manager has tracking local sales tax revenues, which should show good collections through April and May. "I think from June on we'll see what happens. Again I think the key issue is going to be how long is it going to be. ? Dinkel noted as full as grocery stores have been during the last week will help collections, but will it be long term is an unknown factor at this point.

Dinkel feels city employees are holding up well this time. There have not been any furloughs. "So far we have work to do. Closed the City office for a little over a week now but they're still taking mail yet and I know the admin staff is super busy listening to a lot of seminars and getting direction where we need to go and working on that." Dinkel noted that parks employees are essential. "When this all ends the parks are just going to be slammed with people being there from being cooped up for a long time. We want to have everything ready to go."

Dinkel noted that City offices were going to be closed to April 5th, but he thought that would be extended another two weeks to "coincide with the Governor's advisory. Then we'll see what happens after that." The city manager thought much of the focus would be to keep an eye on what is occurring in the COVID-19 cases in Kansas.

By Dewey TerrillJC PostJunction City Manager Allen Dinkel believes so far the City is coping well during the COVID-19 crisis. "Of course it's unknown territory. We've never had anything like this but I think as a community we're starting to move through it and we will continue on that path."Dinkel touched on a variety of issues during a JC Post interview.&nbsp; Businesses are being impacted. He noted some businesses that have to close due to the stay at home orders will take a hit. "Will there be enough stimulus money from the government to help them out? I think that's to be seen, and can they move forward, can some of the small businesses that were doing okay, can they survive during this time period? Dinkel added that "only time will tell."The city manager has tracking local sales tax revenues, which should show good collections through April and May. "I think from June on we'll see what happens. Again I think the key issue is going to be how long is it going to be. ? Dinkel noted as full as grocery stores have been during the last week will help collections, but will it be long term is an unknown factor at this point.Dinkel feels city employees are holding up well this time. There have not been any furloughs. "So far we have work to do. Closed the City office for a little over a week now but they're still taking mail yet and I know the admin staff is super busy listening to a lot of seminars and getting direction where we need to go and working on that." Dinkel noted that parks employees are essential. "When this all ends the parks are just going to be slammed with people being there from being cooped up for a long time. We want to have everything ready to go."Dinkel noted that City offices were going to be closed to April 5th, but he thought that would be extended another two weeks to "coincide with the Governor's advisory. Then we'll see what happens after that." The city manager thought much of the focus would be to keep an eye on what is occurring in the COVID-19 cases in Kansas.

City coping with COVID-19

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Monday afternoon and does not include the most recent death reported of a Sedgwick County man over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions. A woman in her 40s in Crawford County is also a recent victim of the virus.

The deaths are the first in the southern part of the state. Most of the others were in the Kansas City area.

Monday's KDHE report also does not include the positive test on a patient in Barton County that health officials confirmed late Monday morning.

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Monday afternoon and does not include the most recent death reported of a Sedgwick County man over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions. A woman in her 40s in Crawford County is also a recent victim of the virus.The deaths are the first in the southern part of the state. Most of the others were in the Kansas City area.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F591358111723593%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="420" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Monday's KDHE report also does not include the positive test on a patient in Barton County that health officials confirmed late Monday morning.<figure>
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 🎥 Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 9th death reported

The Barton County Health Department reports the first positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Barton County. Testing was confirmed just after 11a.m. on Monday, according to a media release from the department.

The case involves a female patient over the age of age 60 with a travel history. The patient has been in quarantine for a week, is in isolation at home and expects a full recovery.

The Barton County Health Department is doing patient contact investigation to learn who the patient may have had contact with while symptomatic. Any individuals who are at of risk exposure will be contacted as soon as possible. The Health Department will monitor all contacts for fever and respiratory symptoms. No further information about the patient will be released.

"Please practice good hygiene by coughing into your sleeve, frequently washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, disinfect high touch areas continually and practice social distancing by maintaining a 6-foot perimeter.

We will continue to provide further information as it becomes available."

The Barton County Health Department reports the first positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Barton County. Testing was confirmed just after 11a.m. on Monday, according to a media release from the department.The case involves a female patient over the age of age 60 with a travel history. The patient has been in quarantine for a week, is in isolation at home and expects a full recovery.The Barton County Health Department is doing patient contact investigation to learn who the patient may have had contact with while symptomatic. Any individuals who are at of risk exposure will be contacted as soon as possible. The Health Department will monitor all contacts for fever and respiratory symptoms. No further information about the patient will be released."Please practice good hygiene by coughing into your sleeve, frequently washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, disinfect high touch areas continually and practice social distancing by maintaining a 6-foot perimeter.We will continue to provide further information as it becomes available."

Woman in her 60s is first coronavirus patient in Barton County

TONGANOXIE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas school district is suspending its grab-and-go sack lunch program for a week after a worker with the district’s drive-thu program tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The Tonganoxie school district said in a statement that it is placing staff members who came in contact with the fellow worker in a 14-day quarantine. 

The district said it also is following all infection control protocols, including thoroughly sanitizing the meal preparation area before and after meal preparations. District officials say that the person did not come in direct contact with students or families and was only involved with meal preparations.

TONGANOXIE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas school district is suspending its grab-and-go sack lunch program for a week after a worker with the district’s drive-thu program tested positive for the coronavirus. The Tonganoxie school district said in a statement that it is placing staff members who came in contact with the fellow worker in a 14-day quarantine. The district said it also is following all infection control protocols, including thoroughly sanitizing the meal preparation area before and after meal preparations. District officials say that the person did not come in direct contact with students or families and was only involved with meal preparations.

Kan. school food prep worker tests positive for the coronavirus

The Army has announced action on a Stay at Home Order for Fort Riley.

In coordination with the Kansas Governor’s executive order mandating statewide “stay home,” the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, has issued a General Order mandating Stay-at-Home for all military personnel and Department of the Army Civilians (DAC) assigned or attached to Fort Riley. 

Although essential activities as directed by the first O-5 level commander for military personnel and O-6 level commander for DAC are permitted, there are punitive restrictions placed on travel, visitation, physical fitness, and reiterates restrictions placed on Soldiers ordered into quarantine and isolation. All Fort Riley personnel are strongly encouraged to restrict movement between the hours of 2200-0500.

 Commanders will counsel and support their service members and DACs regarding the execution of this order.

A PDF of the signed order is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/my-fort/all-services/coronavirus-information?fbclid=IwAR2caQDwVXbPWLvNcRySK9OOGRIT_Wwi_uWQsq1i8ktOI2BdMhhUlX5KGLM" target="_blank">https://home.army.mil/…/all-services/coronavirus-information</a>

Consult your chain of command or supervisor for details. The effective date of this order is 30 March 2020 and remains in effect until 19 April 2020, unless rescinded by the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, or modified in conjunction with local, state, or DoD guidance.

The Army has announced action on a Stay at Home Order for Fort Riley.In coordination with the Kansas Governor’s executive order mandating statewide “stay home,” the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, has issued a General Order mandating Stay-at-Home for all military personnel and Department of the Army Civilians (DAC) assigned or attached to Fort Riley. Although essential activities as directed by the first O-5 level commander for military personnel and O-6 level commander for DAC are permitted, there are punitive restrictions placed on travel, visitation, physical fitness, and reiterates restrictions placed on Soldiers ordered into quarantine and isolation. All Fort Riley personnel are strongly encouraged to restrict movement between the hours of 2200-0500. Commanders will counsel and support their service members and DACs regarding the execution of this order.A PDF of the signed order is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/my-fort/all-services/coronavirus-information?fbclid=IwAR2caQDwVXbPWLvNcRySK9OOGRIT_Wwi_uWQsq1i8ktOI2BdMhhUlX5KGLM" target="_blank">https://home.army.mil/…/all-services/coronavirus-information</a>Consult your chain of command or supervisor for details. The effective date of this order is 30 March 2020 and remains in effect until 19 April 2020, unless rescinded by the Commanding General, 1ID and Fort Riley, or modified in conjunction with local, state, or DoD guidance.

Stay at Home Order issued for Fort Riley

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump approved a request Sunday for a federal disaster declaration for the state of Kansas.

The president ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020 and continuing, according to a media release from the White House.

<a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4504">Click here </a>to read more on the declaration.

Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Kansas impacted by COVID-19.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, named Paul Taylor as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further assessments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585525191374.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump approved a request Sunday for a federal disaster declaration for the state of Kansas.The president ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020 and continuing, according to a media release from the White House.<a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4504">Click here </a>to read more on the declaration.Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Kansas impacted by COVID-19.Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, named Paul Taylor as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further assessments.

Coronavirus battle: President approves Kansas disaster declaration 

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University faculty, students and staff are doing more than showing they can keep teaching and keep learning during the transition to remote learning. They also can rise to the challenge and become worldwide leaders.To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all K-State classes transitioned to online and other forms of distance learning beginning March 23. That transition led to the creation of valuable resources and partnerships:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching/" target="_blank">Keep Teaching</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keeplearning/" target="_blank">Keep Learning</a>&nbsp;websites; the&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;online community; and partnerships with rural internet providers.

One impressive achievement: The free online community&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;that K-State Global Campus created has more than 1,500 people involved from across the U.S. and from more than 15 countries. The online community is among the first of its kind in the U.S. and provides a place for higher education peers to share knowledge and resources to support academic continuity."Through these new initiatives, K-State has truly established itself as a cyber land-grant university leader," said Charles Taber, K-State provost and executive vice president. "I have been impressed with how quickly and efficiently units across the university have collaborated and created ways to transition to virtual instruction. We have learned so much about what a cyber land-grant university is and will be."

On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=62821" target="_blank">March 6</a>, Taber established a working group of collaborators to develop a COVID-19 continuity plan. Within 10 days, the group had developed an array of valuable resources for faculty, staff and students.The efforts have involved more than 30 K-State collaborators from K-State Global Campus, the Office of the Provost, the Teaching and Learning Center, Information Technology Services, K-State Libraries, the Student Access Center, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, the College of Education and the College of Agriculture.

Keep Teaching initiatives began at universities several years ago in response to disruptive events, such as wildfires or hurricanes, said Katie Linder, executive director for program development with K-State Global Campus. Keep Teaching initiatives help universities maintain academic continuity and the COVID-19 pandemic marked K-State's first Keep Teaching initiative.K-State's Keep Teaching online community is an innovative approach to a Keep Teaching initiative, Linder said. 

The online community extends beyond K-State and includes faculty, library staff, information technology professionals and administrators who are from universities around the world and are sharing valuable information on teaching and learning remotely.Through the online space, K-State is gathering information, organizing it and creating groups. It's a way to share information with people who may feel isolated and to help them make connections across the world, Linder said."K-State is truly following the principle of generosity in these challenging times," Linder said. "We're not trying to hoard information and resources. We're opening the conversation and saying, 'We can solve these problems together.' That openness to listening to others and sharing information is a true example of being a leader in the cyber land-grant space."

The university's ability to transition quickly to online learning is the result of another recent disruption: the Hale Library fire. The fire caused significant damage to the university's data center, and K-State took on a Cloud First initiative and quickly moved to a cloud-based system in a few months."Because we have moved all of our key applications and services to the cloud, we have experienced very little, if any, slowdowns and no downtime," said Gary Pratt, K-State chief information officer. "With students, staff and faculty accessing these services from home internet connections, and the systems residing in the cloud, very little bandwidth is being accessed using our on-campus connection, which significantly reduces any connectivity issues."

Pratt also has worked with more than 12 internet providers to offer free or discounted services for students and faculty during this time of remote teaching and learning. The providers have signed the Federal Communications Commission's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected" target="_blank">Keep Americans Connected Pledge</a>&nbsp;that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.K-State's work isn't over. The collaborative team continues to update the Keep Teaching and Keep Learning websites and add new valuable information."At K-State, we pride ourselves on providing excellent educational experiences for our students.&nbsp;Our goal was to keep doing that," said Donald Saucier, faculty associate director of the Teaching and Learning Center. "I am proud to contribute to this amazing collective effort. K-State has a lot of superheroes behind the scenes who made this possible."For information about K-State's online learning initiatives, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching" target="_blank">k-state.edu/keepteaching</a>. People also are encouraged to&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/feed?autojoin=1" target="_blank">join the Keep Teaching online community</a>

Division of Communications and Marketing



MANHATTAN — Kansas State University faculty, students and staff are doing more than showing they can keep teaching and keep learning during the transition to remote learning. They also can rise to the challenge and become worldwide leaders.To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all K-State classes transitioned to online and other forms of distance learning beginning March 23. That transition led to the creation of valuable resources and partnerships:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching/" target="_blank">Keep Teaching</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/keeplearning/" target="_blank">Keep Learning</a>&nbsp;websites; the&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;online community; and partnerships with rural internet providers.One impressive achievement: The free online community&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/share/zcTzuEj_gszfyTfc?utm_source=manual" target="_blank">Keep Teaching: Resources for Higher Ed</a>&nbsp;that K-State Global Campus created has more than 1,500 people involved from across the U.S. and from more than 15 countries. The online community is among the first of its kind in the U.S. and provides a place for higher education peers to share knowledge and resources to support academic continuity."Through these new initiatives, K-State has truly established itself as a cyber land-grant university leader," said Charles Taber, K-State provost and executive vice president. "I have been impressed with how quickly and efficiently units across the university have collaborated and created ways to transition to virtual instruction. We have learned so much about what a cyber land-grant university is and will be."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=62821" target="_blank">March 6</a>, Taber established a working group of collaborators to develop a COVID-19 continuity plan. Within 10 days, the group had developed an array of valuable resources for faculty, staff and students.The efforts have involved more than 30 K-State collaborators from K-State Global Campus, the Office of the Provost, the Teaching and Learning Center, Information Technology Services, K-State Libraries, the Student Access Center, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, the College of Education and the College of Agriculture.Keep Teaching initiatives began at universities several years ago in response to disruptive events, such as wildfires or hurricanes, said Katie Linder, executive director for program development with K-State Global Campus. Keep Teaching initiatives help universities maintain academic continuity and the COVID-19 pandemic marked K-State's first Keep Teaching initiative.K-State's Keep Teaching online community is an innovative approach to a Keep Teaching initiative, Linder said. The online community extends beyond K-State and includes faculty, library staff, information technology professionals and administrators who are from universities around the world and are sharing valuable information on teaching and learning remotely.Through the online space, K-State is gathering information, organizing it and creating groups. It's a way to share information with people who may feel isolated and to help them make connections across the world, Linder said."K-State is truly following the principle of generosity in these challenging times," Linder said. "We're not trying to hoard information and resources. We're opening the conversation and saying, 'We can solve these problems together.' That openness to listening to others and sharing information is a true example of being a leader in the cyber land-grant space."The university's ability to transition quickly to online learning is the result of another recent disruption: the Hale Library fire. The fire caused significant damage to the university's data center, and K-State took on a Cloud First initiative and quickly moved to a cloud-based system in a few months."Because we have moved all of our key applications and services to the cloud, we have experienced very little, if any, slowdowns and no downtime," said Gary Pratt, K-State chief information officer. "With students, staff and faculty accessing these services from home internet connections, and the systems residing in the cloud, very little bandwidth is being accessed using our on-campus connection, which significantly reduces any connectivity issues."Pratt also has worked with more than 12 internet providers to offer free or discounted services for students and faculty during this time of remote teaching and learning. The providers have signed the Federal Communications Commission's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected" target="_blank">Keep Americans Connected Pledge</a>&nbsp;that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.K-State's work isn't over. The collaborative team continues to update the Keep Teaching and Keep Learning websites and add new valuable information."At K-State, we pride ourselves on providing excellent educational experiences for our students.&nbsp;Our goal was to keep doing that," said Donald Saucier, faculty associate director of the Teaching and Learning Center. "I am proud to contribute to this amazing collective effort. K-State has a lot of superheroes behind the scenes who made this possible."For information about K-State's online learning initiatives, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.k-state.edu/keepteaching" target="_blank">k-state.edu/keepteaching</a>. People also are encouraged to&nbsp;<a href="https://keep-teaching-resources-for-higher-ed.mn.co/feed?autojoin=1" target="_blank">join the Keep Teaching online community</a>Written by Jennifer TidballK-State News and Communications ServicesDivision of Communications and Marketing

Keep Teaching, Keep Learning: K-State demonstrates cyber land-grant university leadership

There will be some operations changes for the Grandview Plaza during the ongoing COVID-19 period. Police Chief Shawn Pierano said the police department facility will be closed to the public. "We do not have a lobby to separate the public from the officers. "

Contact the office by telephone, or by 911 if you have an emrgency, and officers will then get into contact with the caller. "We will take your report by phone or we will come out and see you, "said Peirano.

Playgrounds have been cordoned off and police tape put around that equipment. Do not touch or play on the equipment.

Peirano said as conditions change so will police department operations. "In doing so you may see us in additional protective gear as required." 

The police chief asked anyone who has additional needs in their house would like to be checked on to&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585528007417.jpeg" alt="Grandview Plaza Police Chief Shawn Peirano" />
 <figcaption>Grandview Plaza Police Chief Shawn Peirano</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostThere will be some operations changes for the Grandview Plaza during the ongoing COVID-19 period. Police Chief Shawn Pierano said the police department facility will be closed to the public. "We do not have a lobby to separate the public from the officers. "Contact the office by telephone, or by 911 if you have an emrgency, and officers will then get into contact with the caller. "We will take your report by phone or we will come out and see you, "said Peirano.Playgrounds have been cordoned off and police tape put around that equipment. Do not touch or play on the equipment.Peirano said as conditions change so will police department operations. "In doing so you may see us in additional protective gear as required." The police chief asked anyone who has additional needs in their house would like to be checked on to&nbsp;

Operations changes are planned for the Grandview Plaza Police Department during COVID-19

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even more dire projections for the expanding coronavirus pandemic.

It was a stark shift in tone by the president, who only days ago mused about the country reopening in a few weeks. From the Rose Garden, he said his Easter revival hopes had only been “aspirational.”

The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by the federal government expires Monday and Trump had expressed interest in relaxing the national guidelines at least in parts of the country less afflicted by the pandemic. He instead decided to extend them through April 30, a tacit acknowledgment he’d been too optimistic. Many states and local governments have stiffer controls in place on mobility and gatherings.

Trump’s impulse to reopen the country met a sober reality check Sunday from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, who said the U.S. could experience more than 100,000 deaths and millions of infections from the pandemic. That warning hardened a recognition in Washington that the struggle against the coronavirus will not be resolved quickly even as Trump expressed a longing for normalcy.

“I want our life back again,” the president told reporters.

Trump, who has largely avoided talk of potential death and infection rates, cited projection models that said potentially 2.2 million people or more could have died had social distancing measures not been put in place. And he said the country would be doing well if it “can hold” the number of deaths “down to 100,000.” He said the best case for the country would be for the death rate to peak in about two weeks.

“It’s a horrible number,” Trump said, but added, “We all together have done a very good job.”

Brought forward by Trump at the outdoor briefing, Fauci said his projection of a potential 100,000 to 200,000 deaths is “entirely conceivable” if not enough is done to mitigate the crisis. He said that helped shape the extension of the guidelines, which he called “a wise and prudent decision.”

Americans are now being called on to prepare for another 30 days of severe economic and social disruption, as schools and businesses are closed and public life is upended. One in 3 Americans remain under state or local government orders to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus.

Trump acknowledged that he may be forced to extend the guidelines again at the end of April, but expressed hope that by June 1, “we should be well on our way to recovery.”

The federal guidelines recommend against group gatherings larger than 10 and urge older people and anyone with existing health problems to stay home. People are urged to work at home when possible and avoid restaurants, bars, non-essential travel and shopping trips.

For more than a week, Trump had been bombarded by calls from outside business leaders who urged him to begin re-opening the nation’s economy and warned of catastrophic consequences that could damage his re-election chances if it remained shuttered for much longer.

“The president is right. The cure can’t be worse than the disease, and we’re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs,” Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow had said last Monday, reflecting the thinking of his economic team.

That talk alarmed health experts, who urged Trump to keep encouraging people to stay home. The virus was still spreading, with the peak still weeks away, the experts warned.

In the end, Trump, in the face of dire projections and increasingly alarming images out of New York, sided with his health experts and backed off the idea of loosening recommended restrictions on less impacted parts of the country.

“They’re the best in the profession and they didn’t like that idea,” he said of Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force.

Trump was clearly moved by the scenes from New York, particularly hard-hit Elmhurst Hospital in his native Queens.

“I’ve been watching that for the last week on television,” he said. ”Body bags all over, in hallways. I’ve been watching them bring in trailer trucks — freezer trucks, they’re freezer trucks, because they can’t handle the bodies, there are so many of them. This is essentially in my community, in Queens, Queens, New York,” he continued. “I’ve seen things that I’ve never seen before.”

Phasing out the recommendations would have been a symbolic nod to business and an affront to public health experts, but may have had little practical impact. States across the country already have their own restrictions in place that, in many cases, are far stricter than the administration’s, and those would have remained in place.

Birx and Fauci said even those areas yet to face a significant outbreak must prepare for the eventuality that they will.

“This can happen anywhere,” Fauci said. “And that’s really one of the issues that we’re concerned about and why we were so reluctant to pull back at a time when we need to put our foot on the gas as opposed to on the brake.”

The U.S. had more than 139,000 COVID-19 cases reported by Sunday evening, with more than 2,400 deaths. During the course of the Rose Garden briefing, reported deaths grew by several dozen and the number of cases by several thousand.

Most people who contract COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems. Hospitals in the most afflicted areas are straining to handle patients and some are short of critical supplies.

Fauci’s prediction would take the death toll well past that of the average seasonal flu. Trump repeatedly cited the flu’s comparatively much higher cost in lives in playing down the severity of this pandemic.

Trump’s change in tone was previewed Saturday, when the president suggested then backed away from instituting an “enforceable” quarantine of hard-hit New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Instead, the White House task force recommended a travel advisory for residents of those states to limit non-essential travel to slow the spread of the virus to other parts of the U.S.

The quarantine notion was strongly opposed by the governors of those states, who argued it would cause panic.

Even as he opted against the quarantine, Trump on Sunday suggested without evidence that hospitals and hospital systems were “hoarding” ventilators and other medical supplies that were needed in other areas of the state. He also encouraged the Food and Drug Administration to streamline approvals for companies seeking to sanitize badly needed respirators so they can be reused.

For weeks, Trump minimized the gravity of the pandemic, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday accused Trump of “denial” in the crisis and called it “deadly.”

Asked whether she believes that attitude cost American lives, Pelosi told CNN: “Yes, I am. I’m saying that.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, said he wouldn’t go so far as to lay the blame for deaths on the president. “I think that’s a little too harsh,” he told NBC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585564615489.png" alt="President Trump listens to Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Sec. for Health and Human Services during Sunday's outdoor Coronavirus Task Force briefing- image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump listens to Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Sec. for Health and Human Services during Sunday's outdoor Coronavirus Task Force briefing- image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even more dire projections for the expanding coronavirus pandemic.It was a stark shift in tone by the president, who only days ago mused about the country reopening in a few weeks. From the Rose Garden, he said his Easter revival hopes had only been “aspirational.”The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by the federal government expires Monday and Trump had expressed interest in relaxing the national guidelines at least in parts of the country less afflicted by the pandemic. He instead decided to extend them through April 30, a tacit acknowledgment he’d been too optimistic. Many states and local governments have stiffer controls in place on mobility and gatherings.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585521942640.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump’s impulse to reopen the country met a sober reality check Sunday from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, who said the U.S. could experience more than 100,000 deaths and millions of infections from the pandemic. That warning hardened a recognition in Washington that the struggle against the coronavirus will not be resolved quickly even as Trump expressed a longing for normalcy.“I want our life back again,” the president told reporters.Trump, who has largely avoided talk of potential death and infection rates, cited projection models that said potentially 2.2 million people or more could have died had social distancing measures not been put in place. And he said the country would be doing well if it “can hold” the number of deaths “down to 100,000.” He said the best case for the country would be for the death rate to peak in about two weeks.“It’s a horrible number,” Trump said, but added, “We all together have done a very good job.”Brought forward by Trump at the outdoor briefing, Fauci said his projection of a potential 100,000 to 200,000 deaths is “entirely conceivable” if not enough is done to mitigate the crisis. He said that helped shape the extension of the guidelines, which he called “a wise and prudent decision.”Americans are now being called on to prepare for another 30 days of severe economic and social disruption, as schools and businesses are closed and public life is upended. One in 3 Americans remain under state or local government orders to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus.Trump acknowledged that he may be forced to extend the guidelines again at the end of April, but expressed hope that by June 1, “we should be well on our way to recovery.”The federal guidelines recommend against group gatherings larger than 10 and urge older people and anyone with existing health problems to stay home. People are urged to work at home when possible and avoid restaurants, bars, non-essential travel and shopping trips.For more than a week, Trump had been bombarded by calls from outside business leaders who urged him to begin re-opening the nation’s economy and warned of catastrophic consequences that could damage his re-election chances if it remained shuttered for much longer.“The president is right. The cure can’t be worse than the disease, and we’re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs,” Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow had said last Monday, reflecting the thinking of his economic team.That talk alarmed health experts, who urged Trump to keep encouraging people to stay home. The virus was still spreading, with the peak still weeks away, the experts warned.In the end, Trump, in the face of dire projections and increasingly alarming images out of New York, sided with his health experts and backed off the idea of loosening recommended restrictions on less impacted parts of the country.“They’re the best in the profession and they didn’t like that idea,” he said of Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force.Trump was clearly moved by the scenes from New York, particularly hard-hit Elmhurst Hospital in his native Queens.“I’ve been watching that for the last week on television,” he said. ”Body bags all over, in hallways. I’ve been watching them bring in trailer trucks — freezer trucks, they’re freezer trucks, because they can’t handle the bodies, there are so many of them. This is essentially in my community, in Queens, Queens, New York,” he continued. “I’ve seen things that I’ve never seen before.”Phasing out the recommendations would have been a symbolic nod to business and an affront to public health experts, but may have had little practical impact. States across the country already have their own restrictions in place that, in many cases, are far stricter than the administration’s, and those would have remained in place.Birx and Fauci said even those areas yet to face a significant outbreak must prepare for the eventuality that they will.“This can happen anywhere,” Fauci said. “And that’s really one of the issues that we’re concerned about and why we were so reluctant to pull back at a time when we need to put our foot on the gas as opposed to on the brake.”The U.S. had more than 139,000 COVID-19 cases reported by Sunday evening, with more than 2,400 deaths. During the course of the Rose Garden briefing, reported deaths grew by several dozen and the number of cases by several thousand.Most people who contract COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems. Hospitals in the most afflicted areas are straining to handle patients and some are short of critical supplies.Fauci’s prediction would take the death toll well past that of the average seasonal flu. Trump repeatedly cited the flu’s comparatively much higher cost in lives in playing down the severity of this pandemic.Trump’s change in tone was previewed Saturday, when the president suggested then backed away from instituting an “enforceable” quarantine of hard-hit New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Instead, the White House task force recommended a travel advisory for residents of those states to limit non-essential travel to slow the spread of the virus to other parts of the U.S.The quarantine notion was strongly opposed by the governors of those states, who argued it would cause panic.Even as he opted against the quarantine, Trump on Sunday suggested without evidence that hospitals and hospital systems were “hoarding” ventilators and other medical supplies that were needed in other areas of the state. He also encouraged the Food and Drug Administration to streamline approvals for companies seeking to sanitize badly needed respirators so they can be reused.For weeks, Trump minimized the gravity of the pandemic, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday accused Trump of “denial” in the crisis and called it “deadly.”Asked whether she believes that attitude cost American lives, Pelosi told CNN: “Yes, I am. I’m saying that.”Former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, said he wouldn’t go so far as to lay the blame for deaths on the president. “I think that’s a little too harsh,” he told NBC.

Trump extends virus guidelines, braces US for big death toll

Fort Riley officials have announced that in order to better preserve and protect the force,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FortRiley/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARAYq91f5tXTJ8ILz8btHb9QfHdzqh_VOWcNOUJ-ChC0J6ow8ppyGAIVI5ZvHqsWd7ag-HwLI0WgJDK7&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARD9GIG9bfZK6Pm0pZCzn3mruyMsxQmcdtsOHuYTw2qroy5xAAuinS2NL8S6h2UmqrBoL1pJvRrxA65i9fraNKgW-gKOsBeDam91lX3hbehM4MxCay594wxk-R8sxHWZMSXi72uEfrbjHr1hHbRxzqmXEEvlnufJ63fUzSOXY82jEkdLoMJ1kK_2DT54vrySEbaJUWXcwnYWcURw15g8qSBjSy3HZLFezZhhLQJiKzHx-5FcsJZxZ1ts0NvUUSZoQ38TQEku4RwmJeBYfKLa-i22uXzpm15OtKHZkDEoZdnUPLfR8_ZU5vHSLwHvMNNQa2Xt0n1fHgtzgcVL-w">Fort Riley</a>&nbsp;is making the following changes to access control points:

*Beginning Monday, 30 March Trooper Gate hours will change to 0500-2200 daily.

*Effective Tuesday, 31 March, Estes Gate will close.

*Effective Tuesday, 31 March, Four Corners Gate will close to all but tactical vehicle traffic.

*Grant Gate will remain closed until further notice.

Fort Riley officials have announced that in order to better preserve and protect the force,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FortRiley/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARAYq91f5tXTJ8ILz8btHb9QfHdzqh_VOWcNOUJ-ChC0J6ow8ppyGAIVI5ZvHqsWd7ag-HwLI0WgJDK7&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARD9GIG9bfZK6Pm0pZCzn3mruyMsxQmcdtsOHuYTw2qroy5xAAuinS2NL8S6h2UmqrBoL1pJvRrxA65i9fraNKgW-gKOsBeDam91lX3hbehM4MxCay594wxk-R8sxHWZMSXi72uEfrbjHr1hHbRxzqmXEEvlnufJ63fUzSOXY82jEkdLoMJ1kK_2DT54vrySEbaJUWXcwnYWcURw15g8qSBjSy3HZLFezZhhLQJiKzHx-5FcsJZxZ1ts0NvUUSZoQ38TQEku4RwmJeBYfKLa-i22uXzpm15OtKHZkDEoZdnUPLfR8_ZU5vHSLwHvMNNQa2Xt0n1fHgtzgcVL-w">Fort Riley</a>&nbsp;is making the following changes to access control points:*Beginning Monday, 30 March Trooper Gate hours will change to 0500-2200 daily.*Effective Tuesday, 31 March, Estes Gate will close.*Effective Tuesday, 31 March, Four Corners Gate will close to all but tactical vehicle traffic.*Grant Gate will remain closed until further notice.

Gate access point changes for Fort Rilry

NEW YORK (AP) — Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads and honky-tonk singles like “Home” and “Pickup Man,” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61. He was to headline a performance at the Kansas State Fair with Logan Mize September 15.

Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a diagnosis. Diffie's publicist Scott Adkins said the singer died Sunday due to complications from the virus.

Diffie, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 25 years. His hits included “Honky Tonk Attitude," “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die," “Bigger Than the Beatles" and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets).”

His mid-90s albums “Honkey Tonk Attitude” and “Third Rock From the Sun” went platinum. Eighteen of Diffie's singles landed in the top 10, with five going No. 1. In his 2013 single “1994,” Jason Aldean name-checked the '90s country mainstay.

Diffie is survived by his wife, Theresa Crump, and five children from his four marriages.

NEW YORK (AP) — Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads and honky-tonk singles like “Home” and “Pickup Man,” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61. He was to headline a performance at the Kansas State Fair with Logan Mize September 15.Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a diagnosis. Diffie's publicist Scott Adkins said the singer died Sunday due to complications from the virus.Diffie, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 25 years. His hits included “Honky Tonk Attitude," “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die," “Bigger Than the Beatles" and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets).”His mid-90s albums “Honkey Tonk Attitude” and “Third Rock From the Sun” went platinum. Eighteen of Diffie's singles landed in the top 10, with five going No. 1. In his 2013 single “1994,” Jason Aldean name-checked the '90s country mainstay.Diffie is survived by his wife, Theresa Crump, and five children from his four marriages.

Country singer Joe Diffie dies of coronavirus complications

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans, the U.S. government’s top infectious-disease expert warned on Sunday as smoldering hot spots in nursing homes and a growing list of stricken cities heightened the sense of dread across the country.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, made the dire prediction of fatalities on CNN, adding that millions in the U.S. could become infected.

By evening, the U.S. had over 135,000 infections and 2,400 deaths, according to the running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, though the true number of cases is thought to be considerably higher because of testing shortages and mild illnesses that have gone unreported.

Worldwide, more than 710,000 infections were reported, and deaths topped 33,000, half of them in Italy and Spain, where hospitals are swamped and the health system is at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7ec91dc45d8d7c2ea86b0a97446a303a">breaking point</a>.

New York state — where the death toll closed in on 1,000, up by more than 200 from the day before — remained the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with the vast majority of the deaths in New York City. But spikes in infections were recorded around the country, not only in metropolitan areas but in Midwestern towns and Rocky Mountain ski havens.

“This is not going to get better soon,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

The virus is moving fast through nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other places that house elderly or otherwise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4310cabee8397f9af442660b37f430e4">vulnerable people</a>, spreading “like fire through dry grass,” Cuomo said.

Since the U.S. saw its first major outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this month — centered at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington — a stream of facilities have battled infections among residents and staff.

A week ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 147 nursing homes in 27 states had patients with COVID-19. The problem has only worsened since.

In Woodbridge, New Jersey, an entire nursing home relocated its residents after two dozen were confirmed infected and the rest were presumed to be. In Louisiana, at least 11 nursing homes, largely in the New Orleans area, have reported cases. In Mount Airy, Maryland, a death linked to the virus was recorded in a home where 66 people were confirmed infected.

Residents’ loved ones are being kept away to try to slow the spread of the virus.

“I have a feeling that I very likely may never see my mother again,” said James Preller, whose 94-year-old mother, Ann Preller, is a resident at Peconic Landing, a retirement community near Greenport on New York’s Long Island where seven have died in the past two weeks.

Brian Lee of Families for Better Care, an advocacy group for those living in long-term care facilities, said in a nursing home, “when we see an outbreak that’s uncontrolled, it’s practically a death sentence.” But he also said the way residents are being walled off from the outside world is as much of a concern as the virus itself.

In New York, the virus is overwhelming some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, with data showing high rates of infection in densely packed areas with big non-English-speaking populations.

Dr. Craig Smith, who heads the surgery department at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, said the hospital will probably be forced into “apocalyptic scenarios” in the coming weeks in which ventilators and intensive care unit beds will need to be rationed.

“Yesterday tried my soul,” he wrote in an online posting.

Worry for the poorest was being echoed around the world.

In India, a lockdown covering the country’s 1.3 billion people has put untold numbers out of work and left many families struggling to feed themselves. Tens of thousands in New Delhi were forced to flee their homes, with no way to pay the rent, journeying back to their native villages. Women in saris held babies on their hips. Others toted their belongings in bags normally used for cement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized for the hardships that the lockdown brought but said, “These tough measures were needed to win this battle.”

Though the U.S. leads the world in reported cases, five other countries have higher death tolls: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.

Italy reported more than 750 new fatalities Sunday, bringing the country’s total to nearly 10,800. But the number of new infections showed signs of easing, with officials expressing cautious optimism that the most severe shutdown in the industrialized West is showing results.

Italy’s civil protection agency said more than 5,200 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, the lowest number in four days, for a total of almost 98,000 infections.

Spain moved to tighten its lockdown and ban all nonessential work as it hit another daily record of almost 840 dead. The country’s overall official toll was more than 6,500.

Spain’s health emergencies chief, Fernando Simón, said the number of people in intensive care units keeps rising and hospitals are at their limits in several regions.

“That is why we have to strictly apply the control measures,” he said.

Egypt shut its beaches as cases in the Mideast surpassed 50,000. Police in the Philippines stepped up arrests of quarantine violators, and more tourists were evacuated from Mount Everest and the Indonesian island of Bali.

Poland is considering delaying its May 10 presidential election. Russia ordered borders to close on Monday, Moscow all but confined its 12 million residents to their homes, and the head of the Russian Orthodox called on believers to stay away from churches and pray at home instead.

A prominent French politician with the virus died, the country’s first death of a senior official.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

About 150,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585496965542.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci visits with Vice President Mike Pence prior to Wednesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci visits with Vice President Mike Pence prior to Wednesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans, the U.S. government’s top infectious-disease expert warned on Sunday as smoldering hot spots in nursing homes and a growing list of stricken cities heightened the sense of dread across the country.Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, made the dire prediction of fatalities on CNN, adding that millions in the U.S. could become infected.By evening, the U.S. had over 135,000 infections and 2,400 deaths, according to the running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, though the true number of cases is thought to be considerably higher because of testing shortages and mild illnesses that have gone unreported.Worldwide, more than 710,000 infections were reported, and deaths topped 33,000, half of them in Italy and Spain, where hospitals are swamped and the health system is at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7ec91dc45d8d7c2ea86b0a97446a303a">breaking point</a>.New York state — where the death toll closed in on 1,000, up by more than 200 from the day before — remained the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with the vast majority of the deaths in New York City. But spikes in infections were recorded around the country, not only in metropolitan areas but in Midwestern towns and Rocky Mountain ski havens.“This is not going to get better soon,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.The virus is moving fast through nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other places that house elderly or otherwise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4310cabee8397f9af442660b37f430e4">vulnerable people</a>, spreading “like fire through dry grass,” Cuomo said.Since the U.S. saw its first major outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this month — centered at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington — a stream of facilities have battled infections among residents and staff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585521942640.png" alt="Dr. Fauci during Sunday Coronavirus Task Force briefing -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Fauci during Sunday Coronavirus Task Force briefing -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>A week ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 147 nursing homes in 27 states had patients with COVID-19. The problem has only worsened since.In Woodbridge, New Jersey, an entire nursing home relocated its residents after two dozen were confirmed infected and the rest were presumed to be. In Louisiana, at least 11 nursing homes, largely in the New Orleans area, have reported cases. In Mount Airy, Maryland, a death linked to the virus was recorded in a home where 66 people were confirmed infected.Residents’ loved ones are being kept away to try to slow the spread of the virus.“I have a feeling that I very likely may never see my mother again,” said James Preller, whose 94-year-old mother, Ann Preller, is a resident at Peconic Landing, a retirement community near Greenport on New York’s Long Island where seven have died in the past two weeks.Brian Lee of Families for Better Care, an advocacy group for those living in long-term care facilities, said in a nursing home, “when we see an outbreak that’s uncontrolled, it’s practically a death sentence.” But he also said the way residents are being walled off from the outside world is as much of a concern as the virus itself.In New York, the virus is overwhelming some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, with data showing high rates of infection in densely packed areas with big non-English-speaking populations.Dr. Craig Smith, who heads the surgery department at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, said the hospital will probably be forced into “apocalyptic scenarios” in the coming weeks in which ventilators and intensive care unit beds will need to be rationed.“Yesterday tried my soul,” he wrote in an online posting.Worry for the poorest was being echoed around the world.In India, a lockdown covering the country’s 1.3 billion people has put untold numbers out of work and left many families struggling to feed themselves. Tens of thousands in New Delhi were forced to flee their homes, with no way to pay the rent, journeying back to their native villages. Women in saris held babies on their hips. Others toted their belongings in bags normally used for cement.Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized for the hardships that the lockdown brought but said, “These tough measures were needed to win this battle.”Though the U.S. leads the world in reported cases, five other countries have higher death tolls: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.Italy reported more than 750 new fatalities Sunday, bringing the country’s total to nearly 10,800. But the number of new infections showed signs of easing, with officials expressing cautious optimism that the most severe shutdown in the industrialized West is showing results.Italy’s civil protection agency said more than 5,200 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, the lowest number in four days, for a total of almost 98,000 infections.Spain moved to tighten its lockdown and ban all nonessential work as it hit another daily record of almost 840 dead. The country’s overall official toll was more than 6,500.Spain’s health emergencies chief, Fernando Simón, said the number of people in intensive care units keeps rising and hospitals are at their limits in several regions.“That is why we have to strictly apply the control measures,” he said.Egypt shut its beaches as cases in the Mideast surpassed 50,000. Police in the Philippines stepped up arrests of quarantine violators, and more tourists were evacuated from Mount Everest and the Indonesian island of Bali.Poland is considering delaying its May 10 presidential election. Russia ordered borders to close on Monday, Moscow all but confined its 12 million residents to their homes, and the head of the Russian Orthodox called on believers to stay away from churches and pray at home instead.A prominent French politician with the virus died, the country’s first death of a senior official.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.About 150,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.President Donald Trump on Saturday backtracked on a proposal to quarantine New York and neighboring states amid criticism and questions about the legality of such a move. But the CDC issued a travel advisory urging all residents of New York City and others in New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut to avoid all nonessential travel for 14 days.Shocking as that is, it stopped short of the restrictions imposed in Europe or elsewhere. Parisians are fined if they try to leave the city, South Africans can’t buy liquor, and Serbians are upset over a ban on walking their dogs. In Italy, burials are being held with only one family member.Some U.S. states began to try to limit exposure from visitors from harder-hit areas. Rhode Island National Guard troops went door to door in coastal communities to find New Yorkers. Florida is setting up checkpoints to screen visitors from Louisiana.As others tightened controls, China continued to ease its restrictions, following the ruling Communist Party’s declaration of victory over the coronavirus. Flights from Hubei province at the epicenter of the country’s outbreak resumed Sunday.___

Coronavirus Update