Geary County is under a 30-day Stay at Home order. The goal is to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and encourage social distancing.

Terry Johnson, Junction City Fire Chief, said when you call the Fire Department or 911 you will be asked a series of questions. "We're asking these questions so that we can provide the appropriate response and protect you, our community and our firefighters. "You will be asked if you have a fever above 100 degrees and if you have a cough, runny nose, muscle aches or shortness of breath. "Depending on your answers they may continue to ask you are you living with a person that is currently ill? Has that person flown anywhere in the last two weeks? Has that person been outside the United States?"

Johnson stated that the information they gather will allow Fire Department personnel to provide an appropriate response to protect the person calling, the community and the firefighters.

Under the order people are directed to stay at home and leave their residence only to perform essential activities. Those can range from tasks essential to their health and safety of their family or household members to obtaining medical supplies, medication, visiting a healthcare professional, obtaining groceries and gas to going to banks and financial institutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585363731406.jpeg" alt="Junction City Fire Chief speaking" />
 <figcaption>Junction City Fire Chief speaking</figcaption>
 </figure>Geary County is under a 30-day Stay at Home order. The goal is to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and encourage social distancing.Terry Johnson, Junction City Fire Chief, said when you call the Fire Department or 911 you will be asked a series of questions. "We're asking these questions so that we can provide the appropriate response and protect you, our community and our firefighters. "You will be asked if you have a fever above 100 degrees and if you have a cough, runny nose, muscle aches or shortness of breath. "Depending on your answers they may continue to ask you are you living with a person that is currently ill? Has that person flown anywhere in the last two weeks? Has that person been outside the United States?"Johnson stated that the information they gather will allow Fire Department personnel to provide an appropriate response to protect the person calling, the community and the firefighters.Under the order people are directed to stay at home and leave their residence only to perform essential activities. Those can range from tasks essential to their health and safety of their family or household members to obtaining medical supplies, medication, visiting a healthcare professional, obtaining groceries and gas to going to banks and financial institutions.

Junction City Fire Department procedures during Stay at Home Order are outlined

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday signed a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package, calling the bill much-needed relief for American workers reeling from the economic tumult caused by the coronavirus.

Trump signed the bill in Oval Office ceremony surrounded by Republican lawmakers and members of his administration shortly after the Democratic-controlled House approved the massive spending package. Under the plan, many single Americans would receive $1,200, married couples would get $2,400 and parents would see $500 for each child.

The signing came the after the U.S. government on Thursday reported nearly 3.3 million new weekly jobless claims. The U.S. death toll has surpassed 1,200 from the virus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342982232.png" alt="President Trump signed the bill Friday afternoon -photo White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the bill Friday afternoon -photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday signed a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package, calling the bill much-needed relief for American workers reeling from the economic tumult caused by the coronavirus.Trump signed the bill in Oval Office ceremony surrounded by Republican lawmakers and members of his administration shortly after the Democratic-controlled House approved the massive spending package. Under the plan, many single Americans would receive $1,200, married couples would get $2,400 and parents would see $500 for each child.The signing came the after the U.S. government on Thursday reported nearly 3.3 million new weekly jobless claims. The U.S. death toll has surpassed 1,200 from the virus.___

Trump signs $2.2 Trillion virus relief package

Salina Regional Health Center was informed Thursday night that one of its employees tested positive for coronavirus.&nbsp;

On Friday afternoon, commissioners in Saline County issued a 30-day stay-at-home order that is scheduled to begin 12:01 a.m. Monday.

A full investigation of the positive coronavirus case, as outlined by CDC and KDHE, is underway to determine previous contacts with the employee, according to the health department. Any patient, visitor or employee that is deemed at risk for potential exposure will be notified by Infection Control with further instructions.&nbsp;

"While it's unknown how or when our staff member gained exposure to COVID-19, it's not a surprise to anyone. Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in nearby communities throughout our region. We anticipate that COVID-19 also is present in Saline County, however, without the ability to test everyone, many cases cannot be laboratory confirmed.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Salina Regional Health Center makes the health and well-being of our staff and our patients a top priority.&nbsp; We continue to screen all patients and visitors to our facilities.&nbsp; Our staff members self-screen daily before reporting to work following CDC and KDHE guidelines. Those who do not pass the screening questions are asked not to report to work.

Proper social distancing, hand hygiene and recognition of the symptoms of COVID-19 remain our best defense against the spread of the virus. If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, or suspect you've gained exposure to COVID-19, contact your medical provider or one of our clinics for the best way to proceed with care.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Regional Health Center was informed Thursday night that one of its employees tested positive for coronavirus.&nbsp;On Friday afternoon, commissioners in Saline County issued a 30-day stay-at-home order that is scheduled to begin 12:01 a.m. Monday.A full investigation of the positive coronavirus case, as outlined by CDC and KDHE, is underway to determine previous contacts with the employee, according to the health department. Any patient, visitor or employee that is deemed at risk for potential exposure will be notified by Infection Control with further instructions.&nbsp;"While it's unknown how or when our staff member gained exposure to COVID-19, it's not a surprise to anyone. Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in nearby communities throughout our region. We anticipate that COVID-19 also is present in Saline County, however, without the ability to test everyone, many cases cannot be laboratory confirmed.&nbsp; &nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center makes the health and well-being of our staff and our patients a top priority.&nbsp; We continue to screen all patients and visitors to our facilities.&nbsp; Our staff members self-screen daily before reporting to work following CDC and KDHE guidelines. Those who do not pass the screening questions are asked not to report to work.Proper social distancing, hand hygiene and recognition of the symptoms of COVID-19 remain our best defense against the spread of the virus. If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, or suspect you've gained exposure to COVID-19, contact your medical provider or one of our clinics for the best way to proceed with care.

Salina confirms positive coronavirus test; County issues stay-at-home order

Geary County Health Officer Tammy Von Busch has issued a 30-day Stay at Home Order to help enforce more social distancing and reduce the spread of Coronavirus-19. The order is effective at 12:01 a.m. Saturday ( March 28 ).

Von Busch told a press conference at the Junction City Municipal Court that the order will be a little more restrictive than past measures. She referred to an earlier order by Governor Laura Kelly...20-15. "If you are not designated as a Kansas essential functions framework you're going to be closed down. " Von Busch added you can look up the Governor's executive order on that topic. "So essentially with that churches do not fall into that framework so effective at midnight tonight ( 12:01 a.m. Saturday )&nbsp; this order is going into effect which means churches will no longer be allowed to meet. If you have a congregation of 10 or less you will be allowed to have your services with appropriate social distancing."

Under the order people are directed to stay at home and leave their residence only to perform essential activities. They can range from tasks essential to their health and safety of their family or household members, obtaining medical supplies or medication, or visiting a healthcare professional, groceries and to perform work providing essential projects and services at an essential business. Those can range from grocery stores and farming to gas stations, banks and financial institutions.

Geary County Sheriff Daniel Jackson said everyone in the community needs to practice social distancing and follow the direction from the county health officer. "We hope that everyone voluntarily complies with the Health Department orders but in the event that businesses or individuals choose to ignore the Health Department orders there are enforcement actions that we can and will utilize."

Jackson added that there activities you can undertake. "Household members that live together can all be on one boat out at the lake or just boating, but it would not be okay for four or five different household groups to tie their boats and just hang out and interact socially."

In the communities playground equipment will be closed. Junction City Police Chief John Lamb noted that officers will be monitor basketball courts to encourage the public not to use them. It would be difficult to practice social distancing while playing basketball.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342788165.jpeg" alt="Tammy Von Busch" />
 <figcaption>Tammy Von Busch</figcaption>
 </figure>Geary County Health Officer Tammy Von Busch has issued a 30-day Stay at Home Order to help enforce more social distancing and reduce the spread of Coronavirus-19. The order is effective at 12:01 a.m. Saturday ( March 28 ).Von Busch told a press conference at the Junction City Municipal Court that the order will be a little more restrictive than past measures. She referred to an earlier order by Governor Laura Kelly...20-15. "If you are not designated as a Kansas essential functions framework you're going to be closed down. " Von Busch added you can look up the Governor's executive order on that topic. "So essentially with that churches do not fall into that framework so effective at midnight tonight ( 12:01 a.m. Saturday )&nbsp; this order is going into effect which means churches will no longer be allowed to meet. If you have a congregation of 10 or less you will be allowed to have your services with appropriate social distancing."Under the order people are directed to stay at home and leave their residence only to perform essential activities. They can range from tasks essential to their health and safety of their family or household members, obtaining medical supplies or medication, or visiting a healthcare professional, groceries and to perform work providing essential projects and services at an essential business. Those can range from grocery stores and farming to gas stations, banks and financial institutions.Geary County Sheriff Daniel Jackson said everyone in the community needs to practice social distancing and follow the direction from the county health officer. "We hope that everyone voluntarily complies with the Health Department orders but in the event that businesses or individuals choose to ignore the Health Department orders there are enforcement actions that we can and will utilize."Jackson added that there activities you can undertake. "Household members that live together can all be on one boat out at the lake or just boating, but it would not be okay for four or five different household groups to tie their boats and just hang out and interact socially."In the communities playground equipment will be closed. Junction City Police Chief John Lamb noted that officers will be monitor basketball courts to encourage the public not to use them. It would be difficult to practice social distancing while playing basketball.

30-Day Stay at Home Order issued in Geary County

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City-area man in his 80s with underlying health concerns is the fourth person in Kansas to die of the coronavirus, state health officials said Friday. He was diagnosed Monday and died Thursday, according to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City health department.

The University of Kansas Health System reported Friday that it is treating 18 confirmed cases, including 10 in intensive care.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The other three people who died also lived in the Kansas City area.

For most people, the coronavirus 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, or death.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City-area man in his 80s with underlying health concerns is the fourth person in Kansas to die of the coronavirus, state health officials said Friday. He was diagnosed Monday and died Thursday, according to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City health department.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F2275555782749312%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="512" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The University of Kansas Health System reported Friday that it is treating 18 confirmed cases, including 10 in intensive care.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585342862461.jpeg" alt="COVID-19 March 27 2020_.jpg" />
 <figcaption>COVID-19 March 27 2020_.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;The other three people who died also lived in the Kansas City area.For most people, the coronavirus 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, or death.

🎥  The Latest Kansas coronavirus numbers; death toll grows to 4

Irwin Army Community Hospital is offering a COVID-19 screening line.

Irwin Army Community Hospital is offering a COVID-19 screening line.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585327194936.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

IACH Patient Screening Line established

SEDGWICK COUNTY— The spread of the coronavirus across Kansas prompted officials to set some inmates free.

Sedgwick County announced Thursday it had released about 200 inmates from the county jail to free space to isolate inmates who become ill with the virus in the coming weeks.

 According to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.

"On March 12, the jail provided my office a list of everyone in the jail (including those housed at the annex or out-of-county). 

 We started with 1,645 inmates involving 1,689 district court cases; From there we whittled out defendants being held of cases with SL4 and above which got us down to 1307 cases involving 1038 defendants.

From that group 154 are awaiting sentencing (according to a list provided by a the district court); 

There had been approximately 95 cases awaiting a hearing for a probation violation according to information from the jail earlier this week. (that number changed by Friday)


 
We went through the list and identified 150 people last week that could be released on bond without posing a community safety risk – namely, traffic cases; property crimes; drug cases.  Efforts are under way currently to go through the remaining cases again to look for additional cases that may be viable for release without posing a community safety risk. 


 
We started the process of handling probation violation hearings Wednesday.&nbsp; More probation violation hearings and sentencing hearings are being scheduled.  We continue to work with the defense counsel to provide the court with lists of cases ready for hearing while complying with victim notification requirements."

The state reported Thursday that it has at least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c043c295047975299ee4e582efcb8964">168 confirmed cases</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>, an increase of 42 from Wednesday. Three corornavirus-related deaths have been reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583595393760.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— The spread of the coronavirus across Kansas prompted officials to set some inmates free.Sedgwick County announced Thursday it had released about 200 inmates from the county jail to free space to isolate inmates who become ill with the virus in the coming weeks. According to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett."On March 12, the jail provided my office a list of everyone in the jail (including those housed at the annex or out-of-county). We started with 1,645 inmates involving 1,689 district court cases; From there we whittled out defendants being held of cases with SL4 and above which got us down to 1307 cases involving 1038 defendants.From that group 154 are awaiting sentencing (according to a list provided by a the district court); There had been approximately 95 cases awaiting a hearing for a probation violation according to information from the jail earlier this week. (that number changed by Friday)
 
We went through the list and identified 150 people last week that could be released on bond without posing a community safety risk – namely, traffic cases; property crimes; drug cases. Efforts are under way currently to go through the remaining cases again to look for additional cases that may be viable for release without posing a community safety risk. 
 
We started the process of handling probation violation hearings Wednesday.&nbsp; More probation violation hearings and sentencing hearings are being scheduled. We continue to work with the defense counsel to provide the court with lists of cases ready for hearing while complying with victim notification requirements."The state reported Thursday that it has at least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c043c295047975299ee4e582efcb8964">168 confirmed cases</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>, an increase of 42 from Wednesday. Three corornavirus-related deaths have been reported.

Some Kansas inmates set free amid coronavirus outbreak

<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">Click here </a>to see the worldwide map of confirmed cases

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. coronavirus infections surged to top the world amid warnings that the pandemic is accelerating in cities like New York, Chicago and Detroit, while a record $2.2 trillion emergency package neared final approval Friday by Congress to help millions of newly unemployed Americans and struggling companies.

The situation in countries with even more fragile health care systems grew more dire on Friday. Russia, Indonesia and South Africa all passed the 1,000-infection mark and South Africa began a three-week lockdown. India launched a massive program to help feed hungry day laborers after a lockdown of the country's 1.3 billion people put them out of work.

In France, a 16-year-old student became the youngest person in the country to die from the virus. Her sister, Manon, spoke out in the French media, saying that Julie was hospitalized Monday after developing a “slight cough” last week, then died Tuesday at the Necker children's hospital in Paris.

“We must stop believing that this only affects the elderly,” said Manon, who did not reveal her surname. "No one is invincible against this mutant virus.”

France has reported more than 1,600 deaths so far amid 29,000 infections.

The U.S. now has more than 85,000 confirmed cases, and Italy was set to pass China's 81,782 infections later Friday. The three countries account for 46% of the world's nearly 540,000 infections and more than half of its acknowledged virus deaths.

Analysts, however warned that all those infection figures could be low for reasons that varied in each nation.

“China numbers can't be trusted because the government lies,” American political scientist Ian Bremmer, president of the Euraisa Group think-tank, said Friday in a tweet. “U.S. numbers can't be trusted because the government can't produce enough tests.”

Italian epidemiologists warn that the country's numbers are likely much higher than reported — perhaps five times as higher — although two weeks into a nationwide lockdown the daily increase seems to be slowing, at least in northern Italy.

“It’s a horrible sensation, not being able to breathe,” said Fausto Russo, a 38-year-old fitness trainer who is one of 10,000 Italians whose infection has been cured. “Imagine putting your head under water.”

Health care workers grew increasingly angry at the lack of protective equipment.

"Our emergency room was like a petri dish,” said Benny Mathew, a nurse at New York's Montefiore Medical Center who heard Thursday he had COVID-19 and is now worried he may infect his wife and two daughters.

“I’m angry. We could have secured enough personal protective equipment months ago. It was happening in China since December,” he said. “But we thought it was never going to happen here.”

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 death.

The worldwide death toll climbed to over 24,000, according to Johns Hopkins University but more than 124,000 people have recovered, about half in China.

New York state, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak., reported 100 more deaths in one day, accounting for almost 30% of the 1,300 fatalities nationwide. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the number of deaths will increase soon as critically ill patients who have been on ventilators for days succumb.

“That is a situation where people just deteriorate over time,” Cuomo said.

The White House's coronavirus response coordinator, Deborah Birx, said counties in the Midwest around Chicago and Detroit are seeing a rapid increase in cases.

Washington, D.C., confirmed 36 new cases, raising its total to 267. The district is under a state of emergency, its major attractions like the Smithsonian museums and National Zoo closed and White House and Capitol tours cancelled. Police have blocked off streets, bridges and traffic circles to prevent crowds from coming to see Washington’s blooming cherry blossom trees.

Russian authorities ramped up testing this week after widespread criticism of insufficient screening.

The stay-home order for India's 1.3 billion people threw out of work the backbone of the nation’s economy — rickshaw drivers, fruit peddlers, cleaners and others who buy food with their daily earnings. The government announced a $22 billion stimulus to deliver monthly rations to 800 million people.

India's massive train system was also halted to stop the spread of the virus but that might not work. Jobless workers are now attempting to walk hundreds of miles to their home villages from India's major cities.

In China, where the virus was first believed to have started, the National Health Commission on Friday reported 55 new cases, 54 of them imported infections. Once again, there were no new cases reported in Wuhan, the provincial capital where the coronavirus first emerged in December. China is barring most foreigners from entering.

In a phone call Friday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump that China "understands the United States' current predicament over the COVID-19 outbreak and stands ready to provide support within its capacity."

The two countries should “work together to boost cooperation in epidemic control and other fields, and develop a relationship of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation," the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The pandemic appears to have peaked in China, even while the government remains on guard against imported cases. Beijing is sending medical teams and equipment abroad, especially to Europe. But it has strongly protested U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's repeated references to the outbreak as the "Wuhan Flu," saying that promotes bias against China and Chinese Americans.

The economic damage of the pandemic was growing. Italy shut down most of its industry, and a record-shattering 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — nearly five times the old record set in 1982. Companies in Europe are laying off workers at the fastest pace since 2009, according to surveys of business managers.

Despite that, Wall Street rallied for the third straight day after an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package to help businesses, hospitals and ordinary Americans passed the Senate. The rescue plan, which is expected to be voted on in the House later Friday, would dispense checks of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child.

NEW YORK — The United States now leads the world in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases.

According to a running count by Johns Hopkins University, the number of people infected in the U.S. topped 82,000 on Thursday. That’s just ahead of the 81,000 cases in China and 80,000 in Italy.

Italy has the most confirmed deaths of any country with more than 8,000. More than 1,000 people have died in the U.S including 281 in New York City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585262392479.png" alt="Map courtesy John Hopkins <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">Coronavirus Resource Center</a>" />
 <figcaption>Map courtesy John Hopkins <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">Coronavirus Resource Center</a></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">Click here </a>to see the worldwide map of confirmed casesNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. coronavirus infections surged to top the world amid warnings that the pandemic is accelerating in cities like New York, Chicago and Detroit, while a record $2.2 trillion emergency package neared final approval Friday by Congress to help millions of newly unemployed Americans and struggling companies.The situation in countries with even more fragile health care systems grew more dire on Friday. Russia, Indonesia and South Africa all passed the 1,000-infection mark and South Africa began a three-week lockdown. India launched a massive program to help feed hungry day laborers after a lockdown of the country's 1.3 billion people put them out of work.In France, a 16-year-old student became the youngest person in the country to die from the virus. Her sister, Manon, spoke out in the French media, saying that Julie was hospitalized Monday after developing a “slight cough” last week, then died Tuesday at the Necker children's hospital in Paris.“We must stop believing that this only affects the elderly,” said Manon, who did not reveal her surname. "No one is invincible against this mutant virus.”France has reported more than 1,600 deaths so far amid 29,000 infections.The U.S. now has more than 85,000 confirmed cases, and Italy was set to pass China's 81,782 infections later Friday. The three countries account for 46% of the world's nearly 540,000 infections and more than half of its acknowledged virus deaths.Analysts, however warned that all those infection figures could be low for reasons that varied in each nation.“China numbers can't be trusted because the government lies,” American political scientist Ian Bremmer, president of the Euraisa Group think-tank, said Friday in a tweet. “U.S. numbers can't be trusted because the government can't produce enough tests.”Italian epidemiologists warn that the country's numbers are likely much higher than reported — perhaps five times as higher — although two weeks into a nationwide lockdown the daily increase seems to be slowing, at least in northern Italy.“It’s a horrible sensation, not being able to breathe,” said Fausto Russo, a 38-year-old fitness trainer who is one of 10,000 Italians whose infection has been cured. “Imagine putting your head under water.”Health care workers grew increasingly angry at the lack of protective equipment."Our emergency room was like a petri dish,” said Benny Mathew, a nurse at New York's Montefiore Medical Center who heard Thursday he had COVID-19 and is now worried he may infect his wife and two daughters.“I’m angry. We could have secured enough personal protective equipment months ago. It was happening in China since December,” he said. “But we thought it was never going to happen here.”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 death.The worldwide death toll climbed to over 24,000, according to Johns Hopkins University but more than 124,000 people have recovered, about half in China.New York state, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak., reported 100 more deaths in one day, accounting for almost 30% of the 1,300 fatalities nationwide. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the number of deaths will increase soon as critically ill patients who have been on ventilators for days succumb.“That is a situation where people just deteriorate over time,” Cuomo said.The White House's coronavirus response coordinator, Deborah Birx, said counties in the Midwest around Chicago and Detroit are seeing a rapid increase in cases.Washington, D.C., confirmed 36 new cases, raising its total to 267. The district is under a state of emergency, its major attractions like the Smithsonian museums and National Zoo closed and White House and Capitol tours cancelled. Police have blocked off streets, bridges and traffic circles to prevent crowds from coming to see Washington’s blooming cherry blossom trees.Russian authorities ramped up testing this week after widespread criticism of insufficient screening.The stay-home order for India's 1.3 billion people threw out of work the backbone of the nation’s economy — rickshaw drivers, fruit peddlers, cleaners and others who buy food with their daily earnings. The government announced a $22 billion stimulus to deliver monthly rations to 800 million people.India's massive train system was also halted to stop the spread of the virus but that might not work. Jobless workers are now attempting to walk hundreds of miles to their home villages from India's major cities.In China, where the virus was first believed to have started, the National Health Commission on Friday reported 55 new cases, 54 of them imported infections. Once again, there were no new cases reported in Wuhan, the provincial capital where the coronavirus first emerged in December. China is barring most foreigners from entering.In a phone call Friday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump that China "understands the United States' current predicament over the COVID-19 outbreak and stands ready to provide support within its capacity."The two countries should “work together to boost cooperation in epidemic control and other fields, and develop a relationship of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation," the official Xinhua News Agency reported.The pandemic appears to have peaked in China, even while the government remains on guard against imported cases. Beijing is sending medical teams and equipment abroad, especially to Europe. But it has strongly protested U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's repeated references to the outbreak as the "Wuhan Flu," saying that promotes bias against China and Chinese Americans.The economic damage of the pandemic was growing. Italy shut down most of its industry, and a record-shattering 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — nearly five times the old record set in 1982. Companies in Europe are laying off workers at the fastest pace since 2009, according to surveys of business managers.Despite that, Wall Street rallied for the third straight day after an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package to help businesses, hospitals and ordinary Americans passed the Senate. The rescue plan, which is expected to be voted on in the House later Friday, would dispense checks of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child.———NEW YORK — The United States now leads the world in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases.According to a running count by Johns Hopkins University, the number of people infected in the U.S. topped 82,000 on Thursday. That’s just ahead of the 81,000 cases in China and 80,000 in Italy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585263243550.png" alt="Numbers as of 5p.m. CDT March 26, 2020" />
 <figcaption>Numbers as of 5p.m. CDT March 26, 2020</figcaption>
 </figure>Italy has the most confirmed deaths of any country with more than 8,000. More than 1,000 people have died in the U.S including 281 in New York City.___

The Latest: US has most infections as virus tightens grip on the world

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The number of jobless workers in Kansas who filed initial unemployment claims last week was 12 times as high as it was the week before as measures to control the spread of the new coronavirus took their toll on the economy.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that Kansas had almost 23,700 initial claims for unemployment for the seven-day period ending Saturday. The department said the figure for the previous week was less than 1,800, making the increase 1,250%.

The state reported slightly higher numbers of claims for both weeks, but the effect was the same: Last week’s number was 12 times as high as the previous week’s figure.

t was by far the largest percentage jump in at least 20 years, according to the federal data. The previous high mark for the past two decades was 242% in June 2003.

More than 1.8 million of the state’s 2.9 million residents are covered by local stay-at-home orders. Gov. Laura Kelly has banned public gatherings of more than 10 people, and restaurants in the state’s most populous counties have closed their dining rooms to move only to curbside, drive-through and take-out service.

In Topeka, 36-year-old Amanda Derby was laid off last week from her job as a bartender and server at the Old Chicago restaurant. She filed an unemployment claim with the state but, despite a new Kansas law and federal guidelines waving the previously standard week wait, she hasn’t received her first check.

Derby, the mother of a 7-year-old autistic son,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200326/kansas-coronavirus-update-kdhe-asks-for-reduced-prairie-burns-170-positive-tests" target="_blank">told The Topeka Capital-Journal</a>&nbsp;that she’s concerned about bills for rent, student loans, her car, insurance, internet and utilities. She has plenty of food for now, thanks to a parting gift of perishables from her former employer, she said.

“Bills are piling up,” Derby said. “I literally have $20 right now.”

Kansas has seen its confirmed coronavirus cases nearly quadruple over the past week, to 168, according to the state health department, and there have been three COVID-19-related deaths since early March.

The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people but can cause a severe illness for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

The state Department of Labor is encouraging people to file their claims online because its telephone claims center has seen calls spike. It reported receiving about 8,100 calls during the seven-day period ending Saturday — about 7,000 more calls than during the previous week.

But the state also reported receiving nearly 15,800 initial claims last week online, or 22 times as many as the 712 it received the week before.

Department of Labor spokeswoman Julie Menghini said the agency is in the process of making the changes needed to waive the traditional waiting week for unemployment benefits.

“We are dealing with an unprecedented number of claims and limited staff,” Menghini said, “so there are challenges for impacted workers in getting their claims filed at this time.”

It was by far the largest percentage jump in at least 20 years. The previous high mark for the past two decades was 242% in June 2003, according to federal data.

More than 1.7 million of the state’s 2.9 million residents are covered by local stay-at-home orders. Gov. Laura Kelly has banned public gatherings of more than 10 people.

Kansas has seen its confirmed coronavirus cases grow more than four times over the past seven days to more than 120, according to the state health department, and there have been three COVID-19-related deaths since early March.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The number of jobless workers in Kansas who filed initial unemployment claims last week was 12 times as high as it was the week before as measures to control the spread of the new coronavirus took their toll on the economy.The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that Kansas had almost 23,700 initial claims for unemployment for the seven-day period ending Saturday. The department said the figure for the previous week was less than 1,800, making the increase 1,250%.The state reported slightly higher numbers of claims for both weeks, but the effect was the same: Last week’s number was 12 times as high as the previous week’s figure.t was by far the largest percentage jump in at least 20 years, according to the federal data. The previous high mark for the past two decades was 242% in June 2003.More than 1.8 million of the state’s 2.9 million residents are covered by local stay-at-home orders. Gov. Laura Kelly has banned public gatherings of more than 10 people, and restaurants in the state’s most populous counties have closed their dining rooms to move only to curbside, drive-through and take-out service.In Topeka, 36-year-old Amanda Derby was laid off last week from her job as a bartender and server at the Old Chicago restaurant. She filed an unemployment claim with the state but, despite a new Kansas law and federal guidelines waving the previously standard week wait, she hasn’t received her first check.Derby, the mother of a 7-year-old autistic son,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200326/kansas-coronavirus-update-kdhe-asks-for-reduced-prairie-burns-170-positive-tests" target="_blank">told The Topeka Capital-Journal</a>&nbsp;that she’s concerned about bills for rent, student loans, her car, insurance, internet and utilities. She has plenty of food for now, thanks to a parting gift of perishables from her former employer, she said.“Bills are piling up,” Derby said. “I literally have $20 right now.”Kansas has seen its confirmed coronavirus cases nearly quadruple over the past week, to 168, according to the state health department, and there have been three COVID-19-related deaths since early March.The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people but can cause a severe illness for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.The state Department of Labor is encouraging people to file their claims online because its telephone claims center has seen calls spike. It reported receiving about 8,100 calls during the seven-day period ending Saturday — about 7,000 more calls than during the previous week.But the state also reported receiving nearly 15,800 initial claims last week online, or 22 times as many as the 712 it received the week before.Department of Labor spokeswoman Julie Menghini said the agency is in the process of making the changes needed to waive the traditional waiting week for unemployment benefits.“We are dealing with an unprecedented number of claims and limited staff,” Menghini said, “so there are challenges for impacted workers in getting their claims filed at this time.”---------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The number of jobless workers in Kansas who filed initial unemployment claims last week was 12 times as high as it was the week before as measures to control the spread of the new coronavirus took their toll on the economy.The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that Kansas had almost 23,700 initial claims for unemployment for the seven-day period ending Saturday. The department said the figure for the previous week was less than 1,800, making the increase 1,250%.It was by far the largest percentage jump in at least 20 years. The previous high mark for the past two decades was 242% in June 2003, according to federal data.More than 1.7 million of the state’s 2.9 million residents are covered by local stay-at-home orders. Gov. Laura Kelly has banned public gatherings of more than 10 people.Kansas has seen its confirmed coronavirus cases grow more than four times over the past seven days to more than 120, according to the state health department, and there have been three COVID-19-related deaths since early March.The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people but can cause a severe illness for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

The Latest: Kan. has 12 times as many weekly claims for unemployment

TOPEKA, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly and the state's top health official are expressing growing frustration as Kansas grapples with an continuing increase in coronavirus cases.

Kelly, a Democrat, on Wednesday said President Donald Trump's suggestion that restrictions on people's movements could be loosened by Easter to help the economy is “ wishful thinking ” and argued that the federal government should invoke the national Defense Production Act to address shortages of ventilators, protective masks and testing kits, a move Trump has said isn't necessary.

“We, along with all of the other states, are really kind of begging the federal government to get their act together,” Kelly said in an interview.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lee Norman, the state's secretary of health and environment, said people should stay home as much as possible, even if they don't live in a county that has issued a stay-at-home order. He said some residents are trying to exploit exceptions in the orders.

The state reported 126 confirmed cases Wednesday but that didn't include three cases reported later in the day in Topeka. Norman said he expects Kansas to have around 400 cases by the end of the month.

Among the sickened are two people who attended a March 5 magician group’s meeting with a 74-year-old retired school superintendent who was Johnson County’s first coronavirus death. The man and his wife are quarantined at home, said David Sandy, president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 129.

“It is pretty heart-wrenching," Sandy told The Kansas City Star. “We’re like a family.”

In the Wichita area, about 200 inmates have been released from the Sedgwick County Jail since mid-March over concerns about the coronavirus. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said told The Wichita Eagle that the goal is to give the Sedgwick County Jail “breathing room” so it has enough space to isolate inmates who might fall ill in the coming weeks.

City officials also have converted the Wichita’s Century II event center from a convention and performing arts center into an impromptu drive-thru decontamination station for ambulances and other emergency vehicles, said Mayor Brandon Whipple and Assistant City Manager Donte Martin.

Stay-at-home orders also continue to cause economic fallout. With 600 movie theaters across the country closed, Leawood-based AMC Theatres has furloughed its entire corporate staff, The Kansas City Star reported. AMC employs some 400 people at its Leawood offices, according to the Kansas City Area Development Council.

“As we all know, these are unprecedented times,” spokesman Ryan Noonan said in a statement. “AMC is doing everything possible to ensure that we can welcome back both our associates and our guests as our theaters reopen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585235697337.png" alt="Kansas Health Secretary Dr. Lee Norman spoke to reporters Monday -image courtesy KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Health Secretary Dr. Lee Norman spoke to reporters Monday -image courtesy KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly and the state's top health official are expressing growing frustration as Kansas grapples with an continuing increase in coronavirus cases.Kelly, a Democrat, on Wednesday said President Donald Trump's suggestion that restrictions on people's movements could be loosened by Easter to help the economy is “ wishful thinking ” and argued that the federal government should invoke the national Defense Production Act to address shortages of ventilators, protective masks and testing kits, a move Trump has said isn't necessary.“We, along with all of the other states, are really kind of begging the federal government to get their act together,” Kelly said in an interview.Meanwhile, Dr. Lee Norman, the state's secretary of health and environment, said people should stay home as much as possible, even if they don't live in a county that has issued a stay-at-home order. He said some residents are trying to exploit exceptions in the orders.The state reported 126 confirmed cases Wednesday but that didn't include three cases reported later in the day in Topeka. Norman said he expects Kansas to have around 400 cases by the end of the month.Among the sickened are two people who attended a March 5 magician group’s meeting with a 74-year-old retired school superintendent who was Johnson County’s first coronavirus death. The man and his wife are quarantined at home, said David Sandy, president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 129.“It is pretty heart-wrenching," Sandy told The Kansas City Star. “We’re like a family.”For most people, the coronavirus 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, or death.In the Wichita area, about 200 inmates have been released from the Sedgwick County Jail since mid-March over concerns about the coronavirus. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said told The Wichita Eagle that the goal is to give the Sedgwick County Jail “breathing room” so it has enough space to isolate inmates who might fall ill in the coming weeks.City officials also have converted the Wichita’s Century II event center from a convention and performing arts center into an impromptu drive-thru decontamination station for ambulances and other emergency vehicles, said Mayor Brandon Whipple and Assistant City Manager Donte Martin.Stay-at-home orders also continue to cause economic fallout. With 600 movie theaters across the country closed, Leawood-based AMC Theatres has furloughed its entire corporate staff, The Kansas City Star reported. AMC employs some 400 people at its Leawood offices, according to the Kansas City Area Development Council.“As we all know, these are unprecedented times,” spokesman Ryan Noonan said in a statement. “AMC is doing everything possible to ensure that we can welcome back both our associates and our guests as our theaters reopen.”

Kansas officials express frustration amid coronavirus surge

Kami Hunt, Ford Motor Company employee, assembles the Ford Transit at Kansas City Assembly Plant in August of 2019. Photo Courtesy Ford Motor Company

DETROIT (AP) — Ford says it wants to reopen five North American assembly plants in April that were closed due to the threat of coronavirus.

The three Detroit automakers suspended production at North American factories March 19 under pressure from the United Auto Workers union, which had concerns about members working closely at work stations and possibly spreading the virus.

Union spokesman Brian Rothenberg said Thursday that the UAW is reviewing Ford's announcement “with great concern and caution.”

The company says it's aiming to reopen its factory in Hermosillo, Mexico, on April 6, followed by its Dearborn, Michigan, truck plant, Kentucky truck plant in Louisville, the Ohio Assembly Plant near Cleveland, and the Transit van line at the Kansas City plant on April 14.

The company also wants to reopen parts-making plants to feed the assembly factories on the same day.

Ford says in a prepared statement that it will introduce additional safety measures to protect workers, but said it would give details later.

The decision comes as the number of people infected by the virus spikes in Michigan. On Wednesday the state reported t least 2,294 infections and that the number of deaths nearly doubled from 24 to 43.

Two Detroit-area hospital systems said they are caring for more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients at 13 hospitals. At Beaumont Health and Henry Ford Health System, operating rooms were being converted into intensive care units and clinics had been turned into rooms for patients needing other medical care.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is hoping the United States will be reopened by Easter as he weighs how to relax nationwide social-distancing guidelines to put some workers back on the job during the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr. Betty Chu, of Henry Ford, predicted an “upcoming surge” in patients in Michigan, and Beaumont chief executive John Fox called on the state to invoke its power to balance care across eight regions in the state.

The Ford factories, which largely make highly profitable pickup trucks, commercial vans and big SUVs, are key to Ford's financial health. The Ford F-150 pickup made at the Dearborn Truck plant is the top-selling vehicle in America that's responsible for much of the company's profit.

Ford's planned reopening date in the U.S. is just after a stay-at-home order from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expires at 11:59 p.m. April 13.

U.S. automakers book revenue when vehicles are shipped to dealers, so without production, the revenue stream is largely cut off.

The factories were to be closed until March 30, but earlier this week Ford extended that date indefinitely. General Motors said Thursday that it doesn't have a firm date to reopen its North American factories. Fiat Chrysler said it had no announcement yet. Combined, the Detroit automakers have about 150,000 unionized factory workers.

Ford has about 56,000 workers represented by the UAW, and some members have been fearful of catching the virus and taking it home to their families. Two union workers from Fiat Chrysler plants in the Detroit area and Kokomo, Indiana, have died this week from complications due to the virus, but it's not clear whether they got it at the factories or elsewhere.

The effort to reopen the plants comes as Amazon and other large warehouses continue operations, although some of the goods they're distributing are considered essential.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585229143795.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kami Hunt, Ford Motor Company employee, assembles the Ford Transit at Kansas City Assembly Plant in August of 2019. Photo Courtesy Ford Motor CompanyDETROIT (AP) — Ford says it wants to reopen five North American assembly plants in April that were closed due to the threat of coronavirus.The three Detroit automakers suspended production at North American factories March 19 under pressure from the United Auto Workers union, which had concerns about members working closely at work stations and possibly spreading the virus.Union spokesman Brian Rothenberg said Thursday that the UAW is reviewing Ford's announcement “with great concern and caution.”The company says it's aiming to reopen its factory in Hermosillo, Mexico, on April 6, followed by its Dearborn, Michigan, truck plant, Kentucky truck plant in Louisville, the Ohio Assembly Plant near Cleveland, and the Transit van line at the Kansas City plant on April 14.The company also wants to reopen parts-making plants to feed the assembly factories on the same day.Ford says in a prepared statement that it will introduce additional safety measures to protect workers, but said it would give details later.The decision comes as the number of people infected by the virus spikes in Michigan. On Wednesday the state reported t least 2,294 infections and that the number of deaths nearly doubled from 24 to 43.Two Detroit-area hospital systems said they are caring for more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients at 13 hospitals. At Beaumont Health and Henry Ford Health System, operating rooms were being converted into intensive care units and clinics had been turned into rooms for patients needing other medical care.President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is hoping the United States will be reopened by Easter as he weighs how to relax nationwide social-distancing guidelines to put some workers back on the job during the coronavirus outbreak.Dr. Betty Chu, of Henry Ford, predicted an “upcoming surge” in patients in Michigan, and Beaumont chief executive John Fox called on the state to invoke its power to balance care across eight regions in the state.The Ford factories, which largely make highly profitable pickup trucks, commercial vans and big SUVs, are key to Ford's financial health. The Ford F-150 pickup made at the Dearborn Truck plant is the top-selling vehicle in America that's responsible for much of the company's profit.Ford's planned reopening date in the U.S. is just after a stay-at-home order from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expires at 11:59 p.m. April 13.U.S. automakers book revenue when vehicles are shipped to dealers, so without production, the revenue stream is largely cut off.The factories were to be closed until March 30, but earlier this week Ford extended that date indefinitely. General Motors said Thursday that it doesn't have a firm date to reopen its North American factories. Fiat Chrysler said it had no announcement yet. Combined, the Detroit automakers have about 150,000 unionized factory workers.Ford has about 56,000 workers represented by the UAW, and some members have been fearful of catching the virus and taking it home to their families. Two union workers from Fiat Chrysler plants in the Detroit area and Kokomo, Indiana, have died this week from complications due to the virus, but it's not clear whether they got it at the factories or elsewhere.For most people, the coronavirus 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, or death.The effort to reopen the plants comes as Amazon and other large warehouses continue operations, although some of the goods they're distributing are considered essential.

Ford pushes for KC factory restart, union not so sure

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army has become the first military service to announce it is shutting down all of its recruiting stations around the country,  in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army, tells Pentagon reporters the service will move to “virtual” recruiting. It will woo recruits more heavily through a variety of social media sites and other online activities. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy says it's not yet clear how long the shutdown will last, saying the service will take things day by day.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army has become the first military service to announce it is shutting down all of its recruiting stations around the country, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army, tells Pentagon reporters the service will move to “virtual” recruiting. It will woo recruits more heavily through a variety of social media sites and other online activities. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy says it's not yet clear how long the shutdown will last, saying the service will take things day by day.

Army will close all recruiting stations

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has confirmed a positive case of COVID-19 in Riley County. The patient, currently in home isolation, is a 57 year old female, and a resident of Manhattan.

Riley County Health Department continues to work with KDHE to identify people who may have come into close contact with the individual while she was infectious. Close contacts will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms and quarantined at home following CDC guidelines.

The Riley County Health Department will provide a live update this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. The public can view the update on the Riley County Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/rileycountyhealthdepartment" target="_blank">https://facebook.com/rileycountyhealthdepartment</a>.

“Our main goal is to keep the community informed and safe,” said Riley County Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. "We are in constant communication about the situation. No further orders have been issued at this time. As we complete the investigation of the individual's activity in the community, we will have more information to make the determination about further orders."

KDHE issued new guidelines for testing on March 23. Until testing supplies and laboratory capacity are increased, Riley County is following these KDHE recommendations.

The following patients with COVID-19 symptoms should be tested for COVID-19:

A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.

A Q&amp;A hotline for general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Q&amp;A hotline number is 785-587-4526.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has confirmed a positive case of COVID-19 in Riley County. The patient, currently in home isolation, is a 57 year old female, and a resident of Manhattan.Riley County Health Department continues to work with KDHE to identify people who may have come into close contact with the individual while she was infectious. Close contacts will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms and quarantined at home following CDC guidelines.The Riley County Health Department will provide a live update this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. The public can view the update on the Riley County Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/rileycountyhealthdepartment" target="_blank">https://facebook.com/rileycountyhealthdepartment</a>.“Our main goal is to keep the community informed and safe,” said Riley County Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. "We are in constant communication about the situation. No further orders have been issued at this time. As we complete the investigation of the individual's activity in the community, we will have more information to make the determination about further orders."KDHE issued new guidelines for testing on March 23. Until testing supplies and laboratory capacity are increased, Riley County is following these KDHE recommendations.The following patients with COVID-19 symptoms should be tested for COVID-19:<ol>
 <li>Patients hospitalized with severe lower respiratory illness</li><li>Healthcare workers</li><li>Patients in other public safety occupations (e.g., law enforcement, fire fighter, EMS)</li><li>Patients involved in an illness cluster in a facility or institution (e.g., healthcare, school, corrections, homeless/shelters, other institution/congregate setting)</li><li>Individuals with underlying health conditions that would be treated differently if they were infected with COVID-19</li>
 </ol>A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.A Q&amp;A hotline for general questions about the coronavirus response in Riley County is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Q&amp;A hotline number is 785-587-4526.

 Riley County resident tests positive for Coronavirus

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressure was mounting on the Trump administration Wednesday to release people from immigration detention facilities where at least one detainee has tested positive for COVID-19 and advocates fear tight quarters and overall conditions could cause rapid spread of the virus.

The U.S. holds around 37,000 people in immigration detention. Detainees and advocates say many are vulnerable because of age and pre-existing medical conditions, and because they are often held in open rooms, beds 3-feet apart, and without adequate supplies of masks or other protections.

“It’s impossible to stay calm,” said Marco Battistotti, an Italian who is among 170 people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Bristol County jail in Massachusetts. “People are panicking. People are in fear.”

The 54-year-old Battistotti was among about 100 detainees at the county jail near Cape Cod who signed a letter released by a local immigration lawyer detailing conditions inside. They asked to be released to await decisions on their immigration cases.

“I don’t want to die in an ICE jail,” he said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “Why can’t I fight my case on the outside?”

The agency, which reported the positive test of a 31-year-old man from Mexico held in Bergen County, New Jersey, on Tuesday, has announced steps to protect detained migrants and staff from the virus, but hasn’t said whether it plans to review cases for possible release because of the outbreak. It did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the complaints about conditions from the detainees and their advocates.

The administration has tried to balance its overall hard line on immigration, a signature policy of President Donald Trump, and its response to the outbreak, with ICE announcing previously that it would “temporarily adjust” operations to focus on apprehending people who pose a risk to public safety or are subject to mandatory detention because of a criminal record.

Immigrant advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, are filing lawsuits in California, Maryland, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, seeking court orders for the immediate release of people in immigration detention, especially those at risk because of their age or medical conditions.

It’s unclear how many detainees overall are at higher risk, but one California suit alone had 13 plaintiffs, all over 55.

A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Monday, citing the “rapidly escalating public health crisis,” ordered the immediate release of a 37-year-old woman who is fighting deportation to Mexico.

The woman’s lawyer, Max Carter-Oberstone, said the government told him it would not oppose the decision, which the court took on its own initiative in a rare move on behalf of a woman who he says has been threatened with death by members of a Mexican drug cartel.

“It wasn’t something we asked for or were expecting,” Carter-Oberstone said. “The court is clearly reacting to the greater public health crisis that we’re in right now and re-evaluating how it’s going to dispose of its immigration cases in light of that crisis that we’re all experiencing.”

The situation in immigration detention, which include facilities run by local jurisdictions and private contractors, is similar to that facing jails and prisons, with staff also at risk from a virus that already has sickened at least 55,000 people and killed about 800 in the U.S.

One difference is that more than half of ICE detainees have no criminal charges or conviction and are held only for immigration reasons. Under previous administrations, many would likely have been released on bond as they pursued their cases.

ICE has reported one positive test of an employee at a detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and 18 confirmed cases among staff not involved in detaining migrants. A contractor reported a positive case of a staff member at a facility in Harris County, Texas. The agency says it is screening new detainees and isolating detainees who show symptoms of the coronavirus disease.

Detainees say those measures won’t do much, with people staying in dorm-like bays with no social distancing possible or in smaller rooms that they sometimes have to clean themselves, with insufficient cleaning supplies.

Francisca Morales Diaz, a 45-year-old from Mexico who was released Friday from an ICE detention center in Louisiana, said she and others were issued soap and toilet paper for their own use once a week and they would run out. When they complained, she says they were told there were shortages on the outside as well.

“There isn’t enough medicine. It’s not well-maintained,” Morales told AP. Her fear is that “at any moment, they’re going to come and take me back there.”

Ira Alkalay, a lawyer representing some of the detainees at the jail near Cape Cod, said the detainees are responsible for cleaning their unit, which includes a dining area and bathrooms, but aren’t even given bleach. Some who signed the letter suffer from respiratory ailments such as tuberculosis, emphysema and asthma that put them at higher risk to the virus.

“These are not sanitary conditions at all,” Alkalay said. “If the virus is introduced, many people could get sick all at once. Hospitals in the area can become quickly overwhelmed.”

The office of Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, who has made headlines for offering to send the jail’s ICE detainees to help build Trump’s promised border wall, has stressed there are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of the virus at the facility.

“We suspect these detainees are working with outside political activist groups to use the coronavirus crisis to advance their political agenda,” the sheriff’s spokesman, Jonathan Darling, said this week.

Eunice Cho, an ACLU lawyer, said the confined spaces and limited medical treatment in many immigration jails made them especially vulnerable — and if the virus spreads through one facility, the number of sick people who would require advanced care could overwhelm area hospitals. Many ICE jails are in rural areas with smaller hospitals.

“This is closely related to the public health of our entire community,” Cho said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1562938154243.png" alt="Image courtesy U.S. Office of Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy U.S. Office of Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressure was mounting on the Trump administration Wednesday to release people from immigration detention facilities where at least one detainee has tested positive for COVID-19 and advocates fear tight quarters and overall conditions could cause rapid spread of the virus.The U.S. holds around 37,000 people in immigration detention. Detainees and advocates say many are vulnerable because of age and pre-existing medical conditions, and because they are often held in open rooms, beds 3-feet apart, and without adequate supplies of masks or other protections.“It’s impossible to stay calm,” said Marco Battistotti, an Italian who is among 170 people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Bristol County jail in Massachusetts. “People are panicking. People are in fear.”The 54-year-old Battistotti was among about 100 detainees at the county jail near Cape Cod who signed a letter released by a local immigration lawyer detailing conditions inside. They asked to be released to await decisions on their immigration cases.“I don’t want to die in an ICE jail,” he said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “Why can’t I fight my case on the outside?”The agency, which reported the positive test of a 31-year-old man from Mexico held in Bergen County, New Jersey, on Tuesday, has announced steps to protect detained migrants and staff from the virus, but hasn’t said whether it plans to review cases for possible release because of the outbreak. It did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the complaints about conditions from the detainees and their advocates.The administration has tried to balance its overall hard line on immigration, a signature policy of President Donald Trump, and its response to the outbreak, with ICE announcing previously that it would “temporarily adjust” operations to focus on apprehending people who pose a risk to public safety or are subject to mandatory detention because of a criminal record.Immigrant advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, are filing lawsuits in California, Maryland, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, seeking court orders for the immediate release of people in immigration detention, especially those at risk because of their age or medical conditions.It’s unclear how many detainees overall are at higher risk, but one California suit alone had 13 plaintiffs, all over 55.A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Monday, citing the “rapidly escalating public health crisis,” ordered the immediate release of a 37-year-old woman who is fighting deportation to Mexico.The woman’s lawyer, Max Carter-Oberstone, said the government told him it would not oppose the decision, which the court took on its own initiative in a rare move on behalf of a woman who he says has been threatened with death by members of a Mexican drug cartel.“It wasn’t something we asked for or were expecting,” Carter-Oberstone said. “The court is clearly reacting to the greater public health crisis that we’re in right now and re-evaluating how it’s going to dispose of its immigration cases in light of that crisis that we’re all experiencing.”The situation in immigration detention, which include facilities run by local jurisdictions and private contractors, is similar to that facing jails and prisons, with staff also at risk from a virus that already has sickened at least 55,000 people and killed about 800 in the U.S.One difference is that more than half of ICE detainees have no criminal charges or conviction and are held only for immigration reasons. Under previous administrations, many would likely have been released on bond as they pursued their cases.ICE has reported one positive test of an employee at a detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and 18 confirmed cases among staff not involved in detaining migrants. A contractor reported a positive case of a staff member at a facility in Harris County, Texas. The agency says it is screening new detainees and isolating detainees who show symptoms of the coronavirus disease.Detainees say those measures won’t do much, with people staying in dorm-like bays with no social distancing possible or in smaller rooms that they sometimes have to clean themselves, with insufficient cleaning supplies.Francisca Morales Diaz, a 45-year-old from Mexico who was released Friday from an ICE detention center in Louisiana, said she and others were issued soap and toilet paper for their own use once a week and they would run out. When they complained, she says they were told there were shortages on the outside as well.“There isn’t enough medicine. It’s not well-maintained,” Morales told AP. Her fear is that “at any moment, they’re going to come and take me back there.”Ira Alkalay, a lawyer representing some of the detainees at the jail near Cape Cod, said the detainees are responsible for cleaning their unit, which includes a dining area and bathrooms, but aren’t even given bleach. Some who signed the letter suffer from respiratory ailments such as tuberculosis, emphysema and asthma that put them at higher risk to the virus.“These are not sanitary conditions at all,” Alkalay said. “If the virus is introduced, many people could get sick all at once. Hospitals in the area can become quickly overwhelmed.”The office of Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, who has made headlines for offering to send the jail’s ICE detainees to help build Trump’s promised border wall, has stressed there are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of the virus at the facility.“We suspect these detainees are working with outside political activist groups to use the coronavirus crisis to advance their political agenda,” the sheriff’s spokesman, Jonathan Darling, said this week.Eunice Cho, an ACLU lawyer, said the confined spaces and limited medical treatment in many immigration jails made them especially vulnerable — and if the virus spreads through one facility, the number of sick people who would require advanced care could overwhelm area hospitals. Many ICE jails are in rural areas with smaller hospitals.“This is closely related to the public health of our entire community,” Cho said.

Trump administration urged to free migrants as virus surges

In accordance with Department of Defense and Department of the Army guidance, Fort Riley will implement mission essential manning at 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Mission essential functions are those functions in support of COVID-19 operations and the life, health, and safety of personnel and the installation.&nbsp; Mission Essential tasks also includes those activities to prepare for or provide support to global operations like Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Europe, etc. Thus, some essential flight operations and limited training may continue with general officer approval.

Non-mission essential functions include but are not limited to: field training exercises, group or unit physical readiness training, or other training directed at satisfying unit tactical requirements. Physical readiness training may be conducted at the individual or team level if CDC social distancing, group size (i.e. no mass formation, and increased hygiene guidelines are observed. Commanders and supervisors will inform individual personnel if they are mission essential or non-mission essential.

At the gate, ALL personnel must show proper ID and answer screening questions.

DoD ID card holders and pre-existing Fort Riley Visitor Badge holders are still able to enter Fort Riley, however they must comply with social distancing and increased hygiene measures, such as hand wash stations. 

Effective March 26, the following gate hours are in effect: Henry--Open 24/7; Trooper--Open 24/7; Grant--Open 0500-2000, M-F; 12th Street--Open 0500-1900, M-F; Ogden--Open 0500-2200, daily; Estes--Open 0500-1900, daily; Four Corners--Open, 24/7. Contractors with DOD ID Cards or Valid Fort Riley Visitor Pass may continue using any open access control point.Active duty service members may obtain a Fort Riley Visitor Badge for a family member with O-5 Commander approval. Commercial deliveries, such as to the Commissary and PX, are still permitted. Contractors or commercial deliveries without DOD ID or Fort Riley Visitor Pass must use the 12 Street Gate.o Fort Riley leaders are continuing to assess access control measures based of DoD guidance and additional updates to amended hours, closures, and personnel authorized to access the installation.

• Fort Riley residents may depart the installation but must comply with the orders of civil authorities in surrounding communities (e.g. no gatherings in excess of 10 people).

• Military Treatment Facilities and pharmacies will continue to support beneficiaries. Check the Fort Riley Homepage or Irwin Army Community Hospital Facebook page for latest updates. If uncertain, call (785) 239-DOCS to speak to a registered nurse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585221449153.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In accordance with Department of Defense and Department of the Army guidance, Fort Riley will implement mission essential manning at 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2020.Mission essential functions are those functions in support of COVID-19 operations and the life, health, and safety of personnel and the installation.&nbsp; Mission Essential tasks also includes those activities to prepare for or provide support to global operations like Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Europe, etc. Thus, some essential flight operations and limited training may continue with general officer approval.Non-mission essential functions include but are not limited to: field training exercises, group or unit physical readiness training, or other training directed at satisfying unit tactical requirements. Physical readiness training may be conducted at the individual or team level if CDC social distancing, group size (i.e. no mass formation, and increased hygiene guidelines are observed. Commanders and supervisors will inform individual personnel if they are mission essential or non-mission essential.At the gate, ALL personnel must show proper ID and answer screening questions.DoD ID card holders and pre-existing Fort Riley Visitor Badge holders are still able to enter Fort Riley, however they must comply with social distancing and increased hygiene measures, such as hand wash stations. Effective March 26, the following gate hours are in effect: Henry--Open 24/7; Trooper--Open 24/7; Grant--Open 0500-2000, M-F; 12th Street--Open 0500-1900, M-F; Ogden--Open 0500-2200, daily; Estes--Open 0500-1900, daily; Four Corners--Open, 24/7. Contractors with DOD ID Cards or Valid Fort Riley Visitor Pass may continue using any open access control point.Active duty service members may obtain a Fort Riley Visitor Badge for a family member with O-5 Commander approval. Commercial deliveries, such as to the Commissary and PX, are still permitted. Contractors or commercial deliveries without DOD ID or Fort Riley Visitor Pass must use the 12 Street Gate.o Fort Riley leaders are continuing to assess access control measures based of DoD guidance and additional updates to amended hours, closures, and personnel authorized to access the installation.• Fort Riley residents may depart the installation but must comply with the orders of civil authorities in surrounding communities (e.g. no gatherings in excess of 10 people).• Military Treatment Facilities and pharmacies will continue to support beneficiaries. Check the Fort Riley Homepage or Irwin Army Community Hospital Facebook page for latest updates. If uncertain, call (785) 239-DOCS to speak to a registered nurse.

1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley implement measures to prevent potential spread of COVID-19

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The unanimous vote Wednesday came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced.

The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared somber and exhausted as he announced the vote — and he released senators from Washington until April 20, though he promised to recall them if needed.

“The legislation now before us now is historic because it is meant to match a historic crisis,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Our health care system is not prepared to care for the sick. Our workers are without work. Our businesses cannot do business. Our factories lie idle. The gears of the American economy have ground to a halt.”

The package is intended as relief for an economy spiraling into recession or worse and a nation facing a grim toll from an infection that’s killed more than 21,000 people worldwide. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, asked how long the aid would keep the economy afloat, said: “We’ve anticipated three months. Hopefully, we won’t need this for three months.”

Underscoring the effort’s sheer magnitude, the bill finances a response with a price tag that equals half the size of the entire $4 trillion-plus annual federal budget. The $2.2 trillion estimate is the White House’s best guess.

Insistently optimistic, President Donald Trump said of the greatest public health emergency in anyone’s lifetime, “I don’t think its going to end up being such a rough patch” and anticipated the economy soaring “like a rocket ship” when it’s over.

“The government has temporarily shut down the economy because of this disease, and the government must help those who are hurt by it,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.

The drive by leaders to speed the bill through the Senate was slowed as four conservative Republican senators from states whose economies are dominated by low-wage jobs demanded changes, saying the legislation as written might give workers like store clerks incentives to stay on unemployment instead of return to their jobs since they may earn more money if they’re laid off than if they’re working. They settled for a failed vote to modify the provision.

Other objections floated in from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has become a prominent Democrat on the national scene as the country battles the pandemic. Cuomo, whose state has seen more deaths from the pandemic than any other, said, “I’m telling you, these numbers don’t work.”

Ardent liberals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were restless as well, but top Washington Democrats assured them that additional coronavirus legislation will follow this spring and signaled that delaying the pending measure would be foolish.

The sprawling measure is the third coronavirus response bill produced by Congress and by far the largest. It builds on efforts focused on vaccines and emergency response, sick and family medical leave for workers and food aid.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., swung behind the bipartisan agreement, saying it “takes us a long way down the road in meeting the needs of the American people.”

Senate passage delivered the legislation to the Democratic-controlled House, which is expected to pass it Friday. House members are scattered around the country. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the measure would pass by voice vote without lawmakers having to return to Washington.

The package would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.

It includes a heavily negotiated $500 billion program for guaranteed, subsidized loans to larger industries, including airlines. Hospitals would get significant help as well.

Six days of arduous talks produced the bill, creating tensions among Congress’ top leaders, who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation. But failure was not an option — nor was starting over — which permitted both sides to include their priorities.

“This is a proud moment for the United States Senate and the country, and we’re going to win this battle,” McConnell told reporters afterward. “We’ve pivoted from impeachment to 100-to-nothing on this rescue package … this is about as flawless as you could possibly be.” The vote actually was 96-0 because several members missed the vote out of concerns they have been exposed to the virus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585219043906.png" alt="View of the the U.S. Senate floor as they passed the $2 Trillion Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Bill, 96-0.&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>View of the the U.S. Senate floor as they passed the $2 Trillion Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Bill, 96-0.&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The CARES Act provides one of the most powerful and timely economic relief packages in our nation&#39;s history and I&#39;m glad the Senate finally passed this crucial legislation. <a href="https://t.co/80GnZCiJL2">https://t.co/80GnZCiJL2</a> <a href="https://t.co/KTIM9td6UR">pic.twitter.com/KTIM9td6UR</a>&mdash; Senator Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenPatRoberts/status/1243024323746684928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The unanimous vote Wednesday came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced.The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared somber and exhausted as he announced the vote — and he released senators from Washington until April 20, though he promised to recall them if needed.“The legislation now before us now is historic because it is meant to match a historic crisis,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Our health care system is not prepared to care for the sick. Our workers are without work. Our businesses cannot do business. Our factories lie idle. The gears of the American economy have ground to a halt.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: The Senate just passed the CARES Act, Phase III of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> relief efforts. Our country is facing a pandemic, and we must act now to make certain Kansans have the support they need to weather this storm.&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1243033520160804869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The package is intended as relief for an economy spiraling into recession or worse and a nation facing a grim toll from an infection that’s killed more than 21,000 people worldwide. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, asked how long the aid would keep the economy afloat, said: “We’ve anticipated three months. Hopefully, we won’t need this for three months.”Underscoring the effort’s sheer magnitude, the bill finances a response with a price tag that equals half the size of the entire $4 trillion-plus annual federal budget. The $2.2 trillion estimate is the White House’s best guess.Insistently optimistic, President Donald Trump said of the greatest public health emergency in anyone’s lifetime, “I don’t think its going to end up being such a rough patch” and anticipated the economy soaring “like a rocket ship” when it’s over.“The government has temporarily shut down the economy because of this disease, and the government must help those who are hurt by it,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.The drive by leaders to speed the bill through the Senate was slowed as four conservative Republican senators from states whose economies are dominated by low-wage jobs demanded changes, saying the legislation as written might give workers like store clerks incentives to stay on unemployment instead of return to their jobs since they may earn more money if they’re laid off than if they’re working. They settled for a failed vote to modify the provision.Other objections floated in from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has become a prominent Democrat on the national scene as the country battles the pandemic. Cuomo, whose state has seen more deaths from the pandemic than any other, said, “I’m telling you, these numbers don’t work.”Ardent liberals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were restless as well, but top Washington Democrats assured them that additional coronavirus legislation will follow this spring and signaled that delaying the pending measure would be foolish.The sprawling measure is the third coronavirus response bill produced by Congress and by far the largest. It builds on efforts focused on vaccines and emergency response, sick and family medical leave for workers and food aid.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., swung behind the bipartisan agreement, saying it “takes us a long way down the road in meeting the needs of the American people.”Senate passage delivered the legislation to the Democratic-controlled House, which is expected to pass it Friday. House members are scattered around the country. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the measure would pass by voice vote without lawmakers having to return to Washington.The package would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.It includes a heavily negotiated $500 billion program for guaranteed, subsidized loans to larger industries, including airlines. Hospitals would get significant help as well.Six days of arduous talks produced the bill, creating tensions among Congress’ top leaders, who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation. But failure was not an option — nor was starting over — which permitted both sides to include their priorities.“This is a proud moment for the United States Senate and the country, and we’re going to win this battle,” McConnell told reporters afterward. “We’ve pivoted from impeachment to 100-to-nothing on this rescue package … this is about as flawless as you could possibly be.” The vote actually was 96-0 because several members missed the vote out of concerns they have been exposed to the virus.Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has tested positive for it, while GOP Whip John Thune returned to South Dakota on Wednesday after feeling ill.The bill would provide one-time direct payments to Americans of $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year and $2,400 to a married couple making up to $150,000, with $500 payments per child.A huge cash infusion for hospitals expecting a flood of COVID-19 patients grew during the talks to an estimated $130 billion. Another $45 billion would fund additional relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for local response efforts and community services.Democrats said the package would help replace the salaries of furloughed workers for four months, rather than the three months first proposed. Furloughed workers would get whatever amount a state usually provides for unemployment, plus a $600-per-week add-on, with gig workers like Uber drivers covered for the first time.Businesses controlled by members of Congress and top administration officials, including Trump and his immediate family members, would be ineligible for the bill’s business assistance.Schumer boasted of negotiating wins for transit systems, hospitals and cash-hungry state governments that were cemented after Democrats blocked the measure in votes held Sunday and Monday.But Cuomo said the Senate package would send less than $4 billion to New York, far short of his estimate that the crisis will cost his state up to $15 billion over the next year. More than 280 New Yorkers have died from the virus, a death toll more than double that of any other state.Still, Pelosi said the need for more money for New York is “no reason to stop the step we are taking.”Pelosi was a force behind $400 million in grants to states to expand voting by mail and other steps that Democrats billed as making voting safer but Republican critics called political opportunism. The package also contains $15.5 billion more for a surge in demand for food stamps as part of a massive $330 billion title for agency operations.State and local authorities would receive up to $150 billion in grants to fight the virus, care for their residents and provide basic services.Republicans won inclusion of an employee retention tax credit that’s estimated to provide $50 billion to companies that retain employees on payroll and cover 50% of workers’ paycheck up to $10,000. Companies would also be able to defer payment of the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax.A companion appropriations package ballooned as well, growing from a $46 billion White House proposal to $330 billion, which dwarfs earlier disasters — including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy combined.Europe is enacting its own economic recovery packages, with huge amounts of credit guarantees, government spending and other support.Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has agreed to commit more than 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) in fiscal stimulus and support — roughly 30% of that nation’s entire annual output. France, Spain and Italy have launched similar programs.For most people, the new coronavirus 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, or death.In the United States, more than 69,000 people have been sickened and more than 1,000 have died.

Coronavirus Update