NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Friday dropped a controversial piece of coronavirus guidance and said anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person should get tested.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention essentially returned to its previous testing guidance, getting rid of language&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d36e698786f971658301d2cf4f83ad61">posted last month</a>&nbsp;that said people didn’t need to get tested if they didn’t feel sick. That change had set off a rash of criticism from health experts who couldn’t fathom why the nation’s top public health agency would say such a thing amid the pandemic.

It was “not consistent with the basic principles of controlling an epidemic,”said Dr. Silvia Chiang, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Brown University who applauded the change announced Friday.

The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html" target="_blank">now says</a>&nbsp;anyone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes should get a test. In a statement, the agency called the changes a “clarification” that was needed “due to the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission.”

Agency officials declined additional comment.

Health officials were evasive about why they had made the change in August, and some outside observers speculated it was forced on the CDC by political appointees within the Trump administration.

At the time, administration officials said the language originated at the CDC but the decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force. Dr. Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.

The New York Times, citing internal federal documents and unnamed sources, on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that the guidance was placed on the CDC’s website over the objections of agency scientists.

Public health experts have noted that testing the contacts of infected people is a core element of efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of those infected with the coronavirus exhibit no COVID-19 symptoms.

The CDC’s chief, Dr. Robert Redfield, issued a statement shortly after the controversy erupted that did little to clarify why the change was deemed necessary. The main intent seemed to be to assure state health officials that they could continue to recommend that all close contacts be tested if they felt that was wisest, despite the website language that said it was not necessary.

During a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, Redfield continued to defend the language that was dropped Friday. He said the August changes had been “misinterpreted” and were part of an effort to increase engagement by doctors and local health officials in the handling of potential illness clusters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600453488360.png" alt="CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield during Senate testimony this week-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield during Senate testimony this week-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Friday dropped a controversial piece of coronavirus guidance and said anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person should get tested.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention essentially returned to its previous testing guidance, getting rid of language&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d36e698786f971658301d2cf4f83ad61">posted last month</a>&nbsp;that said people didn’t need to get tested if they didn’t feel sick. That change had set off a rash of criticism from health experts who couldn’t fathom why the nation’s top public health agency would say such a thing amid the pandemic.It was “not consistent with the basic principles of controlling an epidemic,”said Dr. Silvia Chiang, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Brown University who applauded the change announced Friday.The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html" target="_blank">now says</a>&nbsp;anyone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes should get a test. In a statement, the agency called the changes a “clarification” that was needed “due to the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission.”Agency officials declined additional comment.Health officials were evasive about why they had made the change in August, and some outside observers speculated it was forced on the CDC by political appointees within the Trump administration.At the time, administration officials said the language originated at the CDC but the decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force. Dr. Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.The New York Times, citing internal federal documents and unnamed sources, on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that the guidance was placed on the CDC’s website over the objections of agency scientists.Public health experts have noted that testing the contacts of infected people is a core element of efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of those infected with the coronavirus exhibit no COVID-19 symptoms.The CDC’s chief, Dr. Robert Redfield, issued a statement shortly after the controversy erupted that did little to clarify why the change was deemed necessary. The main intent seemed to be to assure state health officials that they could continue to recommend that all close contacts be tested if they felt that was wisest, despite the website language that said it was not necessary.During a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, Redfield continued to defend the language that was dropped Friday. He said the August changes had been “misinterpreted” and were part of an effort to increase engagement by doctors and local health officials in the handling of potential illness clusters.

CDC drops controversial virus testing advice that caused backlash

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government says it will give farmers an additional $14 billion to compensate them for the difficulties they’ve experienced selling their crops, milk and meat because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released details of its plan Friday, saying it will provide “financial assistance that gives producers the ability to absorb increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

President Donald Trump first mentioned the aid in a speech Thursday night in Wisconsin, a state that is considered vital for his chances to win a second term. 

The additional payments also illustrate the importance of farmers as a voting block to Trump’s reelection.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government says it will give farmers an additional $14 billion to compensate them for the difficulties they’ve experienced selling their crops, milk and meat because of the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released details of its plan Friday, saying it will provide “financial assistance that gives producers the ability to absorb increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.” President Donald Trump first mentioned the aid in a speech Thursday night in Wisconsin, a state that is considered vital for his chances to win a second term. The additional payments also illustrate the importance of farmers as a voting block to Trump’s reelection.

USDA plans additional $14B for farmers reeling from virus

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Over a hundred inmates have tested positive at a minimum-security women’s prison in Pierre, South Dakota. 

Mass testing of inmates resulted in the Department of Corrections finding 102 active cases. 

There are 140 women held at the prison, according to an Aug. 31 count. 

Four staff members have also tested positive, with one fully recovered. 

Michael Winder, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, says that the prison has placed positive cases into isolation. 

The outbreak at the prison contributed to state health officials reporting one of the highest one-day tallies for new cases on Thursday, with 395 people testing positive statewide.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Over a hundred inmates have tested positive at a minimum-security women’s prison in Pierre, South Dakota. Mass testing of inmates resulted in the Department of Corrections finding 102 active cases. There are 140 women held at the prison, according to an Aug. 31 count. Four staff members have also tested positive, with one fully recovered. Michael Winder, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, says that the prison has placed positive cases into isolation. The outbreak at the prison contributed to state health officials reporting one of the highest one-day tallies for new cases on Thursday, with 395 people testing positive statewide.

COVID-19 outbreak reported at South Dakota women's prison

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — About 100 students at a junior high school in Cheyenne are being told to stay home after a school employee tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The positive case at McCormick Junior High School is the first in the Cheyenne-area school district since school began Aug. 31.

 School officials say they're ready to offer remote instruction for students who need it. 

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports at least one other McCormick employee was potentially in contact with the person testing positive. 

 Wyoming currently has about 500 active cases of the coronavirus, a number that has been steady since July.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — About 100 students at a junior high school in Cheyenne are being told to stay home after a school employee tested positive for the coronavirus. The positive case at McCormick Junior High School is the first in the Cheyenne-area school district since school began Aug. 31. School officials say they're ready to offer remote instruction for students who need it. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports at least one other McCormick employee was potentially in contact with the person testing positive. The school has about 600 students. Wyoming currently has about 500 active cases of the coronavirus, a number that has been steady since July.

Employee virus case keeping 100 Cheyenne students home

Alliance – Due to a possible COVID-19 exposure, staffing at the Alliance Public Library will be limited for the next few days.

 For that reason, the facility will be closed but materials will be available for pick up between 10:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m through the end of the week. 

Once additional information is available, a long term plan will be developed for continued operation of the library.

Thank you for your patience and if you have any questions, please call us at 762-1387.

Alliance – Due to a possible COVID-19 exposure, staffing at the Alliance Public Library will be limited for the next few days. For that reason, the facility will be closed but materials will be available for pick up between 10:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m through the end of the week. Once additional information is available, a long term plan will be developed for continued operation of the library.Thank you for your patience and if you have any questions, please call us at 762-1387.

Alliance Public Library limited due to possible virus exposure

The eighth COVID-related death in the Panhandle has been reported in Scotts Bluff County. A female in her 90s with underlying health conditions has passed away.

“We express our sincerest condolences to her family and must remain diligent with increased precautions to protect our most vulnerable community members,” shared Paulette Schnell, Scotts Bluff County Health Department Director.

The first COVID case in Grant County has also been confirmed. A full report on all confirmed cases since last reporting on Monday will be available on the regularly scheduled Thursday 2pm briefing with Panhandle Unified Command. The Panhandle dashboard is updated weekdays by 430pm and is available at www.pphd.org.

Please continue all of the important precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and your community from the spread of COVID. Wear a mask when possible, stay at least six feet away from others, monitor for any symptoms, and stay home if you are not feeling well. Please practice these safety tips out of an abundance of kindness and humility for others.

Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners.

For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

By PPHDThe eighth COVID-related death in the Panhandle has been reported in Scotts Bluff County. A female in her 90s with underlying health conditions has passed away.“We express our sincerest condolences to her family and must remain diligent with increased precautions to protect our most vulnerable community members,” shared Paulette Schnell, Scotts Bluff County Health Department Director.The first COVID case in Grant County has also been confirmed. A full report on all confirmed cases since last reporting on Monday will be available on the regularly scheduled Thursday 2pm briefing with Panhandle Unified Command. The Panhandle dashboard is updated weekdays by 430pm and is available at www.pphd.org.Please continue all of the important precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and your community from the spread of COVID. Wear a mask when possible, stay at least six feet away from others, monitor for any symptoms, and stay home if you are not feeling well. Please practice these safety tips out of an abundance of kindness and humility for others.Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners.For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

PPHD: 8th virus related death reported in the Panhandle, 1st case in Grant Co.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials are considering spending $50 million to dramatically ramp up testing of people who aren't showing obvious signs of the coronavirus.

A state task force this week backed Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman’s recommendation to use the federal stimulus money on testing at schools, workplaces and other sites. The goal is to catch coronavirus in people who haven’t even realized they’re carrying it, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-11/how-kansas-could-spend-tens-of-millions-to-test-asymptomatic-people-for-coronavirus">reports.</a>

Some of the testing would be done at Wichita State University, where a new not-for-profit lab is gearing up to churn out hundreds of thousands of tests by the end of the year.

“I know that sounds like a lot,” said Tonya Witherspoon, Wichita State’s vice president of industry engagement, “but we think several labs in the state need to be able to do that much — or more.”

Kansas has so far focused most of its energy on people who know either that they are ill or that they have had direct exposure to a confirmed outbreak. But experts say positivity rates should drop when a state or city goes beyond testing these groups of people who are most likely to be sick.

Right now, about 15% of Kansans who get the test find out they have COVID-19. By Johns Hopkins University’s calculations, that puts it among the states with the highest rates of new positives.

On Wednesday, Kansas health officials reported 971 new cases since Monday, for a total of 50,870 across the state. Kansas also had 52 new deaths, raising that number to 586 since the pandemic began.

Norman said at a news conference that 37 of the new deaths were added through a review of death certificates. But that still meant 15 had occurred since Monday, a higher than normal number.

“We are getting to a very sensitive point in time as we talked about during Labor Day with universities, colleges and schools starting back again, athletics those sorts of things,” Norman said. “People are starting to mass gather again in ways that we didn’t see as much of over the summer when people were more dispersed out. As the overall number count goes up, we are going to have more deaths.”

The positive cases include 841 at the University of Kansas, where house parties near campus are raising alarms.

After a debate during the Lawrence City Commission meeting Tuesday, a majority of the commissioners said they were interested in at least considering an ordinance that would make it a municipal offense to violate local health orders designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/city-government/2020/sep/16/city-leaders-express-interest-in-creating-ordinance-that-would-make-disregarding-health-orders-a-municipal-offense/">reports</a>.

City Attorney Toni Wheeler said the offense would be a misdemeanor that could be prosecuted in municipal court. Violators could face a fine of no more than $500, up to 30 days in jail or both.

However, Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei and Mayor Jennifer Ananda said they were not sure that creating a municipal ordinance would be the best approach, and that perhaps stronger disciplinary action from the university, such as bans from campus, mandatory quarantines or suspensions, would be more effective.

Meanwhile, Gov. Laura Kelly hosted a discussion with rural hospital administrators on Wednesday where she urged them to “exert pressure” on lawmakers to support a proposal to expand Medicaid in Kansas.

In the discussion, Harold Courtois, CEO for the Memorial Health System in Abilene, said his organization is worried about running out of personal protective equipment, particularly medical N95 respirators, known as N95 masks, ahead of the flu season.

“My fear is that during the influenza season, where everybody appears to have COVID -- whether it’s influenza or not -- PPE is going to become scarce and be very difficult to acquire again,” Courtois said. “It just doesn’t seem like we see a lot of PPE unless you’re willing to pay enormous prices. There’s still price gouging going on every week

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600340563243.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his press conference on Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his press conference on Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials are considering spending $50 million to dramatically ramp up testing of people who aren't showing obvious signs of the coronavirus.A state task force this week backed Kansas Health Secretary Lee Norman’s recommendation to use the federal stimulus money on testing at schools, workplaces and other sites. The goal is to catch coronavirus in people who haven’t even realized they’re carrying it, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-11/how-kansas-could-spend-tens-of-millions-to-test-asymptomatic-people-for-coronavirus">reports.</a>Some of the testing would be done at Wichita State University, where a new not-for-profit lab is gearing up to churn out hundreds of thousands of tests by the end of the year.“I know that sounds like a lot,” said Tonya Witherspoon, Wichita State’s vice president of industry engagement, “but we think several labs in the state need to be able to do that much — or more.”Kansas has so far focused most of its energy on people who know either that they are ill or that they have had direct exposure to a confirmed outbreak. But experts say positivity rates should drop when a state or city goes beyond testing these groups of people who are most likely to be sick.Right now, about 15% of Kansans who get the test find out they have COVID-19. By Johns Hopkins University’s calculations, that puts it among the states with the highest rates of new positives.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600277925237.png" alt="Sept. 16, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Sept. 16, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, Kansas health officials reported 971 new cases since Monday, for a total of 50,870 across the state. Kansas also had 52 new deaths, raising that number to 586 since the pandemic began.Norman said at a news conference that 37 of the new deaths were added through a review of death certificates. But that still meant 15 had occurred since Monday, a higher than normal number.“We are getting to a very sensitive point in time as we talked about during Labor Day with universities, colleges and schools starting back again, athletics those sorts of things,” Norman said. “People are starting to mass gather again in ways that we didn’t see as much of over the summer when people were more dispersed out. As the overall number count goes up, we are going to have more deaths.”The positive cases include 841 at the University of Kansas, where house parties near campus are raising alarms.After a debate during the Lawrence City Commission meeting Tuesday, a majority of the commissioners said they were interested in at least considering an ordinance that would make it a municipal offense to violate local health orders designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/city-government/2020/sep/16/city-leaders-express-interest-in-creating-ordinance-that-would-make-disregarding-health-orders-a-municipal-offense/">reports</a>.City Attorney Toni Wheeler said the offense would be a misdemeanor that could be prosecuted in municipal court. Violators could face a fine of no more than $500, up to 30 days in jail or both.However, Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei and Mayor Jennifer Ananda said they were not sure that creating a municipal ordinance would be the best approach, and that perhaps stronger disciplinary action from the university, such as bans from campus, mandatory quarantines or suspensions, would be more effective.Meanwhile, Gov. Laura Kelly hosted a discussion with rural hospital administrators on Wednesday where she urged them to “exert pressure” on lawmakers to support a proposal to expand Medicaid in Kansas.In the discussion, Harold Courtois, CEO for the Memorial Health System in Abilene, said his organization is worried about running out of personal protective equipment, particularly medical N95 respirators, known as N95 masks, ahead of the flu season.“My fear is that during the influenza season, where everybody appears to have COVID -- whether it’s influenza or not -- PPE is going to become scarce and be very difficult to acquire again,” Courtois said. “It just doesn’t seem like we see a lot of PPE unless you’re willing to pay enormous prices. There’s still price gouging going on every week

Plan calls for more testing of Kansans without virus symptoms

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for COVID-19 available for free to all Americans, assuming a safe and effective shot is developed, even as top health officials faced questions about political interference with virus information reaching the public.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/strategy-for-distributing-covid-19-vaccine.pdf" target="_blank">report to Congress</a>&nbsp;and an accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/downloads/COVID-19-Vaccination-Program-Interim_Playbook.pdf" target="_blank">“playbook” for states and localities,</a>&nbsp;federal health agencies and the Defense Department sketched out complex plans for a vaccination campaign to begin gradually in January or even late this year, eventually ramping up to reach any American who wants a shot. The Pentagon would be involved with the distribution of vaccines, but civilian health workers would be the ones giving shots.

The whole enterprise faces remaining skepticism. Only about half of Americans said they’d get vaccinated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dacdc8bc428dd4df6511bfa259cfec44">an Associated Press-NORC poll taken in May.&nbsp;</a>Since then, questions have only mounted about whether the government is trying to rush treatments and vaccines to help President Donald Trump’s reelection chances.

On Wednesday, the Health and Human Services Department announced that political appointee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bc1d25c72728fce624831e523e7fc678">Michael Caputo would take a leave of absence</a>. The news followed revelations that the senior communications official had tried to gain editorial control over scientific publications on COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which he contended were hurting the Trump administration.

The director of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, responding Wednesday before Senate lawmakers, rejected questions over whether the government’s timeline for states to be ready for a vaccine by Nov. 1 was politically motivated.

Redfield told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the “scientific integrity” of his agency’s output “has not been compromised and it will not be compromised under my watch.”

He said he was “deeply saddened” by Caputo’s accusations that CDC staff were working as a “resistance unit” against the administration.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, said political interference had damaged public trust in the government’s health information .

“The Trump administration needs to leave the science to the scientists immediately,” Murray said.

Although Trump asserted Tuesday that a vaccine could be three to four weeks away, Redfield, made clear to Congress that any version available this year would be in “very limited supply.” The shot wouldn’t be broadly available to most of the U.S. population until the summer of 2021, he estimated.

Trump’s press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, quickly repeated the president’s version at the White House: “We do believe that it will be widely available by the end of the year.”

As for the planned vaccine campaign, the CDC playbook for states says it is “much larger in scope and complexity than seasonal influenza or other previous outbreak-related vaccination responses.” Redfield said that his agency will be working with state health officials to execute the vaccination plan in coming days.

— For most vaccines, people will need two doses, 21 to 28 days apart. Double-dose vaccines will have to come from the same drugmaker. There could be several vaccines from different manufacturers approved and available.

— Vaccination of the U.S. population won’t be a sprint but a marathon. Initially there may be a limited supply of vaccines, and the focus will be on protecting health workers, other essential employees, and people in vulnerable groups. “Early in (the) COVID-19 vaccination program there may be a limited supply of vaccine and vaccine efforts may focus on those critical to the response, providing direct care and maintaining societal functions, as well as those at highest risk for developing severe illness,” Redfield said. A second and third phase would expand vaccination to the entire population.

— The vaccine itself will be free of charge, thanks to billions of dollars in taxpayer funding approved by Congress and allocated by the Trump administration. The goal is that patients won’t be separately charged for administration of their shots, and officials say they are working to ensure that’s the case for all Medicare recipients and uninsured people as well those covered by insurance at their jobs.

— States and local communities will need to devise precise plans for receiving and locally distributing vaccines, some of which will require special handling such as refrigeration or freezing. States and cities have a month to submit plans.

— A massive information technology effort will be needed to track who is getting which vaccines and when, and the key challenge involves getting multiple public and private databases to link with each other.

Some of the broad components of the federal plan have already been discussed, but Wednesday’s reports attempt to put the key details into a comprehensive framework. Distribution is under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed, a White House-backed initiative to have vaccines ready to ship in 24 hours from when a version is given emergency use approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Several formulations are undergoing final trials.

However, public skepticism remains. Of the Americans who said in the May AP poll that they wouldn’t get vaccinated, the overwhelming majority said they were worried about safety. To effectively protect the nation from the coronavirus, experts say 70% to 90% of Americans must either be vaccinated or have their own immunity from fighting off COVID-19.

Before the Republican National Convention in August, the FDA granted authorization for treatment of COVID-19 patients with plasma from people who have recovered, even though some government scientists were not convinced the clinical evidence was sufficiently strong.

As public confidence in health agencies has taken a beating, Trump administration officials have been forced to play defense.

“We are working closely with our state and local public health partners ... to ensure that Americans can receive the vaccine as soon as possible and vaccinate with confidence,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement Wednesday. “Americans should know that the vaccine development process is being driven completely by science and the data.”

That could be a tough sell. In the AP poll, 1 in 5 Americans said they would not get a coronavirus vaccine, and 31% said they were unsure.

“We’re dealing in a world of great uncertainty,” said Paul Mango, a top HHS official working on the vaccine plan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600265279122.png" alt="Photo courtesy AstraZeneca" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy AstraZeneca</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for COVID-19 available for free to all Americans, assuming a safe and effective shot is developed, even as top health officials faced questions about political interference with virus information reaching the public.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/strategy-for-distributing-covid-19-vaccine.pdf" target="_blank">report to Congress</a>&nbsp;and an accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/downloads/COVID-19-Vaccination-Program-Interim_Playbook.pdf" target="_blank">“playbook” for states and localities,</a>&nbsp;federal health agencies and the Defense Department sketched out complex plans for a vaccination campaign to begin gradually in January or even late this year, eventually ramping up to reach any American who wants a shot. The Pentagon would be involved with the distribution of vaccines, but civilian health workers would be the ones giving shots.The whole enterprise faces remaining skepticism. Only about half of Americans said they’d get vaccinated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dacdc8bc428dd4df6511bfa259cfec44">an Associated Press-NORC poll taken in May.&nbsp;</a>Since then, questions have only mounted about whether the government is trying to rush treatments and vaccines to help President Donald Trump’s reelection chances.On Wednesday, the Health and Human Services Department announced that political appointee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bc1d25c72728fce624831e523e7fc678">Michael Caputo would take a leave of absence</a>. The news followed revelations that the senior communications official had tried to gain editorial control over scientific publications on COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which he contended were hurting the Trump administration.The director of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, responding Wednesday before Senate lawmakers, rejected questions over whether the government’s timeline for states to be ready for a vaccine by Nov. 1 was politically motivated.Redfield told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the “scientific integrity” of his agency’s output “has not been compromised and it will not be compromised under my watch.”He said he was “deeply saddened” by Caputo’s accusations that CDC staff were working as a “resistance unit” against the administration.Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, said political interference had damaged public trust in the government’s health information .“The Trump administration needs to leave the science to the scientists immediately,” Murray said.Although Trump asserted Tuesday that a vaccine could be three to four weeks away, Redfield, made clear to Congress that any version available this year would be in “very limited supply.” The shot wouldn’t be broadly available to most of the U.S. population until the summer of 2021, he estimated.Trump’s press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, quickly repeated the president’s version at the White House: “We do believe that it will be widely available by the end of the year.”As for the planned vaccine campaign, the CDC playbook for states says it is “much larger in scope and complexity than seasonal influenza or other previous outbreak-related vaccination responses.” Redfield said that his agency will be working with state health officials to execute the vaccination plan in coming days.Among the highlights of the plan:— For most vaccines, people will need two doses, 21 to 28 days apart. Double-dose vaccines will have to come from the same drugmaker. There could be several vaccines from different manufacturers approved and available.— Vaccination of the U.S. population won’t be a sprint but a marathon. Initially there may be a limited supply of vaccines, and the focus will be on protecting health workers, other essential employees, and people in vulnerable groups. “Early in (the) COVID-19 vaccination program there may be a limited supply of vaccine and vaccine efforts may focus on those critical to the response, providing direct care and maintaining societal functions, as well as those at highest risk for developing severe illness,” Redfield said. A second and third phase would expand vaccination to the entire population.— The vaccine itself will be free of charge, thanks to billions of dollars in taxpayer funding approved by Congress and allocated by the Trump administration. The goal is that patients won’t be separately charged for administration of their shots, and officials say they are working to ensure that’s the case for all Medicare recipients and uninsured people as well those covered by insurance at their jobs.— States and local communities will need to devise precise plans for receiving and locally distributing vaccines, some of which will require special handling such as refrigeration or freezing. States and cities have a month to submit plans.— A massive information technology effort will be needed to track who is getting which vaccines and when, and the key challenge involves getting multiple public and private databases to link with each other.Some of the broad components of the federal plan have already been discussed, but Wednesday’s reports attempt to put the key details into a comprehensive framework. Distribution is under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed, a White House-backed initiative to have vaccines ready to ship in 24 hours from when a version is given emergency use approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Several formulations are undergoing final trials.However, public skepticism remains. Of the Americans who said in the May AP poll that they wouldn’t get vaccinated, the overwhelming majority said they were worried about safety. To effectively protect the nation from the coronavirus, experts say 70% to 90% of Americans must either be vaccinated or have their own immunity from fighting off COVID-19.Before the Republican National Convention in August, the FDA granted authorization for treatment of COVID-19 patients with plasma from people who have recovered, even though some government scientists were not convinced the clinical evidence was sufficiently strong.As public confidence in health agencies has taken a beating, Trump administration officials have been forced to play defense.“We are working closely with our state and local public health partners ... to ensure that Americans can receive the vaccine as soon as possible and vaccinate with confidence,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement Wednesday. “Americans should know that the vaccine development process is being driven completely by science and the data.”That could be a tough sell. In the AP poll, 1 in 5 Americans said they would not get a coronavirus vaccine, and 31% said they were unsure.“We’re dealing in a world of great uncertainty,” said Paul Mango, a top HHS official working on the vaccine plan.

US outlines sweeping plan to provide free COVID-19 vaccines

OMAHA, NE&nbsp;— Nebraskans have received $9.9 billion in federal COVID-19 relief since March, and that number will increase if Congress approves an additional package of relief measures. But a new Platte Institute report says that the state’s current website for tracking the relief effort’s spending falls short when it comes to transparency and providing the public, the media, and policymakers useful information about where the money is going.

The report,&nbsp;Where is the Money Going? Tracking COVID-19 Relief Funds in Nebraska, is now available at&nbsp;<a href="https://platteinstitute.org/Policy" target="_blank">PlatteInstitute.org/Policy</a>&nbsp;and is attached in PDF format.On July 15, the Ricketts administration launched a website at&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">coronavirus.nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;that included features for detailing the use of federal relief funds.

As of this writing, an analytic tool for exploring data on CARES Act programs remains unavailable, and documentation on the main site only accounts for about $1 billion of the $9.9 billion in pandemic-related assistance. CARES Act and other COVID-19 assistance in Nebraska totals more than twice as much as the state’s current General Fund spending.

As one example of the inconsistencies in the data, the U.S. Department of Education states that Nebraska received $295.2 million in emergency education funding, while state documents only account for $208.2 million once K-12 and higher education stabilization and nutrition programs are combined.

"The state’s current website is far from an adequate resource for informing taxpayers about how COVID-19 relief is being spent in Nebraska,” said&nbsp;Platte Institute Policy Director Sarah Curry, the author of the report.“The CARES Act has brought an especially large amount of one-time federal funding to Nebraska that demands transparency, but Nebraska also receives a large share of its budget from Washington every year, and the state is not doing enough to inventory those funds either,” said Curry. &nbsp;

Nebraska has received an average of 31% of its total budget from the federal government over the last ten years, which is a typical amount for states to receive.

Curry proposes that the state should audit and inventory all federal funds allocated to the state, providing information on the intended use of the funds, and the state matching or maintenance of effort requirements associated with accepting the federal money.

In 2017, a proposal to create a publicly-accessible inventory of all federal funds allocated to the state won first-round approval in the Legislature but failed to become law.

“While all this money has been entering the state for decades, there is no comprehensive report or website for taxpayers or lawmakers to see where the money is going and if it is accomplishing its intended purpose,” said Curry.“Had the federal funds inventory been adopted in 2017, the COVID-19 relief program, as well as federal funds used for the 2019 flood and blizzard relief in Nebraska, would have been subject to more complete scrutiny. Instead, taxpayers, the media, and the Legislature have had to rely on what information the executive branch has chosen to provide,” said Curry.

From the Platte InstituteOMAHA, NE&nbsp;— Nebraskans have received $9.9 billion in federal COVID-19 relief since March, and that number will increase if Congress approves an additional package of relief measures. But a new Platte Institute report says that the state’s current website for tracking the relief effort’s spending falls short when it comes to transparency and providing the public, the media, and policymakers useful information about where the money is going.The report,&nbsp;Where is the Money Going? Tracking COVID-19 Relief Funds in Nebraska, is now available at&nbsp;<a href="https://platteinstitute.org/Policy" target="_blank">PlatteInstitute.org/Policy</a>&nbsp;and is attached in PDF format.On July 15, the Ricketts administration launched a website at&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">coronavirus.nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;that included features for detailing the use of federal relief funds. As of this writing, an analytic tool for exploring data on CARES Act programs remains unavailable, and documentation on the main site only accounts for about $1 billion of the $9.9 billion in pandemic-related assistance. CARES Act and other COVID-19 assistance in Nebraska totals more than twice as much as the state’s current General Fund spending.As one example of the inconsistencies in the data, the U.S. Department of Education states that Nebraska received $295.2 million in emergency education funding, while state documents only account for $208.2 million once K-12 and higher education stabilization and nutrition programs are combined."The state’s current website is far from an adequate resource for informing taxpayers about how COVID-19 relief is being spent in Nebraska,” said&nbsp;Platte Institute Policy Director Sarah Curry, the author of the report.“The CARES Act has brought an especially large amount of one-time federal funding to Nebraska that demands transparency, but Nebraska also receives a large share of its budget from Washington every year, and the state is not doing enough to inventory those funds either,” said Curry. &nbsp;Nebraska has received an average of 31% of its total budget from the federal government over the last ten years, which is a typical amount for states to receive.Curry proposes that the state should audit and inventory all federal funds allocated to the state, providing information on the intended use of the funds, and the state matching or maintenance of effort requirements associated with accepting the federal money.In 2017, a proposal to create a publicly-accessible inventory of all federal funds allocated to the state won first-round approval in the Legislature but failed to become law.“While all this money has been entering the state for decades, there is no comprehensive report or website for taxpayers or lawmakers to see where the money is going and if it is accomplishing its intended purpose,” said Curry.“Had the federal funds inventory been adopted in 2017, the COVID-19 relief program, as well as federal funds used for the 2019 flood and blizzard relief in Nebraska, would have been subject to more complete scrutiny. Instead, taxpayers, the media, and the Legislature have had to rely on what information the executive branch has chosen to provide,” said Curry.

Report: Nebraska COVID-19 relief tracking tools lack transparency

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Some state and local officials around the U.S. are rolling back social-distancing rules again after an abortive effort over the summer, allowing bars, restaurants and gyms to open. Fans are gathering mask-free at football games. President Donald Trump is holding crowded indoor rallies.

While some Americans may see such things as a welcome step closer to normal, public health experts warn the U.S. is setting itself up for failure — again.

“Folks are becoming very cavalier about the pandemic,” said Mark Rupp, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Nebraska’s governor ended nearly all of his state’s restrictions on Monday, even with new cases of the coronavirus on the rise.

“I think it is setting us up for further transmission and more people getting ill and, unfortunately, more people dying,” Rupp said.

The virus is blamed for more than 6.5 million confirmed infections and 195,000 deaths in the U.S., by far the highest totals of any country, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

While case numbers have fallen from a peak average of 67,000 new infections per day in late July to about 36,000 now, the numbers remain staggeringly high. Deaths are running at about 750 a day, down from a peak of over 2,200 in late April.

In recent days, Mississippi has allowed restaurants to expand their customer capacity to 75%. New Jersey reopened gyms and indoor dining at restaurants, though with limited capacity. Michigan’s governor allowed gyms to reopen and organized sports to resume. County commissioners in Pinellas County, Florida, on Thursday are set to discuss whether to repeal their mask ordinance.

Public health experts noted that it is safe to resume certain activities in communities where there are low levels of infection.

The nation’s top infectious-disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, appeared via video at Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s virus briefing Tuesday and praised the state’s response and its steps to reopen safely. He chalked it up to Vermont’s emphasis on wearing masks, avoiding crowds and taking other simple precautions.

But elsewhere, experts said, case counts are too high to resume higher-risk activities, such as going to bars, gyms, theaters and stadiums, participating in close contact sports or eating inside a restaurant.

In most communities in Florida, bars were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity on Monday, while keeping some precautions in place. But Florida’s three biggest counties — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — are keeping their bars closed because of high case numbers.

Even in places where drinking establishments have been given the OK to reopen, some owners and customers alike are hesitant.

At The Leon Pub, a smoky bar a mile up the road from Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee, the Monday night crowd was sparse, as it has been for much of the long, oppressive summer.

“It’s been crickets and tumbleweeds,” said bartender Lauren Bryant.

Among the few there were Allie Preston and her husband. “We’ve been cooped up for a while. It was nice to have normalcy,” she said.

Florida bars were shuttered on St. Patrick’s Day in March, allowed to reopen in June, then ordered closed again about two weeks later as virus cases surged. The Leon Pub was allowed to reopen in July because it had a restaurant license.

Jim Smith. owner of Poor Paul’s Pourhouse in Tallahassee, intends to keep his place closed until the outbreak is over.

“I miss going to work every day. I miss seeing the customers and employees,” he said. “We have to get this thing under control.”

It’s not just government officials who are letting up on restrictions. In Milwaukee, the Roman Catholic archbishop said he will no longer excuse people from in-person worship unless they are ill or are caring for someone who is sick. Meanwhile, cases in Wisconsin are on the rise.

Some local officials are cracking down as they see cases climb.

In Wichita, Kansas, health officials made bar curfews and mask wearing mandatory. In Framingham, Massachusetts, officials said they have starting issuing $500 fines to property owners who violate the rules on gatherings and mask-wearing.

Public health experts said they worry they are seeing a pattern: A drop in cases leads officials and regular Americans to relax measures to stay safe, and infections and deaths make a comeback.

“Please, you’ve done so well, don’t let your guard down,” Fauci said during a call-in news conference during the video call with Vermont’s governor. “Because if we do, we are going to see surges that are going to put us back to where we were months ago.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Some state and local officials around the U.S. are rolling back social-distancing rules again after an abortive effort over the summer, allowing bars, restaurants and gyms to open. Fans are gathering mask-free at football games. President Donald Trump is holding crowded indoor rallies.While some Americans may see such things as a welcome step closer to normal, public health experts warn the U.S. is setting itself up for failure — again.“Folks are becoming very cavalier about the pandemic,” said Mark Rupp, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Nebraska’s governor ended nearly all of his state’s restrictions on Monday, even with new cases of the coronavirus on the rise.“I think it is setting us up for further transmission and more people getting ill and, unfortunately, more people dying,” Rupp said.The virus is blamed for more than 6.5 million confirmed infections and 195,000 deaths in the U.S., by far the highest totals of any country, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University.While case numbers have fallen from a peak average of 67,000 new infections per day in late July to about 36,000 now, the numbers remain staggeringly high. Deaths are running at about 750 a day, down from a peak of over 2,200 in late April.In recent days, Mississippi has allowed restaurants to expand their customer capacity to 75%. New Jersey reopened gyms and indoor dining at restaurants, though with limited capacity. Michigan’s governor allowed gyms to reopen and organized sports to resume. County commissioners in Pinellas County, Florida, on Thursday are set to discuss whether to repeal their mask ordinance.Public health experts noted that it is safe to resume certain activities in communities where there are low levels of infection.The nation’s top infectious-disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, appeared via video at Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s virus briefing Tuesday and praised the state’s response and its steps to reopen safely. He chalked it up to Vermont’s emphasis on wearing masks, avoiding crowds and taking other simple precautions.But elsewhere, experts said, case counts are too high to resume higher-risk activities, such as going to bars, gyms, theaters and stadiums, participating in close contact sports or eating inside a restaurant.In most communities in Florida, bars were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity on Monday, while keeping some precautions in place. But Florida’s three biggest counties — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — are keeping their bars closed because of high case numbers.Even in places where drinking establishments have been given the OK to reopen, some owners and customers alike are hesitant.At The Leon Pub, a smoky bar a mile up the road from Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee, the Monday night crowd was sparse, as it has been for much of the long, oppressive summer.“It’s been crickets and tumbleweeds,” said bartender Lauren Bryant.Among the few there were Allie Preston and her husband. “We’ve been cooped up for a while. It was nice to have normalcy,” she said.Florida bars were shuttered on St. Patrick’s Day in March, allowed to reopen in June, then ordered closed again about two weeks later as virus cases surged. The Leon Pub was allowed to reopen in July because it had a restaurant license.Jim Smith. owner of Poor Paul’s Pourhouse in Tallahassee, intends to keep his place closed until the outbreak is over.“I miss going to work every day. I miss seeing the customers and employees,” he said. “We have to get this thing under control.”It’s not just government officials who are letting up on restrictions. In Milwaukee, the Roman Catholic archbishop said he will no longer excuse people from in-person worship unless they are ill or are caring for someone who is sick. Meanwhile, cases in Wisconsin are on the rise.Some local officials are cracking down as they see cases climb.In Wichita, Kansas, health officials made bar curfews and mask wearing mandatory. In Framingham, Massachusetts, officials said they have starting issuing $500 fines to property owners who violate the rules on gatherings and mask-wearing.Public health experts said they worry they are seeing a pattern: A drop in cases leads officials and regular Americans to relax measures to stay safe, and infections and deaths make a comeback.“Please, you’ve done so well, don’t let your guard down,” Fauci said during a call-in news conference during the video call with Vermont’s governor. “Because if we do, we are going to see surges that are going to put us back to where we were months ago.”——

Experts worry as US virus restrictions are eased or violated

By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-14/leavenworth-leads-federal-prisons-in-covid-19-cases-and-inmates-families-are-worried">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — For months, the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth avoided the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. But that’s changed.

Leavenworth has the highest number of <a href="https://www.bop.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">COVID-19 cases in the entire federal prison system</a>, with 206 inmates and five staff members with the virus. There are currently 1,594 people incarcerated at the prison.

Family
 members of Leavenworth inmates say that, like in other federal and 
state prisons, their loved ones are living in close quarters with other 
inmates and prison employees, not all of whom wear masks. The families 
allege medical staff can be inattentive and that inmates have no choice 
but to congregate closely around phones and showers because of the 
months-long restrictions on leaving their dorms or cells.

Amanda Karch is even worried about her boyfriend’s mental health.

“He says he’s depressed. He’s anxious,” she said. “He’s just unsure. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen.”

The
 federal Bureau of Prisons declined multiple requests for interviews, 
but emailed a statement in response to questions. The agency said it 
follows the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 and provides appropriate treatment for COVID-19.

“For safety, 
security, and privacy reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of 
confinement for any individual or group of inmates,” spokesman Scott 
Walker said in an email. “Additionally, for privacy reasons, we do not 
share personal information about staff.”

An inmate at Leavenworth 
tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 1, Walker said. Previously, only 
five inmates had tested positive. As of Monday, eight inmates and five 
staff members had recovered, and no one has died.

“Per CDC 
guidance, a contact tracing investigation is conducted for each positive
 case,” Walker said. “While in general population, any inmate displaying
 symptoms for COVID-19 will be tested and placed in isolation.”

Most inmates who test positive are asymptomatic, Walker said, while inmates with severe symptoms are sent to the hospital.

The
 Leavenworth federal prison is in the same county as the Lansing 
Correctional Facility, a state prison that saw about half of its 
population come down with COVID-19 earlier this year. Overall, five 
inmates in Kansas-run prisons <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">have died</a> from the virus, as well as three <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-14/kansas-prison-workers-want-more-covid-19-protection-after-2-guards-and-3-inmates-die" target="_blank">staff members</a>.

Randy
 Dyke, who is incarcerated at the Leavenworth federal prison, said not 
all staff members or inmates follow the rules when it comes to wearing 
masks. Family members of other inmates backed that up.

“We do wear
 masks, except in the dorms. As for the staff, most do wear masks. 
However, we have some who totally refuse to do so, putting us all at 
risk,” said Dyke, who is serving a sentence in the minimum-security 
satellite camp at Leavenworth. He spoke to the Kansas News Service 
through email.

Walker did not answer a question about whether 
there are staff members at Leavenworth who do not wear masks, but said 
that “all staff and inmates have been issued facial coverings and are 
required to wear them when social distancing is not available per CDC 
guidelines.”

Laundry machines at the prison don’t have water hot 
enough to wash the cloth masks issued by the prison, Dyke said. Many 
people wash their masks by hand, and don’t have access to bleach to 
sanitize them. He said the prison first gave out disposable masks, then 
gave three cloth masks to inmates and replaced those two months later.

“Most
 of the wash machines here are hooked up to cold water and are worn out 
and do not function correctly,” Dyke said, “so the clothes are not 
getting as clean as they should.”

Walker responded in his email 
that inmates regularly receive replacement masks and that prison laundry
 facilities use enough bleach, detergent and hot water to wash clothing 
adequately.

Since 
March, inmates across the federal prison system have had their movement 
restricted to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing in 
prison is basically impossible, Dyke said.

In the dorms at the 
minimum-security camp, Dyke said, some people sleep in bunks less than 
four feet apart. He shares a dorm with about 25 other men.

“It is just overcrowded here,” he said.

Before
 the full lockdown began in early September, inmates in the 
medium-security section of the prison couldn’t leave their cells except 
for one to two hours a day, according to family members of inmates.

Karch,
 whose boyfriend is in the medium-security unit, said he sometimes had 
to choose between showering and making a phone call, because the lines 
were so long.

Another woman whose husband also is in the 
medium-security unit said the long lines resulted in dozens of inmates 
standing too close to allow for proper social distancing. She spoke with
 the Kansas News Service on the condition of anonymity because she was 
afraid prison staff would retaliate against her husband.

“When it 
was time to use the phones, my husband said they were packed in there 
like sardines,” she said. “Basically shoulder to shoulder.”

Her 
husband, who is nearly 70, rarely seeks medical care because the prison 
doesn’t provide treatment for illnesses. She said inmates are instead 
told to buy over-the-counter medication from the prison commissary.

The conditions make the inmates uneasy about their physical health and safety during the pandemic, the woman said.

“These guys don’t know if they could wake up tomorrow and be really sick,” she said.

Since
 cases began to rise in the past two weeks, the woman and other people 
said that the lockdown had been extended to 24 hours a day and that they
 had not been able to contact their family members.

“Recently, the medium-security facility was temporarily secured with no movement occurring,”

The added worry of having a family member in Leavenworth has made the pandemic even more stressful for those on the outside.

Jammie
 Rothchild, Dyke’s daughter, says she worries about her father, who is 
60 years old and at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 due to his age.

“It sucks,” Rothchild said. “Our hands are tied. There’s nothing we can do.”

Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600183865325.png" alt="The federal prison in Leavenworth houses about 1,600 inmates in a medium-security facility and minimum-security camp. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The federal prison in Leavenworth houses about 1,600 inmates in a medium-security facility and minimum-security camp. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-14/leavenworth-leads-federal-prisons-in-covid-19-cases-and-inmates-families-are-worried">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE — For months, the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth avoided the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. But that’s changed.Leavenworth has the highest number of <a href="https://www.bop.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">COVID-19 cases in the entire federal prison system</a>, with 206 inmates and five staff members with the virus. There are currently 1,594 people incarcerated at the prison.Family
 members of Leavenworth inmates say that, like in other federal and 
state prisons, their loved ones are living in close quarters with other 
inmates and prison employees, not all of whom wear masks. The families 
allege medical staff can be inattentive and that inmates have no choice 
but to congregate closely around phones and showers because of the 
months-long restrictions on leaving their dorms or cells.Amanda Karch is even worried about her boyfriend’s mental health.“He says he’s depressed. He’s anxious,” she said. “He’s just unsure. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen.”The
 federal Bureau of Prisons declined multiple requests for interviews, 
but emailed a statement in response to questions. The agency said it 
follows the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 and provides appropriate treatment for COVID-19.“For safety, 
security, and privacy reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of 
confinement for any individual or group of inmates,” spokesman Scott 
Walker said in an email. “Additionally, for privacy reasons, we do not 
share personal information about staff.”An inmate at Leavenworth 
tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 1, Walker said. Previously, only 
five inmates had tested positive. As of Monday, eight inmates and five 
staff members had recovered, and no one has died.“Per CDC 
guidance, a contact tracing investigation is conducted for each positive
 case,” Walker said. “While in general population, any inmate displaying
 symptoms for COVID-19 will be tested and placed in isolation.”Most inmates who test positive are asymptomatic, Walker said, while inmates with severe symptoms are sent to the hospital.The
 Leavenworth federal prison is in the same county as the Lansing 
Correctional Facility, a state prison that saw about half of its 
population come down with COVID-19 earlier this year. Overall, five 
inmates in Kansas-run prisons <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">have died</a> from the virus, as well as three <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-14/kansas-prison-workers-want-more-covid-19-protection-after-2-guards-and-3-inmates-die" target="_blank">staff members</a>.<h2>Masks and sanitation</h2>Randy
 Dyke, who is incarcerated at the Leavenworth federal prison, said not 
all staff members or inmates follow the rules when it comes to wearing 
masks. Family members of other inmates backed that up.“We do wear
 masks, except in the dorms. As for the staff, most do wear masks. 
However, we have some who totally refuse to do so, putting us all at 
risk,” said Dyke, who is serving a sentence in the minimum-security 
satellite camp at Leavenworth. He spoke to the Kansas News Service 
through email.Walker did not answer a question about whether 
there are staff members at Leavenworth who do not wear masks, but said 
that “all staff and inmates have been issued facial coverings and are 
required to wear them when social distancing is not available per CDC 
guidelines.”Laundry machines at the prison don’t have water hot 
enough to wash the cloth masks issued by the prison, Dyke said. Many 
people wash their masks by hand, and don’t have access to bleach to 
sanitize them. He said the prison first gave out disposable masks, then 
gave three cloth masks to inmates and replaced those two months later.“Most
 of the wash machines here are hooked up to cold water and are worn out 
and do not function correctly,” Dyke said, “so the clothes are not 
getting as clean as they should.”Walker responded in his email 
that inmates regularly receive replacement masks and that prison laundry
 facilities use enough bleach, detergent and hot water to wash clothing 
adequately.<h2>On lockdown</h2>Since 
March, inmates across the federal prison system have had their movement 
restricted to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing in 
prison is basically impossible, Dyke said.In the dorms at the 
minimum-security camp, Dyke said, some people sleep in bunks less than 
four feet apart. He shares a dorm with about 25 other men.“It is just overcrowded here,” he said.Before
 the full lockdown began in early September, inmates in the 
medium-security section of the prison couldn’t leave their cells except 
for one to two hours a day, according to family members of inmates.Karch,
 whose boyfriend is in the medium-security unit, said he sometimes had 
to choose between showering and making a phone call, because the lines 
were so long.Another woman whose husband also is in the 
medium-security unit said the long lines resulted in dozens of inmates 
standing too close to allow for proper social distancing. She spoke with
 the Kansas News Service on the condition of anonymity because she was 
afraid prison staff would retaliate against her husband.“When it 
was time to use the phones, my husband said they were packed in there 
like sardines,” she said. “Basically shoulder to shoulder.”Her 
husband, who is nearly 70, rarely seeks medical care because the prison 
doesn’t provide treatment for illnesses. She said inmates are instead 
told to buy over-the-counter medication from the prison commissary.The conditions make the inmates uneasy about their physical health and safety during the pandemic, the woman said.“These guys don’t know if they could wake up tomorrow and be really sick,” she said.Since
 cases began to rise in the past two weeks, the woman and other people 
said that the lockdown had been extended to 24 hours a day and that they
 had not been able to contact their family members.“Recently, the medium-security facility was temporarily secured with no movement occurring,”Walker confirmed in an email.The added worry of having a family member in Leavenworth has made the pandemic even more stressful for those on the outside.Jammie
 Rothchild, Dyke’s daughter, says she worries about her father, who is 
60 years old and at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 due to his age.“It sucks,” Rothchild said. “Our hands are tied. There’s nothing we can do.”Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

Leavenworth tops all federal prisons in COVID-19 cases

NORTH PLATTE., Neb. (AP) —  A longtime North Platte doctor has died from COVID-19 as the state reported more than 38,000 confirmed cases of the virus in Nebraska. 

The North Platte Telegraph reports that Dr. Leland Lamberty died Saturday after weeks of fighting the virus. 

Lamberty was a physician at Great Plains Health hospital and Great Plains Family Medicine clinic in North Platte. 

Hospital officials say Lamberty was believed to have contracted the virus through community spread. 

News of his death comes as the state's online virus tracker reported 38,335 confirmed cases and 435 COVID-19 deaths in Nebraska since the beginning of the outbreak.

NORTH PLATTE., Neb. (AP) — A longtime North Platte doctor has died from COVID-19 as the state reported more than 38,000 confirmed cases of the virus in Nebraska. The North Platte Telegraph reports that Dr. Leland Lamberty died Saturday after weeks of fighting the virus. Lamberty was a physician at Great Plains Health hospital and Great Plains Family Medicine clinic in North Platte. Hospital officials say Lamberty was believed to have contracted the virus through community spread. News of his death comes as the state's online virus tracker reported 38,335 confirmed cases and 435 COVID-19 deaths in Nebraska since the beginning of the outbreak.

Longtime North Platte doctor dies from COVID-19

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican said Saturday it was “necessary and urgent” to return to in-person Masses as soon as anti-coronavirus measures permit.

The head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, Cardinal Robert Sarah, said in a letter to bishops conferences that virtual liturgies, while useful, were no replacement for the real thing. He said physical presence by the faithful in churches was “vital, indispensable, irreplaceable.”

While some Catholic priests claimed coronavirus lockdowns that shuttered churches infringed on religious liberties, Pope Francis has adhered to Italy’s strict lockdown.

He halted all public Masses at the Vatican, livestreamed his morning liturgies during the peak of Italy’s outbreak, and at one point even admonished priests who balked at the measures for their “adolescent resistance.”

The Vatican said Saturday that Francis had approved Sarah’s letter to bishops conferences, which makes clear that government authorities cannot dictate liturgical practices.

Francis had urged the Catholic faithful to obey anti-COVID measures, saying government authorities were responsible for public health. He was seen this week wearing a face mask for the first time, and has been using hand sanitizer.

In recent weeks Francis has resumed public gatherings and has celebrated a handful of public Masses before limited, socially distanced groups.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican said Saturday it was “necessary and urgent” to return to in-person Masses as soon as anti-coronavirus measures permit.The head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, Cardinal Robert Sarah, said in a letter to bishops conferences that virtual liturgies, while useful, were no replacement for the real thing. He said physical presence by the faithful in churches was “vital, indispensable, irreplaceable.”While some Catholic priests claimed coronavirus lockdowns that shuttered churches infringed on religious liberties, Pope Francis has adhered to Italy’s strict lockdown.He halted all public Masses at the Vatican, livestreamed his morning liturgies during the peak of Italy’s outbreak, and at one point even admonished priests who balked at the measures for their “adolescent resistance.”The Vatican said Saturday that Francis had approved Sarah’s letter to bishops conferences, which makes clear that government authorities cannot dictate liturgical practices.Francis had urged the Catholic faithful to obey anti-COVID measures, saying government authorities were responsible for public health. He was seen this week wearing a face mask for the first time, and has been using hand sanitizer.In recent weeks Francis has resumed public gatherings and has celebrated a handful of public Masses before limited, socially distanced groups.___

Vatican urges return to in-person Mass as soon as possible

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The owner of a Lincoln bowling alley who has been at loggerheads with city officials for weeks over orders intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus is suing to stop the mandates from being enforced.

Benjamin Madsen, general manager of Madsen's Bowling &amp; Billiards, filed the lawsuit Thursday against the city and its mayor, police chief and health director, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/madsens-gm-follows-through-on-pledge-to-sue-over-health-directive/article_710b1064-b3f2-5c38-8a7b-3a8a9120758d.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">reported</a>. The lawsuit alleges they have no legal authority to issue civil penalties or shut down businesses that don't follow the mandates. The bowling alley has also filed a $10 million claim against the city making the same allegations.

City officials and Madsen have been in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/888f9410799a1c8d3f9647d73f1ff64e" target="_blank">tug-of-war</a>&nbsp;over the mandates. Police have issued citations against the bowling alley and the city briefly shut it down last month for violating coronavirus-related restrictions. City officials said the business wasn't requiring employees or patrons to wear masks or enforcing social distancing requirements.

Madsen's attorney, Christopher Ferdico, said city employees have been engaged in a policy of harassment "designed to stifle and discourage legitimate public debate," while attempting to delegate police powers to businesses and to punish businesses for failing to enforce the mandate. The lawsuit seeks to suspend all enforcement of the city's mandates, find them unlawful and award damages for lost profits.

Also Thursday, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e280640ba95931e6020e21a974b11396" target="_blank">to end nearly all of his state's social-distancing restrictions</a>&nbsp;next week, even as the number of new coronavirus cases trended upward.

On Friday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online virus tracker</a>&nbsp;showed 37,373 confirmed cases and 430 deaths in Nebraska since the start of the outbreak.

Over the past seven days, the state averaged more than 274 new confirmed cases a day, compared with a seven-day average of 241 the week prior, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 tracking project. The state averaged more than three COVID-19 deaths per day in the last seven days, compared with just over two deaths per day for the seven days prior.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599844276570.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The owner of a Lincoln bowling alley who has been at loggerheads with city officials for weeks over orders intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus is suing to stop the mandates from being enforced.Benjamin Madsen, general manager of Madsen's Bowling &amp; Billiards, filed the lawsuit Thursday against the city and its mayor, police chief and health director, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/madsens-gm-follows-through-on-pledge-to-sue-over-health-directive/article_710b1064-b3f2-5c38-8a7b-3a8a9120758d.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">reported</a>. The lawsuit alleges they have no legal authority to issue civil penalties or shut down businesses that don't follow the mandates. The bowling alley has also filed a $10 million claim against the city making the same allegations.City officials and Madsen have been in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/888f9410799a1c8d3f9647d73f1ff64e" target="_blank">tug-of-war</a>&nbsp;over the mandates. Police have issued citations against the bowling alley and the city briefly shut it down last month for violating coronavirus-related restrictions. City officials said the business wasn't requiring employees or patrons to wear masks or enforcing social distancing requirements.Madsen's attorney, Christopher Ferdico, said city employees have been engaged in a policy of harassment "designed to stifle and discourage legitimate public debate," while attempting to delegate police powers to businesses and to punish businesses for failing to enforce the mandate. The lawsuit seeks to suspend all enforcement of the city's mandates, find them unlawful and award damages for lost profits.Also Thursday, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e280640ba95931e6020e21a974b11396" target="_blank">to end nearly all of his state's social-distancing restrictions</a>&nbsp;next week, even as the number of new coronavirus cases trended upward.On Friday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online virus tracker</a>&nbsp;showed 37,373 confirmed cases and 430 deaths in Nebraska since the start of the outbreak.Over the past seven days, the state averaged more than 274 new confirmed cases a day, compared with a seven-day average of 241 the week prior, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 tracking project. The state averaged more than three COVID-19 deaths per day in the last seven days, compared with just over two deaths per day for the seven days prior.

Lincoln bowling alley owner sues city over virus mandates

&nbsp;Panhandle total: 730, Active: 84, Recovered: 640, Deaths: 6

As we move into phase four of the Governor’s Directed Health Measure beginning tomorrow, September 11, the following sections will be updated to guidance and use is recommended:

· Gyms/Fitness Centers/Health Clubs/Health Spas

· Salons/Barber Shops/Massage Therapy Services/Tattoo Parlors

· Wedding &amp; Funeral Reception Venues

Indoor gatherings are at 75% of rated occupancy and outdoor at 100% of rated occupancy. Plans for reopening or expanding to new capacity limits must be submitted on Panhandle Public Health District’s website at: http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html.

An outline of the changes can be found here: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Outline-of-Changes-to-Upcoming-DHMs-Phase-IV.pdf with guidance documents (to be updated) accessible here: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Nebraska-Guidance-Documents.aspx.

Unified Command confirms 20 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Tuesday, September 8. The investigations are complete, all close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored for symptoms by public health officials.

Testing information and access for the Panhandle area: · You can sign up for the following free testing at Testnebraska.com or 402-207-9377:

o Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance: Monday-Friday, 9-10am

· Ambulance Bay on the east side of the emergency department, watch for the green arrows

By PPHD&nbsp;Panhandle total: 730, Active: 84, Recovered: 640, Deaths: 6As we move into phase four of the Governor’s Directed Health Measure beginning tomorrow, September 11, the following sections will be updated to guidance and use is recommended:· Bars &amp; Restaurants· Childcare Facilities· Churches· Gyms/Fitness Centers/Health Clubs/Health Spas· Salons/Barber Shops/Massage Therapy Services/Tattoo Parlors· Sports· Wedding &amp; Funeral Reception VenuesIndoor gatherings are at 75% of rated occupancy and outdoor at 100% of rated occupancy. Plans for reopening or expanding to new capacity limits must be submitted on Panhandle Public Health District’s website at: http://pphd.org/COVID-19.html.An outline of the changes can be found here: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Outline-of-Changes-to-Upcoming-DHMs-Phase-IV.pdf with guidance documents (to be updated) accessible here: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Nebraska-Guidance-Documents.aspx.Please continue all of the important precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and your community from the spread of COVID. Wear a mask when possible, stay at least six feet away from others, monitor for any symptoms, and stay home if you are not feeling well. Please practice these safety tips out of an abundance of kindness and humility for others.Unified Command confirms 20 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Tuesday, September 8. The investigations are complete, all close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored for symptoms by public health officials.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599839034029.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Testing information and access for the Panhandle area: · You can sign up for the following free testing at Testnebraska.com or 402-207-9377:o Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance: Monday-Friday, 9-10am· Ambulance Bay on the east side of the emergency department, watch for the green arrowso Chadron Community Hospital: Mondays &amp; Fridays, 7-9am· Collections are at 821 Morehead Street (Old Hospital ER Entrance next to Wilson Park)· Other testing opportunities for symptomatic patients may be available through the hospital as ordered by your Primary Care Practitioner, call the hospital at 747-2466 with questions.o Gordon Memorial Hospital: Tuesdays &amp; Thursdays, 2-4pmo Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff: Monday-Friday, Noon-4pmo Sidney Regional Medical Center: Tuesdays &amp; Thursday, 7-9am· Community Action Health Center in Gering: Mondays, Wednesdays, &amp; Thursdays, 7-8am o Testing is free, sign up at https://tinyurl.com/yydxr5mc· Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport: Dailyo Call 308-262-1616 for testing, same day results· Contact your local hospital or clinic for information on testing access.

Coronavirus Update