OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police are searching for a woman who abandoned a newborn boy on a south Omaha front porch and fled. 

The 7-pound baby boy was wrapped in baby blanket inside a plastic bag and left on the front porch of Vicente Cruz's house Monday morning. 

Cruz says his wife saw a young woman get out of a car at the home's front curb, run up to the porch with a package, lay the package on a chair, then run back to the car, which sped off. 

Cruz said the woman had a hoodie pulled over her face. 

The couple called 911, and an ambulance took the baby to a hospital. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police are searching for a woman who abandoned a newborn boy on a south Omaha front porch and fled. The 7-pound baby boy was wrapped in baby blanket inside a plastic bag and left on the front porch of Vicente Cruz's house Monday morning. Cruz says his wife saw a young woman get out of a car at the home's front curb, run up to the porch with a package, lay the package on a chair, then run back to the car, which sped off. Cruz said the woman had a hoodie pulled over her face. The couple called 911, and an ambulance took the baby to a hospital. Doctors determined the baby is healthy.

Woman left newborn boy in bag on Omaha doorstep

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases in Grand Island, the Grand Island Police Department will continue to enforce the city park and GIPS school property closures with citations. The closure of city parks does not include city sidewalks and the hike and bike trail system and lake walkways (Pier Park Lake, Suck’s Lake, and Eagle Scout Lake walkways, however, users of those walkways must be using them for their intended purpose and are encouraged to maintain social distancing.

Additionally, the Grand Island Police Department will proactively patrol and respond to complaints of gatherings of more than 10 persons, particularly during the upcoming holiday weekend. If these gatherings include persons who are not permanent residents of that address, we will enforce the Directed Health Measures with discretion accordingly.

This will be done in accordance with the Directed Health Measure, which reads as follows:

1) Gatherings and services as described are prohibited:

a. Any event or convening that brings together more than ten (10) persons, excluding staff, in a single room or single space at the same time, including but not limited to, a school, daycare facility (including in home facilities, gymnasiums, fitness center, auditorium, stadium, arena, large event conference room, meeting hall, theater, library, or any other confined indoor or confined outdoor space, and weddings, funerals, parades, fairs, festivals, and concerts.

b. Any indoor or outdoor event or convening having ten (10) or fewer persons where a minimum distance of six (6) feet between all individuals cannot be maintained.

c. Customer services at tattoo parlors, massage parlors, barbershops, beauty/nail salons, and similar personal services businesses.

2) Public Park access is restricted to hiking and biking trails and public sidewalks. Users of trails and sidewalk are encouraged to maintain six (6) feet of separation between all persons. Additional restrictions may be imposed by municipal or county authorities.This is a time for all residents of Grand Island to work together, keep one another healthy, and help save lives as the presence of COVID-19 in our community grows.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases in Grand Island, the Grand Island Police Department will continue to enforce the city park and GIPS school property closures with citations. The closure of city parks does not include city sidewalks and the hike and bike trail system and lake walkways (Pier Park Lake, Suck’s Lake, and Eagle Scout Lake walkways, however, users of those walkways must be using them for their intended purpose and are encouraged to maintain social distancing.Additionally, the Grand Island Police Department will proactively patrol and respond to complaints of gatherings of more than 10 persons, particularly during the upcoming holiday weekend. If these gatherings include persons who are not permanent residents of that address, we will enforce the Directed Health Measures with discretion accordingly.This will be done in accordance with the Directed Health Measure, which reads as follows:1) Gatherings and services as described are prohibited:a. Any event or convening that brings together more than ten (10) persons, excluding staff, in a single room or single space at the same time, including but not limited to, a school, daycare facility (including in home facilities, gymnasiums, fitness center, auditorium, stadium, arena, large event conference room, meeting hall, theater, library, or any other confined indoor or confined outdoor space, and weddings, funerals, parades, fairs, festivals, and concerts.b. Any indoor or outdoor event or convening having ten (10) or fewer persons where a minimum distance of six (6) feet between all individuals cannot be maintained.c. Customer services at tattoo parlors, massage parlors, barbershops, beauty/nail salons, and similar personal services businesses.2) Public Park access is restricted to hiking and biking trails and public sidewalks. Users of trails and sidewalk are encouraged to maintain six (6) feet of separation between all persons. Additional restrictions may be imposed by municipal or county authorities.This is a time for all residents of Grand Island to work together, keep one another healthy, and help save lives as the presence of COVID-19 in our community grows.

Grand Island police to enforce park, school closures

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/jobs-topeka-diner-so-many-across-kansas-might-not-survive-covid-19#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Set apart from its fast-food 
neighbors by a vintage neon sign that speaks of another era, the Hanover
 Pancake House sits a few short blocks from the Kansas Statehouse. It’s 
been a Capital mainstay for more than 50 years.

But today, like most dine-in restaurants across the state, it’s closed because of the coronavirus.

Those
 closures have thrown tens of thousands of Kansans out of work and 
deprived hundreds of thousands more the comfort of friends in familiar 
places.

When owner Scott Albrecht shut it down on March 20, he told his 32 employees that he hoped to re-open in a matter of weeks.

Anything longer than two or three weeks, Albrecht said, “and I’ll need some help.”

The
 challenges facing Albrecht and his displaced workers confront thousands
 of other businesses across the state. They all will need state and 
federal lifelines to survive the crisis.&nbsp;

For Marsha 
Dighera-Neria, surviving after losing her job at the Pancake House meant
 getting unemployment checks as quickly as possible.&nbsp;

In just the last two weeks,<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/UI%20Weekly%20Review.pdf" target="_blank"> 79,353 Kansans filed initial unemployment claims.</a>That’s a record.

The unprecedented surge in claims has <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-sees-1000-surge-jobless-claims-covid-19-derails-economy" target="_blank">overwhelmed the Kansas Department of Labor,</a> which is averaging more than 200,000 calls a day.&nbsp;

Hospitality workers — a category that includes hotel workers and those employed by Kansas’ <a href="https://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/State-Statistics/kansas.pdf" target="_blank">more than 5,000 bars and restaurants </a>— account for nearly 20% of the new unemployment claims.

Dighera-Neria
 beat the rush by filing right after finishing her final shift. She 
expects to recieve $146 a week until she goes back to work.

“That’s about half of what I was making at the restaurant,” she said.

A federal relief plan aimed to minimize the impact of 
coronavirus-driven shutdowns to the economy will deliver another $600 a 
week to suddenly jobless workers like Dighera-Neria. But it could be 
weeks before those benefits start arriving.

Stuck at home, Dighera-Neria and the other waitresses check in with one other almost every day by phone or on Facebook.

“We all have to take care of each other and that’s what us girls are trying to do,” said Marsha Dighera-Neria.

Some, she said, are handling the uncertainty “better than others.”

“It’s hard,” she said, “when you don’t know how long this is going to go on.”

So
 they worry together about whether the restaurant will survive and how 
the customers they’ve grown accustomed to seeing every day are getting 
by.

“Some people really depend on coming in,” Dighera-Neria said.
 “Elderly people, you know. It’s human contact and now there is none.”

Restaurants
 across the country lost $25 billion in March, according to the National
 Restaurant Association. Thousands of the restaurants closed now will 
never reopen.

Albrecht acknowledges that the restaurant he 
inherited from his father in 1999 could be among those shuttered for 
good if the health crisis persists for months. But for now, he’s laying 
the groundwork to reopen by applying for a Small Business Administration
 loan that he won’t have to repay if he hires everyone back.&nbsp;

“It’s going to be the shot in the arm we need to open back up,” he said.&nbsp;

The relief bill recently passed by Congress contains $350 billion for the<a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp" target="_blank"> Paycheck Protection Program.</a>
 Small business owners must go through their local banks to obtain the 
loans. However, bankers across the country say they’re not ready to 
handle the anticipated volume of applications. They also say federal 
officials <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/paycheck-protection-program-202113050.html" target="_blank">haven’t provided them with detailed instructions </a>on how to run the program.

Albrecht said he caught his banker unaware when he called earlier this week to start the process.&nbsp;

“I was surprised he hadn’t heard anything yet,” Albrecht said.&nbsp;

Once
 the administrative problems are fixed, Albrecht hopes to get about 
$100,000 to cover ongoing expenses. Everything from rent — about $5,000 a
 month — to utility bills and maintenance to keep the restaurant’s water
 softening system, freezers and ice machines working.

“Those things add up real quickly,” he said.

On the day he closed, Albrecht said he had enough cash on hand to pay
 his employees, but he didn’t have enough to cover the roughly $15,000 
he owed the federal and state governments in withholding and sales 
taxes.

He had set that money aside, but he spent it on emergency repairs to an oven and the restaurant’s main freezer.

“Had
 I known this (coronavirus) disaster was going to be happening, I could 
have held those checks and paid them a little later,” he said. “But I 
had no idea we were going to be this drastically affected.”

With
 so many Kansas businesses struggling, state officials know that a 
reckoning is coming. Tax collections that had met or exceeded estimates 
every month for the last two years fell short in March.

Though 
they totaled only $8.6 million less than the expected $523 million, Gov.
 Laura Kelly is bracing for steeper drops in the months ahead.

“We know we’re going to be taking a huge hit in our revenues,” Kelly said in a news conference.

By
 the time Albrecht shut the restaurant down, he was also starting to 
fall behind on payments to the distributors who supplied him with bread,
 eggs, bacon, coffee and other diner staples.

With hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country in similar straits, those companies are also suffering.

Sysco,
 one of Albrecht’s suppliers, is replacing fresh meat and produce with 
frozen fare to cut back on costs. It’s also laying off workers in 
droves. The person who handled Albrecht’s account for the last dozen 
years was among the casualties.

“He was a 12-year veteran of the company,” Albrecht said, and “a good guy.”

The ripple effects of Hanover’s closure are evident in other ways.

Mack
 Smith is the kind of hail-fellow-well-met you’ll find among Capitol 
insiders. He and a half dozen others have met for breakfast at the 
Pancake House nearly every weekday for years. They eat, read newspapers 
and talk about politics, sports, music, movie trivia.

“We have a 
blast,” Smith said. “We have our regular waitresses on certain days. 
It’s quite a relationship that’s developed through the years.”

Smith misses starting each day with “my buddies,” but said he also thinks about the people who have served him over the years.

“I worry about how they’re going to feed the people they love,” he said. “It’s just scary as heck.”

Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>&nbsp;or email jim@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270635012.jpeg" alt=" Scott Albrecht surveys his empty Topeka restaurant after closing because of the coronavirus. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Scott Albrecht surveys his empty Topeka restaurant after closing because of the coronavirus. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/jobs-topeka-diner-so-many-across-kansas-might-not-survive-covid-19#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Set apart from its fast-food 
neighbors by a vintage neon sign that speaks of another era, the Hanover
 Pancake House sits a few short blocks from the Kansas Statehouse. It’s 
been a Capital mainstay for more than 50 years.But today, like most dine-in restaurants across the state, it’s closed because of the coronavirus.Those
 closures have thrown tens of thousands of Kansans out of work and 
deprived hundreds of thousands more the comfort of friends in familiar 
places.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270686953.jpeg" alt=" A couple of blocks from the Kansas Statehouse, the Hanover Pancake House has been a popular breakfast spot for more than 50 years. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> A couple of blocks from the Kansas Statehouse, the Hanover Pancake House has been a popular breakfast spot for more than 50 years. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>When owner Scott Albrecht shut it down on March 20, he told his 32 employees that he hoped to re-open in a matter of weeks.Anything longer than two or three weeks, Albrecht said, “and I’ll need some help.”<h2>Restaurants in peril&nbsp;</h2>The
 challenges facing Albrecht and his displaced workers confront thousands
 of other businesses across the state. They all will need state and 
federal lifelines to survive the crisis.&nbsp;For Marsha 
Dighera-Neria, surviving after losing her job at the Pancake House meant
 getting unemployment checks as quickly as possible.&nbsp;In just the last two weeks,<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/UI%20Weekly%20Review.pdf" target="_blank"> 79,353 Kansans filed initial unemployment claims.</a>That’s a record.The unprecedented surge in claims has <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-sees-1000-surge-jobless-claims-covid-19-derails-economy" target="_blank">overwhelmed the Kansas Department of Labor,</a> which is averaging more than 200,000 calls a day.&nbsp;Hospitality workers — a category that includes hotel workers and those employed by Kansas’ <a href="https://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/State-Statistics/kansas.pdf" target="_blank">more than 5,000 bars and restaurants </a>— account for nearly 20% of the new unemployment claims.Dighera-Neria
 beat the rush by filing right after finishing her final shift. She 
expects to recieve $146 a week until she goes back to work.“That’s about half of what I was making at the restaurant,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270718414.jpeg" alt=" Marsha Dighera-Neria is drawing unemployment, but she wants to get back to work at the restaurant. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Marsha Dighera-Neria is drawing unemployment, but she wants to get back to work at the restaurant. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>A federal relief plan aimed to minimize the impact of 
coronavirus-driven shutdowns to the economy will deliver another $600 a 
week to suddenly jobless workers like Dighera-Neria. But it could be 
weeks before those benefits start arriving.Stuck at home, Dighera-Neria and the other waitresses check in with one other almost every day by phone or on Facebook.“We all have to take care of each other and that’s what us girls are trying to do,” said Marsha Dighera-Neria.Some, she said, are handling the uncertainty “better than others.”“It’s hard,” she said, “when you don’t know how long this is going to go on.”So
 they worry together about whether the restaurant will survive and how 
the customers they’ve grown accustomed to seeing every day are getting 
by.“Some people really depend on coming in,” Dighera-Neria said.
 “Elderly people, you know. It’s human contact and now there is none.”<h2>Saving the diner</h2>Restaurants
 across the country lost $25 billion in March, according to the National
 Restaurant Association. Thousands of the restaurants closed now will 
never reopen.Albrecht acknowledges that the restaurant he 
inherited from his father in 1999 could be among those shuttered for 
good if the health crisis persists for months. But for now, he’s laying 
the groundwork to reopen by applying for a Small Business Administration
 loan that he won’t have to repay if he hires everyone back.&nbsp;“It’s going to be the shot in the arm we need to open back up,” he said.&nbsp;The relief bill recently passed by Congress contains $350 billion for the<a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp" target="_blank"> Paycheck Protection Program.</a>
 Small business owners must go through their local banks to obtain the 
loans. However, bankers across the country say they’re not ready to 
handle the anticipated volume of applications. They also say federal 
officials <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/paycheck-protection-program-202113050.html" target="_blank">haven’t provided them with detailed instructions </a>on how to run the program.Albrecht said he caught his banker unaware when he called earlier this week to start the process.&nbsp;“I was surprised he hadn’t heard anything yet,” Albrecht said.&nbsp;Once
 the administrative problems are fixed, Albrecht hopes to get about 
$100,000 to cover ongoing expenses. Everything from rent — about $5,000 a
 month — to utility bills and maintenance to keep the restaurant’s water
 softening system, freezers and ice machines working.“Those things add up real quickly,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270743442.jpeg" alt=" Topeka's Hanover Pancake House is one of thousands of Kansas restaurants shut down due to the coronavirus. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Topeka's Hanover Pancake House is one of thousands of Kansas restaurants shut down due to the coronavirus. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>On the day he closed, Albrecht said he had enough cash on hand to pay
 his employees, but he didn’t have enough to cover the roughly $15,000 
he owed the federal and state governments in withholding and sales 
taxes.He had set that money aside, but he spent it on emergency repairs to an oven and the restaurant’s main freezer.“Had
 I known this (coronavirus) disaster was going to be happening, I could 
have held those checks and paid them a little later,” he said. “But I 
had no idea we were going to be this drastically affected.”<h2>Ripple effects</h2>With
 so many Kansas businesses struggling, state officials know that a 
reckoning is coming. Tax collections that had met or exceeded estimates 
every month for the last two years fell short in March.Though 
they totaled only $8.6 million less than the expected $523 million, Gov.
 Laura Kelly is bracing for steeper drops in the months ahead.“We know we’re going to be taking a huge hit in our revenues,” Kelly said in a news conference.By
 the time Albrecht shut the restaurant down, he was also starting to 
fall behind on payments to the distributors who supplied him with bread,
 eggs, bacon, coffee and other diner staples.With hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country in similar straits, those companies are also suffering.Sysco,
 one of Albrecht’s suppliers, is replacing fresh meat and produce with 
frozen fare to cut back on costs. It’s also laying off workers in 
droves. The person who handled Albrecht’s account for the last dozen 
years was among the casualties.“He was a 12-year veteran of the company,” Albrecht said, and “a good guy.”The ripple effects of Hanover’s closure are evident in other ways.Mack
 Smith is the kind of hail-fellow-well-met you’ll find among Capitol 
insiders. He and a half dozen others have met for breakfast at the 
Pancake House nearly every weekday for years. They eat, read newspapers 
and talk about politics, sports, music, movie trivia.“We have a 
blast,” Smith said. “We have our regular waitresses on certain days. 
It’s quite a relationship that’s developed through the years.”Smith misses starting each day with “my buddies,” but said he also thinks about the people who have served him over the years.“I worry about how they’re going to feed the people they love,” he said. “It’s just scary as heck.”Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>&nbsp;or email jim@kcur.org.

Restaurant owners wonder if they can survive COVID-19 

By Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press&nbsp;

The first national data on COVID-19 in U.S. children suggest that while the illness usually isn’t severe in kids, some do get sick enough to require hospital treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday shows that fever, cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms in kids, but they occurred less often than in adults. The findings mostly echo reports from China about how the new coronavirus affects children.

The report included nearly 150,000 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases in adults and children from Feb. 12 through April 2. About 2,500 of them, or almost 2%, were children. While most kids didn’t become severely ill, three youngsters died.

About 1 in 5 infected children were hospitalized versus 1 in 3 adults. Cases were more common in older children and teens but serious illness appeared to be more common in infants. Cases were slightly more common in boys than girls.

The authors cautioned that many details were missing from pediatric cases, so the report should be considered preliminary.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including life-threatening pneumonia.

Confirmed U.S. cases top 340,000 with more than 10,000 reported deaths. Globally, there have been more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, and more than 70,000 reported deaths.

The report authors stressed that because people without symptoms, including children, are likely playing a role in transmitting the virus, “social distancing and everyday preventive measures”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html" target="_blank">are recommended&nbsp;</a>for all ages.

Dr. Larry Kociolek, an infectious disease specialist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, said the report should reassure parents and health care workers that children are less likely than adults to get very sick from the new virus. But that can pose a challenge, he said, because “patients with milder illness are less likely to quarantine themselves and may be at similar risk of transmitting.”

Authorities need to take that into account when considering when to lift social distancing policies and reopen schools, Kociolek said.

By Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press&nbsp;The first national data on COVID-19 in U.S. children suggest that while the illness usually isn’t severe in kids, some do get sick enough to require hospital treatment.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday shows that fever, cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms in kids, but they occurred less often than in adults. The findings mostly echo reports from China about how the new coronavirus affects children.The report included nearly 150,000 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases in adults and children from Feb. 12 through April 2. About 2,500 of them, or almost 2%, were children. While most kids didn’t become severely ill, three youngsters died.About 1 in 5 infected children were hospitalized versus 1 in 3 adults. Cases were more common in older children and teens but serious illness appeared to be more common in infants. Cases were slightly more common in boys than girls.The authors cautioned that many details were missing from pediatric cases, so the report should be considered preliminary.For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including life-threatening pneumonia.Confirmed U.S. cases top 340,000 with more than 10,000 reported deaths. Globally, there have been more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, and more than 70,000 reported deaths.The report authors stressed that because people without symptoms, including children, are likely playing a role in transmitting the virus, “social distancing and everyday preventive measures”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html" target="_blank">are recommended&nbsp;</a>for all ages.Dr. Larry Kociolek, an infectious disease specialist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, said the report should reassure parents and health care workers that children are less likely than adults to get very sick from the new virus. But that can pose a challenge, he said, because “patients with milder illness are less likely to quarantine themselves and may be at similar risk of transmitting.”Authorities need to take that into account when considering when to lift social distancing policies and reopen schools, Kociolek said.___

Virus is mostly mild and rarely fatal for US kids, data show

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Every day, grocery workers are restocking toilet paper, eggs, produce and canned goods as fast as the items fly off the shelves.

They disinfect keypads, freezer handles and checkout counters as hundreds of people weave around them, sometimes standing too close for comfort amid the coronavirus pandemic. Some work for hours behind clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/80c4ba51468c29530a7bef605ca748af">plastic barriers</a>&nbsp;installed at checkout counters, bulwarks against sudden sneezes or coughs that can propel germs.

They aren't doctors or nurses, yet they have been praised for their dedication&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4af90f4849eac9a6737adc9b6b0929d3">by Pope Francis</a>, former U.S. President Barack Obama and countless people on social media, as infections and death counts rise.

From South Africa to Italy to the U.S., grocery workers — many in low-wage jobs — are manning the frontlines amid worldwide lockdowns, their work deemed essential to keep food and critical goods flowing. Some fear falling sick or bringing the virus home to vulnerable loved ones, and frustration is mounting as some demand better workplace protections, including shorter hours to allow them to rest, and “hazard” pay for working closely with the public.

“Everyone is scared everywhere, here in South Africa and everywhere in the world," said Zandile Mlotshwa, a cashier at Spar supermarket in the Johannesburg suburb of Norwood.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority survive. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can be more severe, even causing pneumonia or death.

In the U.S., a handful of states — Minnesota and Vermont were the first — have given grocery workers a special classification that allows them to put their children in state-paid child care while they work. Unions in Colorado, Alaska, Texas and many other states are pressing governors to elevate grocery workers to the status of first responders.

“The government's responsibility is to step up in these moments,” said Sarah Cherin, chief of staff for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in Seattle, the first U.S. epicenter of COVID-19.

The union, which represents about 23,000 grocery workers and 18,000 health care workers, won early concessions for higher pay.

“We have always been a group of people who come to work when others stay home," Cherin said. “Our workers need the same protection others get.”

U.S. grocery and food delivery workers are insisting employers pay them more and provide masks, gloves, gowns and access to testing. Whole Foods workers called for a recent “sickout” to demand better conditions, including double pay. A group of independent contractors for the Instacart grocery delivery service walked out to force more protections.

Some of the biggest employers in the U.S. are responding.

Kroger, the nation's largest grocery chain, said it will give all hourly employees a $2-an-hour “Hero Bonus" through April 18. That follows temporary $2 pay bumps by Walmart, Target and others.

Walmart’s raise is just for hourly employees in distribution centers, but it’s also giving bonuses to full- and part-time workers. Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, and Target will provide masks and gloves to front-line workers and limit the number of customers in stores. Walmart is taking the temperatures of its nearly 1.5 million employees when they report to work.

“Most will see it as a welcome relief,” Walmart spokesman Dan Bartlett said of the new measures.

But that doesn't alleviate the fear when shoppers won't follow the rules, including social distancing.

Jake Pinelli, who works at a ShopRite in Aberdeen, New Jersey, said customers don't stay 6 feet (2 meters) away from others and typically don't wear masks or gloves. Staffers have protective gear, but the younger employees often give it to older co-workers or those they know have health conditions.

“Most of us are terrified,” Pinelli said. But he stays on because he wants to help.

"I have not only bills to pay, but it's the only way right now I feel like I can do anything for my community and help out,” Pinelli said.

The Shaw's supermarket chain told workers last week at six stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont that one of its employees had been diagnosed with COVID-19. The company reminded workers to wash their hands regularly and stay home if they don't feel well.

At the Organic Food Depot in Norfolk, Virginia, cash is no longer used. Customers can't bring reusable bags. Children under 16 are banned.

“If somebody fell sick in the store, the store is most likely going to shut down,” manager Jamie Gass said.

Gass, 47, said his wife has asthma, which means she would be more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Yet he feels pride going to a job that helps ensure people get fed in a crisis.

“Am I scared that I could catch this? Absolutely,” Gass said. “But I’m sure everybody is in that position. I’m just taking as many precautions as I can, so I don’t have to worry as much.”

In Italy, where more than 14,000 people have died of COVID-19, consumers seem to prefer smaller, family-run stores and markets.

One of them, the Innocenzi grocery store in Rome, was established in 1884 by Emanuela Innocenzi’s grandfather. Its wooden shelves, marble entrance steps and cherished custom of clerks waiting on each customer hearken back to another era. The small store now allows in only two customers at a time.

A dentist’s office provided masks, which employees wipe down with alcohol each day and reuse.

Emanuela Innocenzi shrugged off the pope’s praise.

“The doctors, the nurses have special training," she said. "This is our work.”

By JIM VERTUNO-Associated PressAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Every day, grocery workers are restocking toilet paper, eggs, produce and canned goods as fast as the items fly off the shelves.They disinfect keypads, freezer handles and checkout counters as hundreds of people weave around them, sometimes standing too close for comfort amid the coronavirus pandemic. Some work for hours behind clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/80c4ba51468c29530a7bef605ca748af">plastic barriers</a>&nbsp;installed at checkout counters, bulwarks against sudden sneezes or coughs that can propel germs.They aren't doctors or nurses, yet they have been praised for their dedication&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4af90f4849eac9a6737adc9b6b0929d3">by Pope Francis</a>, former U.S. President Barack Obama and countless people on social media, as infections and death counts rise.From South Africa to Italy to the U.S., grocery workers — many in low-wage jobs — are manning the frontlines amid worldwide lockdowns, their work deemed essential to keep food and critical goods flowing. Some fear falling sick or bringing the virus home to vulnerable loved ones, and frustration is mounting as some demand better workplace protections, including shorter hours to allow them to rest, and “hazard” pay for working closely with the public.“Everyone is scared everywhere, here in South Africa and everywhere in the world," said Zandile Mlotshwa, a cashier at Spar supermarket in the Johannesburg suburb of Norwood.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority survive. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can be more severe, even causing pneumonia or death.In the U.S., a handful of states — Minnesota and Vermont were the first — have given grocery workers a special classification that allows them to put their children in state-paid child care while they work. Unions in Colorado, Alaska, Texas and many other states are pressing governors to elevate grocery workers to the status of first responders.“The government's responsibility is to step up in these moments,” said Sarah Cherin, chief of staff for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in Seattle, the first U.S. epicenter of COVID-19.The union, which represents about 23,000 grocery workers and 18,000 health care workers, won early concessions for higher pay.“We have always been a group of people who come to work when others stay home," Cherin said. “Our workers need the same protection others get.”U.S. grocery and food delivery workers are insisting employers pay them more and provide masks, gloves, gowns and access to testing. Whole Foods workers called for a recent “sickout” to demand better conditions, including double pay. A group of independent contractors for the Instacart grocery delivery service walked out to force more protections.Some of the biggest employers in the U.S. are responding.Kroger, the nation's largest grocery chain, said it will give all hourly employees a $2-an-hour “Hero Bonus" through April 18. That follows temporary $2 pay bumps by Walmart, Target and others.Walmart’s raise is just for hourly employees in distribution centers, but it’s also giving bonuses to full- and part-time workers. Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, and Target will provide masks and gloves to front-line workers and limit the number of customers in stores. Walmart is taking the temperatures of its nearly 1.5 million employees when they report to work.“Most will see it as a welcome relief,” Walmart spokesman Dan Bartlett said of the new measures.But that doesn't alleviate the fear when shoppers won't follow the rules, including social distancing.Jake Pinelli, who works at a ShopRite in Aberdeen, New Jersey, said customers don't stay 6 feet (2 meters) away from others and typically don't wear masks or gloves. Staffers have protective gear, but the younger employees often give it to older co-workers or those they know have health conditions.“Most of us are terrified,” Pinelli said. But he stays on because he wants to help."I have not only bills to pay, but it's the only way right now I feel like I can do anything for my community and help out,” Pinelli said.Some have fallen sick.The Shaw's supermarket chain told workers last week at six stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont that one of its employees had been diagnosed with COVID-19. The company reminded workers to wash their hands regularly and stay home if they don't feel well.At the Organic Food Depot in Norfolk, Virginia, cash is no longer used. Customers can't bring reusable bags. Children under 16 are banned.“If somebody fell sick in the store, the store is most likely going to shut down,” manager Jamie Gass said.Gass, 47, said his wife has asthma, which means she would be more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Yet he feels pride going to a job that helps ensure people get fed in a crisis.“Am I scared that I could catch this? Absolutely,” Gass said. “But I’m sure everybody is in that position. I’m just taking as many precautions as I can, so I don’t have to worry as much.”In Italy, where more than 14,000 people have died of COVID-19, consumers seem to prefer smaller, family-run stores and markets.One of them, the Innocenzi grocery store in Rome, was established in 1884 by Emanuela Innocenzi’s grandfather. Its wooden shelves, marble entrance steps and cherished custom of clerks waiting on each customer hearken back to another era. The small store now allows in only two customers at a time.A dentist’s office provided masks, which employees wipe down with alcohol each day and reuse.Emanuela Innocenzi shrugged off the pope’s praise.“The doctors, the nurses have special training," she said. "This is our work.”

Grocery workers are key during the virus. And they're afraid

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Monday it will support the government’s $349 billion small business lending program, which had a rocky start Friday.

The Fed said that it will buy loans that banks make to small businesses as part of the program, which is being carried out by banks and the Small Business Administration and was set up under the $2.2 trillion economic&nbsp;relief package.

The loans can be forgiven if they are spent on payroll, to encourage firms to keep paying their employees or rehire workers they may have recently laid off.

By purchasing the loans, the Fed would create an incentive for the banks to engage in more lending. Buying the loans should free up more cash for banks to lend. Otherwise, when banks make a loan, they are typically required to hold some cash in reserve in the case of default.

The Fed’s&nbsp;two-sentence announcement&nbsp;said further details will be provided this week.

Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, an advisory firm that works with medium-sized companies, said the Fed’s move is intended to encourage more banks to participate because many are reluctant to lend to small companies.

“This should help ... reverse risk aversion among potential lenders to provide bridge financing for small firms that otherwise would likely not survive the first phase of the crisis,” Brusuelas said.

The Independent Community Bankers of America,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icba.org/docs/default-source/icba/advocacy-documents/letters-to-regulators/icba-recommendations-for-success-of-paycheck-protection-program.pdf?sfvrsn=73bc2b17_0&amp;utm_source=informz&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=informz&amp;_zs=MJ2Gb&amp;_zl=4OL32" target="_blank">in a letter Saturday</a>, urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to work with the Fed to set up a purchase program for the small business loans. By taking loans off bank balance sheets, they argued that it would make it easier for smaller banks to participate.

“This program should not be limited by the balance sheet capacity of participating lenders,” Rebecca Romero Rainey, CEO of the ICBA, said in the letter.

It could potentially help some larger banks as well. Wells Fargo said it did $10 billion in loan applications over the weekend, the maximum the bank was allowed to do. Because of the bank’s prior scandals, Wells Fargo is under restraints from the Federal Reserve on how many loans it can hold on its books.

The Fed is also expected to launch a program that would aid states and cities by buying municipal bonds. The rescue package approved last month directed Mnuchin to support such an effort as part of the $454 billion the legislation provided the Treasury to backstop the Fed’s efforts to support the banking system and economy.

In a phone call with the nation’s governors Monday, Mnuchin said the Trump administration is working with the Fed to roll out a new “state funding facility” to let make it easier for state governments to borrow money, according to audio of the call obtained by The Associated Press.

“We know many of you are going to need to borrow additional funds and to the extent that you can’t tap the markets, we will be setting up a funding facility with the Fed,” he said.

Mnuchin also said he expects the stimulus payments to individuals to start being sent out by the end of next week and the aid to states to be distributed by April 24th.

Many smaller banks have complained that they have had trouble accessing the lending program, according to the ICBA.

But Mnuchin told the governors that the “SBA program (is) up and running. Very successful.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586199586420.png" alt="Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell" />
 <figcaption>Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Monday it will support the government’s $349 billion small business lending program, which had a rocky start Friday.The Fed said that it will buy loans that banks make to small businesses as part of the program, which is being carried out by banks and the Small Business Administration and was set up under the $2.2 trillion economic&nbsp;relief package.The loans can be forgiven if they are spent on payroll, to encourage firms to keep paying their employees or rehire workers they may have recently laid off.By purchasing the loans, the Fed would create an incentive for the banks to engage in more lending. Buying the loans should free up more cash for banks to lend. Otherwise, when banks make a loan, they are typically required to hold some cash in reserve in the case of default.The Fed’s&nbsp;two-sentence announcement&nbsp;said further details will be provided this week.Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, an advisory firm that works with medium-sized companies, said the Fed’s move is intended to encourage more banks to participate because many are reluctant to lend to small companies.“This should help ... reverse risk aversion among potential lenders to provide bridge financing for small firms that otherwise would likely not survive the first phase of the crisis,” Brusuelas said.The Independent Community Bankers of America,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icba.org/docs/default-source/icba/advocacy-documents/letters-to-regulators/icba-recommendations-for-success-of-paycheck-protection-program.pdf?sfvrsn=73bc2b17_0&amp;utm_source=informz&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=informz&amp;_zs=MJ2Gb&amp;_zl=4OL32" target="_blank">in a letter Saturday</a>, urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to work with the Fed to set up a purchase program for the small business loans. By taking loans off bank balance sheets, they argued that it would make it easier for smaller banks to participate.“This program should not be limited by the balance sheet capacity of participating lenders,” Rebecca Romero Rainey, CEO of the ICBA, said in the letter.It could potentially help some larger banks as well. Wells Fargo said it did $10 billion in loan applications over the weekend, the maximum the bank was allowed to do. Because of the bank’s prior scandals, Wells Fargo is under restraints from the Federal Reserve on how many loans it can hold on its books.The Fed is also expected to launch a program that would aid states and cities by buying municipal bonds. The rescue package approved last month directed Mnuchin to support such an effort as part of the $454 billion the legislation provided the Treasury to backstop the Fed’s efforts to support the banking system and economy.In a phone call with the nation’s governors Monday, Mnuchin said the Trump administration is working with the Fed to roll out a new “state funding facility” to let make it easier for state governments to borrow money, according to audio of the call obtained by The Associated Press.“We know many of you are going to need to borrow additional funds and to the extent that you can’t tap the markets, we will be setting up a funding facility with the Fed,” he said.Mnuchin also said he expects the stimulus payments to individuals to start being sent out by the end of next week and the aid to states to be distributed by April 24th.Many smaller banks have complained that they have had trouble accessing the lending program, according to the ICBA.But Mnuchin told the governors that the “SBA program (is) up and running. Very successful.”__

Federal Reserve to smooth lending to small businesses amid pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska State Patrol troopers have ramped up their efforts to ensure that residents are following the state’s new social distancing rules to fight the coronavirus but haven’t yet issued any citations. 

A Nebraska State Patrol spokesman says the agency hasn’t ticketed anyone as of Monday afternoon, although troopers are able to do so under new restrictions that were expanded statewide on Friday.

Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas says a trooper kept watch over a recent “cruise night” in Crete, but didn’t see any violations. 

Thomas says the patrol has redirected some of its troopers from traffic enforcement because there aren’t as many motorists on the road.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska State Patrol troopers have ramped up their efforts to ensure that residents are following the state’s new social distancing rules to fight the coronavirus but haven’t yet issued any citations. A Nebraska State Patrol spokesman says the agency hasn’t ticketed anyone as of Monday afternoon, although troopers are able to do so under new restrictions that were expanded statewide on Friday.Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas says a trooper kept watch over a recent “cruise night” in Crete, but didn’t see any violations. Thomas says the patrol has redirected some of its troopers from traffic enforcement because there aren’t as many motorists on the road.

Nebraska patrol watching for crowds as coronavirus spreads

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says the number of COVID-19 cases in the active duty force topped 1,000 over the weekend.

There are a total of 1,132 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. The total was 978 on Friday.

There also have been 303 cases among members of the National Guard.

Among the military services, the Navy has the most cases, with 431. That includes more than 150 among the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says the number of COVID-19 cases in the active duty force topped 1,000 over the weekend.There are a total of 1,132 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. The total was 978 on Friday.There also have been 303 cases among members of the National Guard.Among the military services, the Navy has the most cases, with 431. That includes more than 150 among the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.___

Pentagon: Active duty coronavirus infections topped 1,000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming officials say there are 11 news cases of the coronavirus, bringing the state's total to 197. 

The Wyoming Department of Health on its website Sunday morning says the new cases were added in the previous 24 hours.

 The agency says 17 counties have now reported confirmed cases and that 50 people have recovered. 

Laramie County in the southeastern part of the state has the most cases at 43, followed by Teton County in western Wyoming with 39. 

About one in five Wyoming residents who caught the virus say they don't know how it happened.&nbsp;

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming officials say there are 11 news cases of the coronavirus, bringing the state's total to 197. The Wyoming Department of Health on its website Sunday morning says the new cases were added in the previous 24 hours. The agency says 17 counties have now reported confirmed cases and that 50 people have recovered. The agency reported no deaths. Laramie County in the southeastern part of the state has the most cases at 43, followed by Teton County in western Wyoming with 39. About one in five Wyoming residents who caught the virus say they don't know how it happened.&nbsp;

Wyoming reports 11 new coronavirus cases, 197 total

&nbsp;Tulsa, OK. (AP) — One Tulsa, Oklahoma, bar owner said more than a dozen motorcyclists showed up unannounced, but he served them a round of shots anyway to celebrate a birthday. Another live-streamed a drag queen show on Facebook while up to 20 people drank inside the locked bar, ignoring police when they knocked on the door.

Both were busted — and received misdemeanor citations and court dates — after police responded to tips that the bars were violating the mayor’s order shuttering all nonessential businesses to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

<a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/stay-at-home-order-reporting/">Click here to see the Stay-at-home</a>&nbsp;order reporting form in Sedgwick County

“There has to be some consequence for violating an executive order,” said Tulsa Police Lt. Richard Meulenberg.

Snitches are emerging as enthusiastic allies as cities, states and countries work to enforce directives meant to limit person-to-person contact amid the virus pandemic that has claimed tens of thousands of lives worldwide. They’re phoning police and municipal hotlines, complaining to elected officials and shaming perceived scofflaws on social media.

In hard-hit New York City, police arrested the owner of an illegal Brooklyn speakeasy where a dozen people were found drinking and gambling after someone called 311 with a tip.

In Chicago, a yoga studio that believed it qualified as an essential health and wellness service was closed after the city — tipped off by several residents — disagreed. Teacher Naveed Abidi of Bikram Yoga West Loop studio said he thought the studio could remain open if the space was sanitized, class size limited and students stayed far enough apart.

“If we were naughty with the government’s order, then we’re very, very sorry” said Abidi, who faces a fine of up to $10,000. “We’re not here to cause problems, we’re here to practice our poses.”

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

But the virus is spreading rapidly and starting to max out the health care system in several cities.

Naugatuck, Connecticut, resident Gwen Becker said she was “mortified” when she drove by a golf course and saw a crowd gathered around a food truck and eating at tables together. So she took a video that her friend posted on Facebook — prompting the mayor to shut down the course.

“I was angry and upset, and I threw some f-bombs,” said Becker, 54. “You’re not going to consider that what you’re doing could kill somebody?”

In some places, investigators are patrolling the streets, looking for violators.

A team enforcing Denver’s shelter-in-place order issued five citations — including to Hobby Lobby and a Game Stop franchise that claimed it was essential — and more than 600 warnings to businesses and individuals as of Tuesday, city spokesman Alton Dillard said. The team also patrols neighborhoods, parks and recreation areas. Hobby Lobby has now closed all their stores.

In Newark, New Jersey, police shut down 15 businesses in one night and cited 161 people for violating the governor’s restrictions, saying others would be next if they didn’t heed directives. And Maryland State Police said they’d conducted nearly 6,600 business and crowd compliance checks.

Chicago police even disbanded a funeral Sunday after seeing a group of up to 60 people, many elderly, congregating inside a church, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

In some cases, residents are turning on neighbors.

Police in Spain — sometimes aided by videos and photos posted online by zealous residents, or “balcony police” — have arrested nearly 2,000 people and fined over 230,000 for violating quarantine orders.

In one viral video, the person recording it is heard criticizing a woman who decides to go for a jog and resists police orders to produce her ID card. Another shows a family of four heading to a supermarket carrying a scooter for one of their children while half a dozen neighbors yell at them from the window.

And in New Zealand, a police website set up for the public to report violators crashed after too many people tried to access it at once. Among the complaints were people playing rugby and Frisbee and holding impromptu “corona” parties, The Guardian reported.

Back in Tulsa, Lt. Meulenberg said the department’s call volume has increased substantially with residents ratting out businesses and neighbors alike, though they can’t respond to all of them.

“The fact that we have to do this at all means some people are not interested in self-preservation” or protecting others, Meulenberg said. “We’re not immunologists. We’re not scientists. We’re cops. We’re just trying to do our part.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585651445733.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Tulsa, OK. (AP) — One Tulsa, Oklahoma, bar owner said more than a dozen motorcyclists showed up unannounced, but he served them a round of shots anyway to celebrate a birthday. Another live-streamed a drag queen show on Facebook while up to 20 people drank inside the locked bar, ignoring police when they knocked on the door.Both were busted — and received misdemeanor citations and court dates — after police responded to tips that the bars were violating the mayor’s order shuttering all nonessential businesses to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.<a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/stay-at-home-order-reporting/">Click here to see the Stay-at-home</a>&nbsp;order reporting form in Sedgwick County“There has to be some consequence for violating an executive order,” said Tulsa Police Lt. Richard Meulenberg.It turns out plenty of people agree.Snitches are emerging as enthusiastic allies as cities, states and countries work to enforce directives meant to limit person-to-person contact amid the virus pandemic that has claimed tens of thousands of lives worldwide. They’re phoning police and municipal hotlines, complaining to elected officials and shaming perceived scofflaws on social media.In hard-hit New York City, police arrested the owner of an illegal Brooklyn speakeasy where a dozen people were found drinking and gambling after someone called 311 with a tip.In Chicago, a yoga studio that believed it qualified as an essential health and wellness service was closed after the city — tipped off by several residents — disagreed. Teacher Naveed Abidi of Bikram Yoga West Loop studio said he thought the studio could remain open if the space was sanitized, class size limited and students stayed far enough apart.“If we were naughty with the government’s order, then we’re very, very sorry” said Abidi, who faces a fine of up to $10,000. “We’re not here to cause problems, we’re here to practice our poses.”For most people, the new virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.But the virus is spreading rapidly and starting to max out the health care system in several cities.Naugatuck, Connecticut, resident Gwen Becker said she was “mortified” when she drove by a golf course and saw a crowd gathered around a food truck and eating at tables together. So she took a video that her friend posted on Facebook — prompting the mayor to shut down the course.“I was angry and upset, and I threw some f-bombs,” said Becker, 54. “You’re not going to consider that what you’re doing could kill somebody?”In some places, investigators are patrolling the streets, looking for violators.A team enforcing Denver’s shelter-in-place order issued five citations — including to Hobby Lobby and a Game Stop franchise that claimed it was essential — and more than 600 warnings to businesses and individuals as of Tuesday, city spokesman Alton Dillard said. The team also patrols neighborhoods, parks and recreation areas. Hobby Lobby has now closed all their stores.In Newark, New Jersey, police shut down 15 businesses in one night and cited 161 people for violating the governor’s restrictions, saying others would be next if they didn’t heed directives. And Maryland State Police said they’d conducted nearly 6,600 business and crowd compliance checks.Chicago police even disbanded a funeral Sunday after seeing a group of up to 60 people, many elderly, congregating inside a church, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.In some cases, residents are turning on neighbors.Police in Spain — sometimes aided by videos and photos posted online by zealous residents, or “balcony police” — have arrested nearly 2,000 people and fined over 230,000 for violating quarantine orders.In one viral video, the person recording it is heard criticizing a woman who decides to go for a jog and resists police orders to produce her ID card. Another shows a family of four heading to a supermarket carrying a scooter for one of their children while half a dozen neighbors yell at them from the window.And in New Zealand, a police website set up for the public to report violators crashed after too many people tried to access it at once. Among the complaints were people playing rugby and Frisbee and holding impromptu “corona” parties, The Guardian reported.Back in Tulsa, Lt. Meulenberg said the department’s call volume has increased substantially with residents ratting out businesses and neighbors alike, though they can’t respond to all of them.“The fact that we have to do this at all means some people are not interested in self-preservation” or protecting others, Meulenberg said. “We’re not immunologists. We’re not scientists. We’re cops. We’re just trying to do our part.”

Residents snitch on neighbors, businesses amid pandemic shutdown

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Officials with Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium say the attraction is facing a nearly $7 million loss as its doors close to the public in the wake of a global pandemic.

The zoo's closure on March 16 through the end of April is projected to amount to a $6.7 million loss for the zoo, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omaha.com/news/local/omahas-henry-doorly-zoo-expects-to-lose-6-7-million-during-closure/article_04ce0de8-f248-5287-bf61-cbdaeda9bd26.html" target="_blank">reported&nbsp;</a>Monday. An estimated 79,300 visitors were expected between March 16 and March 31, and another 155,800 visitors were expected in April. The zoo had expected a bump in visitors as it made plans to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

The zoo's Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland - a drive-thru attraction that plans to remain open - appears to have seen a hike in attendance from the Omaha zoo's closure. The Wildlife Safari Park opened for the 2020 season on March 27, with a record-setting attendance of 7,663 visitors. The previous record was 2,735 on Sept. 1, 2019.

Park pricing ranges from $4 for children to $6 for adults. Children 2 and under are admitted at no charge. Those with season tickets to the zoo will have those tickets honored at the wildlife park.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Officials with Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium say the attraction is facing a nearly $7 million loss as its doors close to the public in the wake of a global pandemic.The zoo's closure on March 16 through the end of April is projected to amount to a $6.7 million loss for the zoo, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omaha.com/news/local/omahas-henry-doorly-zoo-expects-to-lose-6-7-million-during-closure/article_04ce0de8-f248-5287-bf61-cbdaeda9bd26.html" target="_blank">reported&nbsp;</a>Monday. An estimated 79,300 visitors were expected between March 16 and March 31, and another 155,800 visitors were expected in April. The zoo had expected a bump in visitors as it made plans to celebrate its 125th anniversary.The zoo's Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland - a drive-thru attraction that plans to remain open - appears to have seen a hike in attendance from the Omaha zoo's closure. The Wildlife Safari Park opened for the 2020 season on March 27, with a record-setting attendance of 7,663 visitors. The previous record was 2,735 on Sept. 1, 2019.Park pricing ranges from $4 for children to $6 for adults. Children 2 and under are admitted at no charge. Those with season tickets to the zoo will have those tickets honored at the wildlife park.

Omaha zoo facing nearly $7M loss in wake of virus outbreak

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Argus Leader) — The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota rose to 240 as President Donald Trump declared a major disaster for the state. 

Trump's order directs federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas hit by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The South Dakota Department of Health reported 28 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Sunday. 

Minnehaha County reports 23 new positive tests, bringing the total number of cases in South Dakota's most populous county to 104. 

Eighteen of those patients in Minnehaha County have recovered. 

South Dakota's death total remains at two, but that does not include the death of state Rep. Bob Glanzer of Huron.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Argus Leader) — The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota rose to 240 as President Donald Trump declared a major disaster for the state. Trump's order directs federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The South Dakota Department of Health reported 28 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Sunday. Minnehaha County reports 23 new positive tests, bringing the total number of cases in South Dakota's most populous county to 104. Eighteen of those patients in Minnehaha County have recovered. South Dakota's death total remains at two, but that does not include the death of state Rep. Bob Glanzer of Huron.

South Dakota virus cases up to 240; Trump declares disaster

Officials say a person who was acting erratically and approached security personnel at the Ellsworth Air Force Base was detained and turned over to police. 

The main gate at the base was closed for about four hours Sunday after the individual showed up. 

Authorities were not specific about what the person was saying or doing. 

He was detained and turned over to Box Elder police. 

Members of the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were called to inspect the suspect’s vehicle.

Traffic was redirected to the base’s commercial gate while the scene was investigated. 

The main gate reopened about 8 p.m.&nbsp;

Officials say a person who was acting erratically and approached security personnel at the Ellsworth Air Force Base was detained and turned over to police. The main gate at the base was closed for about four hours Sunday after the individual showed up. Authorities were not specific about what the person was saying or doing. He was detained and turned over to Box Elder police. Members of the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were called to inspect the suspect’s vehicle. Nothing suspicious was found. Traffic was redirected to the base’s commercial gate while the scene was investigated. The main gate reopened about 8 p.m.&nbsp;

Person detained at Ellsworth Air Force Base main gate

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans braced for what the nation’s top doctor warned Sunday would be “the hardest and saddest week” of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italy’s.

Britain’s own prime minister, Boris Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/193a0cfe074685144ade169084a68255">was hospitalized</a>, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a “precautionary step.”

Amid the dire news, there were also glimmers of hope some hard-hit areas — the number of people dying appeared to be slowing in New York City, Spain and Italy. The news was cautiously welcomed by leaders, who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths.

“This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,” he told “Fox News Sunday.”

But President Donald Trump later suggested the hard weeks ahead could foretell the turning of a corner. “We’re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel,” Trump said at an evening White House briefing.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/09763bcbed9ff417b6eb5886155db66b">New York City, the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic</a>, daily deaths dropped slightly, along with intensive care admissions and the number of patients who needed breathing tubes inserted, but New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned it was “too early to tell” the significance of those numbers.

Italy and Spain also got some encouraging news. Italy registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths in more than two weeks — 525, said Angelo Borrelli, the head of the national Civil Protection agency. The pace of infection also seemed to be slowing.

Even so, Borrelli warned, “This good news shouldn’t make us drop our guard.”

Confirmed infections fell in Spain, too, and new deaths declined for the third straight day, dropping to 674 — the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586112457795.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams answers questions during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the White House on Friday." />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams answers questions during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the White House on Friday.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Americans braced for what the nation’s top doctor warned Sunday would be “the hardest and saddest week” of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italy’s.Britain’s own prime minister, Boris Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/193a0cfe074685144ade169084a68255">was hospitalized</a>, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a “precautionary step.”Amid the dire news, there were also glimmers of hope some hard-hit areas — the number of people dying appeared to be slowing in New York City, Spain and Italy. The news was cautiously welcomed by leaders, who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns.U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths.“This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,” he told “Fox News Sunday.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586169391337.png" alt="President Trump on Sunday, "We are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel." -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump on Sunday, "We are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel." -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>But President Donald Trump later suggested the hard weeks ahead could foretell the turning of a corner. “We’re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel,” Trump said at an evening White House briefing.In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/09763bcbed9ff417b6eb5886155db66b">New York City, the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic</a>, daily deaths dropped slightly, along with intensive care admissions and the number of patients who needed breathing tubes inserted, but New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned it was “too early to tell” the significance of those numbers.Italy and Spain also got some encouraging news. Italy registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths in more than two weeks — 525, said Angelo Borrelli, the head of the national Civil Protection agency. The pace of infection also seemed to be slowing.Even so, Borrelli warned, “This good news shouldn’t make us drop our guard.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696207171.png" alt="White House" />
 <figcaption>White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Confirmed infections fell in Spain, too, and new deaths declined for the third straight day, dropping to 674 — the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week.The outlook, however, was bleak in Britain, which reported more than 600 deaths Sunday, surpassing Italy’s increase. Italy still has, by far, the world’s highest coronavirus death toll — almost 16,000.“I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge,” she said. “And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.”<a href="https://apnews.com/faa93f9fde3483bb13a605fa0d400b0c">In a rare televised address</a>, Queen Elizabeth II appealed to Britons to rise the occasion, while acknowledging enormous disruptions, grief and financial difficulties.Johnson, meanwhile, has been hospitalized, though his office said it was not an emergency and that the 55-year-old Conservative will undergo tests.There are concerns that Johnson’s government did not take the virus seriously enough at first and that spring weather will tempt Britons and others to break social distancing rules.Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the U.K. might even ban outdoor exercise if people still ’’flout the rules.″“The vast majority of people are following the public health advice, which is absolutely critical, and staying at home,” Hancock told Sky TV. “But there are a small minority of people who are still not doing that — it’s quite unbelievable, frankly, to see that.”As the numbers of infections rose, Saffron Cordery, the deputy head of Britain’s National Health Service Providers, said the agency needed to focus on quickly increasing ventilator capacity and getting more protective equipment for health care workers.Italians have not been immune to lure of the good weather, either. Top Italian officials took to national television after photos were published showing huge crowds out shopping.Health Minister Roberto Speranza told RAI state television that all the sacrifices Italians have made since the nationwide lockdown began risked being reversed.Restrictions on movement vary from country to country, state to state, locality to locality. Swedes have been advised to practice social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remain open. In Germany and Britain, residents can get outdoors to exercise and walk their dogs, while in Serbia and South Africa, dog walking is not allowed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696236815.png" alt="White House" />
 <figcaption>White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The ACLU filed its first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/86171da74e787acf1a3c613a1c516311">lawsuit&nbsp;</a>over coronavirus restrictions, arguing in part that Puerto Rico’s curfew leaves people fearing arrest if they help elderly relatives by letting police determine who belongs in a family. A coastal community’s mayor in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/feecf34f9f49a2436246ef9451a683dc">Georgia</a>&nbsp;fears the governor’s mandate to open beaches will bring crowds to the small island with older residents and no medical facility.At the Vatican, Pope Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ab92b02d9729f12678f667d80abda876">blessed palms for Palm Sunday&nbsp;</a>in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica. At a New Orleans church, Rev. Emmanuel Mulenga blessed palm fronds and put them on a back table so people could get them while also observing social distancing.Worldwide, more than 1.2 million people have been confirmed infected and nearly 70,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, due to limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.The vast majority of infected people recover from the virus, which is spread by microscopic droplets from coughs or sneezes. For most people, the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death.The rapid spread of the virus in the United States has prompted a chaotic scramble for medical equipment and protective gear.An Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/090600c299a8cf07f5b44d92534856bc">review</a>&nbsp;of purchasing contracts showed that federal agencies largely waited until mid-March — more than two months after the first warnings of a potential pandemic — to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers.By that time, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and pleading for shipments from the national stockpile. Now that stockpile is nearly drained just as the numbers of patients requiring critical care is surging.When asked about the issue, Trump said federal officials and the military had worked “a miracle.”Rebekah Gee, who heads the Louisiana State University’s health care services division, warned that the private and public sector have been competing with each other, leading to price increases.Gee said one of her colleagues went on eBay to buy gowns, while equipment her department ordered from China got stalled for weeks in Hong Kong.“Our whole country is at war with this virus,” said Gee, who once ran the state’s Department of Health. “This needs a coordinated approach, and right now that’s not happening.”Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been hard hit by the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming equipment shortages.Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he hoped the pace of new infections would plateau soon, but that the virus is unlikely to be eradicated this year.Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Fauci said the prospect of a resurgence is why the U.S. is working so hard to develop a vaccine and conducting clinical trials on treatments.Scientists are still learning about the virus that was first detected in late December in Wuhan, China. In what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S., officials said Sunday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0f47b8e4f883579712599690e1752c09">a tiger at the Bronx Zoo had tested positive</a>.___