LINCOLN, Neb. – The summer season of the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson State Park has been cancelled to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus.

“We plan to pick up next year with our 2021 season and be stronger than ever,” said Tom Ossowski, producing artistic director for Post Playhouse Inc.

The Post Playhouse has been providing live theatre at Fort Robinson since 1967.

For more information and options for persons who have purchased tickets already, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk2MTI5NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Bvc3RwbGF5aG91c2UuY29tLyJ9.bnRd0zLje_Sc3USYqqvBlcpwroWjkKiuOFfJa52OKek/br/76910573717-l" target="_blank">postplayhouse.com</a>.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The summer season of the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson State Park has been cancelled to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus.“We plan to pick up next year with our 2021 season and be stronger than ever,” said Tom Ossowski, producing artistic director for Post Playhouse Inc.The Post Playhouse has been providing live theatre at Fort Robinson since 1967.For more information and options for persons who have purchased tickets already, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk2MTI5NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Bvc3RwbGF5aG91c2UuY29tLyJ9.bnRd0zLje_Sc3USYqqvBlcpwroWjkKiuOFfJa52OKek/br/76910573717-l" target="_blank">postplayhouse.com</a>.

Fort Robinson’s Post Playhouse summer season cancelled

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A fall that killed a 38-year-old Lincoln woman has been called an accident, authorities said.

Officers had gone to the woman's home around 1 p.m. Saturday to check a call about a disturbance. As officers talked to someone on one side of the house, neighbors told them someone was coming out a second-story window on another side.

The woman fell from the ladder she was using and struck her head, police said. It's unclear why she was using the ladder to get down from the second-floor window.

The woman died at a Lincoln hospital Saturday night. She has been identified as Ralonda Schulte.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A fall that killed a 38-year-old Lincoln woman has been called an accident, authorities said.Officers had gone to the woman's home around 1 p.m. Saturday to check a call about a disturbance. As officers talked to someone on one side of the house, neighbors told them someone was coming out a second-story window on another side.The woman fell from the ladder she was using and struck her head, police said. It's unclear why she was using the ladder to get down from the second-floor window.The woman died at a Lincoln hospital Saturday night. She has been identified as Ralonda Schulte.

Police say accidental fall from ladder killed Lincoln woman

DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ford Motor Company, in collaboration with GE Healthcare, announced today it will begin producing in Michigan a third-party ventilator with the goal to produce 50,000 of the vitally needed units within 100 days and up to 30,000 a month thereafter as needed.

Ford will provide its manufacturing capabilities to quickly scale production, and GE Healthcare will provide its clinical expertise and will license the current ventilator design from Airon Corp. – a small, privately held company specializing in high-tech pneumatic life support products. GE Healthcare brought the Airon Corp. design to Ford’s attention as part of the companies’ efforts to scale production of ventilators quickly to help clinicians treat COVID-19 patients.

The GE/Airon Model A-E ventilator uses a design that operates on air pressure without the need for electricity, addressing the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Its production can be quickly scaled to help meet growing demand in the U.S.

“The Ford and GE Healthcare teams, working creatively and tirelessly, have found a way to produce this vitally needed ventilator quickly and in meaningful numbers,” said Jim Hackett, Ford’s president and CEO. “By producing this ventilator in Michigan, in strong partnership with the UAW, we can help health care workers save lives, and that’s our No. 1 priority.”

According to White House Defense Production Act Coordinator Peter Navarro, “the Ford/GE Healthcare team is moving in ‘Trump time’ to speed urgently needed ventilators to the front lines of the Trump Administration’s full-scale war against the coronavirus. Just as Ford in the last century moved its manufacturing might seamlessly from auto to tank production during World War II, the Ford team is working with GE Healthcare to use its awesome engineering and manufacturing capabilities to voluntarily help this nation solve one of its most pressing problems. We salute that effort and look forward to the first ventilators rolling off the Michigan assembly line in record time – and we’ll be there to salute that milestone.”

Ford will initially send a team to work with Airon to boost production in Florida, and by the week of April 20, will start production at Ford’s Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., quickly ramping up to reach full production to help meet surging demand.

Ford expects to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4 – helping the U.S. government meet its goal of producing 100,000 ventilators in 100 days.

Ford’s Rawsonville plant will produce the ventilators nearly around the clock, with 500 paid volunteer UAW-represented employees working on three shifts. Airon currently produces three Airon pNeuton Model A ventilators per day in Melbourne, Fla. At full production, Ford plans to make 7,200 Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilators per week.

“From the days of Rosie the Riveter, UAW members have stepped up during difficult times in this nation’s history for the good of us all,” said UAW International President Rory Gamble. “Today’s announcement by Ford that UAW employees will make ventilators at Rawsonville is in that tradition. We are working very closely with Ford to make sure that all CDC guidelines are followed and that we are exercising an abundance of caution inside the plant. Ford and our UAW Ford members should be commended for stepping up in these very uncertain times.”

The Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator is the second Ford-GE Healthcare ventilator collaboration. Last week, Ford and GE Healthcare announced a separate effort to produce a simplified ventilator design from GE Healthcare. The combined ventilator supply will help address the increasing surge demand for ventilators around the U.S in the fight against COVID-19, each well suited to meet time, production volume and patient care requirements.

“We applaud Ford for its efforts to lend its manufacturing capabilities to help quickly scale the Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator and arm clinicians in the fight against COVID-19,” said GE Healthcare President and CEO Kieran Murphy. “Our deep understanding of the health care industry with Ford’s supply chain and production expertise will help meet the unprecedented demand for medical equipment. We continue to be encouraged by how quickly companies are coming together in innovative ways to address this collective challenge.”

GE Healthcare and Ford consulted with medical experts in determining the Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator is well suited for COVID-19 patient care. The design is expected to meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing. The ventilator is designed for quick setup, making it easy for healthcare workers to use – and can be deployed in an emergency room setting, during special procedures or in an intensive care unit, wherever the patient may be located.

Ford, along with the companies it is supporting, will provide additional updates as these special projects progress.

Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 190,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporate.ford.com%2F&amp;esheet=52196479&amp;newsitemid=20200330005720&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=corporate.ford.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=43a96aa2d9e75efce71d6b9c74154362" rel="nofollow">corporate.ford.com</a>.

GE (NYSE:GE) rises to the challenge of building a world that works. For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of industry, and today the company’s dedicated team, leading technology, and global reach and capabilities help the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. GE’s people are diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest level of integrity and focus to fulfill GE’s mission and deliver for its customers.&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ge.com&amp;esheet=52196479&amp;newsitemid=20200330005720&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.ge.com&amp;index=2&amp;md5=fb802d4f9d07a2f91cc5e48fd3652c91" rel="nofollow">www.ge.com</a>

DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ford Motor Company, in collaboration with GE Healthcare, announced today it will begin producing in Michigan a third-party ventilator with the goal to produce 50,000 of the vitally needed units within 100 days and up to 30,000 a month thereafter as needed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585756470507.jpeg" alt="A Model A-E ventilator, left, and a simple test lung. The ventilator uses a design that operates on air pressure without the need for electricity, addressing the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Its production can be quickly scaled to help meet growing demand in the U.S. (Photo by : Ford Motor Company, Ford&nbsp; Media Center)" />
 <figcaption>A Model A-E ventilator, left, and a simple test lung. The ventilator uses a design that operates on air pressure without the need for electricity, addressing the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Its production can be quickly scaled to help meet growing demand in the U.S. (Photo by : Ford Motor Company, Ford&nbsp; Media Center)</figcaption>
 </figure>Ford will provide its manufacturing capabilities to quickly scale production, and GE Healthcare will provide its clinical expertise and will license the current ventilator design from Airon Corp. – a small, privately held company specializing in high-tech pneumatic life support products. GE Healthcare brought the Airon Corp. design to Ford’s attention as part of the companies’ efforts to scale production of ventilators quickly to help clinicians treat COVID-19 patients.The GE/Airon Model A-E ventilator uses a design that operates on air pressure without the need for electricity, addressing the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Its production can be quickly scaled to help meet growing demand in the U.S.“The Ford and GE Healthcare teams, working creatively and tirelessly, have found a way to produce this vitally needed ventilator quickly and in meaningful numbers,” said Jim Hackett, Ford’s president and CEO. “By producing this ventilator in Michigan, in strong partnership with the UAW, we can help health care workers save lives, and that’s our No. 1 priority.”According to White House Defense Production Act Coordinator Peter Navarro, “the Ford/GE Healthcare team is moving in ‘Trump time’ to speed urgently needed ventilators to the front lines of the Trump Administration’s full-scale war against the coronavirus. Just as Ford in the last century moved its manufacturing might seamlessly from auto to tank production during World War II, the Ford team is working with GE Healthcare to use its awesome engineering and manufacturing capabilities to voluntarily help this nation solve one of its most pressing problems. We salute that effort and look forward to the first ventilators rolling off the Michigan assembly line in record time – and we’ll be there to salute that milestone.”Ford will initially send a team to work with Airon to boost production in Florida, and by the week of April 20, will start production at Ford’s Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., quickly ramping up to reach full production to help meet surging demand.Ford expects to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4 – helping the U.S. government meet its goal of producing 100,000 ventilators in 100 days.Ford’s Rawsonville plant will produce the ventilators nearly around the clock, with 500 paid volunteer UAW-represented employees working on three shifts. Airon currently produces three Airon pNeuton Model A ventilators per day in Melbourne, Fla. At full production, Ford plans to make 7,200 Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilators per week.“From the days of Rosie the Riveter, UAW members have stepped up during difficult times in this nation’s history for the good of us all,” said UAW International President Rory Gamble. “Today’s announcement by Ford that UAW employees will make ventilators at Rawsonville is in that tradition. We are working very closely with Ford to make sure that all CDC guidelines are followed and that we are exercising an abundance of caution inside the plant. Ford and our UAW Ford members should be commended for stepping up in these very uncertain times.”The Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator is the second Ford-GE Healthcare ventilator collaboration. Last week, Ford and GE Healthcare announced a separate effort to produce a simplified ventilator design from GE Healthcare. The combined ventilator supply will help address the increasing surge demand for ventilators around the U.S in the fight against COVID-19, each well suited to meet time, production volume and patient care requirements.“We applaud Ford for its efforts to lend its manufacturing capabilities to help quickly scale the Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator and arm clinicians in the fight against COVID-19,” said GE Healthcare President and CEO Kieran Murphy. “Our deep understanding of the health care industry with Ford’s supply chain and production expertise will help meet the unprecedented demand for medical equipment. We continue to be encouraged by how quickly companies are coming together in innovative ways to address this collective challenge.”GE Healthcare and Ford consulted with medical experts in determining the Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator is well suited for COVID-19 patient care. The design is expected to meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing. The ventilator is designed for quick setup, making it easy for healthcare workers to use – and can be deployed in an emergency room setting, during special procedures or in an intensive care unit, wherever the patient may be located.Ford, along with the companies it is supporting, will provide additional updates as these special projects progress.About Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 190,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporate.ford.com%2F&amp;esheet=52196479&amp;newsitemid=20200330005720&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=corporate.ford.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=43a96aa2d9e75efce71d6b9c74154362" rel="nofollow">corporate.ford.com</a>.About GEGE (NYSE:GE) rises to the challenge of building a world that works. For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of industry, and today the company’s dedicated team, leading technology, and global reach and capabilities help the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. GE’s people are diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest level of integrity and focus to fulfill GE’s mission and deliver for its customers.&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ge.com&amp;esheet=52196479&amp;newsitemid=20200330005720&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.ge.com&amp;index=2&amp;md5=fb802d4f9d07a2f91cc5e48fd3652c91" rel="nofollow">www.ge.com</a>

Ford to produce 50,000 ventilators in Michigan in next 100 days; partnering with GE Healthcare will help COVID-19 patients

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — An approaching cold front will bring radical changes to the Black Hills where the 60s this week will give way to more winter-like weather. 

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the region which could get 6 inches (15 centimeters) or more of snow by late Thursday.

 Forecasters expect rain will change to snow by Wednesday evening. 

The storm system is also expected to include strong winds. 

The sun returns Friday with temperatures climbing above freezing.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — An approaching cold front will bring radical changes to the Black Hills where the 60s this week will give way to more winter-like weather. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the region which could get 6 inches (15 centimeters) or more of snow by late Thursday. Forecasters expect rain will change to snow by Wednesday evening. The storm system is also expected to include strong winds. The sun returns Friday with temperatures climbing above freezing.

Storm expected to deliver snow to Black Hills

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned Americans to brace for a “hell of a bad two weeks” ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;even if current&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fa1fda126fe191425abc20ab461dfbe7">social distancing guidelines</a>&nbsp;are maintained.

Public health officials stressed Tuesday that the number could be less if people across the country bear down on keeping their distance from one another.

“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said&nbsp;Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.

Added&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6e97c258920e5fd3b5a93d831927bd3d">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>, the government’s top infectious disease expert, “This is a number that we need to anticipate, but we don’t necessarily have to accept it as being inevitable.”

Trump called it “a matter of life and death” for Americans to heed his administration’s guidelines and predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in a pandemic that in the United States has infected about 190,000 people and killed about 4,000, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said.

“This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we’ve ever had in our country,” Trump added. “We’re going to lose thousands of people.”

The jaw-dropping projections were laid out during a grim, two-hour White House briefing. Officials described a death toll that in a best-case scenario would likely be greater than the more than 53,000 American lives lost during World War I. And the model’s high end neared the realm of possibility that Americans lost to the virus could approach the 291,000 Americans killed on the battlefield during World War II.

“There’s no magic bullet,” Birx said. “There’s no magic vaccine or therapy. It’s just behaviors. Each of our behaviors, translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic.”

Fauci called the numbers “sobering” and urged Americans to “step on the accelerator” with their collective mitigation efforts.

“We are continuing to see things go up,” Fauci said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.”

Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak">the spread of the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;through social distancing. She added that states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e80a98f37714622c5b34d27d94bea8ff">New York</a>&nbsp;has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.

It’s not only social distancing that could make a difference but also the frantic efforts by hospitals around the country to prepare for an onslaught of seriously ill patients. The better prepared hospitals are, the greater the chances of lives being saved.

There’s also a wild card when it comes to treatment: whether the experimental drug combination Trump has touted —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2f3dd1099c6054bb5015391b9a6f3b0c">a medicine for malaria</a>&nbsp;and an antibiotic — will actually make a difference. That combination is already being used on thousands of patients, and Fauci said he would want to see a rigorous test of its effectiveness.

Trump’s comments came after he announced Sunday that he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7d851c87c07a7e0f67c245abe0d86e56">extending to April 30</a>&nbsp;the social distancing guidelines that advise Americans to cease large gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.

It was an abrupt reversal for the Republican president, who spent much of last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/02d2fdbfd1ddad86b4a9f67643371f0b">targeting April 12</a>&nbsp;as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.

Trump called the data “very sobering,” saying it was his understanding that 100,000 deaths was a minimum that would be difficult to avoid. He also sought to rewrite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/00d26ad5b6caa82716b52d01a0f8f8b7">his past minimization of the outbreak</a>, saying he rejected those who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a43e71b1966de5d1d703d1802ea2eb49">compared the new coronavirus to the flu</a>&nbsp;when in fact he repeatedly did so publicly.

“This could be hell of a bad two weeks,’” Trump said. He added: “You know 100,000 is, according to modeling, a very low number. In fact, when I first saw the number ... they said it was unlikely you’ll be able to attain that. We have to see but I think we’re doing better than that.”

Trump played down concerns from New York’s Andrew Cuomo and other governors that their states’ hospitals don’t have enough ventilators to treat an anticipated crush of patients. Trump said the federal government currently has a stockpile of 10,000 ventilators that it plans on distributing as needed.

“Now, when the surge occurs, if it occurs fairly evenly, we’ll be able to distribute them very quickly before they need them,” Trump said. “But we want to have a reserve right now. It’s like having oil reserves.”

Birx said the experiences of Washington state and California give her hope that other states can keep the coronavirus under control through social distancing. That’s because they moved quickly to contain the early clusters of coronavirus by closing schools, urging people to work from home, banning large gatherings and taking other measures now familiar to most Americans, she noted.

“I am reassured by looking at the Seattle line,” she added. “California and Washington state reacted very early to this.” Many other states and local governments already have stiff controls in place on mobility and gatherings.

Trump said he would also ask Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow the docking of two cruise ships with passengers who have had contact with patients suffering from COVID-19. Passengers are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but DeSantis said the state’s health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on a ship’s coronavirus caseload.

“They’re dying on the ship,” Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right, not only for us for but humanity.”

Trump also said he planned to curtail his travel for the month ahead and stay close to the White House to safeguard his health. The president hasn’t held one of his signature big-stadium rallies since early March, and it’s unlikely he’ll be holding another one anytime soon.

“I think it’s important that I remain healthy. I really do,” Trump said. “So for the most part we’re staying here.”

Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market, which has been in a free fall as the coronavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1bae3794481cc9d02fc670480cfcb800">left millions of people unemployed</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points, or roughly 1.9%, to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585690758211.png" alt="President Trump during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned Americans to brace for a “hell of a bad two weeks” ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;even if current&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fa1fda126fe191425abc20ab461dfbe7">social distancing guidelines</a>&nbsp;are maintained.Public health officials stressed Tuesday that the number could be less if people across the country bear down on keeping their distance from one another.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696207171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said&nbsp;Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.Added&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6e97c258920e5fd3b5a93d831927bd3d">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>, the government’s top infectious disease expert, “This is a number that we need to anticipate, but we don’t necessarily have to accept it as being inevitable.”Trump called it “a matter of life and death” for Americans to heed his administration’s guidelines and predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in a pandemic that in the United States has infected about 190,000 people and killed about 4,000, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said.“This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we’ve ever had in our country,” Trump added. “We’re going to lose thousands of people.”The jaw-dropping projections were laid out during a grim, two-hour White House briefing. Officials described a death toll that in a best-case scenario would likely be greater than the more than 53,000 American lives lost during World War I. And the model’s high end neared the realm of possibility that Americans lost to the virus could approach the 291,000 Americans killed on the battlefield during World War II.“There’s no magic bullet,” Birx said. “There’s no magic vaccine or therapy. It’s just behaviors. Each of our behaviors, translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic.”Fauci called the numbers “sobering” and urged Americans to “step on the accelerator” with their collective mitigation efforts.“We are continuing to see things go up,” Fauci said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585692231125.png" alt="Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force.</figcaption>
 </figure>Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak">the spread of the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;through social distancing. She added that states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e80a98f37714622c5b34d27d94bea8ff">New York</a>&nbsp;has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.It’s not only social distancing that could make a difference but also the frantic efforts by hospitals around the country to prepare for an onslaught of seriously ill patients. The better prepared hospitals are, the greater the chances of lives being saved.There’s also a wild card when it comes to treatment: whether the experimental drug combination Trump has touted —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2f3dd1099c6054bb5015391b9a6f3b0c">a medicine for malaria</a>&nbsp;and an antibiotic — will actually make a difference. That combination is already being used on thousands of patients, and Fauci said he would want to see a rigorous test of its effectiveness.Trump’s comments came after he announced Sunday that he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7d851c87c07a7e0f67c245abe0d86e56">extending to April 30</a>&nbsp;the social distancing guidelines that advise Americans to cease large gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.It was an abrupt reversal for the Republican president, who spent much of last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/02d2fdbfd1ddad86b4a9f67643371f0b">targeting April 12</a>&nbsp;as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696236815.png" alt="White House" />
 <figcaption>White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump called the data “very sobering,” saying it was his understanding that 100,000 deaths was a minimum that would be difficult to avoid. He also sought to rewrite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/00d26ad5b6caa82716b52d01a0f8f8b7">his past minimization of the outbreak</a>, saying he rejected those who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a43e71b1966de5d1d703d1802ea2eb49">compared the new coronavirus to the flu</a>&nbsp;when in fact he repeatedly did so publicly.“This could be hell of a bad two weeks,’” Trump said. He added: “You know 100,000 is, according to modeling, a very low number. In fact, when I first saw the number ... they said it was unlikely you’ll be able to attain that. We have to see but I think we’re doing better than that.”Trump played down concerns from New York’s Andrew Cuomo and other governors that their states’ hospitals don’t have enough ventilators to treat an anticipated crush of patients. Trump said the federal government currently has a stockpile of 10,000 ventilators that it plans on distributing as needed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585704944052.png" alt="President Trump listens to the grim update during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump listens to the grim update during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>“Now, when the surge occurs, if it occurs fairly evenly, we’ll be able to distribute them very quickly before they need them,” Trump said. “But we want to have a reserve right now. It’s like having oil reserves.”Birx said the experiences of Washington state and California give her hope that other states can keep the coronavirus under control through social distancing. That’s because they moved quickly to contain the early clusters of coronavirus by closing schools, urging people to work from home, banning large gatherings and taking other measures now familiar to most Americans, she noted.“I am reassured by looking at the Seattle line,” she added. “California and Washington state reacted very early to this.” Many other states and local governments already have stiff controls in place on mobility and gatherings.Trump said he would also ask Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow the docking of two cruise ships with passengers who have had contact with patients suffering from COVID-19. Passengers are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but DeSantis said the state’s health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on a ship’s coronavirus caseload.“They’re dying on the ship,” Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right, not only for us for but humanity.”Trump also said he planned to curtail his travel for the month ahead and stay close to the White House to safeguard his health. The president hasn’t held one of his signature big-stadium rallies since early March, and it’s unlikely he’ll be holding another one anytime soon.“I think it’s important that I remain healthy. I really do,” Trump said. “So for the most part we’re staying here.”Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market, which has been in a free fall as the coronavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1bae3794481cc9d02fc670480cfcb800">left millions of people unemployed</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points, or roughly 1.9%, to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history.___

President Trump: 'Life and death' at stake in following guidelines

LINCOLN –&nbsp;The fourth death related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today. The person was a Buffalo County resident in his 90s -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50cnBoZC5vcmcvIn0.YOCMIPM_Sza4wTUn2QafYA24Z-Lvk6fvrBNQuUPRy7o%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522959319&amp;sdata=ZvrMSYZ62oF6N5OLMVwloOKKw%2FW38AK7xYY3gM5n%2FPA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.trphd.org/</a>.

“We are saddened by the death of another fellow Nebraskan,” said Dr. Gary Anthone, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Public Health for DHHS. “Staying home if you’re sick and distancing yourself from others are actions we must continue to take to help protect those around us who may be more vulnerable to severe illness or death.”

Community transmission was identified in Adams and Buffalo Counties. Community transmission is when people have COVID-19 but public health officials are unable to identify how or where they became infected -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3NvdXRoaGVhcnRsYW5kaGVhbHRoLm9yZy8ifQ.zcxy13zC7aMqR2LQKzfI5B3FQf_IIK-QXPUdahMIX-o%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522959319&amp;sdata=vNvW62Zh4gPmM5kt3ElxPkVSFjnh6eztsMGyu3nMTTE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://southheartlandhealth.org/</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50cnBoZC5vcmcvIn0.NVcgGGzE2B000U3Qa4nHuKxgkaad3mHXf-JmSKqgNhw%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522969271&amp;sdata=oDhHVvH%2BgajmGzHzaiJN%2FC%2B4Jmyilq6I1hGIPN8QKcs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.trphd.org/</a>.

State Directed Health Measures (DHMs) were issued tonight for the following 11 counties: Adams, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster, Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps counties -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kcm9wYm94LmNvbS9zL2s1bjdibnM3NjdjeWRuYS9ESE0lMjAzLjMxLjIwMjAucGRmP2RsPTAifQ.pAuwGiYdwjMOOzUdlFkgzrBQR7keTFGGlPbVrpGLEho%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522969271&amp;sdata=JtPhaqlNomjNRF5LAHK2PEKFrNtBqk0q99BONt1hrvA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.dropbox.com/s/k5n7bns767cydna/DHM%203.31.2020.pdf?dl=0</a>.

The quarantine measures included in the State DHMs are for individuals who are COVID-19 positive or develop fever, sudden onset of a dry cough, or sudden onset of shortness of breath without provocation (such as walking up stairs, running, choking, etc.). &nbsp;This excludes those with seasonal allergies, COPD, or other diagnoses that may produce respiratory symptoms.&nbsp; Additionally, the directive doesn’t apply to patients who have an alternative non-COVID-19 diagnosis from a healthcare provider. These patients should follow the treatment and guidance provided by their healthcare provider for such conditions.

Tonight’s state case total is 177. DHHS launched a new data dashboard that provides daily updates to the state’s COVID-19 case totals. You can find it at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvY29yb25hdmlydXMifQ.7RFsSW3UJ-BwmRHaepGf-kmqX19d-sU7uZGZtg5c50c%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522979227&amp;sdata=q8T8hXC88DrFO8iBle2f8xwK3t2v56VGQI%2F5zgv24aw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.

Certain people are at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 including older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. People in these higher-risk groups should:&nbsp;

Recent data shows that the virus is also affecting younger people. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said 20% of those hospitalized for COVID-19 in the U.S. were 20-44 years old.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. People who are concerned they may have COVID-19 should self-isolate and call ahead to their primary care provider to be screened over the phone.

Everyone can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections by:&nbsp;

Here’s where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvY29yb25hdmlydXMifQ.6Uas-cp8APP_SaPWnXLULCoxIAJvkWZV-UQKGbvBOhc%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038523009098&amp;sdata=1Z9smf9TsLI7s%2Fezt4GI2OOeDqPVibfwU2zffqC6LLU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC’s website –&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2NvdmlkMTkifQ.hKnKch1XMi0d6h-jzNjQaBk1K23-bgFY4Wa4-zgk-fw%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038523009098&amp;sdata=VcwipUR4xQhvWdGRbtnVw2zTxP1bgD6ENwtW%2FrhV3Hw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.&nbsp;

DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CST, 7 days a week.

DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC’s website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2NvdmlkMTkifQ.b_KUgIkt3BG8x7eWxkKkUrpVSK05iAXqrEeBAOumcjg%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038523019058&amp;sdata=jjG4biZizpRr89XZVhJyatoJS3Tf8yEXJQZCtyUOMHE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.

LINCOLN –&nbsp;The fourth death related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today. The person was a Buffalo County resident in his 90s -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50cnBoZC5vcmcvIn0.YOCMIPM_Sza4wTUn2QafYA24Z-Lvk6fvrBNQuUPRy7o%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522959319&amp;sdata=ZvrMSYZ62oF6N5OLMVwloOKKw%2FW38AK7xYY3gM5n%2FPA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.trphd.org/</a>.“We are saddened by the death of another fellow Nebraskan,” said Dr. Gary Anthone, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Public Health for DHHS. “Staying home if you’re sick and distancing yourself from others are actions we must continue to take to help protect those around us who may be more vulnerable to severe illness or death.”Community transmission was identified in Adams and Buffalo Counties. Community transmission is when people have COVID-19 but public health officials are unable to identify how or where they became infected -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3NvdXRoaGVhcnRsYW5kaGVhbHRoLm9yZy8ifQ.zcxy13zC7aMqR2LQKzfI5B3FQf_IIK-QXPUdahMIX-o%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522959319&amp;sdata=vNvW62Zh4gPmM5kt3ElxPkVSFjnh6eztsMGyu3nMTTE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://southheartlandhealth.org/</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50cnBoZC5vcmcvIn0.NVcgGGzE2B000U3Qa4nHuKxgkaad3mHXf-JmSKqgNhw%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522969271&amp;sdata=oDhHVvH%2BgajmGzHzaiJN%2FC%2B4Jmyilq6I1hGIPN8QKcs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.trphd.org/</a>.State Directed Health Measures (DHMs) were issued tonight for the following 11 counties: Adams, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster, Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps counties -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kcm9wYm94LmNvbS9zL2s1bjdibnM3NjdjeWRuYS9ESE0lMjAzLjMxLjIwMjAucGRmP2RsPTAifQ.pAuwGiYdwjMOOzUdlFkgzrBQR7keTFGGlPbVrpGLEho%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522969271&amp;sdata=JtPhaqlNomjNRF5LAHK2PEKFrNtBqk0q99BONt1hrvA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.dropbox.com/s/k5n7bns767cydna/DHM%203.31.2020.pdf?dl=0</a>.The quarantine measures included in the State DHMs are for individuals who are COVID-19 positive or develop fever, sudden onset of a dry cough, or sudden onset of shortness of breath without provocation (such as walking up stairs, running, choking, etc.). &nbsp;This excludes those with seasonal allergies, COPD, or other diagnoses that may produce respiratory symptoms.&nbsp; Additionally, the directive doesn’t apply to patients who have an alternative non-COVID-19 diagnosis from a healthcare provider. These patients should follow the treatment and guidance provided by their healthcare provider for such conditions.Tonight’s state case total is 177. DHHS launched a new data dashboard that provides daily updates to the state’s COVID-19 case totals. You can find it at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvY29yb25hdmlydXMifQ.7RFsSW3UJ-BwmRHaepGf-kmqX19d-sU7uZGZtg5c50c%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522979227&amp;sdata=q8T8hXC88DrFO8iBle2f8xwK3t2v56VGQI%2F5zgv24aw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.Certain people are at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 including older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. People in these higher-risk groups should:&nbsp;<ol>
 <li><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi9zcGVjaWZpYy1ncm91cHMvaGlnaC1yaXNrLWNvbXBsaWNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbCNIYXZlLXN1cHBsaWVzLW9uLWhhbmQifQ.RrU9ZaeulsU00Or6DArxWaQZoglF8dzPlyA-aVaBf80%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522979227&amp;sdata=bCKHQNmgyXd092iRYhKCPJGgIPeZjeVGBTqB6BuMUEA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Stock up on supplies</a>, including extra necessary medications.</li><li>Take&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi9zcGVjaWZpYy1ncm91cHMvaGlnaC1yaXNrLWNvbXBsaWNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbCN0YWtlLWV2ZXJ5ZGF5LXByZWNhdXRpb25zIn0.Sm5BXXTdc8ehacRtEgWtO-KP3LL-ulHJ9tplhn5g47o%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522989184&amp;sdata=vwNzgmxAcAkBMzfpbr2VvKMwXs5s%2FIIhmdzIwbVsq0Y%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">everyday precautions</a>&nbsp;to keep space between yourself and others.</li><li>When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.</li><li><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi9zcGVjaWZpYy1ncm91cHMvaGlnaC1yaXNrLWNvbXBsaWNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbCNhdm9pZC1jcm93ZHMifQ._8paHRhzJJj936FNF5AujS5WGBy8u_m7CGiAgs5LNTw%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522989184&amp;sdata=NmBlp5DUPp7cieLHHM8GbJdLoSUcTD%2FM2K%2FLuUC28SU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Avoid crowds</a>&nbsp;as much as possible.</li><li>Avoid&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3d25jLmNkYy5nb3YvdHJhdmVsL25vdGljZXMvd2FybmluZy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1jcnVpc2Utc2hpcCJ9.6xWTHx5cBWhkBwUhWuce7wZPsYXDYnMYdpMMF5PLrCU%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522999138&amp;sdata=AMIT0CuAuIubGtGNrmz7j8hN2nP5ZJripxIUWNFOJbc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">cruise travel</a>&nbsp;and non-essential air travel.</li><li>If there is a COVID-19 outbreak in your community,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi9zcGVjaWZpYy1ncm91cHMvaGlnaC1yaXNrLWNvbXBsaWNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbCNzdGF5LWhvbWUifQ.7qkkkGIVdqryHLMQXI4LdPGcNk88RIR7tzkUCKbKj-w%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038522999138&amp;sdata=GJACUEJ8dcwtljKymRG4S7Hoq9kkADsElIyhSRmaIsk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">stay home</a>&nbsp;as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.</li>
 </ol>Recent data shows that the virus is also affecting younger people. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said 20% of those hospitalized for COVID-19 in the U.S. were 20-44 years old.The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. People who are concerned they may have COVID-19 should self-isolate and call ahead to their primary care provider to be screened over the phone.Everyone can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections by:&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Avoiding close contact with sick people and staying home if you are sick.</li><li>Washing hands often with soap and water&nbsp;for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer.</li><li>Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth&nbsp;with unwashed hands.</li><li>Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or&nbsp;sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash.</li><li>Cleaning and disinfecting frequently&nbsp;touched objects and surfaces.</li>
 </ol>Here’s where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvY29yb25hdmlydXMifQ.6Uas-cp8APP_SaPWnXLULCoxIAJvkWZV-UQKGbvBOhc%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038523009098&amp;sdata=1Z9smf9TsLI7s%2Fezt4GI2OOeDqPVibfwU2zffqC6LLU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC’s website –&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2NvdmlkMTkifQ.hKnKch1XMi0d6h-jzNjQaBk1K23-bgFY4Wa4-zgk-fw%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038523009098&amp;sdata=VcwipUR4xQhvWdGRbtnVw2zTxP1bgD6ENwtW%2FrhV3Hw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.&nbsp;DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CST, 7 days a week.DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC’s website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDEuMTk1NzQwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2NvdmlkMTkifQ.b_KUgIkt3BG8x7eWxkKkUrpVSK05iAXqrEeBAOumcjg%2Fbr%2F76868236105-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C3ea0527bc1074766f16f08d7d5e1dc9a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637213038523019058&amp;sdata=jjG4biZizpRr89XZVhJyatoJS3Tf8yEXJQZCtyUOMHE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.

Community transmission identified in Adams, Buffalo Counties

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “hell of a bad two weeks” ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.

Public health officials stressed that the number could be less if people across the country bear down on keeping their distance from one another.

“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.

Added Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, “This is a number that we need to anticipate, but we don’t necessarily have to accept it as being inevitable.”

Trump called it “a matter of life and death” for Americans to heed his administration’s guidelines and predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in a pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more.

The jaw-dropping projections were laid out during a grim, two-hour White House briefing. Officials described a death toll that in a best-case scenario would likely be greater than the more than 53,000 American lives lost during World War I. And the model’s high end neared the realm of possibility that Americans lost to the virus could approach the 291,000 Americans killed on the battlefield during World II.

Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus through social distancing. She added that states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.

It’s not only social distancing that could make a difference, but also the frantic efforts by hospitals around the country to prepare for an onslaught of seriously ill patients. The better prepared hospitals are, the greater the chances of lives being saved.

There’s also a wild card when it comes to treatment: whether the experimental drug combination Trump has touted — a medicine for malaria and an antibiotic — will actually make a difference. That combination is already being used on thousands of patients, and Fauci said he would want to see a rigorous test of its effectiveness.

Trump’s comments came after he announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that advise Americans to cease large gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.

It was an abrupt reversal for Trump, who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.

Trump called the data “very sobering,” saying it was his understanding that 100,000 deaths was a minimum that would be difficult to avoid. He also sought to rewrite his past minimization of the outbreak, saying he rejected those who compared the new coronavirus to the flu — when in fact he repeatedly did so publicly.

"This could be hell of a bad two weeks,’” Trump said. He added: “You know 100,000 is, according to modeling, a very low number. In fact, when I first saw the number ... they said it was unlikely you’ll be able to attain that. We have to see but I think we’re doing better than that.”

Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market, which has been in a free fall as the cononavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and left millions unemployed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points, or roughly 1.9%, to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585692040069.png" alt="Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “hell of a bad two weeks” ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691283364.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>Public health officials stressed that the number could be less if people across the country bear down on keeping their distance from one another.“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.Added Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, “This is a number that we need to anticipate, but we don’t necessarily have to accept it as being inevitable.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691441605.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump called it “a matter of life and death” for Americans to heed his administration’s guidelines and predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in a pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more.“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said.“This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we’ve ever had in our country,” Trump added. “We’re going to lose thousands of people.”The jaw-dropping projections were laid out during a grim, two-hour White House briefing. Officials described a death toll that in a best-case scenario would likely be greater than the more than 53,000 American lives lost during World War I. And the model’s high end neared the realm of possibility that Americans lost to the virus could approach the 291,000 Americans killed on the battlefield during World II.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691504295.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>“There’s no magic bullet,” Birx said. “There’s no magic vaccine or therapy. It’s just behaviors. Each of our behaviors, translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic.”Fauci called the numbers “sobering” and urged Americans to “step on the accelerator” with their collective mitigation efforts.“We are continuing to see things go up,” Fauci said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.”Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus through social distancing. She added that states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.It’s not only social distancing that could make a difference, but also the frantic efforts by hospitals around the country to prepare for an onslaught of seriously ill patients. The better prepared hospitals are, the greater the chances of lives being saved.There’s also a wild card when it comes to treatment: whether the experimental drug combination Trump has touted — a medicine for malaria and an antibiotic — will actually make a difference. That combination is already being used on thousands of patients, and Fauci said he would want to see a rigorous test of its effectiveness.Trump’s comments came after he announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that advise Americans to cease large gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.It was an abrupt reversal for Trump, who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585691352994.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump called the data “very sobering,” saying it was his understanding that 100,000 deaths was a minimum that would be difficult to avoid. He also sought to rewrite his past minimization of the outbreak, saying he rejected those who compared the new coronavirus to the flu — when in fact he repeatedly did so publicly."This could be hell of a bad two weeks,’” Trump said. He added: “You know 100,000 is, according to modeling, a very low number. In fact, when I first saw the number ... they said it was unlikely you’ll be able to attain that. We have to see but I think we’re doing better than that.”Trump played down concerns from New York’s Andrew Cuomo and other governors that their states’ hospitals don’t have enough ventilators to treat an anticipated crush of patients. Trump said the federal government currently has a stockpile of 10,000 ventilators that it plans on distributing as needed.“Now, when the surge occurs, if it occurs fairly evenly, we’ll be able to distribute them very quickly before they need them,” Trump said. “But we want to have a reserve right now. It’s like having oil reserves.”Birx said the experiences of Washington state and California give her hope that other states can keep the coronavirus under control through social distancing. That’s because they moved quickly to contain the early clusters of coronavirus by closing schools, urging people to work from home, banning large gatherings and taking other measures now familiar to most Americans, she noted.“I am reassured by looking at the Seattle line,” she added. “California and Washington state reacted very early to this.” Many other states and local governments already have stiff controls in place on mobility and gatherings.Trump said he would also ask Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow the docking of two cruise ships with passengers who have had contact with patients suffering from COVID-19. Passengers are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but DeSantis said the state’s health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on a ship’s coronavirus caseload.“They’re dying on the ship,” Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right, not only for us for but humanity.”Trump also said he planned to curtail his travel for the month ahead and stay close to the White House to safeguard his health. The president hasn’t held one of his signature big-stadium rallies since early March, and it’s unlikely he’ll be holding another one anytime soon.“I think it’s important that I remain healthy. I really do,” Trump said. “So for the most part we’re staying here.”Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market, which has been in a free fall as the cononavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and left millions unemployed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points, or roughly 1.9%, to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history.

White House projects up to 240K US deaths from virus

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that the State’s sixth and seventh COVID-19 related&nbsp;Directed Health Measures (DHMs) include Adams, Buffalo, Clay, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, Nuckolls, Phelps, and Webster counties. They will be in effect beginning today at 10:00pm and will last until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.

The quarantine measures are for individuals who are COVID-19 positive or develop fever, sudden onset of a dry cough, or sudden onset of shortness of breath without provocation&nbsp;(such as walking up stairs, running, choking, etc.). This excludes those with seasonal allergies, COPD, or other diagnoses that may produce respiratory symptoms. Additionally, the directive doesn’t apply to patients who have an alternative non-COVID-19 diagnosis&nbsp;from a healthcare provider. These patients should follow the treatment and guidance provided by their healthcare provider for such conditions.

The first DHM, issued on March 18th, applies to Cass, Douglas, and Sarpy counties and is in effect until at least April 30th.

The second DHM, issued on March 25th, applies to Dodge, Lancaster, Saunders, and Washington counties and is in effect until at least May 6th.

The third DHM, issued on March 28th, applies to&nbsp;Butler, Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, Seward, and York counties and is in effect until May 6th&nbsp;unless renewed.

The fourth DHM, issued on March 29th, applies to Burt, Cuming, Madison, and Stanton counties and is in effect until May 6th&nbsp;unless renewed.

The fifth DHM, issued on March 30th, applies to Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux counties&nbsp;and is in effect until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.

The sixth DHM, issued on March 31st, applies to Adams, Clay,&nbsp;Nuckolls,&nbsp;and Webster counties and is in effect until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.

The seventh DHM, also issued on March 31st, applies to Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps counties and is in effect until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.

The DHM and quarantine directions covering all of these counties can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fk5n7bns767cydna%2FDHM%25203.31.2020.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096505598&amp;sdata=IImA0Ljjvyu2ugN31z0eHbUazKL2zaJfkjiuvEiFw5g%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.

The DHM imposes an enforceable limit on public gatherings. Among other steps, the DHM requires restaurants and bars in these areas to close their dining areas immediately and&nbsp;move to takeout, delivery, and/or curbside service only until further notice. Additionally, schools in these areas are directed to operate without students in their buildings. This restriction does not apply to school staff working in school buildings.&nbsp;It also does not apply to daycares that may be operated at a school per the Governor’s executive order regarding childcare, which you can access by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F519dprxk19cogx2%2FEO%252020-08%2520-%2520Expanding%2520Access%2520to%2520Child%2520Care%2520Options.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096515540&amp;sdata=Jq4aEmCe51FHotMDjaL0%2FFjJhntyogvbTogYJfnHv2w%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.

Counties other than those noted above remain under the guidance issued March 18th&nbsp;by the Governor’s Office. You can find it by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fxydt3l8je28fzox%2FDHHS%2520Guidance%25203.16.2020%25207.40pm.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096515540&amp;sdata=BWAl37fyN%2BXaQQITsxtG1lLrc2Evz5vL%2FLpgaTBdqwo%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;If further community transmission cases of COVID-19 occur in other regions of the state, the Governor will announce DHMs covering the additional regions.

In addition to the DHMs issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Douglas County Public Health Director Dr. Adi M. Pour has issued an order covering Douglas&nbsp;County from March 18, 2020 through April 30, 2020. Full details of the order can be found on the Douglas County Health Department website&nbsp;(<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.douglascountyhealth.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096515540&amp;sdata=2cSnC40eqec7n%2FUFEe3kNsmeUYulb2uXjujc%2BRDrDck%3D&amp;reserved=0">douglascountyhealth.com</a>)&nbsp;or by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.douglascountyhealth.com%2Fimages%2FCOVID-19%2F2020_03_ORDER_AMENDED_3-20-2020.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096525510&amp;sdata=nQCP8g9PiyGkIYAMZWk6UN0lIc6AhUlKufsG07wdLtw%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department also issued a DHM, which can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/covid19/pdf/directed-health-measure-20200325.pdf">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The order lasts until May 6, 2020.

Furthermore, the Sarpy/Cass Health Department issued a DHM, which can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sarpycasshealthdepartment.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdoc%2FSarpy%2520Cass%2520DHM%2520March%252031%252C%25202020.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096525510&amp;sdata=yQBbUbwug5P%2FldcZaCGYG8SN1AX5Cr5ZJw4hFhHi2i0%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>. The order lasts until April 30, 2020.

UNDERSTANDING THE STATE’S DIRECTED HEALTH MEASURE

Who does the Directed Health Measure apply to?

It applies to places such as theaters, churches, houses of worship, gyms, social clubs, salons, and social gatherings, including weddings, funerals, concerts, and athletic events.&nbsp;This is not an exhaustive list, but illustrates the types of locations the DHM applies to. &nbsp;

Do I need to shut down my bar or restaurant?

At bars and restaurants, it applies to patrons, not to your workforce. Restaurants and bars are encouraged to ask their patrons if they can prepare their order for takeout upon&nbsp;arrival. Restaurants will play a key part in feeding people throughout the pandemic.

Do I need to shut down my daycare?

No. DHHS has issued new guidance that daycares need to follow. You can find it by&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19%20Schools%20and%20Childcare.pdf">clicking here</a>.

No. The Directed Health Measure does not apply to places such as office buildings, grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities, court houses,&nbsp;court rooms, banks, car dealerships, auto repair shops, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, small shops, golf courses, big box stores, gas stations, convenience stores, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, packing facilities, construction jobs,&nbsp;and other traditional office settings. This is not an exhaustive list, but illustrates the types of locations the DHM does not apply to. &nbsp;

Furthermore, we do not expect these facilities to be impacted by additional limits at this time.

Do I need to cancel a wedding or a funeral?

Weddings and funerals are also subject to the 10-person limit. Event planners and facilities are encouraged to be flexible with people who are rearranging their plans.

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that the State’s sixth and seventh COVID-19 related&nbsp;Directed Health Measures (DHMs) include Adams, Buffalo, Clay, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, Nuckolls, Phelps, and Webster counties. They will be in effect beginning today at 10:00pm and will last until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.The quarantine measures are for individuals who are COVID-19 positive or develop fever, sudden onset of a dry cough, or sudden onset of shortness of breath without provocation&nbsp;(such as walking up stairs, running, choking, etc.). This excludes those with seasonal allergies, COPD, or other diagnoses that may produce respiratory symptoms. Additionally, the directive doesn’t apply to patients who have an alternative non-COVID-19 diagnosis&nbsp;from a healthcare provider. These patients should follow the treatment and guidance provided by their healthcare provider for such conditions.The first DHM, issued on March 18th, applies to Cass, Douglas, and Sarpy counties and is in effect until at least April 30th.The second DHM, issued on March 25th, applies to Dodge, Lancaster, Saunders, and Washington counties and is in effect until at least May 6th.The third DHM, issued on March 28th, applies to&nbsp;Butler, Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, Seward, and York counties and is in effect until May 6th&nbsp;unless renewed.The fourth DHM, issued on March 29th, applies to Burt, Cuming, Madison, and Stanton counties and is in effect until May 6th&nbsp;unless renewed.The fifth DHM, issued on March 30th, applies to Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux counties&nbsp;and is in effect until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.The sixth DHM, issued on March 31st, applies to Adams, Clay,&nbsp;Nuckolls,&nbsp;and Webster counties and is in effect until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.The seventh DHM, also issued on March 31st, applies to Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps counties and is in effect until May 11th&nbsp;unless renewed.The DHM and quarantine directions covering all of these counties can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fk5n7bns767cydna%2FDHM%25203.31.2020.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096505598&amp;sdata=IImA0Ljjvyu2ugN31z0eHbUazKL2zaJfkjiuvEiFw5g%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.The DHM imposes an enforceable limit on public gatherings. Among other steps, the DHM requires restaurants and bars in these areas to close their dining areas immediately and&nbsp;move to takeout, delivery, and/or curbside service only until further notice. Additionally, schools in these areas are directed to operate without students in their buildings. This restriction does not apply to school staff working in school buildings.&nbsp;It also does not apply to daycares that may be operated at a school per the Governor’s executive order regarding childcare, which you can access by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F519dprxk19cogx2%2FEO%252020-08%2520-%2520Expanding%2520Access%2520to%2520Child%2520Care%2520Options.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096515540&amp;sdata=Jq4aEmCe51FHotMDjaL0%2FFjJhntyogvbTogYJfnHv2w%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.Counties other than those noted above remain under the guidance issued March 18th&nbsp;by the Governor’s Office. You can find it by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fxydt3l8je28fzox%2FDHHS%2520Guidance%25203.16.2020%25207.40pm.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096515540&amp;sdata=BWAl37fyN%2BXaQQITsxtG1lLrc2Evz5vL%2FLpgaTBdqwo%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;If further community transmission cases of COVID-19 occur in other regions of the state, the Governor will announce DHMs covering the additional regions.In addition to the DHMs issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Douglas County Public Health Director Dr. Adi M. Pour has issued an order covering Douglas&nbsp;County from March 18, 2020 through April 30, 2020. Full details of the order can be found on the Douglas County Health Department website&nbsp;(<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.douglascountyhealth.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096515540&amp;sdata=2cSnC40eqec7n%2FUFEe3kNsmeUYulb2uXjujc%2BRDrDck%3D&amp;reserved=0">douglascountyhealth.com</a>)&nbsp;or by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.douglascountyhealth.com%2Fimages%2FCOVID-19%2F2020_03_ORDER_AMENDED_3-20-2020.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096525510&amp;sdata=nQCP8g9PiyGkIYAMZWk6UN0lIc6AhUlKufsG07wdLtw%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>.The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department also issued a DHM, which can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/covid19/pdf/directed-health-measure-20200325.pdf">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The order lasts until May 6, 2020.Furthermore, the Sarpy/Cass Health Department issued a DHM, which can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sarpycasshealthdepartment.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdoc%2FSarpy%2520Cass%2520DHM%2520March%252031%252C%25202020.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C475ff25783d342463f3608d7d5c996d7%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212934096525510&amp;sdata=yQBbUbwug5P%2FldcZaCGYG8SN1AX5Cr5ZJw4hFhHi2i0%3D&amp;reserved=0">clicking here</a>. The order lasts until April 30, 2020.UNDERSTANDING THE STATE’S DIRECTED HEALTH MEASUREWho does the Directed Health Measure apply to?It applies to places such as theaters, churches, houses of worship, gyms, social clubs, salons, and social gatherings, including weddings, funerals, concerts, and athletic events.&nbsp;This is not an exhaustive list, but illustrates the types of locations the DHM applies to. &nbsp;Do I need to shut down my bar or restaurant?At bars and restaurants, it applies to patrons, not to your workforce. Restaurants and bars are encouraged to ask their patrons if they can prepare their order for takeout upon&nbsp;arrival. Restaurants will play a key part in feeding people throughout the pandemic.Do I need to shut down my daycare?No. DHHS has issued new guidance that daycares need to follow. You can find it by&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19%20Schools%20and%20Childcare.pdf">clicking here</a>.Do I need to shut down my office?No. The Directed Health Measure does not apply to places such as office buildings, grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities, court houses,&nbsp;court rooms, banks, car dealerships, auto repair shops, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, small shops, golf courses, big box stores, gas stations, convenience stores, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, packing facilities, construction jobs,&nbsp;and other traditional office settings. This is not an exhaustive list, but illustrates the types of locations the DHM does not apply to. &nbsp;Furthermore, we do not expect these facilities to be impacted by additional limits at this time.Do I need to cancel a wedding or a funeral?Weddings and funerals are also subject to the 10-person limit. Event planners and facilities are encouraged to be flexible with people who are rearranging their plans.

Gov. Ricketts announces 11 counties in South-Central Nebraska now included in State’s Directed Health Measure

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic has forced cancellation of May graduation ceremonies at the state's four University of Nebraska system campuses. 

Officials say the Lincoln campus intends to hold an online event, and the May graduates have been invited to attend August, December, May 2021 ceremonies or other future commencement. 

University of Nebraska at Omaha graduates will be recognized through an online streaming commencement on May 8. 

The Kearney campus plans to combine commencements for spring and summer graduates on July 31. 

The University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha plans to hold virtual ceremonies May 7 and 9.&nbsp;

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic has forced cancellation of May graduation ceremonies at the state's four University of Nebraska system campuses. Officials say the Lincoln campus intends to hold an online event, and the May graduates have been invited to attend August, December, May 2021 ceremonies or other future commencement. University of Nebraska at Omaha graduates will be recognized through an online streaming commencement on May 8. The Kearney campus plans to combine commencements for spring and summer graduates on July 31. The University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha plans to hold virtual ceremonies May 7 and 9.&nbsp;

Virus forcing cancellation of Nebraska graduation ceremonies

Alliance – The City of Alliance Animal Shelter is temporarily closed to proactively prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Virus.

 If you need assistance, please contact Animal Control Officer Toni Ravert at (308) 762-4955.

Alliance – The City of Alliance Animal Shelter is temporarily closed to proactively prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Virus. If you need assistance, please contact Animal Control Officer Toni Ravert at (308) 762-4955.

Alliance Animal Shelter temporarily closed

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says there are no plans for a statewide stay-at-home order to contain the coronavirus but any order would contain no exemptions. 

Gordon made the remarks as confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Wyoming approached 100 and two days after the Jackson Town Council approved a stay-at-home order for the resort town. 

The Jackson Hole News &amp; Guide says the local order is the first in Wyoming since the pandemic began and contains a number exemptions including for domestic violence victims seeking safe haven. 

Gordon says the local order is little different from a statewide stay-at-home recommendation.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says there are no plans for a statewide stay-at-home order to contain the coronavirus but any order would contain no exemptions. Gordon made the remarks as confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Wyoming approached 100 and two days after the Jackson Town Council approved a stay-at-home order for the resort town. The Jackson Hole News &amp; Guide says the local order is the first in Wyoming since the pandemic began and contains a number exemptions including for domestic violence victims seeking safe haven. Gordon says the local order is little different from a statewide stay-at-home recommendation.

Wyoming governor: Still no plan for state stay-at-home order

NORTH PLATTE — Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP, with the assistance of the Imperial Police Department, have arrested a Chase County man on multiple charges following an investigation into reported sexual assaults of a child.

In February, NSP was notified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that a series of assaults had been reported to them. NSP immediately opened an investigation, which has determined that the assaults began in 2015 and continued until this year.

On Monday, March 30, officers with the Imperial Police Department arrested Richard Butt, 66, of Imperial. Butt was lodged in Chase County Jail for 1st&nbsp;degree sexual assault of a child and 3rd&nbsp;degree sexual assault of a child.

The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are possible.

NORTH PLATTE — Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP, with the assistance of the Imperial Police Department, have arrested a Chase County man on multiple charges following an investigation into reported sexual assaults of a child.In February, NSP was notified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that a series of assaults had been reported to them. NSP immediately opened an investigation, which has determined that the assaults began in 2015 and continued until this year.On Monday, March 30, officers with the Imperial Police Department arrested Richard Butt, 66, of Imperial. Butt was lodged in Chase County Jail for 1st&nbsp;degree sexual assault of a child and 3rd&nbsp;degree sexual assault of a child.The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are possible.

Imperial man arrested for sexual assault of a child

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 15-year-old boy has been accused of stabbing to death a Lincoln man earlier this month. Court records say the teenager was arrested Monday and is charged with second-degree murder and a weapons count. 

The Associated Press generally doesn't name juveniles accused of crimes.

 Police say officers sent to a central Lincoln apartment March 8 found Varejcka stabbed and a friend trying to resuscitate him. 

The officers took over until medics arrived, but the efforts failed to keep him alive. 

Three people have been charged so far with aiding and abetting or being accessories to Varejcka's slaying.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 15-year-old boy has been accused of stabbing to death a Lincoln man earlier this month. Court records say the teenager was arrested Monday and is charged with second-degree murder and a weapons count. The Associated Press generally doesn't name juveniles accused of crimes. Police say officers sent to a central Lincoln apartment March 8 found Varejcka stabbed and a friend trying to resuscitate him. The officers took over until medics arrived, but the efforts failed to keep him alive. Three people have been charged so far with aiding and abetting or being accessories to Varejcka's slaying.

15-year-old charged with murder in Lincoln man's knifing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Urgent question from small businesses: When will aid arrive?

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Public health officials say Nebraska's third COVID-19 death was that of a Lincoln County man in his 90s. 

The officials say the man had underlying health conditions and had tested positive along with a woman in her 80s. 

The first two COVID-19 fatalities were an Omaha man in his 50s and a Hall County woman in her 60s. 

State health officials said in a news release Monday night that the state's total of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 155. 

More than 2,700 people have tested negative.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Public health officials say Nebraska's third COVID-19 death was that of a Lincoln County man in his 90s. The officials say the man had underlying health conditions and had tested positive along with a woman in her 80s. She's been hospitalized. The first two COVID-19 fatalities were an Omaha man in his 50s and a Hall County woman in her 60s. State health officials said in a news release Monday night that the state's total of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 155. More than 2,700 people have tested negative.

3rd Nebraska COVID-19 victim lived in Lincoln County

WASHINGTON (AP) — The two doctors spread out their charts on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

The projections were grim: Even if the U.S. were to continue to do what it was doing, keeping the economy closed and most Americans in their homes, the coronavirus could leave 100,000 to 200,000 people dead and millions infected. And the totals would be far worse if the nation reopened.

Those stark predictions grew even more tangible and harrowing when paired with televised images of body bags lined up at a New York City hospital not far from where Trump grew up in Queens.

The confluence of dire warnings and tragic images served to move the president off his hopes for an Easter rebirth for the nation’s economy.

But while Trump sided with the White House doctors over its economists, at least for now, the decision shed light on a West Wing beset with divisions and a commander-in-chief torn between an instinct to embrace the image of a wartime president fighting an invisible enemy and one protecting the nation’s bottom line as he barrels into a bruising reelection fight.

The abrupt change in Trump’s tone was startling: Easter was no longer going to be the sunrise after blackest night. Instead, it could be the darkest moment before dawn.

“We’re thinking that around Easter that’s going to be your spike. That’s going to be the highest point we think, and then it’s going to start coming down from there,” Trump said Monday on Fox &amp; Friends. “The worst that can happen is you do it too early and all of a sudden it comes back. That makes it more difficult.”

The bleak forecasts were carried into the Oval Office by Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, who displayed to Trump projections that, on the low end, could yield 100,000 American deaths from COVID-19. One model showed that deaths could have soared past 2 million had there been no mitigation measures.

“We showed him the data. He looked at the data. He got it right away. it was a pretty clear picture,” Fauci told CNN on Monday. “Dr. Debbie Birx and I went into the Oval Office and leaned over the desk and said, ‘Here are the data, take a look.’ He just shook his head and said, ‘I guess we got to do it.’”

But as is often the case with Trump, it also took the power of images to prompt him to act.

Over the weekend, the death count in New York City skyrocketed, the silence of the city’s empty streets shattered only by ambulance sirens. Makeshift medical tents were hastily erected in Central Park. And hospitals, including Elmhurst Medical Center in Queens, not far from Trump’s childhood home, were so overwhelmed that patients were lying in hallways and corpses stowed in refrigerated trucks.

“This is essentially in my community, in Queens, Queens, New York,” Trump said. “I’ve seen things that I’ve never seen before.”

Aides likened Trump’s emotional response to his reaction to the 2017 pictures of dead Syrian children that prompted him to give the order for the first air strike of his presidency. Trump also invoked some friends, whom he did not identify, he said are battling the virus.

“I have some friends that are unbelievably sick,” he said Monday in a Rose Garden press conference. “We thought they were going in for a mild stay and in one case, he’s unconscious — in a coma.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585521942640.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is leading the country’s battle with coronavirus. -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is leading the country’s battle with coronavirus. -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The two doctors spread out their charts on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.The projections were grim: Even if the U.S. were to continue to do what it was doing, keeping the economy closed and most Americans in their homes, the coronavirus could leave 100,000 to 200,000 people dead and millions infected. And the totals would be far worse if the nation reopened.Those stark predictions grew even more tangible and harrowing when paired with televised images of body bags lined up at a New York City hospital not far from where Trump grew up in Queens.The confluence of dire warnings and tragic images served to move the president off his hopes for an Easter rebirth for the nation’s economy.But while Trump sided with the White House doctors over its economists, at least for now, the decision shed light on a West Wing beset with divisions and a commander-in-chief torn between an instinct to embrace the image of a wartime president fighting an invisible enemy and one protecting the nation’s bottom line as he barrels into a bruising reelection fight.The abrupt change in Trump’s tone was startling: Easter was no longer going to be the sunrise after blackest night. Instead, it could be the darkest moment before dawn.“We’re thinking that around Easter that’s going to be your spike. That’s going to be the highest point we think, and then it’s going to start coming down from there,” Trump said Monday on Fox &amp; Friends. “The worst that can happen is you do it too early and all of a sudden it comes back. That makes it more difficult.”The bleak forecasts were carried into the Oval Office by Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, who displayed to Trump projections that, on the low end, could yield 100,000 American deaths from COVID-19. One model showed that deaths could have soared past 2 million had there been no mitigation measures.“We showed him the data. He looked at the data. He got it right away. it was a pretty clear picture,” Fauci told CNN on Monday. “Dr. Debbie Birx and I went into the Oval Office and leaned over the desk and said, ‘Here are the data, take a look.’ He just shook his head and said, ‘I guess we got to do it.’”But as is often the case with Trump, it also took the power of images to prompt him to act.Over the weekend, the death count in New York City skyrocketed, the silence of the city’s empty streets shattered only by ambulance sirens. Makeshift medical tents were hastily erected in Central Park. And hospitals, including Elmhurst Medical Center in Queens, not far from Trump’s childhood home, were so overwhelmed that patients were lying in hallways and corpses stowed in refrigerated trucks.“This is essentially in my community, in Queens, Queens, New York,” Trump said. “I’ve seen things that I’ve never seen before.”Aides likened Trump’s emotional response to his reaction to the 2017 pictures of dead Syrian children that prompted him to give the order for the first air strike of his presidency. Trump also invoked some friends, whom he did not identify, he said are battling the virus.“I have some friends that are unbelievably sick,” he said Monday in a Rose Garden press conference. “We thought they were going in for a mild stay and in one case, he’s unconscious — in a coma.”The weekend decision also revealed the sharp divides among those advising Trump, both inside and outside of the West Wing.For weeks, those in the White House who warned that the doctors’ strict recommendations would cripple the economy — and Trump’s reelection chances — had the president’s ear and pushed him toward the idea of restarting business in the states where infections were low.Trump’s decision to extend national guidelines to clamp down on activity left them disappointed.Stephen Moore, a former Trump adviser who had been pushing the administration publicly and privately to roll back restrictions in places with low infection rates, said the economic impact would grow worse every day that the shutdown continues, with more bankruptcies and more jobs lost. He had urged Trump to begin to re-open in places like Idaho, Iowa and Nebraska, far from the infection hot spots.But Trump was swayed by arguments that the fiscal pain would be worse if the economy was reopened and then forced to be shut again.As in the early, chaotic days of his administration, Trump’s White House has become increasingly siloed in recent weeks, with different working groups functioning separately and sometimes in competition. Members of Trump’s coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence and including Fauci and Birx, did not know that Trump would be floating the idea of a quarantine of the New York area over the weekend — and then quickly moved to walk him back, according to three administration officials not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations.The president is getting conflicting advice from outside the White House as well.While some Republican governors, like Henry McMaster of South Carolina, have urged the president to reopen the economy, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida considered banning travelers from hot spots like New York from entering his state, which experts believe is poised to see a surge in coronavirus cases.After speaking with DeSantis, Trump mused to reporters Saturday about a quarantine of New York, as well as parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, blindsiding the local governors and raising questions about federal authority.Even if the measure was unenforceable, Trump thought it could be a signal to supporters elsewhere that he was walling off a virus hot zone comprised of three Democratic states. But Fauci and other advisers persuaded him that it would accomplish little except ignite worry.Like forecasts for a monster hurricane, the pandemic projection models can disagree with one another. But the coronavirus models all agree that this outbreak and its consequences are extremely serious.Birx singled out one by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle, suggesting it’s close to how government experts see things. That model forecasts predicts more than 82,000 total U.S. deaths through early August, with the highest number of daily deaths — an estimated 2,271 — occurring April 15.That would be three days after Easter.