St. Joseph health officials report 29 new cases of COVID-19 in
Buchanan County, bringing the total reported cases since the pandemic began to
1,666.

The number of new cases has fallen since it spiked on Tuesday
when health officials reported 49 new cases, by far the most new cases reported
in the past 14 days. On Wednesday, there were 35 new cases reported.

Mosaic Life Care reports 25 COVID-19 patients at its St.
Joseph hospital, five more than on Thursday.

Mosaic has now tested more than 28,000 area residents with 1,764
testing positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 334 tests.

Andrew County health officials report 194 total cases; 163
confirmed and 31 probable.

Doniphan County, Kansas continues to report 80 total cases.

Missouri reports 97,591 total cases of the coronavirus, which
has resulted in 1,691 deaths.

Kansas health officials report 47,410 total cases and 495
deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph health officials report 29 new cases of COVID-19 in
Buchanan County, bringing the total reported cases since the pandemic began to
1,666.The number of new cases has fallen since it spiked on Tuesday
when health officials reported 49 new cases, by far the most new cases reported
in the past 14 days. On Wednesday, there were 35 new cases reported.Mosaic Life Care reports 25 COVID-19 patients at its St.
Joseph hospital, five more than on Thursday.Mosaic has now tested more than 28,000 area residents with 1,764
testing positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 334 tests.Andrew County health officials report 194 total cases; 163
confirmed and 31 probable.Doniphan County, Kansas continues to report 80 total cases.Missouri reports 97,591 total cases of the coronavirus, which
has resulted in 1,691 deaths.Kansas health officials report 47,410 total cases and 495
deaths.

Buchanan County reports 29 new cases of COVID-19; 25 people hospitalized

St. Joseph health officials report 35 new COVID-19 cases in
Buchanan County as well as another coronavirus-related death.

Buchanan County now reports a total of 1,637 coronavirus cases
since counting began, resulting in 17 deaths.

Mosaic Life Care reports 20 people are hospitalized in St.
Joseph being treated for COVID-19.

Mosaic has tested 27,582 area residents with 1,729 testing
positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 310 tests.

Andrew County health officials report a total of 194 COVID-19
cases. Andrew County has recorded two coronavirus-related deaths.

Doniphan County, Kansas reports 80 cases.

Missouri health officials have recorded 96-thousand, 475
COVID-19 cases since counting began with 1-Thousand, 673 deaths.

Kansas reports 47-Thousand, 410 cases, resulting in 495
deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph health officials report 35 new COVID-19 cases in
Buchanan County as well as another coronavirus-related death.Buchanan County now reports a total of 1,637 coronavirus cases
since counting began, resulting in 17 deaths.Mosaic Life Care reports 20 people are hospitalized in St.
Joseph being treated for COVID-19.Mosaic has tested 27,582 area residents with 1,729 testing
positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 310 tests.Andrew County health officials report a total of 194 COVID-19
cases. Andrew County has recorded two coronavirus-related deaths.Doniphan County, Kansas reports 80 cases.Missouri health officials have recorded 96-thousand, 475
COVID-19 cases since counting began with 1-Thousand, 673 deaths.Kansas reports 47-Thousand, 410 cases, resulting in 495
deaths.

Buchanan CO reports 35 new COVID-19 cases; one additional death

Topeka —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Lee Norman, M.D. provided an update on clusters, testing and more during a Wednesday press conference.

On Wednesday afternoon, the state reported less than 500 new virus cases in Kansas since Monday and ten new deaths.

Norman said that due to the Labor Day holiday weekend, the KDHE had received few reports from county health departments and labs. "The numbers are running a little bit behind and are low."

When asked about giving a letter grade to the state on the response to the virus Norman said there are two groups. "One group gets a B+ and the other group gets a D. Some take the virus seriously and other say it's a bunch of hogwash. I think there will be very few naysayers eventually.&nbsp; There is going to be enough disease burden that everyone will be touched in some way by this(the virus).&nbsp;

Topeka —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Lee Norman, M.D. provided an update on clusters, testing and more during a Wednesday press conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F674403709835994%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>OnO</div>On Wednesday afternoon, the state reported less than 500 new virus cases in Kansas since Monday and ten new deaths.Norman said that due to the Labor Day holiday weekend, the KDHE had received few reports from county health departments and labs. "The numbers are running a little bit behind and are low."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599671229159.png" alt="Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>When asked about giving a letter grade to the state on the response to the virus Norman said there are two groups. "One group gets a B+ and the other group gets a D. Some take the virus seriously and other say it's a bunch of hogwash. I think there will be very few naysayers eventually.&nbsp; There is going to be enough disease burden that everyone will be touched in some way by this(the virus).&nbsp;

🎥 Dr. Norman on new virus report with less than 500 new cases

A huge spike in new cases, plus two more deaths from COVID-19
related illnesses are featured in the latest report on the coronavirus pandemic
issued by the St. Joseph Health Department.

Buchanan County reported 49 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday,
bringing the total since counting began to 1,602. There now have been 16 deaths
reported in Buchanan County.

Mosaic Life Care reports the number of hospitalized COVID-19
patients has dropped. Mosaic reports 16 patients hospitalized in St. Joseph.

Mosaic has now tested 26,752 area residents with 1,677 testing
positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 38 tests.

Andrew County now reports a total of 185 cases; 159 confirmed
and 26 probable. Andrew County has recorded two deaths.

Doniphan County, Kansas reports a total of 80 cases.

Missouri health officials report 95,113 total cases, resulting
in 1,661 deaths.

Kansas health officials report 46,914 total cases with 485
deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA huge spike in new cases, plus two more deaths from COVID-19
related illnesses are featured in the latest report on the coronavirus pandemic
issued by the St. Joseph Health Department.Buchanan County reported 49 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday,
bringing the total since counting began to 1,602. There now have been 16 deaths
reported in Buchanan County.Mosaic Life Care reports the number of hospitalized COVID-19
patients has dropped. Mosaic reports 16 patients hospitalized in St. Joseph.Mosaic has now tested 26,752 area residents with 1,677 testing
positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 38 tests.Andrew County now reports a total of 185 cases; 159 confirmed
and 26 probable. Andrew County has recorded two deaths.Doniphan County, Kansas reports a total of 80 cases.Missouri health officials report 95,113 total cases, resulting
in 1,661 deaths.Kansas health officials report 46,914 total cases with 485
deaths.

COVID-19 cases spike in Buchanan Co. with two more deaths reported

A St. Joseph elementary school will temporarily shift to online learning
only, due to staff members contracting COVID-19.

The St. Joseph School District has informed parents a significant
number of staff members at Lindbergh Elementary School have been quarantined after
testing positive for COVID-19. School officials say students and staff who came
into close contact with those testing positive have been informed.

Lindbergh will not hold classes today and will begin online
instruction on Monday. Remote learning will run from the 14th through
Tuesday, September 22nd. Classes at Lindbergh are scheduled to
resume on Wednesday, September 23rd.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph elementary school will temporarily shift to online learning
only, due to staff members contracting COVID-19.The St. Joseph School District has informed parents a significant
number of staff members at Lindbergh Elementary School have been quarantined after
testing positive for COVID-19. School officials say students and staff who came
into close contact with those testing positive have been informed.Lindbergh will not hold classes today and will begin online
instruction on Monday. Remote learning will run from the 14th through
Tuesday, September 22nd. Classes at Lindbergh are scheduled to
resume on Wednesday, September 23rd.

Lindbergh Elementary to shift to online learning after COVID-19 cases arise

Late-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the company said its “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”

AstraZeneca didn’t reveal any information about the possible side effect except to call it “a potentially unexplained illness.” The health news site STAT first reported the pause in testing, saying the possible side effect occurred in the United Kingdom.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause in vaccinations covers studies in the U.S. and other countries. Late last month, AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine. It also is testing the vaccine, developed by Oxford University, in thousands of people in Britain, and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa.

Two other vaccines are in huge, final-stage tests in the United States, one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Those two vaccines work differently than AstraZeneca’s, and the studies already have recruited about two-thirds of the needed volunteers.

Temporary holds of large medical studies aren’t unusual, and investigating any serious or unexpected reaction is a mandatory part of safety testing. AstraZeneca pointed out that it’s possible the problem could be a coincidence; illnesses of all sorts could arise in studies of thousands of people.

“We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline,” the company statement said.

It’s likely the unexplained illness was serious enough to require hospitalization and not a mild side effect such as fever or muscle pain, said Deborah Fuller, a University of Washington researcher who is working on a different COVID-19 vaccine that has not yet started human testing.

“This is not something to be alarmed about,” Fuller said. Instead, it’s reassuring that the company is pausing the study to figure out what’s happening and carefully monitoring the health of study participants.

Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University said via Twitter that the significance of the interruption was unclear but that he was “still optimistic” that an effective vaccine will be found in the coming months.

“But optimism isn’t evidence,” he wrote. “Let’s let science drive this process.”

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, tweeted that the illness may be unrelated to the vaccine, “but the important part is that this is why we do trials before rolling out a vaccine to the general public.”

During the third and final stage of testing, researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research. Because of their large size, the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety.

The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn’t between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot.

The development came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f3c0d94fd9e9bcb645110c7d2e05a0">the same day</a>&nbsp;that AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers issued an unusual pledge, vowing to uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards in developing their vaccines.

The announcement follows worries that President Donald Trump will pressure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine before it’s proven to be safe and effective.

The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in efforts to quickly develop multiple vaccines against COVID-19. But public fears that a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective could be disastrous, derailing the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans.

Representatives for the FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening.

AstraZeneca’s U.S.-traded shares fell more than 6% in after-hours trading following reports of the trial being paused.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressLate-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot.In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the company said its “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”AstraZeneca didn’t reveal any information about the possible side effect except to call it “a potentially unexplained illness.” The health news site STAT first reported the pause in testing, saying the possible side effect occurred in the United Kingdom.An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause in vaccinations covers studies in the U.S. and other countries. Late last month, AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine. It also is testing the vaccine, developed by Oxford University, in thousands of people in Britain, and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa.Two other vaccines are in huge, final-stage tests in the United States, one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Those two vaccines work differently than AstraZeneca’s, and the studies already have recruited about two-thirds of the needed volunteers.Temporary holds of large medical studies aren’t unusual, and investigating any serious or unexpected reaction is a mandatory part of safety testing. AstraZeneca pointed out that it’s possible the problem could be a coincidence; illnesses of all sorts could arise in studies of thousands of people.“We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline,” the company statement said.It’s likely the unexplained illness was serious enough to require hospitalization and not a mild side effect such as fever or muscle pain, said Deborah Fuller, a University of Washington researcher who is working on a different COVID-19 vaccine that has not yet started human testing.“This is not something to be alarmed about,” Fuller said. Instead, it’s reassuring that the company is pausing the study to figure out what’s happening and carefully monitoring the health of study participants.Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University said via Twitter that the significance of the interruption was unclear but that he was “still optimistic” that an effective vaccine will be found in the coming months.“But optimism isn’t evidence,” he wrote. “Let’s let science drive this process.”Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, tweeted that the illness may be unrelated to the vaccine, “but the important part is that this is why we do trials before rolling out a vaccine to the general public.”During the third and final stage of testing, researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research. Because of their large size, the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety.The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn’t between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot.The development came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91f3c0d94fd9e9bcb645110c7d2e05a0">the same day</a>&nbsp;that AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers issued an unusual pledge, vowing to uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards in developing their vaccines.The announcement follows worries that President Donald Trump will pressure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine before it’s proven to be safe and effective.The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in efforts to quickly develop multiple vaccines against COVID-19. But public fears that a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective could be disastrous, derailing the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans.Representatives for the FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening.AstraZeneca’s U.S.-traded shares fell more than 6% in after-hours trading following reports of the trial being paused.___

Late stage COVID-19 vaccine study paused after illness

After over an hour of public comment and discussion between city council members, the St. Joseph City Council approved continuing the mask mandate that was set to expire this week.

During the council’s meeting Tuesday night, councilmembers voted 5 to 3 to amend “Health and Sanitation” of the Code of Ordinances to adopt “COVID-19 pandemic regulations," effectively putting the current mask requirements in place indefinitely. The current mandate, in place since July, requires masks in any retail store of 10,000 square feet or more.

City Attorney Bryan Carter answered questions from the council and said the original declaration and emergency orders were drafted to address what started as a more short-term matter and as something that was changing in the way it needed to be implemented over time.

“As we have kind of settled to a standard way that it has been implemented and we’ve been at this certain level of 10,000 square foot retail locations, it’s been at that for approaching 60 days, it became something that looks a little more long-term in nature and that’s more appropriate for an ordinance.”

<a href="https://stjoseph.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&amp;event_id=629&amp;meta_id=77790">Click here to read the full ordinance.</a>

by SARAH THOMACKSt. Joseph PostAfter over an hour of public comment and discussion between city council members, the St. Joseph City Council approved continuing the mask mandate that was set to expire this week.During the council’s meeting Tuesday night, councilmembers voted 5 to 3 to amend “Health and Sanitation” of the Code of Ordinances to adopt “COVID-19 pandemic regulations," effectively putting the current mask requirements in place indefinitely. The current mandate, in place since July, requires masks in any retail store of 10,000 square feet or more.City Attorney Bryan Carter answered questions from the council and said the original declaration and emergency orders were drafted to address what started as a more short-term matter and as something that was changing in the way it needed to be implemented over time.“As we have kind of settled to a standard way that it has been implemented and we’ve been at this certain level of 10,000 square foot retail locations, it’s been at that for approaching 60 days, it became something that looks a little more long-term in nature and that’s more appropriate for an ordinance.”<a href="https://stjoseph.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&amp;event_id=629&amp;meta_id=77790">Click here to read the full ordinance.</a>

St. Joseph City Council votes to continue current mask mandate

Buchanan County has recorded its 15th and 16th deaths related to COVID-19.

Health officials report 89 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, bringing the total number of cases since counting began to 1,602 in Buchanan County - 1,315 confirmed cases and&nbsp;290 probable cases.

Mosaic Life Care reports 16 COVID-19 patients at its St. Joseph hospital.

Buchanan County has recorded its 15th and 16th deaths related to COVID-19.No details were provided.Health officials report 89 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, bringing the total number of cases since counting began to 1,602 in Buchanan County - 1,315 confirmed cases and&nbsp;290 probable cases.Mosaic Life Care reports 16 COVID-19 patients at its St. Joseph hospital.

Buchanan County reports 15th and 16th COVID-19 related deaths

Buchanan
County has recorded its 13th and 14th coronavirus-related
deaths.

St.
Joseph health officials report one man in his 80s and one in his 70s have died
as a result of COVID-19. Both men had underlying medical conditions.

Reported
new cases continue to rise in Buchanan County, with 28 new cases reported on
Thursday. Thirty-two new cases were reported on Wednesday. New cases had dropped to 14 on Monday.

Buchanan
County now reports a total of 1,487 cases of COVID-19; 1,236 confirmed and 251 probable.

Mosaic
Life Care reports 21 COVID-19 patients at its St. Joseph hospital.

Mosaic
has now tested 25,385 area residents with 1,549 testing
positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 208 tests.

Andrew
County reports 167 total cases; 143 confirmed and 24 probable. Andrew County
has recorded two deaths.

Doniphan
County, Kansas reports a total of 67 cases.

Missouri
health officials report total coronavirus cases of 88,610 with
1,545 deaths.

Kansas
health officials report 43,940 total cases, resulting in 458 deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBuchanan
County has recorded its 13th and 14th coronavirus-related
deaths.St.
Joseph health officials report one man in his 80s and one in his 70s have died
as a result of COVID-19. Both men had underlying medical conditions.Reported
new cases continue to rise in Buchanan County, with 28 new cases reported on
Thursday. Thirty-two new cases were reported on Wednesday. New cases had dropped to 14 on Monday.Buchanan
County now reports a total of 1,487 cases of COVID-19; 1,236 confirmed and 251 probable.Mosaic
Life Care reports 21 COVID-19 patients at its St. Joseph hospital.Mosaic
has now tested 25,385 area residents with 1,549 testing
positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 208 tests.Andrew
County reports 167 total cases; 143 confirmed and 24 probable. Andrew County
has recorded two deaths.Doniphan
County, Kansas reports a total of 67 cases.Missouri
health officials report total coronavirus cases of 88,610 with
1,545 deaths.Kansas
health officials report 43,940 total cases, resulting in 458 deaths.

Buchanan County reports 13th and 14th COVID-19 related deaths

St. Joseph city council members face a huge task each
week:&nbsp; trying to digest all the
information on the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s important, because the data is used by the council to
decide city coronavirus policy.

Missouri Western State University chemistry professor, Gary
Clapp, helps the council interpret the massive amount of data gathered on
COVID-19, which he agrees could seem like trying to drink water from a fire
hose.

“Or, the bottom of a waterfall,” Clapp tells St. Joseph Post
with a chuckle.

Clapp approached Mayor Bill McMurray early on, offering his
expertise to consolidate all that information into an easier to understand
report he forwards to them before every Thursday afternoon work session on the
coronavirus.

“We had that communication and they started sharing the data
with me and then I started sending them back three or four graphs that I
thought were pertinent, that they could easily see and that they could make
decisions; is this slope going up or is this slope going down?,” Class says. “And,
they seemed to like it.”

St. Joseph council members will not be meeting in a work
session this afternoon. There is a regular council meeting scheduled for
Tuesday. On the agenda is a bill sponsored by Mayor McMurray to adopt COVID-19
pandemic regulations. The city of St. Joseph requires masks in retail stores of
at least 10,000 square feet. Council members have been mulling over the
possibility of expanding that requirement.

Clapp says the COVID-19 trend had seemed to flatten out and
then trend down. Until lately. Now, the number of new coronavirus cases in
Buchanan County have been on the rise.

New cases began to rise on August 24th, a Monday,
when St. Joseph health officials reported 19 new cases. It would be the
beginning of a tough week. On Tuesday, the 25th, 24 new cases were
reported, then 20 on the 26th, 25 on the 27th, and 21 on
Friday, the 28th. New cases fell to 14 on Saturday, then bumped up
to 20 on Sunday, falling to 14 on Monday. Cases began to rise again Tuesday
with 24 new cases reported. On Wednesday, Buchanan County reported 32 new cases
of COVID-19.

Clapp crunches all the data and reports from various
authorities and distills the information into a more comprehensible form for
the council to consider at its work sessions.

“So, I would plot the average for every day of the past 14
days and then I would do what is called a linear regression on it and then that
would draw us a line,” Clapp says. “So, if the line is sloping up, meaning that
we’re having an average increase of cases per day, that’s bad and the CDC says when
your moving average is a positive number, it’s going higher, then you need to
be concerned about the growth in cases.”

Interesting facts emerge in the data. The largest number of
cases in Buchanan County are among those in their 20s. More men than women have
contracted the disease. Buchanan County reports more than 775 men have tested
positive for COVID-19 while around 675 women have tested positive.

Clapp, though, points out COVID-19 is extremely dangerous for one
particular segment of our society.

“COVID is not alive. It needs a host. That’s how a virus lives
and this virus is really nasty to people who can’t fight it off,” according to
Clapp. “And s0, while some of us who are very young don’t seem to fight it off
there may be some underlying conditions we don’t fully understand, but for the
most part when we look at the numbers, we know that the most people it kills are
80-plus (years of age),”

In total, Buchanan County has had 1,459 cases of COVID-19
since counting began; 1,215 confirmed and 244 probable. The county has recorded
12 coronavirus-related deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph city council members face a huge task each
week:&nbsp; trying to digest all the
information on the coronavirus pandemic.It’s important, because the data is used by the council to
decide city coronavirus policy.Missouri Western State University chemistry professor, Gary
Clapp, helps the council interpret the massive amount of data gathered on
COVID-19, which he agrees could seem like trying to drink water from a fire
hose.“Or, the bottom of a waterfall,” Clapp tells St. Joseph Post
with a chuckle.Clapp approached Mayor Bill McMurray early on, offering his
expertise to consolidate all that information into an easier to understand
report he forwards to them before every Thursday afternoon work session on the
coronavirus.“We had that communication and they started sharing the data
with me and then I started sending them back three or four graphs that I
thought were pertinent, that they could easily see and that they could make
decisions; is this slope going up or is this slope going down?,” Class says. “And,
they seemed to like it.”St. Joseph council members will not be meeting in a work
session this afternoon. There is a regular council meeting scheduled for
Tuesday. On the agenda is a bill sponsored by Mayor McMurray to adopt COVID-19
pandemic regulations. The city of St. Joseph requires masks in retail stores of
at least 10,000 square feet. Council members have been mulling over the
possibility of expanding that requirement.Clapp says the COVID-19 trend had seemed to flatten out and
then trend down. Until lately. Now, the number of new coronavirus cases in
Buchanan County have been on the rise.New cases began to rise on August 24th, a Monday,
when St. Joseph health officials reported 19 new cases. It would be the
beginning of a tough week. On Tuesday, the 25th, 24 new cases were
reported, then 20 on the 26th, 25 on the 27th, and 21 on
Friday, the 28th. New cases fell to 14 on Saturday, then bumped up
to 20 on Sunday, falling to 14 on Monday. Cases began to rise again Tuesday
with 24 new cases reported. On Wednesday, Buchanan County reported 32 new cases
of COVID-19.Clapp crunches all the data and reports from various
authorities and distills the information into a more comprehensible form for
the council to consider at its work sessions.“So, I would plot the average for every day of the past 14
days and then I would do what is called a linear regression on it and then that
would draw us a line,” Clapp says. “So, if the line is sloping up, meaning that
we’re having an average increase of cases per day, that’s bad and the CDC says when
your moving average is a positive number, it’s going higher, then you need to
be concerned about the growth in cases.”Interesting facts emerge in the data. The largest number of
cases in Buchanan County are among those in their 20s. More men than women have
contracted the disease. Buchanan County reports more than 775 men have tested
positive for COVID-19 while around 675 women have tested positive.Clapp, though, points out COVID-19 is extremely dangerous for one
particular segment of our society.“COVID is not alive. It needs a host. That’s how a virus lives
and this virus is really nasty to people who can’t fight it off,” according to
Clapp. “And s0, while some of us who are very young don’t seem to fight it off
there may be some underlying conditions we don’t fully understand, but for the
most part when we look at the numbers, we know that the most people it kills are
80-plus (years of age),”In total, Buchanan County has had 1,459 cases of COVID-19
since counting began; 1,215 confirmed and 244 probable. The county has recorded
12 coronavirus-related deaths.

MWSU professor helps condense COVID-19 data into form council can digest

Buchanan County has recorded its 12th COVID-19
related death as St. Joseph health officials report a spike in new coronavirus
cases.

No details on the 12th death have been provided.

St. Joseph health officials report 32 new cases of COVID-19 on
Wednesday. That follows a report of 24 new cases on Tuesday, raising the total
since the counting began to 1,459; 1,215 confirmed and 244 probable.

Mosaic Life Care reports 21 COVID-19 patients at its St.
Joseph hospital, down two from Wednesday

Mosaic has now tested 25,385 with 1,549 testing positive.
Mosaic is awaiting results on 208 tests.

The Andrew County Health Department reports 13 new positive COVID-19
cases on Wednesday. Savannah school district officials reported a positive case
of COVID-19 at John Glenn Elementary School. School officials are notifying anyone
who came into close contact with the infected person.

Andrew County now reports a total of 167 coronavirus cases; 143
confirmed and 24 probable. Andrew County has recorded two deaths.

Doniphan County, Kansas reports 67 cases.

Missouri health officials report a total of 87,213 cases,
which have resulted in 1,542 deaths.

In Kansas, there has been 43,940 total cases and 458 deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBuchanan County has recorded its 12th COVID-19
related death as St. Joseph health officials report a spike in new coronavirus
cases.No details on the 12th death have been provided.St. Joseph health officials report 32 new cases of COVID-19 on
Wednesday. That follows a report of 24 new cases on Tuesday, raising the total
since the counting began to 1,459; 1,215 confirmed and 244 probable.Mosaic Life Care reports 21 COVID-19 patients at its St.
Joseph hospital, down two from WednesdayMosaic has now tested 25,385 with 1,549 testing positive.
Mosaic is awaiting results on 208 tests.The Andrew County Health Department reports 13 new positive COVID-19
cases on Wednesday. Savannah school district officials reported a positive case
of COVID-19 at John Glenn Elementary School. School officials are notifying anyone
who came into close contact with the infected person.Andrew County now reports a total of 167 coronavirus cases; 143
confirmed and 24 probable. Andrew County has recorded two deaths.Doniphan County, Kansas reports 67 cases.Missouri health officials report a total of 87,213 cases,
which have resulted in 1,542 deaths.In Kansas, there has been 43,940 total cases and 458 deaths.

Spike in COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County as county reports 12th death

The St. Joseph Health Department on Wednesday reported a 12th death related to COVID-19.&nbsp;

Buchanan County is reporting an increase of 32 total cases since Tuesday. As of Wednesday, there are 1,459 total COVID-19 cases reported in the county since counting began - 1,215 confirmed cases and 244 probable cases.

Mosaic Life Care reports 23 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized in St. Joseph.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The St. Joseph Health Department on Wednesday reported a 12th death related to COVID-19.&nbsp;No details were provided.Buchanan County is reporting an increase of 32 total cases since Tuesday. As of Wednesday, there are 1,459 total COVID-19 cases reported in the county since counting began - 1,215 confirmed cases and 244 probable cases.Mosaic Life Care reports 23 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized in St. Joseph.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Buchanan County reports 12th death related to COVID-19

A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.

AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.

Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.

“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.

NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."

AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.

Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.

Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.

Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.

The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.

There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.

“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.

There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.

They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.

Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.

For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:

The Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.

Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.

These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.

Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.

Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.

Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.

China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.

Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.

Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.

Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.

Novavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.

There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and CARLA K. JOHNSONAP Medical WritersA handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:GENETIC CODE VACCINESThe Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.TROJAN HORSE VACCINESBritain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.‘KILLED’ VACCINESMaking vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.PROTEIN VACCINESNovavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.___

Third virus vaccine reaches major hurdle: final US testing

New COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County the last three days dropped
from the upward trend of last week, but hospitalizations are on the rise.

St. Joseph health officials report 14 new cases of the
coronavirus on Saturday, with 20 on Sunday, and 14 on Monday. Buchanan County
had reported four straight days of at least 20 new cases last week with a peak
of 25 on Thursday.

Mosaic Life Care reports 24 patients with COVID-19 are being
treated at the St. Joseph hospital.

Mosaic has tested 24,659 area residents with 1,410
testing positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 54 tests.

Buchanan County reports 1,403 cases since the counting
began; 1,173 confirmed and 230 probable. Buchanan County has reported
10 coronavirus-related deaths.

Andrew County reports 149 total cases; 125 confirmed and 24
probable. Andrew County has reported two deaths.

Doniphan County, Kansas reports 65 total cases.

Missouri health officials report 84,697 total cases
with 1,530 deaths.

Kansas health officials report 42,612 total cases
with 446 deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNew COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County the last three days dropped
from the upward trend of last week, but hospitalizations are on the rise.St. Joseph health officials report 14 new cases of the
coronavirus on Saturday, with 20 on Sunday, and 14 on Monday. Buchanan County
had reported four straight days of at least 20 new cases last week with a peak
of 25 on Thursday.Mosaic Life Care reports 24 patients with COVID-19 are being
treated at the St. Joseph hospital.Mosaic has tested 24,659 area residents with 1,410
testing positive. Mosaic is awaiting results from 54 tests.Buchanan County reports 1,403 cases since the counting
began; 1,173 confirmed and 230 probable. Buchanan County has reported
10 coronavirus-related deaths.Andrew County reports 149 total cases; 125 confirmed and 24
probable. Andrew County has reported two deaths.Doniphan County, Kansas reports 65 total cases.Missouri health officials report 84,697 total cases
with 1,530 deaths.Kansas health officials report 42,612 total cases
with 446 deaths.

Upward trend of COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County eases, but hospitalizations rise

The Savannah High School will open as usual
this morning, after abruptly closing early Monday afternoon due to a potential
COVID-19 outbreak.

Savannah High School officials caution
against panic and say there has been no outbreak.

High school officials say they released
students at one o’clock yesterday to deep clean the school as well as begin
notifying anyone who might have come into contact with students and staff diagnosed
with the coronavirus. The Savannah High School reports two new cases of COVID-19
and six cases total.

School officials state because the
specific positive cases resulted in the potential for several students and
staff contacts, a decision was made to close school early.

Students who might have come into contact
with anyone who contracted COVID-19 will be notified by school officials or the
Andrew County Health Department.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThe Savannah High School will open as usual
this morning, after abruptly closing early Monday afternoon due to a potential
COVID-19 outbreak.Savannah High School officials caution
against panic and say there has been no outbreak.High school officials say they released
students at one o’clock yesterday to deep clean the school as well as begin
notifying anyone who might have come into contact with students and staff diagnosed
with the coronavirus. The Savannah High School reports two new cases of COVID-19
and six cases total.School officials state because the
specific positive cases resulted in the potential for several students and
staff contacts, a decision was made to close school early.Students who might have come into contact
with anyone who contracted COVID-19 will be notified by school officials or the
Andrew County Health Department.

Savannah High School will be open today after early dismissal Monday

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.

The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.

The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.

The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.

As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.

“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.

But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.

Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.

“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”

Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.

More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.

For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598927207022.png" alt="Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference" />
 <figcaption>Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference</figcaption>
 </figure>By BEATRICE DUPUY, Associated PressThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

CDC has not reduced the death count for COVID-19

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.

To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.

<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.

Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.

Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.

The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.

“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”

Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.

Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.

The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.

The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.

Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.

CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”

The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.

The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.

The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

Coronavirus Update