Mosaic Life Care reports five patients tested positive for the
coronavirus on Tuesday, increasing the number of positive tests in its network
to 25.

Mosaic has tested 726 individuals with 39 test results
pending.

All of those testing positive are being treated as outpatients,
except for one patient who is hospitalized in Albany.

Missouri has now tested 48,803 people with with
4,686 testing positive. Missouri has recorded 133 deaths from the
virus.

This article has been updated since first published.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMosaic Life Care reports five patients tested positive for the
coronavirus on Tuesday, increasing the number of positive tests in its network
to 25.Mosaic has tested 726 individuals with 39 test results
pending.All of those testing positive are being treated as outpatients,
except for one patient who is hospitalized in Albany.Missouri has now tested 48,803 people with with
4,686 testing positive. Missouri has recorded 133 deaths from the
virus.This article has been updated since first published.

Mosaic reports 5 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 25

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department took the rare step on Tuesday of weighing in on the side of a&nbsp;Mississippi&nbsp;Christian church where local officials had tried to stop Holy Week services broadcast to congregants sitting in their cars in the parking lot.

As the coronavirus pandemic spread, leaders at Temple Baptist Church in Greenville began holding drive-in services for their congregation on a short-wave radio frequency from inside an empty church save for the preacher.

Arthur Scott, the 82-year-old pastor, said Tuesday that it was a good compromise for his group, a “wonderful way to preach the gospel and still it's like they are there, but you can't go out and see them, but you know they're there.”

The federal involvement adds to the rising tension over reconciling religious freedom with public health restrictions designed to fight the pandemic, disputes that are playing out along the same partisan lines that mark the nation’s overall divide.

Greenville city leaders argue the services violate stay-at-home orders and could have put people's lives in jeopardy. Church officials believe they have been singled out for their religion, especially after eight police officers were sent last week to ticket the faithful, $500 apiece, for attending services, including the pastor's wife.

“We haven't missed one Sunday in 45 years,” Scott said. “We love our people. This is a way we can preach to them. We’re afraid of the coronavirus as much as anybody else. And if we thought we were putting our people in danger at all, we wouldn’t do this.”

Even after the mayor said Monday they would not have to pay the fines, the church is pursuing a lawsuit saying their First Amendment religious freedoms were violated. The Justice Department sided with the church.

With federal prosecutors now weighing in, the national debate over how far coronavirus gathering limits can go to restrict religion could get even louder. President Donald Trump’s reelection appeal to devout conservative voters rests in part on his vocal advocacy for religious freedom, making the issue a politically potent one for his administration to take up.

The&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court upheld Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s move to limit faith gatherings to 10 people, while a federal judge in&nbsp;Kentucky&nbsp;sided with a church that challenged the Louisville mayor’s restrictions on drive-in Easter services.

The church has been in Greenville for more than 65 years. Scott said his congregants, about 125 in all, are mostly older and on fixed incomes, and aren't tech savvy, so the radio broadcast was a way to keep them connected.

Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons, a Democrat, said Monday that no one will have to pay the fines, but the ban on such gatherings remains in place to try to save lives as the highly contagious virus continues to spread. He also called on Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to issue clear statewide guidance on whether people are allowed to congregate for worship during the governor’s statewide stay-at-home order that remains in effect until April 20.

The governor’s order tells people not to gather in groups of 10 or more. Reeves has said he would prefer that churches not hold services in sanctuaries or parking lots. But he has also said the government does not have the right to ban worship.

On Tuesday, he tweeted a thanks to Attorney General William Barr “for this strong stand in support of religious liberty. The government cannot shut down churches.”

Attorney Ryan Tucker of the Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the church, says there’s a Sonic Drive-In restaurant about 200 yards (180 meters) from the church where patrons are still allowed to roll down their windows and talk.

He said they will continue the lawsuit seeking a restraining order because the mayor’s order remains in place.

“The threat is still present,” he said. “They mayor did not say he’s rescinding the order."

There are at least 3,000 cases of coronavirus in Mississippi and more than 100 deaths for the state’s 3 million people. The U.S. has more than 590,000 cases and more than 27,000 deaths.

The Justice Department argued in the filing that the city appeared to be targeting religious conduct by singling churches out as the only essential service (as designated by the state of Mississippi) that may not operate despite following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state recommendations regarding social distancing.

“The facts alleged in the complaint strongly suggest that the city’s actions target religious conduct,” the filing says. “If proven, these facts establish a free exercise violation unless the city demonstrates that its actions are neutral and apply generally to nonreligious and religious institutions or satisfies the demanding strict scrutiny standard.”

Barr said that he believes there is a sufficient basis for social distancing rules that have been put in place, but that the restrictions must be applied evenly and not single out religious institutions.

“But even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers,” Barr said in a statement. “Thus, government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity.”

The Justice Department has made similar filings in other religious liberty cases, including one in February in support of a Kentucky wedding photographer who is challenging a city ordinance banning businesses from discriminating against gay customers by arguing it would violate her religious beliefs. In June 2019, the department filed a statement of interest in a case in&nbsp;Maine, arguing that a law that banned religious schools from the state’s tuition program was unconstitutional.

In previous administrations, such involvement was highly unusual.

“A free society depends on a vibrant religious life by the people,” Barr said in an interview with Fox News last week. He said he would “hate to see restrictions on religion continue longer than they are strictly necessary.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586897776837.png" alt="Heritage Baptist in Lawrence held an in-person Easter service" />
 <figcaption>Heritage Baptist in Lawrence held an in-person Easter service</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department took the rare step on Tuesday of weighing in on the side of a&nbsp;Mississippi&nbsp;Christian church where local officials had tried to stop Holy Week services broadcast to congregants sitting in their cars in the parking lot.As the coronavirus pandemic spread, leaders at Temple Baptist Church in Greenville began holding drive-in services for their congregation on a short-wave radio frequency from inside an empty church save for the preacher.Arthur Scott, the 82-year-old pastor, said Tuesday that it was a good compromise for his group, a “wonderful way to preach the gospel and still it's like they are there, but you can't go out and see them, but you know they're there.”The federal involvement adds to the rising tension over reconciling religious freedom with public health restrictions designed to fight the pandemic, disputes that are playing out along the same partisan lines that mark the nation’s overall divide.Greenville city leaders argue the services violate stay-at-home orders and could have put people's lives in jeopardy. Church officials believe they have been singled out for their religion, especially after eight police officers were sent last week to ticket the faithful, $500 apiece, for attending services, including the pastor's wife.“We haven't missed one Sunday in 45 years,” Scott said. “We love our people. This is a way we can preach to them. We’re afraid of the coronavirus as much as anybody else. And if we thought we were putting our people in danger at all, we wouldn’t do this.”Even after the mayor said Monday they would not have to pay the fines, the church is pursuing a lawsuit saying their First Amendment religious freedoms were violated. The Justice Department sided with the church.With federal prosecutors now weighing in, the national debate over how far coronavirus gathering limits can go to restrict religion could get even louder. President Donald Trump’s reelection appeal to devout conservative voters rests in part on his vocal advocacy for religious freedom, making the issue a politically potent one for his administration to take up.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586440392187.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued the executive order to limit faith gatherings on April 7." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued the executive order to limit faith gatherings on April 7.</figcaption>
 </figure>The&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court upheld Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s move to limit faith gatherings to 10 people, while a federal judge in&nbsp;Kentucky&nbsp;sided with a church that challenged the Louisville mayor’s restrictions on drive-in Easter services.The church has been in Greenville for more than 65 years. Scott said his congregants, about 125 in all, are mostly older and on fixed incomes, and aren't tech savvy, so the radio broadcast was a way to keep them connected.Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons, a Democrat, said Monday that no one will have to pay the fines, but the ban on such gatherings remains in place to try to save lives as the highly contagious virus continues to spread. He also called on Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to issue clear statewide guidance on whether people are allowed to congregate for worship during the governor’s statewide stay-at-home order that remains in effect until April 20.The governor’s order tells people not to gather in groups of 10 or more. Reeves has said he would prefer that churches not hold services in sanctuaries or parking lots. But he has also said the government does not have the right to ban worship.On Tuesday, he tweeted a thanks to Attorney General William Barr “for this strong stand in support of religious liberty. The government cannot shut down churches.”Attorney Ryan Tucker of the Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the church, says there’s a Sonic Drive-In restaurant about 200 yards (180 meters) from the church where patrons are still allowed to roll down their windows and talk.He said they will continue the lawsuit seeking a restraining order because the mayor’s order remains in place.“The threat is still present,” he said. “They mayor did not say he’s rescinding the order."There are at least 3,000 cases of coronavirus in Mississippi and more than 100 deaths for the state’s 3 million people. The U.S. has more than 590,000 cases and more than 27,000 deaths.The Justice Department argued in the filing that the city appeared to be targeting religious conduct by singling churches out as the only essential service (as designated by the state of Mississippi) that may not operate despite following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state recommendations regarding social distancing.“The facts alleged in the complaint strongly suggest that the city’s actions target religious conduct,” the filing says. “If proven, these facts establish a free exercise violation unless the city demonstrates that its actions are neutral and apply generally to nonreligious and religious institutions or satisfies the demanding strict scrutiny standard.”Barr said that he believes there is a sufficient basis for social distancing rules that have been put in place, but that the restrictions must be applied evenly and not single out religious institutions.“But even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers,” Barr said in a statement. “Thus, government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity.”The Justice Department has made similar filings in other religious liberty cases, including one in February in support of a Kentucky wedding photographer who is challenging a city ordinance banning businesses from discriminating against gay customers by arguing it would violate her religious beliefs. In June 2019, the department filed a statement of interest in a case in&nbsp;Maine, arguing that a law that banned religious schools from the state’s tuition program was unconstitutional.In previous administrations, such involvement was highly unusual.“A free society depends on a vibrant religious life by the people,” Barr said in an interview with Fox News last week. He said he would “hate to see restrictions on religion continue longer than they are strictly necessary.”___

Justice Department takes church's side in 1st Amendment suit

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Emergency medical workers in Kansas have written to Gov. Laura Kelly saying they lack adequate protective gear and that their workers compensation doesn’t cover them if they become infected with the coronavirus or need to be quarantined.

The Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association said in a letter sent last week that EMS providers are very concerned that they will be “severely financially impacted” if they are exposed to the virus. Some are volunteers, while others are part-time workers. The advocacy group sent the letter to journalists this week.

It asked Kelly to issue an executive order to cover lost wages and the cost of health care for workers on the front line who fall ill or must be quarantined.

“Kansas workers compensation does not cover communicable disease infections even though EMS and other healthcare providers are clearly putting themselves in harms’ way to deliver much needed care,” the letter says.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Kelly has responded.

Health officials in Kansas are urging residents to wear cloth face coverings when they go out in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Kelly said in a Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/posts/527606137939165?__xts__[0]=68.ARBsd5ozUbliIOKdNRRp4Q79kHg2LFg-oVCBlmAL027fanCoo5uQX0q6qE6smgWrhHZYGE-XGMb1C8OGUSYPZKAedYR3QAKJDK8tPE4p1_Np_sNQ6UIZSrMGOOVUgJAnrrMr_QqyCH2KBdoVmIA8MLj_fLWdkh4QhKdbOznz5bZTOcvWeI9QE2pLAF0JUUsyq3P6rRepAJJPZ8oqGy8qCAQ4ufzXgALa7OFBUMFzGjODbp5aDXRUgd1wOLrNoBSI7VPzpvTCxz9GPZQNKIGgvulz__0HPDwyyoCc24GHHSkx7_9KZ44wy2GOezDmVIKfvSTGC6nJVEkY_zbpy-U&amp;__tn__=-R" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that new evidence suggests people are able to transmit the virus to others before they show any symptoms.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9625f2983ac615d631a64e3e99b0e69e">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;issued a similar recommendation last week.

Topeka-area health officials offered similar guidance to retail workers on Monday. Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino said retailers should limit the number of customers in a store to no more than five for each 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) at a time. He said customers should be admitted into stores on a “one-out, one in” basis once a store reaches its capacity, The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200413/shawnee-county-health-officer-store-employees-should-cover-faces-at-all-times" target="_blank">reports</a>.

Statewide, the number of confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/642/4-14-20-update-numbers" target="_blank">cases</a>&nbsp;of COVID-19,the disease caused by the virus, grew Tuesday to 1,426 cases, up 50 from Monday. The number of deaths increased by seven to 69.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

At the University of Kansas Health System, the number of inpatients dropped to 29 Tuesday from 31 Monday. Twelve are in the ICU and nine are on ventilators, according to a news release.

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the health system, said the curve has been flattened, at least in the Kansas City area. But he added that the biggest risk is returning to normal too quickly.

His remarks came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/06f57a460059e8e2c481078dc4747440">Trump insisted Monday</a>&nbsp;that he has “total” authority to decide how and when to loosen restrictions — a notion considered at odds with the Constitution, which delegates such matters to the states.

Kelly said Monday that Kansas would move “back to normal as the science allows.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586807038792.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly listens to questions during her Monday news conference" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly listens to questions during her Monday news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Emergency medical workers in Kansas have written to Gov. Laura Kelly saying they lack adequate protective gear and that their workers compensation doesn’t cover them if they become infected with the coronavirus or need to be quarantined.The Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association said in a letter sent last week that EMS providers are very concerned that they will be “severely financially impacted” if they are exposed to the virus. Some are volunteers, while others are part-time workers. The advocacy group sent the letter to journalists this week.It asked Kelly to issue an executive order to cover lost wages and the cost of health care for workers on the front line who fall ill or must be quarantined.“Kansas workers compensation does not cover communicable disease infections even though EMS and other healthcare providers are clearly putting themselves in harms’ way to deliver much needed care,” the letter says.It wasn’t immediately clear if Kelly has responded.FACE MASKS<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586545963590.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Lee Norman demonstrated how to wear a face mask during a Friday April 11 press conference in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Lee Norman demonstrated how to wear a face mask during a Friday April 11 press conference in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>Health officials in Kansas are urging residents to wear cloth face coverings when they go out in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Kelly said in a Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/posts/527606137939165?__xts__[0]=68.ARBsd5ozUbliIOKdNRRp4Q79kHg2LFg-oVCBlmAL027fanCoo5uQX0q6qE6smgWrhHZYGE-XGMb1C8OGUSYPZKAedYR3QAKJDK8tPE4p1_Np_sNQ6UIZSrMGOOVUgJAnrrMr_QqyCH2KBdoVmIA8MLj_fLWdkh4QhKdbOznz5bZTOcvWeI9QE2pLAF0JUUsyq3P6rRepAJJPZ8oqGy8qCAQ4ufzXgALa7OFBUMFzGjODbp5aDXRUgd1wOLrNoBSI7VPzpvTCxz9GPZQNKIGgvulz__0HPDwyyoCc24GHHSkx7_9KZ44wy2GOezDmVIKfvSTGC6nJVEkY_zbpy-U&amp;__tn__=-R" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that new evidence suggests people are able to transmit the virus to others before they show any symptoms.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9625f2983ac615d631a64e3e99b0e69e">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;issued a similar recommendation last week.Topeka-area health officials offered similar guidance to retail workers on Monday. Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino said retailers should limit the number of customers in a store to no more than five for each 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) at a time. He said customers should be admitted into stores on a “one-out, one in” basis once a store reaches its capacity, The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200413/shawnee-county-health-officer-store-employees-should-cover-faces-at-all-times" target="_blank">reports</a>.CORONAVIRUS CASESStatewide, the number of confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/642/4-14-20-update-numbers" target="_blank">cases</a>&nbsp;of COVID-19,the disease caused by the virus, grew Tuesday to 1,426 cases, up 50 from Monday. The number of deaths increased by seven to 69.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.At the University of Kansas Health System, the number of inpatients dropped to 29 Tuesday from 31 Monday. Twelve are in the ICU and nine are on ventilators, according to a news release.Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the health system, said the curve has been flattened, at least in the Kansas City area. But he added that the biggest risk is returning to normal too quickly.His remarks came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/06f57a460059e8e2c481078dc4747440">Trump insisted Monday</a>&nbsp;that he has “total” authority to decide how and when to loosen restrictions — a notion considered at odds with the Constitution, which delegates such matters to the states.Kelly said Monday that Kansas would move “back to normal as the science allows.”

Emergency workers in Kan. seek help responding to virus outbreak

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was cutting off U.S. payments to the World Health Organization during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, accusing the organization of failing to do enough to stop the virus from spreading when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/68a9e1b91de4ffc166acd6012d82c2f9">first surfaced in China</a>.

Trump, who had telegraphed his intentions last week, claimed the outbreak could have been contained at its source and that lives could have been saved had the U.N. health agency done a better job investigating the early reports coming out of China.

“The WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable,” Trump said at a Tuesday briefing. He said the U.S. would be reviewing the WHO’s actions to stop the virus before making any decision on resuming aid.

There was no immediate comment from the Geneva-based organization on Trump’s announcement. But when asked about possible U.S. funding cuts during a regular U.N. briefing earlier Tuesday, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris responded, “Regardless of any issues, our work will go on.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded to Trump’s announcement by saying now is not the time to end support for the World Health Organization, calling the WHO “absolutely critical” to the global effort to combat COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Guterres said that it is possible that different entities read the facts differently but that the appropriate time for a review is “once we have finally turned the page on this pandemic.”

“But now is not that time,” he said, adding that it also is not the time to reduce resources for operations at the WHO or any other humanitarian group that is working to combat the virus.

The United States contributed nearly $900 million to the WHO’s budget for 2018-19, according to information on the agency’s website. That represents one-fifth of its total $4.4 billion budget for those years. The U.S. gave nearly three-fourths of the funds in “specified voluntary contributions” and the rest in “assessed” funding as part of Washington’s commitment to U.N. institutions.

A more detailed WHO budget document provided by the U.S. mission in Geneva showed that in 2019, the United States provided $452 million, including nearly $119 million in assessed funding. In its most recent budget proposal from February, the Trump administration called for slashing the U.S. assessed funding contribution to the WHO to $57.9 million.

More than 125,000 deaths worldwide, including more than 25,000 in the U.S., have been blamed on the coronavirus,&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">according to Johns Hopkins University</a>.

Last week, Trump blasted the WHO for being “China-centric” and alleging that it had “criticized” his ban on travel from China as the COVID-19 outbreak was spreading from the city of Wuhan.

The WHO generally takes care not to criticize countries on their national policies, and it was not immediately clear what specific criticism Trump was alluding to.

Trump himself&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/be2b37d1a6c43aa662cf4469fb50b753">showed deference to China</a>&nbsp;at the beginning stages of the outbreak.

“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus,” he tweeted Jan. 24. “The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”

Asked Tuesday about the appropriateness of seeking to cut the WHO’s funding in the middle of a worldwide viral outbreak, Trump said the review would last 60 to 90 days.

“This is an evaluation period, but in the meantime, we’re putting a hold on all funds going to World Health,” Trump said. He said the U.S. will continue to engage with the WHO in pursuit of “meaningful reforms.”

Trump has also complained that other countries give substantially less than the U.S., singling out China.

The American Medical Association immediately called on Trump to reconsider his decision.

“During the worst public health crisis in a century, halting funding to the World Health Organization is a dangerous step in the wrong direction that will not make defeating COVID-19 easier,” AMA President Patrice A. Harris said in a statement.

Harris said international cooperation is needed to fight the virus, along with science and data.

“Cutting funding to the WHO, rather than focusing on solutions, is a dangerous move at a precarious moment for the world,” she said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems. The vast majority of people recover.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586903005302.png" alt="President Trump made the announcement during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing from the White House Rose Garden" />
 <figcaption>President Trump made the announcement during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing from the White House Rose Garden</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was cutting off U.S. payments to the World Health Organization during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, accusing the organization of failing to do enough to stop the virus from spreading when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/68a9e1b91de4ffc166acd6012d82c2f9">first surfaced in China</a>.Trump, who had telegraphed his intentions last week, claimed the outbreak could have been contained at its source and that lives could have been saved had the U.N. health agency done a better job investigating the early reports coming out of China.“The WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable,” Trump said at a Tuesday briefing. He said the U.S. would be reviewing the WHO’s actions to stop the virus before making any decision on resuming aid.There was no immediate comment from the Geneva-based organization on Trump’s announcement. But when asked about possible U.S. funding cuts during a regular U.N. briefing earlier Tuesday, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris responded, “Regardless of any issues, our work will go on.”U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded to Trump’s announcement by saying now is not the time to end support for the World Health Organization, calling the WHO “absolutely critical” to the global effort to combat COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.Guterres said that it is possible that different entities read the facts differently but that the appropriate time for a review is “once we have finally turned the page on this pandemic.”“But now is not that time,” he said, adding that it also is not the time to reduce resources for operations at the WHO or any other humanitarian group that is working to combat the virus.The United States contributed nearly $900 million to the WHO’s budget for 2018-19, according to information on the agency’s website. That represents one-fifth of its total $4.4 billion budget for those years. The U.S. gave nearly three-fourths of the funds in “specified voluntary contributions” and the rest in “assessed” funding as part of Washington’s commitment to U.N. institutions.A more detailed WHO budget document provided by the U.S. mission in Geneva showed that in 2019, the United States provided $452 million, including nearly $119 million in assessed funding. In its most recent budget proposal from February, the Trump administration called for slashing the U.S. assessed funding contribution to the WHO to $57.9 million.More than 125,000 deaths worldwide, including more than 25,000 in the U.S., have been blamed on the coronavirus,&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">according to Johns Hopkins University</a>.Last week, Trump blasted the WHO for being “China-centric” and alleging that it had “criticized” his ban on travel from China as the COVID-19 outbreak was spreading from the city of Wuhan.The WHO generally takes care not to criticize countries on their national policies, and it was not immediately clear what specific criticism Trump was alluding to.Trump himself&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/be2b37d1a6c43aa662cf4469fb50b753">showed deference to China</a>&nbsp;at the beginning stages of the outbreak.“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus,” he tweeted Jan. 24. “The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”Asked Tuesday about the appropriateness of seeking to cut the WHO’s funding in the middle of a worldwide viral outbreak, Trump said the review would last 60 to 90 days.“This is an evaluation period, but in the meantime, we’re putting a hold on all funds going to World Health,” Trump said. He said the U.S. will continue to engage with the WHO in pursuit of “meaningful reforms.”Trump has also complained that other countries give substantially less than the U.S., singling out China.The American Medical Association immediately called on Trump to reconsider his decision.“During the worst public health crisis in a century, halting funding to the World Health Organization is a dangerous step in the wrong direction that will not make defeating COVID-19 easier,” AMA President Patrice A. Harris said in a statement.Harris said international cooperation is needed to fight the virus, along with science and data.“Cutting funding to the WHO, rather than focusing on solutions, is a dangerous move at a precarious moment for the world,” she said.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems. The vast majority of people recover.___

Trump ends US aid to WHO, says not enough done to stop virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — The $2.2 trillion federal rescue package could fail to deliver badly needed financial aid to thousands of smaller cities and counties where a majority of Americans live, according to documents and interviews with local officials.

The coronavirus outbreak has blown holes in the budgets of communities as the costs of battling the outbreak skyrocket and critical sources of revenue like sales and income taxes plummet.

The Coronavirus Relief Fund uses a formula based on population to parcel out tens of billions of dollars to the states while allowing local governments with more than 500,000 residents to apply directly to the Treasury Department for cash infusions. But localities below the half-million population threshold are in limbo.

Among those affected: New Rochelle,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>, one of the cities hardest hit by the outbreak.

“I cannot understand the logic,” said Noam Bramson, the Democratic mayor of about 80,000 people. “Cities with fewer than 500,000 people have been just as heavily impacted as those with more than 500,000 people. It strikes me as a completely arbitrary cutoff.”

Amid the uncertainty, lawmakers and advocacy groups that include the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have been urging Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to ensure the relief fund money is fairly distributed. Guidelines for how the relief fund will operate are slated to be issued by the Treasury Department this week. The department announced Monday it had launched a web portal through which eligible parties could register to receive the money.

“Because of the lack of specificity in the legislation itself, it really is up for interpretation,” said Irma Esparza Diggs, director of federal advocacy for the National League of Cities. “Everybody’s just kind of holding their breath until Treasury comes out with their guidance."

Of the nearly 3,100 counties in the United States, 130 have populations of more than 500,000, according to the National Association of Counties. There are 36 cities over the half-million mark, the National League of Cities told President Donald Trump in a letter last week. More than half the country’s population lives in cities, towns and villages of fewer than 50,000 people, the letter noted.

Cities including Miami and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;City,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri">Missouri</a>, are under the cutoff, according to the most recent Census Bureau figures available.

“Depending on who you believe, we’re either at 470,000 or 510,000,” said Miami’s Republican mayor, Francis Suarez. “We’re projected to lose about $20 million a month while our economy has ground to a halt. The state of&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;is slated to get $8.3 billion, but we’re not sure if we’re going to get any of it.”

Every state will receive at least $1.25 billion in relief fund money. The state government gets the biggest share of the total — New York, for example, is projected to receive $7.5 billion, according to estimates prepared by the nonprofit Tax Foundation. The state gets $5.2 billion of that amount, and local governments that have more than 500,000 residents are eligible for the rest in direct payments.

The Treasury Department guidelines may permit below-the-threshold counties and cities to appeal directly to the governor for a portion of the state’s relief find allotment, according to Matt Chase, executive director of the National Association of Counties. But that may heighten the potential for political alliances to be formed in the quest for money or behind-the-scenes lobbying campaigns to get a piece of the state’s share.

“Each local government would have to go hat in hand to the governor and say, ’Can we have part of your allocation?'" said Chase, who added, “We don’t need a lot of politics right now.”

The population threshold was included as a tradeoff as lawmakers scrambled to put the relief package together, according to a letter 16 Republican senators sent to Mnuchin last week. Getting the relief dollars delivered quickly was essential, they said, and “requiring Treasury to process applications and calculate payment calculations for every local government in the United States would have created a bureaucratic morass that would have held up the distribution of these critical funds.”

The senators expressed concern over comments Mnuchin made during a recent briefing for lawmakers on the status of the rescue package. The Treasury secretary suggested the department would interpret the law narrowly and “issue guidance that unintentionally creates obstacles to states supporting their front line,” the senators said.

That’s at odds with Trump’s own promises that the federal government would be there to backstop local and state officials, said Bryan K. Barnett, the Republican mayor of Rochester Hills,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan">Michigan</a>, and the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

“The word from their lips to our ears is that this whole effort would be locally executed and federally supported,” Barnett said.

There are 16 states that have no counties, cities or other municipalities with populations above 500,000, including&nbsp;Wyoming,&nbsp;Alaska&nbsp;and&nbsp;Montana. Without a mechanism that allows or requires states to share coronavirus relief money, there’s no clear way to prevent them from keeping the entire pot to help make up their own budget shortfalls.

New York state has a deficit of more than $10 billion from fighting the coronavirus, and the $5.2 billion it’s to receive from the relief fund could help close that gap.

Stephen Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties, said those budgetary pressures made it unlikely local governments under the population threshold will get any of the state’s money.

“The states will exert jurisdiction over that money,

and the thousands of local governments who will have needs, it will be very difficult to get that money,” Acquario said.

Cameron Diehl, executive director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/utah">Utah</a>&nbsp;League of Cities and Towns, said the state legislature is expected to meet in a special virtual session this week and on its agenda is the creation of a legal framework to accept $1.25 billion from the relief fund. “There are a lot of questions about the logistics, and it’s hard to plan around this much uncertainty,” Diehl said.

In&nbsp;Ohio, an income tax is one of the primary ways that government is financed.

“If nobody is working, we’re not going to have any money,” said Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Nan Whaley.

“I just can’t explain to you the level of frustration of mayors who are working so hard for their communities and see that it could all go away because there’s no help coming,” the Democrat added. “It’s just so painful for all of us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586818253618.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin&nbsp; and President Trump answer questions during Monday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing." />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin&nbsp; and President Trump answer questions during Monday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The $2.2 trillion federal rescue package could fail to deliver badly needed financial aid to thousands of smaller cities and counties where a majority of Americans live, according to documents and interviews with local officials.The coronavirus outbreak has blown holes in the budgets of communities as the costs of battling the outbreak skyrocket and critical sources of revenue like sales and income taxes plummet.The Coronavirus Relief Fund uses a formula based on population to parcel out tens of billions of dollars to the states while allowing local governments with more than 500,000 residents to apply directly to the Treasury Department for cash infusions. But localities below the half-million population threshold are in limbo.Among those affected: New Rochelle,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>, one of the cities hardest hit by the outbreak.“I cannot understand the logic,” said Noam Bramson, the Democratic mayor of about 80,000 people. “Cities with fewer than 500,000 people have been just as heavily impacted as those with more than 500,000 people. It strikes me as a completely arbitrary cutoff.”Amid the uncertainty, lawmakers and advocacy groups that include the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have been urging Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to ensure the relief fund money is fairly distributed. Guidelines for how the relief fund will operate are slated to be issued by the Treasury Department this week. The department announced Monday it had launched a web portal through which eligible parties could register to receive the money.“Because of the lack of specificity in the legislation itself, it really is up for interpretation,” said Irma Esparza Diggs, director of federal advocacy for the National League of Cities. “Everybody’s just kind of holding their breath until Treasury comes out with their guidance."Of the nearly 3,100 counties in the United States, 130 have populations of more than 500,000, according to the National Association of Counties. There are 36 cities over the half-million mark, the National League of Cities told President Donald Trump in a letter last week. More than half the country’s population lives in cities, towns and villages of fewer than 50,000 people, the letter noted.Cities including Miami and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;City,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri">Missouri</a>, are under the cutoff, according to the most recent Census Bureau figures available.“Depending on who you believe, we’re either at 470,000 or 510,000,” said Miami’s Republican mayor, Francis Suarez. “We’re projected to lose about $20 million a month while our economy has ground to a halt. The state of&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;is slated to get $8.3 billion, but we’re not sure if we’re going to get any of it.”Every state will receive at least $1.25 billion in relief fund money. The state government gets the biggest share of the total — New York, for example, is projected to receive $7.5 billion, according to estimates prepared by the nonprofit Tax Foundation. The state gets $5.2 billion of that amount, and local governments that have more than 500,000 residents are eligible for the rest in direct payments.The Treasury Department guidelines may permit below-the-threshold counties and cities to appeal directly to the governor for a portion of the state’s relief find allotment, according to Matt Chase, executive director of the National Association of Counties. But that may heighten the potential for political alliances to be formed in the quest for money or behind-the-scenes lobbying campaigns to get a piece of the state’s share.“Each local government would have to go hat in hand to the governor and say, ’Can we have part of your allocation?'" said Chase, who added, “We don’t need a lot of politics right now.”The population threshold was included as a tradeoff as lawmakers scrambled to put the relief package together, according to a letter 16 Republican senators sent to Mnuchin last week. Getting the relief dollars delivered quickly was essential, they said, and “requiring Treasury to process applications and calculate payment calculations for every local government in the United States would have created a bureaucratic morass that would have held up the distribution of these critical funds.”The senators expressed concern over comments Mnuchin made during a recent briefing for lawmakers on the status of the rescue package. The Treasury secretary suggested the department would interpret the law narrowly and “issue guidance that unintentionally creates obstacles to states supporting their front line,” the senators said.That’s at odds with Trump’s own promises that the federal government would be there to backstop local and state officials, said Bryan K. Barnett, the Republican mayor of Rochester Hills,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan">Michigan</a>, and the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.“The word from their lips to our ears is that this whole effort would be locally executed and federally supported,” Barnett said.There are 16 states that have no counties, cities or other municipalities with populations above 500,000, including&nbsp;Wyoming,&nbsp;Alaska&nbsp;and&nbsp;Montana. Without a mechanism that allows or requires states to share coronavirus relief money, there’s no clear way to prevent them from keeping the entire pot to help make up their own budget shortfalls.New York state has a deficit of more than $10 billion from fighting the coronavirus, and the $5.2 billion it’s to receive from the relief fund could help close that gap.Stephen Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties, said those budgetary pressures made it unlikely local governments under the population threshold will get any of the state’s money.“The states will exert jurisdiction over that money,and the thousands of local governments who will have needs, it will be very difficult to get that money,” Acquario said.Cameron Diehl, executive director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/utah">Utah</a>&nbsp;League of Cities and Towns, said the state legislature is expected to meet in a special virtual session this week and on its agenda is the creation of a legal framework to accept $1.25 billion from the relief fund. “There are a lot of questions about the logistics, and it’s hard to plan around this much uncertainty,” Diehl said.In&nbsp;Ohio, an income tax is one of the primary ways that government is financed.“If nobody is working, we’re not going to have any money,” said Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Nan Whaley.“I just can’t explain to you the level of frustration of mayors who are working so hard for their communities and see that it could all go away because there’s no help coming,” the Democrat added. “It’s just so painful for all of us.”

Cities, counties fear losing out on US virus rescue funding

The Kansas Department of Health released the state's latest coronavirus numbers on Tuesday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here for</a> additional details

The Kansas Department of Health released the state's latest coronavirus numbers on Tuesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here for</a> additional details<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586883932549.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

Jail operations have changed in wake of the coronavirus
pandemic.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett says the jail is moving
away from person-to-person visits as much as possible, using technology so
inmates can visit with their lawyers via videoconference.

“We just recently were able to establish some links and we’re doing
secure communications for the public defenders office and some of those folks
so they can speak to inmates without having to come up here; reducing those face-to-face
contacts,” Puett tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.

Puett says technology has been put into use more now than
ever, both at the jail and at the Buchanan County Courthouse.

“With the attorneys and the inmates if they need a brief
meeting with their client, the arraignments with the courts not having to take
inmates into the courthouse, and those contacts,” Puett says. “Technology works
great for lots of things like that.”

Puett says efforts are underway to get the probation and
parole workers online.

Visitation at the jail has been canceled for the time being.
Puett says though inmates and visitors are separated by plexiglass, visitors
often congregate in the lounge area which would be in violation of social
distancing practices now enforced.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostJail operations have changed in wake of the coronavirus
pandemic.Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett says the jail is moving
away from person-to-person visits as much as possible, using technology so
inmates can visit with their lawyers via videoconference.“We just recently were able to establish some links and we’re doing
secure communications for the public defenders office and some of those folks
so they can speak to inmates without having to come up here; reducing those face-to-face
contacts,” Puett tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Puett says technology has been put into use more now than
ever, both at the jail and at the Buchanan County Courthouse.“With the attorneys and the inmates if they need a brief
meeting with their client, the arraignments with the courts not having to take
inmates into the courthouse, and those contacts,” Puett says. “Technology works
great for lots of things like that.”Puett says efforts are underway to get the probation and
parole workers online.Visitation at the jail has been canceled for the time being.
Puett says though inmates and visitors are separated by plexiglass, visitors
often congregate in the lounge area which would be in violation of social
distancing practices now enforced.

Jail operations undergo COVID-19 changes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Blood tests for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>could play a key role in deciding whether millions of Americans can safely return to work and school. But public health officials warn that the current “Wild West” of unregulated tests is creating confusion that could ultimately slow the path to recovery.

More than 70 companies have signed up to sell so-called antibody tests in recent weeks, according to U.S. regulators. Governments around the world hope that the rapid tests, which typically use a finger-prick of blood on a test strip, could soon ease public restrictions by identifying people who have previously had the virus and have developed some immunity to it.

But key questions remain: How accurate are the tests, how much protection is needed and how long will that protection last.

The blood tests are different from the nasal swab-based tests currently used to diagnose active COVID-19 infections. Instead, the tests look for blood proteins called antibodies, which the body produces days or weeks after fighting an infection. The same approach is used for HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease, lupus and many other diseases.

Because of the relative simplicity of the technology, the Food and Drug Administration decided to waive initial review of the tests as part of its emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Right now, the tests are most useful for researchers studying how the virus has spread through the U.S. population. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-begins-study-quantify-undetected-cases-coronavirus-infection" target="_blank">government</a>&nbsp;said Friday it has started testing 10,000 volunteers. The White House has not outlined a broader plan for testing and how the results might be used.

With almost no FDA oversight of the tests, “Right now it’s a wild west show out there,” said Eric Blank of the Association for Public Health Laboratories. “It really has created a mess that’s going to take a while to clean up.”

“In the meantime, you’ve got a lot of companies marketing a lot of stuff and nobody has any idea of how good it is,” he said.

Members of Blank’s group, which represents state and local lab officials, have urged the FDA to revisit its lax approach toward the tests. That approach essentially allows companies to launch as long as they notify the agency and include disclaimers. Companies are supposed to state that their tests have not been FDA-approved and cannot rule out whether someone is currently infected.

Last week, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement that the agency will “take appropriate action” against companies making false claims or selling inaccurate tests.

During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Hahn expressed “concern” that tests being sold “may not be as accurate as we’d like them to be.”

“What we don’t want are wildly inaccurate tests,” he said. “That’s going to be much worse, having wildly inaccurate tests than having no test.”

Dr. Allison Rakeman of New York City’s Public Health Laboratory says some local hospitals are assuming the tests, which are listed on FDA’s website, “have been vetted, when they have not.”

The danger of faulty testing, Rakeman says, is that people will mistakenly conclude that they are immune or are no longer spreading the virus.

“Then somebody goes home and kisses their 90-year-old grandmother,” said Rakeman. “You don’t want to give someone a false sense of security.”

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

For many infections, antibody levels above a certain threshold indicate that the person’s immune system has successfully fought off the virus and is likely protected from reinfection. For COVID-19, it’s not yet clear what level of antibodies render patients immune or how long immunity might last.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that both legitimate companies and fraudulent operators appear to be selling the kits. Distinguishing between the two can be a challenge.

Officials in Laredo, Texas, reported this month that some 2,500 antibody tests set for use at a local drive-thru testing site were likely frauds. City officials had ordered what they were told were “FDA-approved COVID-19 rapid tests,” from a local clinic. But when they checked the test’s accuracy, it fell well below the range promised, the city said in a statement.

Examples of U.S. companies skirting the rules appear online and in emails sent to hospitals.

Promotional emails sent to hospitals and reviewed by The Associated Press failed to include required disclaimers. Some kits sold on websites promote themselves as “FDA-approved” for home testing. The agency has not yet approved any COVID-19 home test. The blood tests have to processed by a lab.

“If you see them on the internet, do not buy them until we can give you a test that’s reliable for all Americans,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, at a recent briefing.

20/20 BioResponse is one of dozens of U.S. companies selling the tests to hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices. The Rockville, Maryland-based company imports the tests from a Chinese manufacturer but CEO Jonathan Cohen says his company independently confirmed its performance in 60 U.S. patients. He estimates the company has shipped 10,000 tests and has had to limit orders due to demand.

He said antibody tests are not a “panacea but they’re not garbage either.”

Cohen called them “a tool in the toolbox that will have some value along with other tests.”

The company’s test is registered on the FDA website and includes all the required disclaimers.

To date, the FDA has only authorized one COVID-19 antibody test from North Carolina diagnostics company Cellex. The agency used its emergency powers, meaning a formal review is still needed.

The White House has also tried to temper expectations for the tests, while still promising that millions will soon be available.

Dr. Brett Giroir, the federal health official overseeing U.S. testing, told reporters a week ago that the FDA and other agencies are working to confirm the accuracy of the antibody tests.

“We’re going to be very careful to make sure that when we tell you you’re likely immune from the disease ... the test really said that,” Giroir said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Blood tests for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>could play a key role in deciding whether millions of Americans can safely return to work and school. But public health officials warn that the current “Wild West” of unregulated tests is creating confusion that could ultimately slow the path to recovery.More than 70 companies have signed up to sell so-called antibody tests in recent weeks, according to U.S. regulators. Governments around the world hope that the rapid tests, which typically use a finger-prick of blood on a test strip, could soon ease public restrictions by identifying people who have previously had the virus and have developed some immunity to it.But key questions remain: How accurate are the tests, how much protection is needed and how long will that protection last.The blood tests are different from the nasal swab-based tests currently used to diagnose active COVID-19 infections. Instead, the tests look for blood proteins called antibodies, which the body produces days or weeks after fighting an infection. The same approach is used for HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease, lupus and many other diseases.Because of the relative simplicity of the technology, the Food and Drug Administration decided to waive initial review of the tests as part of its emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak.Right now, the tests are most useful for researchers studying how the virus has spread through the U.S. population. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-begins-study-quantify-undetected-cases-coronavirus-infection" target="_blank">government</a>&nbsp;said Friday it has started testing 10,000 volunteers. The White House has not outlined a broader plan for testing and how the results might be used.With almost no FDA oversight of the tests, “Right now it’s a wild west show out there,” said Eric Blank of the Association for Public Health Laboratories. “It really has created a mess that’s going to take a while to clean up.”“In the meantime, you’ve got a lot of companies marketing a lot of stuff and nobody has any idea of how good it is,” he said.Members of Blank’s group, which represents state and local lab officials, have urged the FDA to revisit its lax approach toward the tests. That approach essentially allows companies to launch as long as they notify the agency and include disclaimers. Companies are supposed to state that their tests have not been FDA-approved and cannot rule out whether someone is currently infected.Last week, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement that the agency will “take appropriate action” against companies making false claims or selling inaccurate tests.During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Hahn expressed “concern” that tests being sold “may not be as accurate as we’d like them to be.”“What we don’t want are wildly inaccurate tests,” he said. “That’s going to be much worse, having wildly inaccurate tests than having no test.”Dr. Allison Rakeman of New York City’s Public Health Laboratory says some local hospitals are assuming the tests, which are listed on FDA’s website, “have been vetted, when they have not.”The danger of faulty testing, Rakeman says, is that people will mistakenly conclude that they are immune or are no longer spreading the virus.“Then somebody goes home and kisses their 90-year-old grandmother,” said Rakeman. “You don’t want to give someone a false sense of security.”For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.For many infections, antibody levels above a certain threshold indicate that the person’s immune system has successfully fought off the virus and is likely protected from reinfection. For COVID-19, it’s not yet clear what level of antibodies render patients immune or how long immunity might last.Adding to the confusion is the fact that both legitimate companies and fraudulent operators appear to be selling the kits. Distinguishing between the two can be a challenge.Officials in Laredo, Texas, reported this month that some 2,500 antibody tests set for use at a local drive-thru testing site were likely frauds. City officials had ordered what they were told were “FDA-approved COVID-19 rapid tests,” from a local clinic. But when they checked the test’s accuracy, it fell well below the range promised, the city said in a statement.Examples of U.S. companies skirting the rules appear online and in emails sent to hospitals.Promotional emails sent to hospitals and reviewed by The Associated Press failed to include required disclaimers. Some kits sold on websites promote themselves as “FDA-approved” for home testing. The agency has not yet approved any COVID-19 home test. The blood tests have to processed by a lab.“If you see them on the internet, do not buy them until we can give you a test that’s reliable for all Americans,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, at a recent briefing.20/20 BioResponse is one of dozens of U.S. companies selling the tests to hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices. The Rockville, Maryland-based company imports the tests from a Chinese manufacturer but CEO Jonathan Cohen says his company independently confirmed its performance in 60 U.S. patients. He estimates the company has shipped 10,000 tests and has had to limit orders due to demand.He said antibody tests are not a “panacea but they’re not garbage either.”Cohen called them “a tool in the toolbox that will have some value along with other tests.”The company’s test is registered on the FDA website and includes all the required disclaimers.To date, the FDA has only authorized one COVID-19 antibody test from North Carolina diagnostics company Cellex. The agency used its emergency powers, meaning a formal review is still needed.The White House has also tried to temper expectations for the tests, while still promising that millions will soon be available.Dr. Brett Giroir, the federal health official overseeing U.S. testing, told reporters a week ago that the FDA and other agencies are working to confirm the accuracy of the antibody tests.“We’re going to be very careful to make sure that when we tell you you’re likely immune from the disease ... the test really said that,” Giroir said.

Fears of 'Wild West' as COVID-19 blood tests hit the market

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City area rehabilitation facility has now claimed 12 lives and sickened nearly 100 other residents and staff members.

Health officials in Wyandotte County&nbsp;said Monday&nbsp;that the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation of Kansas City has 90 residents who tested positive and 20 staff. Five of the residents are hospitalized.

Janell Friesen, a spokeswoman for the county health department, said she she didn’t anticipate a surge in new cases there because most of the testing has been completed. The newest numbers are unchanged from Sunday, when positive cases rose by 18. She said staff is investigating how COVID-19 spread in the center.

Nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities have been particularly hard hit by the outbreak nationwide because they serve a vulnerable population that is in need of extensive hands-on care.

Riverbend said in a statement posted on its website that about 90% of patients are responding positively to care and that it is making palliative and supportive care available to those residents whose “overall course has not been as encouraging despite the efforts of our clinical team.”

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew Monday to 1,376, up 39 from Sunday. The number of deaths increased by six to 62.

The Kansas Department of Corrections said Monday that the sickened also include one resident of a Wichita work release facility. Corrections officials also are dealing with an outbreak at the Lansing Correction Facility.

Meanwhile, Kansas State University announced Monday that summer classes will move online with significantly reduced fees in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The university previously moved spring classes online.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586610504976.png" alt="Cars lined up for virus testing -photo courtesy Johnson County Department of Health" />
 <figcaption>Cars lined up for virus testing -photo courtesy Johnson County Department of Health</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City area rehabilitation facility has now claimed 12 lives and sickened nearly 100 other residents and staff members.Health officials in Wyandotte County&nbsp;said Monday&nbsp;that the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation of Kansas City has 90 residents who tested positive and 20 staff. Five of the residents are hospitalized.Janell Friesen, a spokeswoman for the county health department, said she she didn’t anticipate a surge in new cases there because most of the testing has been completed. The newest numbers are unchanged from Sunday, when positive cases rose by 18. She said staff is investigating how COVID-19 spread in the center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586610467450.png" alt="Drive up virus testing photo courtesy Johnson County Department of Health" />
 <figcaption>Drive up virus testing photo courtesy Johnson County Department of Health</figcaption>
 </figure>Nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities have been particularly hard hit by the outbreak nationwide because they serve a vulnerable population that is in need of extensive hands-on care.Riverbend said in a statement posted on its website that about 90% of patients are responding positively to care and that it is making palliative and supportive care available to those residents whose “overall course has not been as encouraging despite the efforts of our clinical team.”Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew Monday to 1,376, up 39 from Sunday. The number of deaths increased by six to 62.The Kansas Department of Corrections said Monday that the sickened also include one resident of a Wichita work release facility. Corrections officials also are dealing with an outbreak at the Lansing Correction Facility.Meanwhile, Kansas State University announced Monday that summer classes will move online with significantly reduced fees in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The university previously moved spring classes online.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Coronavirus deaths at Kansas rehab facility increase to 12

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman discussed a variety of issues concerning the coronavirus pandemic during their Monday news conference.

The governor mentioned unemployment claims that are up by 3,400 percent and claims through the state web site are up 6,833 percent.

She also announced an <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/executive-order-no-20-22/">executive order</a> extending temporary relief from some rules and regulations for motor carriers assisting with coronavirus relief.&nbsp;

Dr. Norman discussed the increase of just 39 positive virus cases in Kansas from Sunday&nbsp; to Monday. He reported the KDHE is&nbsp; monitoring 23 virus outbreaks including 12 in long term care facilities, 2 in group living homes, 3 in private businesses and 5 among religious gatherings in addition to the outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility where there are 37 cases including 17 inmates and 20 members of the staff.

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman discussed a variety of issues concerning the coronavirus pandemic during their Monday news conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F617785919081375%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The governor mentioned unemployment claims that are up by 3,400 percent and claims through the state web site are up 6,833 percent.She also announced an <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/executive-order-no-20-22/">executive order</a> extending temporary relief from some rules and regulations for motor carriers assisting with coronavirus relief.&nbsp;Dr. Norman discussed the increase of just 39 positive virus cases in Kansas from Sunday&nbsp; to Monday. He reported the KDHE is&nbsp; monitoring 23 virus outbreaks including 12 in long term care facilities, 2 in group living homes, 3 in private businesses and 5 among religious gatherings in addition to the outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility where there are 37 cases including 17 inmates and 20 members of the staff.

🎥 Gov. Kelly, KDHE Secretary give virus fight update


KANSAS CITY –The University of Kansas Medical Center announced Monday that it will be participating in a nationwide clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in preventing COVID-19 infection in exposed
 health care workers. KU Medical Center is one of 60 such sites across the nation that will be participating in this clinical trial, led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute.


The trial, the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes of Hydroxychloroquine (HERO HCQ, will launch April 22. It is a phase-3 double-blinded clinical trial, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). It is accompanied by a
 registry, launching today, that will create a community of health care workers who have expressed interest in contributing to the scientific community’s understanding of the impact of COVID-19.


Mario Castro, M.D., MPH, vice chair for clinical and translational research and pulmonologist at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, will serve as principal investigator for the KU Medical Center site of the study.


“At this point in the pandemic, hospitals are reporting that 20% of U.S. health care workers are becoming infected with COVID-19.&nbsp;
When that happens, one in five must go into quarantine and cannot take care of patients,” Castro said. “This study is critical for safeguarding the personal health of these workers and for protecting the health care workforce at this critical time. Our
 hope is that this drug will decrease the risk of exposed workers developing an active COVID-19 infection.”

KU Medical Center aims to recruit 500 participants to the study while also promoting the registry, which will enroll health care workers from throughout the United States, at
<a href="https://heroesresearch.org/" target="_blank">
heroesresearch.org</a>. The HERO Registry is open to all health care workers in the United States, including nurses, therapists, physicians, emergency responders, food service workers and environmental service workers — anyone who works in a setting where people
 receive health care and are exposed to COVID-19.


The plan is to use the registry to locate health care workers for the current drug trial, but the registry also will allow health care workers to indicate their willingness to participate in future clinical trials regarding COVID-19.


“Health care workers on the front lines are critical to the pandemic response,” said Adrian Hernandez, M.D., a Duke professor of cardiology and the administrative principal investigator of the nationwide trial. “To address their needs, we need to do rapid-cycle
 research and clinical trials,” said Hernandez, who originated the program and is a member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.


“Although there has been discussion about hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a potential prevention method for COVID-19, we are lacking the data on safety and efficacy of this therapy,” Hernandez said. “By conducting this study with health care workers, we are working
 directly with those who understand the importance of quickly getting answers into the hands of those on the front line.”


The study and the registry are funded by an award from PCORI, a nonprofit organization established in 2010 through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Congress re-authorized funding of PCORI in December 2019.


“PCORI is very pleased to fund this critical study as part of the effort to marshal the nation’s scientific and clinical expertise to address the unprecedented threat COVID-19 poses to the United States,” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., PCORI interim executive
 director. “This study’s focus on high-risk health care workers is especially important given their vital role on the front lines of treating this novel infection.”


The study will leverage the infrastructure of PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, and its established research network of more than 850,000 clinicians and hundreds of health systems, to allow research to be conducted quickly and
 efficiently. Study results will be shared widely with the health care community, including participating health care workers and others most affected. KU Medical Center is a member of PCORnet.



“For health care workers treating patients during this pandemic and beyond, prevention strategies are critical,” Briggs said. “But we need more data and evidence about HCQ’s safety and effectiveness. Using PCORnet to power this project will enable rapid data
 capture and analysis that will provide insights quickly to those who need it most.”


Russ Waitman, Ph.D., director of medical informatics at the KU Medical Center, is the principal investigator of the PCORnet Greater Plains Collaborative Clinical Data Research Network, which includes 12 medical centers in nine states.

Health care workers interested in participating in the hydroxychloroquine clinical trial at KU Medical Center may contact Shelby Almo at
<a href="mailto:salmo@kumc.ed" target="_blank">
salmo@kumc.ed</a>u or 913-574-3006, and they also must register at
<a href="https://heroesresearch.org/" target="_blank">
heroesresearch.org</a>. Health care workers interested in learning more or in participating in the registry should visit the website at
<a href="https://heroesresearch.org/" target="_blank">
heroesresearch.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586788014339.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KUMC News Service
KANSAS CITY –The University of Kansas Medical Center announced Monday that it will be participating in a nationwide clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in preventing COVID-19 infection in exposed
 health care workers. KU Medical Center is one of 60 such sites across the nation that will be participating in this clinical trial, led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
The trial, the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes of Hydroxychloroquine (HERO HCQ, will launch April 22. It is a phase-3 double-blinded clinical trial, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). It is accompanied by a
 registry, launching today, that will create a community of health care workers who have expressed interest in contributing to the scientific community’s understanding of the impact of COVID-19.
Mario Castro, M.D., MPH, vice chair for clinical and translational research and pulmonologist at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, will serve as principal investigator for the KU Medical Center site of the study.
“At this point in the pandemic, hospitals are reporting that 20% of U.S. health care workers are becoming infected with COVID-19.&nbsp;
When that happens, one in five must go into quarantine and cannot take care of patients,” Castro said. “This study is critical for safeguarding the personal health of these workers and for protecting the health care workforce at this critical time. Our
 hope is that this drug will decrease the risk of exposed workers developing an active COVID-19 infection.”
KU Medical Center aims to recruit 500 participants to the study while also promoting the registry, which will enroll health care workers from throughout the United States, at
<a href="https://heroesresearch.org/" target="_blank">
heroesresearch.org</a>. The HERO Registry is open to all health care workers in the United States, including nurses, therapists, physicians, emergency responders, food service workers and environmental service workers — anyone who works in a setting where people
 receive health care and are exposed to COVID-19.
The plan is to use the registry to locate health care workers for the current drug trial, but the registry also will allow health care workers to indicate their willingness to participate in future clinical trials regarding COVID-19.
“Health care workers on the front lines are critical to the pandemic response,” said Adrian Hernandez, M.D., a Duke professor of cardiology and the administrative principal investigator of the nationwide trial. “To address their needs, we need to do rapid-cycle
 research and clinical trials,” said Hernandez, who originated the program and is a member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
“Although there has been discussion about hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a potential prevention method for COVID-19, we are lacking the data on safety and efficacy of this therapy,” Hernandez said. “By conducting this study with health care workers, we are working
 directly with those who understand the importance of quickly getting answers into the hands of those on the front line.”
The study and the registry are funded by an award from PCORI, a nonprofit organization established in 2010 through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Congress re-authorized funding of PCORI in December 2019.
“PCORI is very pleased to fund this critical study as part of the effort to marshal the nation’s scientific and clinical expertise to address the unprecedented threat COVID-19 poses to the United States,” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., PCORI interim executive
 director. “This study’s focus on high-risk health care workers is especially important given their vital role on the front lines of treating this novel infection.”
The study will leverage the infrastructure of PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, and its established research network of more than 850,000 clinicians and hundreds of health systems, to allow research to be conducted quickly and
 efficiently. Study results will be shared widely with the health care community, including participating health care workers and others most affected. KU Medical Center is a member of PCORnet.

“For health care workers treating patients during this pandemic and beyond, prevention strategies are critical,” Briggs said. “But we need more data and evidence about HCQ’s safety and effectiveness. Using PCORnet to power this project will enable rapid data
 capture and analysis that will provide insights quickly to those who need it most.”
Russ Waitman, Ph.D., director of medical informatics at the KU Medical Center, is the principal investigator of the PCORnet Greater Plains Collaborative Clinical Data Research Network, which includes 12 medical centers in nine states.
Health care workers interested in participating in the hydroxychloroquine clinical trial at KU Medical Center may contact Shelby Almo at
<a href="mailto:salmo@kumc.ed" target="_blank">
salmo@kumc.ed</a>u or 913-574-3006, and they also must register at
<a href="https://heroesresearch.org/" target="_blank">
heroesresearch.org</a>. Health care workers interested in learning more or in participating in the registry should visit the website at
<a href="https://heroesresearch.org/" target="_blank">
heroesresearch.org</a>.

KU to participate in clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine in health care workers

Missouri health officials now report more than 4-Thousand
cases of COVID-19 with 110 deaths.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports
136 more confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to
4,160.

Mosaic Life Care reports it has tested 641 individuals for the
coronavirus. Nineteen have tested positive with all but one being treated as
outpatients. There is one person hospitalized in Albany. Results from 10 tests
are pending.

Kansas officials report
1-Thousand, 337 cases with 56 deaths.

Nebraska has seen almost 800
confirmed cases of coronavirus. The state health department on Sunday reported
790 cases on Sunday. Seventeen people have died from the illness in Nebraska.

Iowa reports 1-Thousand, 388
cases with 41 deaths.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri health officials now report more than 4-Thousand
cases of COVID-19 with 110 deaths.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports
136 more confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to
4,160.Mosaic Life Care reports it has tested 641 individuals for the
coronavirus. Nineteen have tested positive with all but one being treated as
outpatients. There is one person hospitalized in Albany. Results from 10 tests
are pending.Kansas officials report
1-Thousand, 337 cases with 56 deaths.Nebraska has seen almost 800
confirmed cases of coronavirus. The state health department on Sunday reported
790 cases on Sunday. Seventeen people have died from the illness in Nebraska.Iowa reports 1-Thousand, 388
cases with 41 deaths.The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Missouri COVID-19 cases top 4,000; Mosaic reports 19 positive cases

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 3,300 deaths nationwide have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, an alarming rise in just the past two weeks, according to the latest count by The Associated Press.

Because the federal government has not been releasing a count of its own, the AP has kept its own running tally based on media reports and state health departments. The latest count of at least 3,321 deaths is up from about 450 deaths just 10 days ago.

But the true toll among the 1 million mostly frail and elderly people who live in such facilities is likely much higher, experts say, because most state counts don’t include those who died without ever being tested for COVID-19.

Outbreaks in just the past few weeks have included one at a nursing home in suburban Richmond that has killed 40 and infected more than 100, another at nursing home in central Indiana that has killed 24 and infected 16, and one at a veteran’s home in Holyoke, Mass., that has killed 37, infected 76 and prompted a federal investigation. This comes weeks after an outbreak at a nursing home in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland that has so far claimed 43 lives.

And those are just the outbreaks we know about. Most states provide only total numbers of nursing home deaths and don’t give details of specific outbreaks. Notable among them is the nation’s leader, New York, which accounts for 1,880 nursing home deaths out of about 96,000 total residents but has so far declined to detail specific outbreaks, citing privacy concerns.

Experts say nursing home deaths may keep climbing because of chronic staffing shortages that have been made worse by the coronavirus crisis, a shortage of protective supplies and a continued lack of available testing.

And the deaths have skyrocketed despite steps taken by the federal government in mid-March to bar visitors, cease all group activities, and require that every worker be screened for fever or respiratory symptoms at every shift.

But an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/78e495c299d67e60d45729352f2c0d44">AP report&nbsp;</a>earlier this month found that infections were continuing to find their way into nursing homes because such screenings didn’t catch people who were infected but asymptomatic. Several large outbreaks were blamed on such spreaders, including infected health workers who worked at several different nursing home facilities.

This past week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that regulates nursing homes issued recommendations urging nursing homes to use separate staffing teams for residents, and to designate separate facilities within nursing homes to keep COVID-19 positive residents away from those who have tested negative.

Dr. Deborah Birx, who leads the White House coronavirus response, suggested this past week that as more COVID-19 tests become available, nursing homes should be a top priority.

“We need to really ensure that nursing homes have sentinel surveillance. And what do I mean by that? That we’re actively testing in nursing homes, both the residents and the workers, at all times,” Birx said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585657534018.png" alt="Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas is linked to multiple coronavirus cases and deaths, according to the KDHE- Google image" />
 <figcaption>Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas is linked to multiple coronavirus cases and deaths, according to the KDHE- Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — More than 3,300 deaths nationwide have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, an alarming rise in just the past two weeks, according to the latest count by The Associated Press.Because the federal government has not been releasing a count of its own, the AP has kept its own running tally based on media reports and state health departments. The latest count of at least 3,321 deaths is up from about 450 deaths just 10 days ago.But the true toll among the 1 million mostly frail and elderly people who live in such facilities is likely much higher, experts say, because most state counts don’t include those who died without ever being tested for COVID-19.Outbreaks in just the past few weeks have included one at a nursing home in suburban Richmond that has killed 40 and infected more than 100, another at nursing home in central Indiana that has killed 24 and infected 16, and one at a veteran’s home in Holyoke, Mass., that has killed 37, infected 76 and prompted a federal investigation. This comes weeks after an outbreak at a nursing home in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland that has so far claimed 43 lives.And those are just the outbreaks we know about. Most states provide only total numbers of nursing home deaths and don’t give details of specific outbreaks. Notable among them is the nation’s leader, New York, which accounts for 1,880 nursing home deaths out of about 96,000 total residents but has so far declined to detail specific outbreaks, citing privacy concerns.Experts say nursing home deaths may keep climbing because of chronic staffing shortages that have been made worse by the coronavirus crisis, a shortage of protective supplies and a continued lack of available testing.And the deaths have skyrocketed despite steps taken by the federal government in mid-March to bar visitors, cease all group activities, and require that every worker be screened for fever or respiratory symptoms at every shift.But an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/78e495c299d67e60d45729352f2c0d44">AP report&nbsp;</a>earlier this month found that infections were continuing to find their way into nursing homes because such screenings didn’t catch people who were infected but asymptomatic. Several large outbreaks were blamed on such spreaders, including infected health workers who worked at several different nursing home facilities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586725126011.png" alt="Dr. Deborah Birx leads the White House coronavirus response team-White House image" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Deborah Birx leads the White House coronavirus response team-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>This past week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that regulates nursing homes issued recommendations urging nursing homes to use separate staffing teams for residents, and to designate separate facilities within nursing homes to keep COVID-19 positive residents away from those who have tested negative.Dr. Deborah Birx, who leads the White House coronavirus response, suggested this past week that as more COVID-19 tests become available, nursing homes should be a top priority.“We need to really ensure that nursing homes have sentinel surveillance. And what do I mean by that? That we’re actively testing in nursing homes, both the residents and the workers, at all times,” Birx said.

Nursing home virus deaths soar past 3,300 in alarming surge

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A major California labor union that claimed to have discovered a stockpile of 39 million masks for health care workers fighting the coronavirus was duped in an elaborate scam uncovered by FBI investigators, according to a newspaper report Sunday.

Investigators stumbled onto the scheme while looking into whether they could intercept the masks for the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Defense Production Act, the U.S. attorney’s office said Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586739551363.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A major California labor union that claimed to have discovered a stockpile of 39 million masks for health care workers fighting the coronavirus was duped in an elaborate scam uncovered by FBI investigators, according to a newspaper report Sunday.Investigators stumbled onto the scheme while looking into whether they could intercept the masks for the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Defense Production Act, the U.S. attorney’s office said Friday.The federal government has been quietly seizing supplies across the country as the outbreak spreads. But in this case, there was no warehouse, and there were no masks to seize, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-11/coronavirus-seiu-masks-fraud-fbi" target="_blank">Los Angeles Times</a>&nbsp;reported.U.S. Attorney Scott Brady told the Times that investigators tracked the tip back to a Pittsburgh businessman, who said he had been working with the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West to secure millions of masks.The businessman had been using WhatsApp to connect with a broker in Australia and a supplier in Kuwait, who are both now the target of a federal investigation, Brady said.The union, known as SEIU, and the Pittsburgh businessman are not under investigation and both appear to be among a string of middlemen who were fooled, Brady said.“There are opportunists who are looking for any victim,” he said.The promise of 39 million masks was first made public March 26, when the union announced it had found the stockpile after 48 hours of frantic phone calls pursuing leads on potential suppliers. The announcement by the union was widely covered by major media outlets and listed several hospital systems and government agencies as buyers.Behind the scenes, the deal quickly unraveled. Buyers said they failed to receive reliable information about where they could inspect the shipments.At one point, the Australian broker told the middleman in Pittsburgh that 2 million masks were located in a warehouse in Georgia and that the product had been inspected by a particular certification company.That, Brady said, “was also part of the ruse.”No money was exchanged in the attempts to finalize a deal, according to Brady.Experts in the global supply chain say dubious brokers and suppliers have flooded the market with suspect offers, creating an atmosphere of confusion and distrust just as hospitals are trying to stock up on the gear doctors and nurses need to protect themselves from the virus.Steve Trossman, spokesman for SEIU-UHW, told the Times that union officials had been trying to find equipment for members, and the group had no financial interest in any transactions.“As far as we knew, he had legitimate masks,” Trossman said of the supplier, “and the people who were going to purchase those masks were going to fully vet it and check it out and do their due diligence.”Brady said federal investigators had reason to suspect the arrangement. The 39 million masks were advertised as N95 masks from 3M, the largest U.S.-based manufacturer. But 3M told federal investigators it manufactured only 20 million such masks last year, making that large of a stockpile unlikely unless the product was counterfeit.

Coronavirus Update