WASHINGTON (EPA)-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has identified approximately 225,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) available to support the COVID-19 response.

“EPA is working hard to support our nation’s first responders as they risk their own safety to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic,”&nbsp;said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.&nbsp;“After searching our inventory of personal protective equipment, we identified excess supplies and sent them to those on the frontlines of this fight. At EPA we are here to help in any way we can and I encourage everyone else to do the same.”

Over the coming days, EPA will develop a plan for rapid distribution of available personal protective equipment to FEMA or state and local governments in need, that are working COVID-19 operations. Among the items are protective disposable gloves, and full-body protective cover-all suits.

EPA maintains a supply of personal protective equipment as part of the Agency’s emergency response functions, such as responding to chemical, oil, radiological, biological and hazardous incidents. EPA also provides additional response assistance when state and local first responder capabilities have been exhausted or when additional support is requested. The Agency identified the excess personal protective equipment after assessing how much equipment would be needed to support EPA’s essential functions.&nbsp; EPA will donate excess equipment while still maintaining its emergency response readiness.

WASHINGTON (EPA)-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has identified approximately 225,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) available to support the COVID-19 response.“EPA is working hard to support our nation’s first responders as they risk their own safety to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic,”&nbsp;said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.&nbsp;“After searching our inventory of personal protective equipment, we identified excess supplies and sent them to those on the frontlines of this fight. At EPA we are here to help in any way we can and I encourage everyone else to do the same.”Over the coming days, EPA will develop a plan for rapid distribution of available personal protective equipment to FEMA or state and local governments in need, that are working COVID-19 operations. Among the items are protective disposable gloves, and full-body protective cover-all suits.EPA maintains a supply of personal protective equipment as part of the Agency’s emergency response functions, such as responding to chemical, oil, radiological, biological and hazardous incidents. EPA also provides additional response assistance when state and local first responder capabilities have been exhausted or when additional support is requested. The Agency identified the excess personal protective equipment after assessing how much equipment would be needed to support EPA’s essential functions.&nbsp; EPA will donate excess equipment while still maintaining its emergency response readiness.

EPA to donate PPE to local, state first-responders fighting COVID-19 outbreak

LINCOLN (NSP)-In accordance with the State of Emergency declared by Governor Pete Ricketts and guidelines from federal and local health officials regarding social distancing, NSP will prioritize some specific fingerprinting services through Friday, May 22, 2020. Appointments will be available for all categories beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

Between April 6 and May 22, fingerprinting appointments will be available for the following categories. Appointments must be made in advance and will include extra precautions.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those who are required to be fingerprinted under the Sex Offender Registration Act, including federal sex offender regulations

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Concealed Handgun Permit applicants

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Concealed Handgun Permit renewal applicants who are unable to renew online.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Law Enforcement Officers

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Healthcare, Daycare, and other essential personnel not covered by an Executive Order

Nebraskans who fit any of those categories can call the NSP Criminal Identification Division office in Lincoln at 402-479-4971 to schedule appointments, regardless of your location in Nebraska. Renewals or changes to existing CHPs, such as updating a name or mailing address, can still be completed online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-nsp-chp/" target="_blank">https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-nsp-chp/</a>.

Pursuant to Executive Orders 20-08 and 20-10 regarding healthcare workers and daycare providers, work&nbsp;may begin prior to completion of an FBI fingerprint-based background check. Those who are covered by an Executive Order should schedule that required fingerprint-based background check for after May 26, 2020.

Other persons required to be fingerprinted for employment purposes, such as law enforcement, healthcare/daycare providers not covered by an Executive Order, or other essential personnel who are not subject to an Executive Order amending timeline requirements, should call 402-479-4971 for scheduling options.

The unavailability of fingerprinting appointments at NSP does not interfere with an employer’s ability to conduct the background checks that are still required during this time.

LINCOLN (NSP)-In accordance with the State of Emergency declared by Governor Pete Ricketts and guidelines from federal and local health officials regarding social distancing, NSP will prioritize some specific fingerprinting services through Friday, May 22, 2020. Appointments will be available for all categories beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2020.Between April 6 and May 22, fingerprinting appointments will be available for the following categories. Appointments must be made in advance and will include extra precautions.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those who are required to be fingerprinted under the Sex Offender Registration Act, including federal sex offender regulations·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Concealed Handgun Permit applicants·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Concealed Handgun Permit renewal applicants who are unable to renew online.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Law Enforcement Officers·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Healthcare, Daycare, and other essential personnel not covered by an Executive OrderNebraskans who fit any of those categories can call the NSP Criminal Identification Division office in Lincoln at 402-479-4971 to schedule appointments, regardless of your location in Nebraska. Renewals or changes to existing CHPs, such as updating a name or mailing address, can still be completed online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-nsp-chp/" target="_blank">https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-nsp-chp/</a>.Pursuant to Executive Orders 20-08 and 20-10 regarding healthcare workers and daycare providers, work&nbsp;may begin prior to completion of an FBI fingerprint-based background check. Those who are covered by an Executive Order should schedule that required fingerprint-based background check for after May 26, 2020.Other persons required to be fingerprinted for employment purposes, such as law enforcement, healthcare/daycare providers not covered by an Executive Order, or other essential personnel who are not subject to an Executive Order amending timeline requirements, should call 402-479-4971 for scheduling options.The unavailability of fingerprinting appointments at NSP does not interfere with an employer’s ability to conduct the background checks that are still required during this time.

NSP to prioritize specific fingerprinting services during pandemic

<a></a>NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (WCDHD)-West
Central District Health Department (WCDHD) was contacted today by the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and was informed
that the COVID-19 case in Logan County was entered into the
electronic tracking system incorrectly by another department. This
means the Logan County case count is still zero. T

he case assigned to
Logan county in error will be&nbsp;updated&nbsp;to the correct county
today at 6pm. &nbsp;The current WCDHD case total is 16 in Lincoln
County.

<a></a>NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (WCDHD)-West
Central District Health Department (WCDHD) was contacted today by the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and was informed
that the COVID-19 case in Logan County was entered into the
electronic tracking system incorrectly by another department. This
means the Logan County case count is still zero. The case assigned to
Logan county in error will be&nbsp;updated&nbsp;to the correct county
today at 6pm. &nbsp;The current WCDHD case total is 16 in Lincoln
County.

WCDHD: Logan County case was entered into tracking system by mistake, count still zero

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In some cases, residents are turning on neighbors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Residents snitch on neighbors, businesses amid pandemic shutdown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eighteen of those patients in Minnehaha County have recovered. 

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

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

South Dakota virus cases up to 240; Trump declares disaster

WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza today announced that SBA issued guidance clarifying that all faith-based organizations impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) are eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, without restrictions based on their religious identity or activities, to the extent they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the CARES Act that was passed by Congress, signed into law by President Trump, and implemented by the Paycheck Protection Act Interim Final Rule.

“Following the passage of the emergency economic relief assistance, the Administration and Congress acted to ensure that small businesses and non-profits alike have access to critical funds to keep their workers paid and employed,” said Carranza. “Faith-based organizations have always provided critical social services for people in need, and SBA will make clear that these organizations may access this emergency capital.”

The Paycheck Protection Program is designed to keep small business workers employed and provide small businesses with capital through the nation’s banks and other lending institutions, with support from the SBA. The Paycheck Protection Program’s maximum loan amount is $10 million with a fixed 1% interest rate and maturity of two years. SBA will forgive the portion of loan proceeds used for payroll costs and other designated operating expenses for up to eight weeks provided at least 75% of loan proceeds are used for payroll costs.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides qualifying small businesses and non-profits with working capital up to $2 million with low interest rates and terms extending up to 30 years.

“While every American is being affected by COVID-19, the impact of this pandemic is particularly hurting our schools and places of worship, and disproportionately impacting the underrepresented communities, the sick, the elderly and the lower income,” added Carranza. “It’s vitally important that organizations focused on delivering critical social services and meeting community needs remain viable, particularly during this economically challenging time.”

WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza today announced that SBA issued guidance clarifying that all faith-based organizations impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) are eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, without restrictions based on their religious identity or activities, to the extent they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the CARES Act that was passed by Congress, signed into law by President Trump, and implemented by the Paycheck Protection Act Interim Final Rule.“Following the passage of the emergency economic relief assistance, the Administration and Congress acted to ensure that small businesses and non-profits alike have access to critical funds to keep their workers paid and employed,” said Carranza. “Faith-based organizations have always provided critical social services for people in need, and SBA will make clear that these organizations may access this emergency capital.”The Paycheck Protection Program is designed to keep small business workers employed and provide small businesses with capital through the nation’s banks and other lending institutions, with support from the SBA. The Paycheck Protection Program’s maximum loan amount is $10 million with a fixed 1% interest rate and maturity of two years. SBA will forgive the portion of loan proceeds used for payroll costs and other designated operating expenses for up to eight weeks provided at least 75% of loan proceeds are used for payroll costs.The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides qualifying small businesses and non-profits with working capital up to $2 million with low interest rates and terms extending up to 30 years.“While every American is being affected by COVID-19, the impact of this pandemic is particularly hurting our schools and places of worship, and disproportionately impacting the underrepresented communities, the sick, the elderly and the lower income,” added Carranza. “It’s vitally important that organizations focused on delivering critical social services and meeting community needs remain viable, particularly during this economically challenging time.”

SBA clarifies eligibility of faith-based organizations to participate in programs

WHO: Drinking bleach, methanol, ethanol does not prevent virus 

PHOENIX (AP) — There are only a handful of states in the country where food aid recipients can buy groceries online. 

The coronavirus pandemic is shining a light on that and other inflexibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, colloquially known as food stamps. 

The program helps millions of Americans pay for food, and with the economy collapsing, activists say it's more vital than ever. 

But with the virus outbreak forcing many to stay home, governors are pressing the federal government to relax its rules and make the program more accessible.

PHOENIX (AP) — There are only a handful of states in the country where food aid recipients can buy groceries online. The coronavirus pandemic is shining a light on that and other inflexibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, colloquially known as food stamps. The program helps millions of Americans pay for food, and with the economy collapsing, activists say it's more vital than ever. But with the virus outbreak forcing many to stay home, governors are pressing the federal government to relax its rules and make the program more accessible.

Governors plead for food stamp flexibility amid pandemic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The outlook, however, was bleak in Britain, which reported more than 600 deaths Sunday, surpassing Italy’s increase. Italy still has, by far, the world’s highest coronavirus death toll — almost 16,000.

“I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge,” she said. “And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/faa93f9fde3483bb13a605fa0d400b0c">In a rare televised address</a>, Queen Elizabeth II appealed to Britons to rise the occasion, while acknowledging enormous disruptions, grief and financial difficulties.

Johnson, meanwhile, has been hospitalized, though his office said it was not an emergency and that the 55-year-old Conservative will undergo tests.

There are concerns that Johnson’s government did not take the virus seriously enough at first and that spring weather will tempt Britons and others to break social distancing rules.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the U.K. might even ban outdoor exercise if people still ’’flout the rules.″

“The vast majority of people are following the public health advice, which is absolutely critical, and staying at home,” Hancock told Sky TV. “But there are a small minority of people who are still not doing that — it’s quite unbelievable, frankly, to see that.”

As the numbers of infections rose, Saffron Cordery, the deputy head of Britain’s National Health Service Providers, said the agency needed to focus on quickly increasing ventilator capacity and getting more protective equipment for health care workers.

Italians have not been immune to lure of the good weather, either. Top Italian officials took to national television after photos were published showing huge crowds out shopping.

Health Minister Roberto Speranza told RAI state television that all the sacrifices Italians have made since the nationwide lockdown began risked being reversed.

Restrictions on movement vary from country to country, state to state, locality to locality. Swedes have been advised to practice social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remain open. In Germany and Britain, residents can get outdoors to exercise and walk their dogs, while in Serbia and South Africa, dog walking is not allowed.

The ACLU filed its first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/86171da74e787acf1a3c613a1c516311">lawsuit&nbsp;</a>over coronavirus restrictions, arguing in part that Puerto Rico’s curfew leaves people fearing arrest if they help elderly relatives by letting police determine who belongs in a family. A coastal community’s mayor in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/feecf34f9f49a2436246ef9451a683dc">Georgia</a>&nbsp;fears the governor’s mandate to open beaches will bring crowds to the small island with older residents and no medical facility.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ab92b02d9729f12678f667d80abda876">blessed palms for Palm Sunday&nbsp;</a>in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica. At a New Orleans church, Rev. Emmanuel Mulenga blessed palm fronds and put them on a back table so people could get them while also observing social distancing.

Worldwide, more than 1.2 million people have been confirmed infected and nearly 70,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, due to limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.

The vast majority of infected people recover from the virus, which is spread by microscopic droplets from coughs or sneezes. For most people, the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death.

The rapid spread of the virus in the United States has prompted a chaotic scramble for medical equipment and protective gear.

An Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/090600c299a8cf07f5b44d92534856bc">review</a>&nbsp;of purchasing contracts showed that federal agencies largely waited until mid-March — more than two months after the first warnings of a potential pandemic — to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers.

By that time, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and pleading for shipments from the national stockpile. Now that stockpile is nearly drained just as the numbers of patients requiring critical care is surging.

When asked about the issue, Trump said federal officials and the military had worked “a miracle.”

Rebekah Gee, who heads the Louisiana State University’s health care services division, warned that the private and public sector have been competing with each other, leading to price increases.

Gee said one of her colleagues went on eBay to buy gowns, while equipment her department ordered from China got stalled for weeks in Hong Kong.

“Our whole country is at war with this virus,” said Gee, who once ran the state’s Department of Health. “This needs a coordinated approach, and right now that’s not happening.”

Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been hard hit by the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming equipment shortages.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he hoped the pace of new infections would plateau soon, but that the virus is unlikely to be eradicated this year.

Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Fauci said the prospect of a resurgence is why the U.S. is working so hard to develop a vaccine and conducting clinical trials on treatments.

Scientists are still learning about the virus that was first detected in late December in Wuhan, China. In what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S., officials said Sunday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0f47b8e4f883579712599690e1752c09">a tiger at the Bronx Zoo had tested positive</a>.

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

Surgeon General: Americans face ‘hardest, saddest’ week of their lives

LINCOLN –&nbsp;First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported in the following counties:

All 93 Nebraska counties are now covered by state Directed Health Measures (DHMs) until May 11 -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kcm9wYm94LmNvbS9zL3RhdTR1NjE4MGx1MGtuYS9ESE0lMjA0LjMuMjAyMC5wZGY_ZGw9MCJ9.L2fX_G_o5ghq_Kz8QusL2tLJg3fQlAn02uM-shKoOIg%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032833862&amp;sdata=bmONIh4SOL7Y703XkbGJdEtIKJOhnG4H7oSl7ZynCL4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.dropbox.com/s/tau4u6180lu0kna/DHM%204.3.2020.pdf?dl=0</a>. It’s critical that Nebraskans follow these enforceable state Directed Health Measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. These measures help protect each other and those who are more vulnerable to severe illness and death, and help hospitals and clinics from being overwhelmed so they can continue to provide care to families, friends and neighbors who need it.

In addition to the state-issued DHM, some Local Health Departments have issued additional restrictions -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvUGFnZXMvQ29yb25hdmlydXMuYXNweCNTZWN0aW9uTGluazEifQ.2zNN4imvzTmNK3JDwbRxrwodsvBQ8_Z_ywtHnNWzjvw%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032843816&amp;sdata=EX9lmiihn3QRmFHdlojZxDpSAM%2BiSOrAVFRa1Azzs0k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx#SectionLink1</a>.

Tonight’s state case total is 367. DHHS launched a new data dashboard that provides daily updates to the state’s COVID-19 case totals. You can find it at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvY29yb25hdmlydXMifQ.S_VKzA4lUL6EpiwolOgnHmOAia38e0QX8oP6Kf8BL9c%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032843816&amp;sdata=G7C7cOfeXGmzM2ucPq4vpTZKvJlFl3sOpcbMjFgytS0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.

Here’s where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdhhs.ne.gov%252Fcoronavirus%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3DOWKoYpNQt-PdHqXDs3t9sCGKsfwf4zoXmdKSceErz7k&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032853771&amp;sdata=PFq8%2FapcYaCxgEv4hBUSR6sqpZGDKRt2tn498pJ%2BH7s%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC’s website –&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%252F%253Furl%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%25252Flink.php%25253FDynEngagement%25253Dtrue%252526H%25253DqJ9juQrYQnz1cqUgIm8psgUQ75z%2525252Bv%2525252FUt%2525252BmzLgDhho6nnEEJMrQdYl6oy7vczWA37VWVZ3XG5jDNfUyfwrz8XAk5ETFXv5UBHpCO%2525252BtQ9zJVd%2525252FyD93cuXutxGJ8rf%2525252BRXdj64Fg2MDo%2525252FFI%2525253D%252526G%25253D0%252526R%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.cdc.gov%2525252Fcovid19%252526I%25253D20200228212559.00000572228f%25252540mail6-42-usnbn1%252526X%25253DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNTk4NTVhMGJmYzRiOWViOTgxMWI3ODs%2525253D%252526S%25253DZzjcgDmQ4xMygm9EK4HNx8nmH8Bk9uriJycy51nrpsE%2526data%253D02%25257C01%25257Ckhalilah.legrand%252540nebraska.gov%25257C7986f7edfcbd449e10e008d7bc94cf93%25257C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%25257C0%25257C0%25257C637185219636880975%2526sdata%253D9wCGyXgupbO8XHXIqlFLwoysbZB%25252BuB%25252B02JIhXlYFdLQ%25253D%2526reserved%253D0%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3Dr4S2IzklWREFo0qXx2X5JDVPUbfOPtatXzo8yeO_XgE&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032853771&amp;sdata=voJdj9yTs6bbTKjrn17hlaa9p4O8rb9gi5%2BqaTdvrPk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.&nbsp;

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

DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC’s website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%252F%253Furl%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%25252Flink.php%25253FDynEngagement%25253Dtrue%252526H%25253DqJ9juQrYQnz1cqUgIm8psgUQ75z%2525252Bv%2525252FUt%2525252BmzLgDhho6nnEEJMrQdYl6oy7vczWA37VWVZ3XG5jDNfUyfwrz8XAk5ETFXv5UBHpCO%2525252BtQ9zJVd%2525252FyD93cuXutxGJ8rf%2525252BRXdj64Fg2MDo%2525252FFI%2525253D%252526G%25253D0%252526R%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.cdc.gov%2525252Fcovid19%252526I%25253D20200228212559.00000572228f%25252540mail6-42-usnbn1%252526X%25253DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNTk4NTVhMGJmYzRiOWViOTgxMWI3ODs%2525253D%252526S%25253DZzjcgDmQ4xMygm9EK4HNx8nmH8Bk9uriJycy51nrpsE%2526data%253D02%25257C01%25257Ckhalilah.legrand%252540nebraska.gov%25257C7986f7edfcbd449e10e008d7bc94cf93%25257C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%25257C0%25257C0%25257C637185219636880975%2526sdata%253D9wCGyXgupbO8XHXIqlFLwoysbZB%25252BuB%25252B02JIhXlYFdLQ%25253D%2526reserved%253D0%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3Dr4S2IzklWREFo0qXx2X5JDVPUbfOPtatXzo8yeO_XgE&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032863730&amp;sdata=MQGc4t3XpxqKSMIT%2FzuihFe047QB7b%2F9jrUifJvPXUI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.

Follow DHHS on&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FNEDHHS%252F%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3DjAmsa7f-sSNLfdhIK-j9Ff2b9ZTVny00ARF2cGhGOgA&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032873685&amp;sdata=HvkBrt38pGftOTJ3Dcg4%2BOwI52Kw39Z1x7PKk4hTZs8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252FNEDHHS%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3DHghj_aVjMYCiCo3uvsdsfl7MrjsZbfAEHO79OrgH9VE&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032873685&amp;sdata=c3z1kf0%2BOtbdnEsERY21NFLo1RJuinqs7I7g5Rhko3U%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to learn more about the health of Nebraskans.

LINCOLN –&nbsp;First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported in the following counties:<ol>
 <li>Custer -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mYWNlYm9vay5jb20vbGJwaGQub3JnL3Bvc3RzLzEwMTYzMTM4OTk3NzU1MzMyIn0.iVQ3SyRa9iyjOaxUX6I2ZyhcoRjsJcnkZdnyYC_rBAw%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032813953&amp;sdata=wbWXCr60hsiaYxul6vy9j0g1SOdva3%2FerGMt1f6oDSs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/lbphd.org/posts/10163138997755332</a></li><li>Johnson -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnNlZGhkLm9yZy8ifQ.HG-omQZ3Lc1ii-gQEARXVfhw-zvB0levoUwlg-c2jbc%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032823903&amp;sdata=8J93JuIYm9rXNvWtkHg7ZsclhbQvNqXBJRZpeQcwTGw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.sedhd.org/</a></li><li>Logan -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mYWNlYm9vay5jb20vd2NkaGQvIn0.IBJd-EZuWTNhhZepfjw7gqWXGyJ32YOk52MhEeO5z3M%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032823903&amp;sdata=vFsFxWtxbnPjzf8FjTZ0UumscU%2BfkWEzqUeftjZT8DY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/wcdhd/</a></li><li>Phelps -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50cnBoZC5vcmcvIn0.yQW0bB6wliqVgbWd1XMf1ivjXzdEEq1Qi42IUNqczGs%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032823903&amp;sdata=orPFe1QYbCj3Kk6q0F7e6L5n9cK%2BweuGbwD5dOxk%2B04%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.trphd.org/</a></li><li>Seward -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmZvdXJjb3JuZXJzLm5lLmdvdi8ifQ.u5XN4xP7xriLyWtYil3JIFgSANAsjy3s-dukcDh-ceE%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032833862&amp;sdata=uY3Kg8f9ABsBdigPxwUZZKJXqLU7TJLwEWuHFMus9wU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.fourcorners.ne.gov/</a></li>
 </ol>All 93 Nebraska counties are now covered by state Directed Health Measures (DHMs) until May 11 -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kcm9wYm94LmNvbS9zL3RhdTR1NjE4MGx1MGtuYS9ESE0lMjA0LjMuMjAyMC5wZGY_ZGw9MCJ9.L2fX_G_o5ghq_Kz8QusL2tLJg3fQlAn02uM-shKoOIg%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032833862&amp;sdata=bmONIh4SOL7Y703XkbGJdEtIKJOhnG4H7oSl7ZynCL4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.dropbox.com/s/tau4u6180lu0kna/DHM%204.3.2020.pdf?dl=0</a>. It’s critical that Nebraskans follow these enforceable state Directed Health Measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. These measures help protect each other and those who are more vulnerable to severe illness and death, and help hospitals and clinics from being overwhelmed so they can continue to provide care to families, friends and neighbors who need it.In addition to the state-issued DHM, some Local Health Departments have issued additional restrictions -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvUGFnZXMvQ29yb25hdmlydXMuYXNweCNTZWN0aW9uTGluazEifQ.2zNN4imvzTmNK3JDwbRxrwodsvBQ8_Z_ywtHnNWzjvw%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032843816&amp;sdata=EX9lmiihn3QRmFHdlojZxDpSAM%2BiSOrAVFRa1Azzs0k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx#SectionLink1</a>.Tonight’s state case total is 367. DHHS launched a new data dashboard that provides daily updates to the state’s COVID-19 case totals. You can find it at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MDYuMTk3NzUxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vZGhocy5uZS5nb3YvY29yb25hdmlydXMifQ.S_VKzA4lUL6EpiwolOgnHmOAia38e0QX8oP6Kf8BL9c%2Fbr%2F77060347856-l&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032843816&amp;sdata=G7C7cOfeXGmzM2ucPq4vpTZKvJlFl3sOpcbMjFgytS0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.Here’s where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdhhs.ne.gov%252Fcoronavirus%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3DOWKoYpNQt-PdHqXDs3t9sCGKsfwf4zoXmdKSceErz7k&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032853771&amp;sdata=PFq8%2FapcYaCxgEv4hBUSR6sqpZGDKRt2tn498pJ%2BH7s%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC’s website –&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%252F%253Furl%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%25252Flink.php%25253FDynEngagement%25253Dtrue%252526H%25253DqJ9juQrYQnz1cqUgIm8psgUQ75z%2525252Bv%2525252FUt%2525252BmzLgDhho6nnEEJMrQdYl6oy7vczWA37VWVZ3XG5jDNfUyfwrz8XAk5ETFXv5UBHpCO%2525252BtQ9zJVd%2525252FyD93cuXutxGJ8rf%2525252BRXdj64Fg2MDo%2525252FFI%2525253D%252526G%25253D0%252526R%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.cdc.gov%2525252Fcovid19%252526I%25253D20200228212559.00000572228f%25252540mail6-42-usnbn1%252526X%25253DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNTk4NTVhMGJmYzRiOWViOTgxMWI3ODs%2525253D%252526S%25253DZzjcgDmQ4xMygm9EK4HNx8nmH8Bk9uriJycy51nrpsE%2526data%253D02%25257C01%25257Ckhalilah.legrand%252540nebraska.gov%25257C7986f7edfcbd449e10e008d7bc94cf93%25257C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%25257C0%25257C0%25257C637185219636880975%2526sdata%253D9wCGyXgupbO8XHXIqlFLwoysbZB%25252BuB%25252B02JIhXlYFdLQ%25253D%2526reserved%253D0%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3Dr4S2IzklWREFo0qXx2X5JDVPUbfOPtatXzo8yeO_XgE&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032853771&amp;sdata=voJdj9yTs6bbTKjrn17hlaa9p4O8rb9gi5%2BqaTdvrPk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.&nbsp;DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CST, 7 days a week.DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC’s website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%252F%253Furl%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%25252Flink.php%25253FDynEngagement%25253Dtrue%252526H%25253DqJ9juQrYQnz1cqUgIm8psgUQ75z%2525252Bv%2525252FUt%2525252BmzLgDhho6nnEEJMrQdYl6oy7vczWA37VWVZ3XG5jDNfUyfwrz8XAk5ETFXv5UBHpCO%2525252BtQ9zJVd%2525252FyD93cuXutxGJ8rf%2525252BRXdj64Fg2MDo%2525252FFI%2525253D%252526G%25253D0%252526R%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.cdc.gov%2525252Fcovid19%252526I%25253D20200228212559.00000572228f%25252540mail6-42-usnbn1%252526X%25253DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNTk4NTVhMGJmYzRiOWViOTgxMWI3ODs%2525253D%252526S%25253DZzjcgDmQ4xMygm9EK4HNx8nmH8Bk9uriJycy51nrpsE%2526data%253D02%25257C01%25257Ckhalilah.legrand%252540nebraska.gov%25257C7986f7edfcbd449e10e008d7bc94cf93%25257C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%25257C0%25257C0%25257C637185219636880975%2526sdata%253D9wCGyXgupbO8XHXIqlFLwoysbZB%25252BuB%25252B02JIhXlYFdLQ%25253D%2526reserved%253D0%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3Dr4S2IzklWREFo0qXx2X5JDVPUbfOPtatXzo8yeO_XgE&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032863730&amp;sdata=MQGc4t3XpxqKSMIT%2FzuihFe047QB7b%2F9jrUifJvPXUI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19</a>.Follow DHHS on&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FNEDHHS%252F%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3DjAmsa7f-sSNLfdhIK-j9Ff2b9ZTVny00ARF2cGhGOgA&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032873685&amp;sdata=HvkBrt38pGftOTJ3Dcg4%2BOwI52Kw39Z1x7PKk4hTZs8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ficm-tracking.meltwater.com%2Flink.php%3FDynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DAqX%252Fyxxn%252FCsKfNEzXNs%252BvxKe7ZZW379%252BIapVVCHkcj06tGRioNXHydnB8SDRy9JxKxbnmsbGajTZ1uu1UqTWx8FWCJ69lKl%252B805rdeXi%252FidskzQDoiAMzbfDT%252FjzP8CI2zrCmk2%252FYqI%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252FNEDHHS%26I%3D20200323005305.0000065c8bd7%2540mail6-60-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVlNzgwODY0Yzg1ZWFiNTE5ZTcyYjRmZTs%253D%26S%3DHghj_aVjMYCiCo3uvsdsfl7MrjsZbfAEHO79OrgH9VE&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C82dd43e1478f4552cab508d7d9d22c72%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637217369032873685&amp;sdata=c3z1kf0%2BOtbdnEsERY21NFLo1RJuinqs7I7g5Rhko3U%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to learn more about the health of Nebraskans.

First cases of COVID-19 reported in several Nebraska counties

Unified Command can confirm there are eight additional confirmed cases in Panhandle Public Health District. 

&nbsp;Three are from Scotts Bluff County, two women in their 50’s, one woman in her &nbsp;40’s; four people from Kimball County, two females in their 40’s, a female in her 30’s, a male in his 20’s; and one person from Cheyenne county, a female in her 20’s. One person is hospitalized, the others are recovering at home. The contact investigation has begun for all confirmed cases, and additional information will be released when completed. &nbsp;

Everyone that is identified as a close contact of those testing positive will be notified by public health and will be placed in quarantine for 14 days since their last exposure. If you are identified as a close contact, you will receive a call from public health. All community exposures will be updated on PPHD’s website by late afternoon tomorrow.

Of the new Kimball County cases, 2 are family members of previous cases, and 3 are close contacts to previous cases. Of the Scotts Bluff cases, two are related to travel and one a close contact of a travel case. The Cheyenne County case is a close contact of a previous case.

All Panhandle residents need to follow strict social distancing and implement these protective measures.

Keep at least 6 feet distance from any people you do not live with. 

Avoid gathering in any group other than with the people we live with. &nbsp;If a group is necessary, limit it to 10 people and remember the 6 feet rule.

Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds each time

Cover your nose and mouth&nbsp;with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and throw the tissue away

Avoid touching your face,&nbsp;eyes, and mouth with unwashed hands. 

Kimball residents are advised to monitor their symptoms and self-quarantine if possible due to the prevalence of exposures; all residents are at high risk. For your safety, please follow these guidelines

Monitor your symptoms: &nbsp;Check your temperature twice a day and monitor for sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, or diarrhea. If you experience symptoms, call your provider and self-isolate. 

Practice strict social distancing and self-quarantine, if possible.

Panhandle community exposure sites will be updated tomorrow when we have the details from the investigation. &nbsp;http://www.pphd.org/potential_community_exposure_sites.html.

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

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

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

By PPHDUnified Command can confirm there are eight additional confirmed cases in Panhandle Public Health District. &nbsp;Three are from Scotts Bluff County, two women in their 50’s, one woman in her &nbsp;40’s; four people from Kimball County, two females in their 40’s, a female in her 30’s, a male in his 20’s; and one person from Cheyenne county, a female in her 20’s. One person is hospitalized, the others are recovering at home. The contact investigation has begun for all confirmed cases, and additional information will be released when completed. &nbsp;Everyone that is identified as a close contact of those testing positive will be notified by public health and will be placed in quarantine for 14 days since their last exposure. If you are identified as a close contact, you will receive a call from public health. All community exposures will be updated on PPHD’s website by late afternoon tomorrow.Of the new Kimball County cases, 2 are family members of previous cases, and 3 are close contacts to previous cases. Of the Scotts Bluff cases, two are related to travel and one a close contact of a travel case. The Cheyenne County case is a close contact of a previous case.All Panhandle residents need to follow strict social distancing and implement these protective measures.Stay home as much as possible.Keep at least 6 feet distance from any people you do not live with. Avoid gathering in any group other than with the people we live with. &nbsp;If a group is necessary, limit it to 10 people and remember the 6 feet rule.Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds each timeCover your nose and mouth&nbsp;with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and throw the tissue awayAvoid touching your face,&nbsp;eyes, and mouth with unwashed hands. Kimball residents are advised to monitor their symptoms and self-quarantine if possible due to the prevalence of exposures; all residents are at high risk. For your safety, please follow these guidelinesMonitor your symptoms: &nbsp;Check your temperature twice a day and monitor for sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, or diarrhea. If you experience symptoms, call your provider and self-isolate. Practice strict social distancing and self-quarantine, if possible.Panhandle community exposure sites will be updated tomorrow when we have the details from the investigation. &nbsp;http://www.pphd.org/potential_community_exposure_sites.html.Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners. For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. &nbsp;Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

8 additional tests are confirmed positive for COVID-19 in panhandle

Central District Health Department reports a total of 56 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Central District as of 5:00 p.m. on April 5, 2020. 

This marks a significant increase in cases in the past 48 hours and does not include the number of cases being diagnosed by health care providers without COVID testing based on symptoms alone. This total also does not reflect cases of COVID-19 in individuals whose symptoms may be mild enough that they do not seek healthcare. 

Additional testing resources will be available by the end of the week. CDHD stresses the importance of staying home. 

This information will be translated into Spanish and will be posted when it becomes available.

Central District Health Department reports a total of 56 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Central District as of 5:00 p.m. on April 5, 2020. This marks a significant increase in cases in the past 48 hours and does not include the number of cases being diagnosed by health care providers without COVID testing based on symptoms alone. This total also does not reflect cases of COVID-19 in individuals whose symptoms may be mild enough that they do not seek healthcare. Additional testing resources will be available by the end of the week. CDHD stresses the importance of staying home. This information will be translated into Spanish and will be posted when it becomes available.

Central District Health Dept. reports 56 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19

KEARNEY, Neb. (DHHS)-On Sunday, DHHS’ Epidemiology and YRTC-Kearney staff along with Two Rivers Health Department and the Nebraska National Guard, setup on-site testing for all of YRTC-K residents and staff. After one teammate, who did not return to work after becoming symptomatic, tested positive, a contact investigation commenced. A second teammate was identified as a result of the initial contact investigation.

CEO Dannette Smith said, “We are taking decisive action to coordinate testing to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and staff. As outlined in our pandemic plan, staff did everything right, those who were symptomatic did not come in to work and immediately reported symptoms to a supervisor, temperature checks of residents and staff began in March and physical visitations were replaced with virtual visits. These steps were key in us immediately identifying potential exposures and mitigating spread. Today, 162 staff were tested with the help of about 25 National Guardsmen. The testing process was very efficient and we appreciate the rapid response from the Guard and Two Rivers.”

Additional actions at the facility will allow for continuity of operations. Should it become necessary, the plan in place identifies spaces to be used as potential quarantine or isolation areas. Residents will be rotated in and/or out based on medical assessments. Staff identified as positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to work until they are appropriately quarantined and are a symptomatic for at least 72 hours.

The YRTC Kearney staff will work diligently to maintain regular communication between youth and their families, and key stakeholders. The DHHS Epidemiology team, Two Rivers Health Department and the NE National Guard will continue to conduct close contact investigations and arrange for monitoring and testing of individuals identified as needed.

Test results are expected mid-week and those results will dictate next steps. We will share more information in the coming days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586133416557.png" alt="Photo: DHHS" />
 <figcaption>Photo: DHHS</figcaption>
 </figure>News ReleaseKEARNEY, Neb. (DHHS)-On Sunday, DHHS’ Epidemiology and YRTC-Kearney staff along with Two Rivers Health Department and the Nebraska National Guard, setup on-site testing for all of YRTC-K residents and staff. After one teammate, who did not return to work after becoming symptomatic, tested positive, a contact investigation commenced. A second teammate was identified as a result of the initial contact investigation.CEO Dannette Smith said, “We are taking decisive action to coordinate testing to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and staff. As outlined in our pandemic plan, staff did everything right, those who were symptomatic did not come in to work and immediately reported symptoms to a supervisor, temperature checks of residents and staff began in March and physical visitations were replaced with virtual visits. These steps were key in us immediately identifying potential exposures and mitigating spread. Today, 162 staff were tested with the help of about 25 National Guardsmen. The testing process was very efficient and we appreciate the rapid response from the Guard and Two Rivers.”Additional actions at the facility will allow for continuity of operations. Should it become necessary, the plan in place identifies spaces to be used as potential quarantine or isolation areas. Residents will be rotated in and/or out based on medical assessments. Staff identified as positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to work until they are appropriately quarantined and are a symptomatic for at least 72 hours.The YRTC Kearney staff will work diligently to maintain regular communication between youth and their families, and key stakeholders. The DHHS Epidemiology team, Two Rivers Health Department and the NE National Guard will continue to conduct close contact investigations and arrange for monitoring and testing of individuals identified as needed.Test results are expected mid-week and those results will dictate next steps. We will share more information in the coming days.

Testing conducted on Kearney YRTC youth, staff after teammate tests positive for COVID-19

We have recently added an additional link called: Student and Parent Technology Support Resources on the NPPS district website under Remote Learning Resources. Included with this information is the phone number of a Technology Helpline for our students &amp; parents.&nbsp;

Student and Parent Technology Support Resources<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/10LaFFVxEuPhb-tcf9FMK--3FSFWUErX4455j2WcMb5Y/edit?usp=sharing">https://docs.google.com/document/d/10LaFFVxEuPhb-tcf9FMK--3FSFWUErX4455j2WcMb5Y/edit?usp=sharing</a>

1If your student is having difficulty accessing remote learning resources you can call for assistance on the technology helpline at (308)535-6060. &nbsp;Technology assistants will assist you in resolving technical issues you are experiencing while accessing remote learning resources.

The helpline will be staffed from 8 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). &nbsp; Again, the phone number for student and parent technology assistance is (308)535-6060.

NPPS staff members will continue to use current procedures in place for submitting for technical assistance through the helpdesk system.&nbsp;

From NPPSDDear NPPS Parents,We have recently added an additional link called: Student and Parent Technology Support Resources on the NPPS district website under Remote Learning Resources. Included with this information is the phone number of a Technology Helpline for our students &amp; parents.&nbsp;Student and Parent Technology Support Resources<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/10LaFFVxEuPhb-tcf9FMK--3FSFWUErX4455j2WcMb5Y/edit?usp=sharing">https://docs.google.com/document/d/10LaFFVxEuPhb-tcf9FMK--3FSFWUErX4455j2WcMb5Y/edit?usp=sharing</a>1If your student is having difficulty accessing remote learning resources you can call for assistance on the technology helpline at (308)535-6060. &nbsp;Technology assistants will assist you in resolving technical issues you are experiencing while accessing remote learning resources.The helpline will be staffed from 8 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). &nbsp; Again, the phone number for student and parent technology assistance is (308)535-6060.NPPS staff members will continue to use current procedures in place for submitting for technical assistance through the helpdesk system.&nbsp;

NPPSD adds technology helpline for students, parents needing remote learning assistance

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first alarms sounded in early January that the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China would ignite a global pandemic. 

But the Trump administration squandered nearly two months that could have been used to bolster the federal stockpile of critically needed medical supplies and equipment. 

Purchasing contracts reviewed by The Associated Press show that federal agencies waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers. 

Now, the national stockpile is nearly drained just as the number of infected patients needing critical care is surging.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first alarms sounded in early January that the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China would ignite a global pandemic. But the Trump administration squandered nearly two months that could have been used to bolster the federal stockpile of critically needed medical supplies and equipment. Purchasing contracts reviewed by The Associated Press show that federal agencies waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers. Now, the national stockpile is nearly drained just as the number of infected patients needing critical care is surging.

U.S. 'wasted' months before preparing for virus pandemic

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/">Latest on the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

— British Prime Minister Johnson admitted to a hospital with the coronavirus.

— Bronx Zoo tiger tests positive for the coronavirus.

— Louisiana health officials: 68 coronavirus-related deaths

— France: 357 deaths in hospitals from the virus in a single day but signs that spread is slowing.

— Fauci: Very good chance coronavirus “will assume a seasonal nature.”

— Palm Sunday services in some Kentucky churches in defiance of Gov. Andy Beshear’s warning against in-person worship.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to a hospital with the new coronavirus.

Johnson’s office says he is being admitted for tests because he still has symptoms, 10 days after testing positive for the virus.

Downing St. says the hospitalization is a “precautionary step” and he remains in charge of the government.

Johnson, 55, has been quarantined in his Downing St. residence since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26.

NEW YORK — A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the new coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said Sunday.

The 4-year-old Malayan tiger, and six other tigers and lions that have also fallen ill, are believed to have been infected by a zoo employee, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The first animal started showing symptoms March 27, and all are expected to recover, said the zoo, which has been closed to the public since March 16.

The finding raises new questions about transmission of the virus in animals. The USDA says there are no known cases of the virus in U.S. pets or livestock.

The coronavirus outbreaks around the world are driven by person-to-person transmission, experts say.

There have been reports of a small number of pets outside the United States becoming infected after close contact with contagious people, including a Hong Kong dog that tested positive for a low level of the pathogen in February and early March. Hong Kong agriculture authorities concluded that pet dogs and cats couldn’t pass the virus to human beings but could test positive if exposed by their owners.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, who was the first congressman to test positive for coronavirus, announced on Twitter that he is now virus free.

“Today, after being deemed #COVID19 free by my doctor, I was able to reunite with my family in Miami. Though still a bit weak, I feel well, &amp; I applied to participate in the @RedCross plasma donation to help those with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections.”

The company 3M said it is working with German authorities to determine whether an incorrect report of one of its mask shipments being diverted to the United States was due to fraud.

Berlin authorities had said last week that a shipment of 200,000 masks intended for Berlin police had been seized in Thailand en route from China.

In a statement Sunday, 3M said it had no record of an order for Berlin police and has offered to help governments verify the authenticity of any offers to sell protective masks, which are used to prevent the spread of coronavirus to health workers and others.

Louisiana health officials reported 68 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, marking the state’s biggest jump in reported deaths since the outbreak began.

The Louisiana Department of Health reported the figures on its website Sunday. The number of infections reported to the state also increased by more than 500 cases from 12,496 to 13,010.

Before Sunday, the largest number of deaths reported in a single day was 60. The numbers represent when the tests were reported to the state, not necessarily when the infections or deaths occurred.

Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been an epicenter for the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming shortages for ventilators and intensive care units.

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia has announced 96 more positive infections from the COVID-19 coronavirus, bringing the total up to 998, with 22 deaths.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has issued a stay-home order for Washington’s approximately 700,000 residents. Neighboring Maryland and Virginia have done the same. Bowser has declared a state of emergency, shuttered all schools and ordered all non-essential businesses to close. White House and Capitol tours have been cancelled and the National Zoo, Smithsonian museum network and Kennedy Center have closed.

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

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

The South Dakota Department of Health reported 28 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus Sunday. That number does not include tests pending in private labs or those who are not being tested.

Minnehaha County reports 23 new positive tests, bringing the total number of cases in South Dakota’s most populous county to 104. Eighteen of those patients in Minnehaha County have recovered.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The ACLU says it is seeking an injunction to block part of Puerto Rico’s strict curfew against the new coronavirus and argues that some of its restrictions are unconstitutional.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/">Latest on the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.TOP OF THE HOUR:— British Prime Minister Johnson admitted to a hospital with the coronavirus.— Bronx Zoo tiger tests positive for the coronavirus.— Louisiana health officials: 68 coronavirus-related deaths— France: 357 deaths in hospitals from the virus in a single day but signs that spread is slowing.— Fauci: Very good chance coronavirus “will assume a seasonal nature.”— Palm Sunday services in some Kentucky churches in defiance of Gov. Andy Beshear’s warning against in-person worship.___LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to a hospital with the new coronavirus.Johnson’s office says he is being admitted for tests because he still has symptoms, 10 days after testing positive for the virus.Downing St. says the hospitalization is a “precautionary step” and he remains in charge of the government.Johnson, 55, has been quarantined in his Downing St. residence since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26.___NEW YORK — A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the new coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said Sunday.The 4-year-old Malayan tiger, and six other tigers and lions that have also fallen ill, are believed to have been infected by a zoo employee, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The first animal started showing symptoms March 27, and all are expected to recover, said the zoo, which has been closed to the public since March 16.The finding raises new questions about transmission of the virus in animals. The USDA says there are no known cases of the virus in U.S. pets or livestock.The coronavirus outbreaks around the world are driven by person-to-person transmission, experts say.There have been reports of a small number of pets outside the United States becoming infected after close contact with contagious people, including a Hong Kong dog that tested positive for a low level of the pathogen in February and early March. Hong Kong agriculture authorities concluded that pet dogs and cats couldn’t pass the virus to human beings but could test positive if exposed by their owners.___Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, who was the first congressman to test positive for coronavirus, announced on Twitter that he is now virus free.“Today, after being deemed #COVID19 free by my doctor, I was able to reunite with my family in Miami. Though still a bit weak, I feel well, &amp; I applied to participate in the @RedCross plasma donation to help those with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections.”___The company 3M said it is working with German authorities to determine whether an incorrect report of one of its mask shipments being diverted to the United States was due to fraud.Berlin authorities had said last week that a shipment of 200,000 masks intended for Berlin police had been seized in Thailand en route from China.In a statement Sunday, 3M said it had no record of an order for Berlin police and has offered to help governments verify the authenticity of any offers to sell protective masks, which are used to prevent the spread of coronavirus to health workers and others.___Louisiana health officials reported 68 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, marking the state’s biggest jump in reported deaths since the outbreak began.The Louisiana Department of Health reported the figures on its website Sunday. The number of infections reported to the state also increased by more than 500 cases from 12,496 to 13,010.Before Sunday, the largest number of deaths reported in a single day was 60. The numbers represent when the tests were reported to the state, not necessarily when the infections or deaths occurred.Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been an epicenter for the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming shortages for ventilators and intensive care units.___WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia has announced 96 more positive infections from the COVID-19 coronavirus, bringing the total up to 998, with 22 deaths.Mayor Muriel Bowser has issued a stay-home order for Washington’s approximately 700,000 residents. Neighboring Maryland and Virginia have done the same. Bowser has declared a state of emergency, shuttered all schools and ordered all non-essential businesses to close. White House and Capitol tours have been cancelled and the National Zoo, Smithsonian museum network and Kennedy Center have closed.___SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota rose to 240 Sunday as President Donald Trump declared a major disaster for the state.Trump’s order directs federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas hit by the coronavirus pandemic.The South Dakota Department of Health reported 28 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus Sunday. That number does not include tests pending in private labs or those who are not being tested.Minnehaha County reports 23 new positive tests, bringing the total number of cases in South Dakota’s most populous county to 104. Eighteen of those patients in Minnehaha County have recovered.___SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The ACLU says it is seeking an injunction to block part of Puerto Rico’s strict curfew against the new coronavirus and argues that some of its restrictions are unconstitutional.The curfew imposed March 15 has shuttered non-essential businesses in the U.S. territory and ordered people to stay home from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and remain there even outside those hours unless they have to buy food or medicine, go to the bank or have an emergency or health-related situation.Violators face a $5,000 fine or a six-month jail term, and police have cited hundreds of people. A spokesman for the U.S. territory’s Justice Department said Sunday there was no immediate comment.It is the first time the ACLU has decided to file a lawsuit in a U.S. jurisdiction related to a coronavirus curfew.___Defense Secretary Mark Esper has issued new requirements for those visiting or working on Department of Defense installations regarding the use of cloth face coverings.Esper says that “to the extent practical,” all individuals on DOD property “will wear” the face coverings when they cannot maintain 6 feet of social distance from others.The guidance is effective immediately. It follows a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that encourages people, especially in areas hit hard by the spread of the coronavirus, to use rudimentary coverings such as T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks to cover their faces while outdoors.Esper outlined the new requirements in a memorandum to senior military leaders Sunday.Esper said the requirement doesn’t apply to a service member’s personal residence on a military installation. But it does apply to work centers and other public areas.He says exceptions may be approved by local commanders or supervisors and then submitted up the chain of command for awareness.___PARIS — France reported 357 deaths in hospitals from the virus in a single day Sunday but showed signs that its spread is slowing after 20 days of national confinement.The country remains among the hardest hit in the world, with 8,078 confirmed deaths since the virus arrived in January. More than a quarter of those who died were in nursing homes, according to figures from the national health service Sunday night.France’s intensive care units continue to fill up fast, with 390 new arrivals since Saturday for a total of 6,978 people in critical care beds. But the daily growth has been slowing, and 250 people left intensive care in the same one-day period. Most of those in intensive care are older, but 106 are under 30 years old.While still high, the number of new deaths in hospitals dropped Sunday for the second day straight and was the lowest since March 29.France continued Sunday to transport critically ill patients out of saturated regions to those with more hospital space and has brought in hundreds of medical personnel to help in the overwhelmed Paris region.___WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci says there a very good chance the new coronavirus “will assume a seasonal nature” because it is unlikely to be under control globally.Fauci is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He says the virus is unlikely to be completely eradicated from the planet this year. That means the U.S. could see the “beginning of a resurgence” during the next flu season.Fauci says the prospect of a resurgence is the reason the U.S. is working so hard to get its preparedness “better than it was.” He says that includes working to develop a vaccine and conducting clinical trials on therapeutic interventions.Fauci also says states that don’t have stay-at-home orders are not putting the rest of the country at risk as much as they are putting themselves at risk.Fauci spoke on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”___LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Some Kentucky churches held Palm Sunday services in defiance of Gov. Andy Beshear’s warning against in-person worship.Dozens of people were at Maryville Baptist Church in Louisville on Sunday, news outlets reported. A video showed a pianist playing and choir members singing during the late morning service.Louisville’s Our Savior Lutheran Church streamed its in-person service live on YouTube. The church had required online registration beforehand and restricted seating to every other pew. The video stream did not show the audience.Beshear warned during his daily briefing on Saturday that mass gatherings “are spreading the coronavirus.“We care about each other in this state, and our faith guides us and gives us the wisdom to do the right thing to protect each other.”Some states, including Florida, have made exemptions to allow religious gatherings to proceed during the coronavirus. Kentucky does not have that exemption.___RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and evangelical backers declared Sunday a day of prayer and fasting against the spread of the new coronavirus, and a small group gathered outside his official residence in the capital, Brasilia, to pray.A day earlier, he posted on social media a video of himself with about a dozen pastors calling for the fasting and prayer. The Rev. Marco Feliciano said the purpose is so that “all the bad predictions made here in Brazil fall to the ground.”Bolsonaro has distanced himself from most world leaders and many members of his own government by repeatedly minimizing the risks posed by COVID-19 and saying younger and healthy people should not self-isolate at home but get back to work.Some of the pastors appearing in the video had previously criticized state governors who introduced quarantines that prevented them from opening their churches.___ROME — Italy has registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths of patients with the coronavirus in more than two weeks.Angelo Borrelli, the head of the national Civil Protection agency on Sunday, said there were 525 deaths in the 24-hour period since Saturday evening. That’s the lowest such figure since 427 deaths were registered on March 19.Italy has a total of 15,887 deaths and nearly 130,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. A day shy of one month under national lockdown that the government ordered to try to contain the wildly spreading contagion, the lower count of day-to-day deaths brought some encouragement.The number of intensive care beds occupied by COVID-19 patients has also showed a decrease in the past few days, including in northern Lombardy, Italy’s most stricken region.___JERUSALEM — The Israeli Defense Ministry says it has helped arrange an airlift of critically needed medical equipment from China to help fight the country’s coronavirus outbreak.In a statement Sunday, the ministry said the first plane, carrying more than 900,000 surgical masks and half a million protective suits for medical teams, is scheduled to arrive on Monday.It said Israeli airline EL Al has modified 11 Boeing Dreamliner aircraft for the operation. The airlift, which is to bring in millions of items as well as breathing machines, is to take place over two weeks.The ministry has been coordinating an effort in recent weeks with other government ministries, the Mossad intelligence agency and the private sector to cope with the health crisis. Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Israeli chemical maker ICL also participated in the airlift mission.Israel has reported more than 8,000 cases of COVID-19 and 48 deaths.___STOCKHOLM, Sweden — King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has asked the country to “stay home at Easter,” during a rare televised address to the nation.Speaking from the remote Stenhammar Palace where the 73-year-old monarch is self-isolating, the King paid tribute to healthcare workers battling the outbreak that has now claimed 401 lives in the Scandinavian nation.The King said staying home was “a small sacrifice” and urged people to act responsibly.While most European countries have adopted strict restrictions of movement and personal freedom, Sweden’s strategy in fighting the pandemic appears comparatively more relaxed.Swedish authorities have advised the public to practice social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants are still open, and only gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned.Over the weekend, outdoor bars and restaurants were busy, and many people flocked to parks and forests around the capital, Stockholm.___BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia’s Prime Minister Igor Matovic says his government is planning to limit movement across the country over Easter in efforts to contain the epidemic of the coronavirus.Matovic says the restrictions should be in place from Wednesday till the end of Easter Monday. After the restrictive measure was proposed by experts on Sunday, Matovic said his coalition government will vote on it on Monday.“To travel means to spread the virus,” Matovic said. “We’re not in a situation to make a mistake.”People will be allowed to travel to work, do essential shopping or visit doctors, but won’t be allowed to leave their county.Slovakia is a Roman Catholic stronghold in central and eastern Europe. The government previously banned public gatherings, including religious services.Slovakia has 485 infected people with the coronavirus, the government said Sunday.___ATHENS, Greece — Authorities in Greece have announced five fatalities from the new coronavirus over the past 24 hours. That brings the total to 73 fatalities, of which 52 were men.The average age of the victims is 74.There were 62 new confirmed cases to raise the total confirmed cases in Greece to 1,735. More than 50% of the infected are men.There are 93 people in intensive care units. Greek authorities say they have administered 25,453 tests for the virus.___PRAGUE — The 75th edition of the international classical music festival Prague Spring in the Czech capital will take place online because of the coronavirus pandemic.The organizers announced the move on Sunday, saying “it is difficult to know what restrictions will be in place” at the time of this year’s festival planned for May 7 to June 4.They say about 10 live concerts will be available on the internet free of charge, some of them will also be broadcast by the Czech public television and radio.The details about the new program will be announced in the coming weeks and will depend on the government’s restrictive measures.The Czech Republic has 4,543 people infected with the coronavirus, 67 have died.___ISTANBUL —Turkey’s health minister has announced 73 more patients have died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 574.Fahrettin Koca, in figures shared on Twitter on Sunday, also said 3,135 people tested positive for the coronavirus. A total of 27,069 cases have been confirmed so far by the ministry.

Coronavirus Update