washingtontimes--2020-04-27--Pence to visit Mayo Clinic to learn about testing 'moonshot'

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Vice President Mike Pence has an appointment Tuesday at Minnesota ’ s Mayo Clinic to learn about a new coronavirus testing “ moonshot ” that has the famed clinic partnering with the state and its flagship university to quickly boost the state ’ s capacity to 20,000 tests a day .
It ’ s an approach that leverages a health care infrastructure not all states can match .
And it should help Minnesota become one of the most aggressive states at testing on the scale experts say is necessary to safely reopen the economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have quit waiting for the federal government for help .
Democratic Gov .
Tim Walz unveiled the state ’ s partnership with the University of Minnesota and Mayo last Wednesday , promising that every resident with symptoms of the coronavirus can get tested once the plan ramps up in the next few weeks .
“ This is not a state that ’ s just going to get through COVID-19 ; this is a state that ’ s going to lead this nation and the world out of this , ” Walz vowed of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s efforts at a White House briefing Thursday , where he also praised Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine for an initiative to boost his state ’ s testing capacity to 22,000 per day through a partnership with reagent manufacturer Thermo Fisher .
The vice president also cited Iowa Gov .
Kim Reynolds for a partnership with Utah-based startup Nomi Health aimed at increasing her state ’ s lagging testing capacity by 3,000 per day from its current 1,000-2,000 .
“ This is the kind of approach and commitment that we need , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president is shining a light on promising efforts .
We need more , ” Jennifer Nuzzo , an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , said of Pence ’ s visit to Mayo .
“ Kudos to Minnesota for being a part of that.
” Minnesota has one of the lowest confirmed cases per-capita in the country , but its testing has lagged behind what the Walz administration says is needed .
An Associated Press analysis of data from the COVID Tracking Project shows that Minnesota now ranks among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the bottom at 10.51 per 100,000 residents , with Kansas last at 9.01 .
Rhode Island is the highest at 50.51. while New York , the hardest hit state , ranks second at 41.21 .
“ Minnesota is probably low in terms of tests per thousand compared with other states , but the good news for Minnesota is the testing that it ’ s doing relative to the cases it ’ s finding is relatively high … , ” Nuzzo said .
“ You don ’ t want the majority of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s many cases out there you ’ re not finding.
” Minnesota ’ s death toll from the coronavirus rose by 14 to 286 as of Monday , while 214 new confirmed cases raised the statewide total to 3,816 .
State and private labs had conducted 61,268 tests as of Monday , There is huge variation across the country on how aggressive states have been about testing , said Dr. Joel Shalowitz , an adjunct professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University .
That ’ s partly because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing , such as New York and New Jersey , are among the hardest hit states , while some states that do less testing also have fewer cases .
So a lot of testing is driven by the need to test , or the alleged need , he said , While the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic are “ absolutely world-class institutions , ” Shalowitz said , much will depend on how accurate their testing proves to be .
False positives can force healthy patients into isolation , while false negatives can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Accuracy among other institutions varies widely , he said .
“ If Minnesota can increase its capacity to 20,000 tests per day , that would be a very meaningful increase in its testing capacity , ” said Dr. Thomas Tsai , a health policy researcher at the Harvard Global Health Institute .
Being home to both the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic “ does increase the tools in the toolbox for being able to perform tests , ” he said .
But test numbers aren ’ t the whole answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one part of the puzzle , ” Tsai said “ The most important piece is the strategy around testing - not waiting for people to show up .
You have to do active contact tracing and active outreach into the community .
”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Vice President Mike Pence has an appointment Tuesday at Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic to learn about a new coronavirus testing “moonshot” that has the famed clinic partnering with the state and its flagship university to quickly boost the state’s capacity to 20,000 tests a day.
It’s an approach that leverages a health care infrastructure not all states can match. And it should help Minnesota become one of the most aggressive states at testing on the scale experts say is necessary to safely reopen the economy. Minnesota is one of several states that have quit waiting for the federal government for help.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz unveiled the state’s partnership with the University of Minnesota and Mayo last Wednesday, promising that every resident with symptoms of the coronavirus can get tested once the plan ramps up in the next few weeks.
“This is not a state that’s just going to get through COVID-19; this is a state that’s going to lead this nation and the world out of this,” Walz vowed of his ”moonshot.”
Pence recognized Walz’s efforts at a White House briefing Thursday, where he also praised Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for an initiative to boost his state’s testing capacity to 22,000 per day through a partnership with reagent manufacturer Thermo Fisher. The vice president also cited Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for a partnership with Utah-based startup Nomi Health aimed at increasing her state’s lagging testing capacity by 3,000 per day from its current 1,000-2,000.
“This is the kind of approach and commitment that we need, and I’m glad the vice president is shining a light on promising efforts. We need more,” Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said of Pence’s visit to Mayo. “Kudos to Minnesota for being a part of that.”
Minnesota has one of the lowest confirmed cases per-capita in the country, but its testing has lagged behind what the Walz administration says is needed. An Associated Press analysis of data from the COVID Tracking Project shows that Minnesota now ranks among the lowest states in per-capita testing, sixth from the bottom at 10.51 per 100,000 residents, with Kansas last at 9.01. Rhode Island is the highest at 50.51. while New York, the hardest hit state, ranks second at 41.21.
“Minnesota is probably low in terms of tests per thousand compared with other states, but the good news for Minnesota is the testing that it’s doing relative to the cases it’s finding is relatively high … ,” Nuzzo said. “You don’t want the majority of your tests resulting in cases because that suggests there’s many cases out there you’re not finding.”
Minnesota’s death toll from the coronavirus rose by 14 to 286 as of Monday, while 214 new confirmed cases raised the statewide total to 3,816. State and private labs had conducted 61,268 tests as of Monday,
There is huge variation across the country on how aggressive states have been about testing, said Dr. Joel Shalowitz, an adjunct professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. That’s partly because some states that do a lot of testing, such as New York and New Jersey, are among the hardest hit states, while some states that do less testing also have fewer cases. So a lot of testing is driven by the need to test, or the alleged need, he said.
While the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic are “absolutely world-class institutions,” Shalowitz said, much will depend on how accurate their testing proves to be. False positives can force healthy patients into isolation, while false negatives can lead to infected people spreading the virus. Accuracy among other institutions varies widely, he said.
“If Minnesota can increase its capacity to 20,000 tests per day, that would be a very meaningful increase in its testing capacity,” said Dr. Thomas Tsai, a health policy researcher at the Harvard Global Health Institute.
Being home to both the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic “does increase the tools in the toolbox for being able to perform tests,” he said. But test numbers aren’t the whole answer, he cautioned.
“Testing capacity is one part of the puzzle,” Tsai said “The most important piece is the strategy around testing - not waiting for people to show up. You have to do active contact tracing and active outreach into the community.”


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--Anchorage restaurants, salons begin reopening process

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - The first signs of activity returned to Alaska ’ s largest city Monday as businesses slowly began reopening following closures because of the coronavirus .
“ Well , thank God the beauty parlors are open , ” Anchorage resident Cyndi Otto said while walking with her granddaughter near Earthquake Park .
Personal care services , like barber shops and nail and hair salons , were allowed to reopen Monday , as were restaurants .
However , all are operating under strict guidelines intended to guard against spreading the virus .
The state allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Anchorage waited to allow businesses to get employees back and for some , to decide whether it makes sense to open yet .
Gov .
Mike Dunleavy said the state was working with communities .
Anchorage ’ s initial reopening phase tracked largely with that of the state ’ s .
“ There is hope , there is a future , ” Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said Friday in unveiling the criteria local businesses must follow .
“ We have taken a punch , and we ’ re getting back up.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Anchorage exhibited in February - before the mandates restricting or closing businesses took hold - or even in November , before winter set in .
Instead , only a few businesses were open .
From mom and pop diners to the swankiest eateries atop downtown hotels , all restaurants will require reservations or some other type of check-in for limited dine-in service .
Wait lists are likely .
Regulations limit restaurants to 25 % capacity , with more than enough elbow room .
Tables must be spaced 10 feet apart , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table .
Eateries can continue offering takeout service , as many already were doing when dine-in service was barred .
Simon Newall , who co-owns Sweet Basil Café with his wife Tanya , was ready for customers Monday morning .
“ According to the mandates set by the governor and the city , we have our tables separated .
We have a mask ready to talk to our customers , we can still do our take-outs and the in-house dining , as long as we meet the rules , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done a great job throughout this entire thing , ” Newall added .
“ It ’ s just a matter of , let ’ s keep on going .
Keep safe , and let ’ s feed everybody.
” Restaurants will also have to do a little paperwork on their customers .
A log with every customer ’ s first and last name and contact phone number must be maintained by the restaurant and kept for 30 days in case it ’ s needed for contact tracing .
That ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but one required by the city .
All employees must wear fabric face masks , and customers are encouraged to wear them unless eating .
Barber shops , hair salons and other personal care services must begin taking reservations and not allow walk-in service .
No waiting rooms are allowed .
Only one customer per stylist or technician is allowed in , and work stations must be 10 feet apart .
Each stylist must wear a surgical mask , which can not be reused , and customers must wear cloth face coverings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doctors , was happy to be back to work as bills were piling up .
But his customers might be even happier .
“ They don ’ t even mind the health regulations as long as they ’ re getting a haircut , ” he said after giving an airman a high-and-tight military haircut .
“ They ’ re feeling a lot better and feeling good about themselves.
” Otto , a lifelong Alaskan who lived through the 1964 earthquake , said she felt the measures put in place by government were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the great state of Alaska , where there ’ s a thousand acres per individual .
There ’ s no reason for us to be hunkered down in our homes after we ’ ve been hunkered down in our homes since November , ” she said .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The first signs of activity returned to Alaska’s largest city Monday as businesses slowly began reopening following closures because of the coronavirus.
“Well, thank God the beauty parlors are open,” Anchorage resident Cyndi Otto said while walking with her granddaughter near Earthquake Park.
Personal care services, like barber shops and nail and hair salons, were allowed to reopen Monday, as were restaurants. However, all are operating under strict guidelines intended to guard against spreading the virus.
The state allowed businesses to begin reopening last Friday, but Anchorage waited to allow businesses to get employees back and for some, to decide whether it makes sense to open yet. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the state was working with communities. Anchorage’s initial reopening phase tracked largely with that of the state’s.
“There is hope, there is a future,” Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said Friday in unveiling the criteria local businesses must follow. “We have taken a punch, and we’re getting back up.”
But don’t expect the hustle-and-bustle that Anchorage exhibited in February - before the mandates restricting or closing businesses took hold - or even in November, before winter set in. Instead, only a few businesses were open.
From mom and pop diners to the swankiest eateries atop downtown hotels, all restaurants will require reservations or some other type of check-in for limited dine-in service. Wait lists are likely.
Regulations limit restaurants to 25% capacity, with more than enough elbow room. Tables must be spaced 10 feet apart, and only household members can sit at a table. Eateries can continue offering takeout service, as many already were doing when dine-in service was barred.
Simon Newall, who co-owns Sweet Basil Café with his wife Tanya, was ready for customers Monday morning.
“According to the mandates set by the governor and the city, we have our tables separated. We have a mask ready to talk to our customers, we can still do our take-outs and the in-house dining, as long as we meet the rules,” he said.
“I think the city and state have done a great job throughout this entire thing,” Newall added. “It’s just a matter of, let’s keep on going. Keep safe, and let’s feed everybody.”
Restaurants will also have to do a little paperwork on their customers.
A log with every customer’s first and last name and contact phone number must be maintained by the restaurant and kept for 30 days in case it’s needed for contact tracing. That’s a step not required by the state rules but one required by the city.
All employees must wear fabric face masks, and customers are encouraged to wear them unless eating.
Barber shops, hair salons and other personal care services must begin taking reservations and not allow walk-in service. No waiting rooms are allowed.
Only one customer per stylist or technician is allowed in, and work stations must be 10 feet apart. Each stylist must wear a surgical mask, which cannot be reused, and customers must wear cloth face coverings.
Larry Love, the manager at Hair Doctors, was happy to be back to work as bills were piling up.
But his customers might be even happier.
“They don’t even mind the health regulations as long as they’re getting a haircut,” he said after giving an airman a high-and-tight military haircut. “They’re feeling a lot better and feeling good about themselves.”
Otto, a lifelong Alaskan who lived through the 1964 earthquake, said she felt the measures put in place by government were a bit Draconian.
“We are in the great state of Alaska, where there’s a thousand acres per individual. There’s no reason for us to be hunkered down in our homes after we’ve been hunkered down in our homes since November,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--Tripod on frozen river tips in Nenana Ice Classic

NENANA , Alaska ( AP ) - An organizer of the Nenana Ice Classic said the ice on the Tanana @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Monday .
Details on the winner of the popular guessing contest and the size @ @ @ @ @ later .
Ice Classic manager Cherrie Forness said work processing the tickets is expected to @ @ @ @ @ did not have a complete count of the tickets but estimated it was about 180,000 @ @ @ @ @ tickets to guess when a tripod on the frozen Tanana River will tip over as @ @ @ @ @ up .

NENANA, Alaska (AP) - An organizer of the Nenana Ice Classic said the ice on the Tanana River went out at 12:56 p.m. Monday.
Details on the winner of the popular guessing contest and the size of the jackpot are expected later. Ice Classic manager Cherrie Forness said work processing the tickets is expected to begin this week. She did not have a complete count of the tickets but estimated it was about 180,000.
People each year buy tickets to guess when a tripod on the frozen Tanana River will tip over as ice on the river breaks up.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--Barges hit Mississippi bridge, some drift into 2nd bridge

VICKSBURG , Miss .
( AP ) - Barges hit a 90-year-old railroad bridge over the Mississippi River , and some broke away and drifted back into a parallel newer bridge under which they had just passed on Monday .
The old U.S. 80 railroad bridge was closed after the barges being pushed by the “ Captain Buck Lay ” hit three of its piers , Vicksburg Bridge Commission Superintendent Herman Smith told The Vicksburg Post .
The commission supervises the U.S. 80 bridge .
Video shows the 28 barge tow breaking apart and drifting into the Interstate 20 bridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boat was operated by American Commercial Barge Lines of Jeffersonville , Indiana , and was pushing a tow seven barges long and four across .
All 28 barges stayed afloat , Smith said .
The I-20 bridge and the U.S. 80 bridge each was hit once earlier this month , the newspaper reported .
The light mast of the “ Crimson Duke ” hit the underside of the I-20 bridge on April 14 ; state police closed the westbound lane until engineers had inspected it .
The “ Blake Benton , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pier of the U.S. 80 bridge on April 11 .
The U.S. 80 bridge was built in 1930 .
It was closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in 1998 , except for events including some road and bicycle races on the former traffic lanes , but the Kansas City Southern Railroad still uses the rails on one side .

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - Barges hit a 90-year-old railroad bridge over the Mississippi River, and some broke away and drifted back into a parallel newer bridge under which they had just passed on Monday.
The old U.S. 80 railroad bridge was closed after the barges being pushed by the “Captain Buck Lay” hit three of its piers, Vicksburg Bridge Commission Superintendent Herman Smith told The Vicksburg Post. The commission supervises the U.S. 80 bridge.
The Interstate 20 bridge just downriver remained open, television stations reported.
Video shows the 28 barge tow breaking apart and drifting into the Interstate 20 bridge, the newspaper reported.
Smith said the boat was operated by American Commercial Barge Lines of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and was pushing a tow seven barges long and four across. All 28 barges stayed afloat, Smith said.
The I-20 bridge and the U.S. 80 bridge each was hit once earlier this month, the newspaper reported.
The light mast of the “Crimson Duke” hit the underside of the I-20 bridge on April 14; state police closed the westbound lane until engineers had inspected it.
The “Blake Benton,” pushing a 25-barge tow, hit a pier of the U.S. 80 bridge on April 11.
The U.S. 80 bridge was built in 1930. It was closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in 1998, except for events including some road and bicycle races on the former traffic lanes, but the Kansas City Southern Railroad still uses the rails on one side.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--83-year-old Route 113 bridge added to historic register

LYME , N.H. ( AP ) - A bridge with expansive views of the Connecticut River that connects New Hampshire and Vermont will be added to the National Register of Historic Places .
An application for the Route 113 bridge was submitted by the Lyme Heritage Commission and architect Frank Barrett , and approved in late March , the Valley News reported Sunday .
“ I ’ ve always loved that bridge since I was quite young and was worried about it getting so deteriorated it would have to be replaced , ” Barrett said .
“ It wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took bridges ( built ) in the 1920s and ’ 30s for granted .
As time goes on , we ’ re losing them.
” The two-span Parker truss bridge was built in 1937 after massive floods took out its predecessor .
Today , the bridge connects Lyme , New Hampshire , and East Thetford , Vermont .
Both states have partial ownership of the bridge , with New Hampshire owning 86 % and Vermont owning the remaining 14 % .
The nomination process involved both states , as well as the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Register of Historic Places .
The approval of the application ensures that the historic integrity of the bridge will be preserved when the New Hampshire Department of Transportation is scheduled to start repairs to bridges in 2021 .

LYME, N.H. (AP) - A bridge with expansive views of the Connecticut River that connects New Hampshire and Vermont will be added to the National Register of Historic Places.
An application for the Route 113 bridge was submitted by the Lyme Heritage Commission and architect Frank Barrett, and approved in late March, the Valley News reported Sunday.
“I’ve always loved that bridge since I was quite young and was worried about it getting so deteriorated it would have to be replaced,” Barrett said. “It wasn’t too many years ago that we took bridges (built) in the 1920s and ’30s for granted. As time goes on, we’re losing them.”
The two-span Parker truss bridge was built in 1937 after massive floods took out its predecessor. Today, the bridge connects Lyme, New Hampshire, and East Thetford, Vermont.
Both states have partial ownership of the bridge, with New Hampshire owning 86% and Vermont owning the remaining 14%.
The nomination process involved both states, as well as the National Park Service, which oversees the National Register of Historic Places.
The approval of the application ensures that the historic integrity of the bridge will be preserved when the New Hampshire Department of Transportation is scheduled to start repairs to bridges in 2021.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--Coronavirus patents HIPAA rights trump first responders' need to know

An exception to federal medical privacy law allows health departments to warn police and firefighters responding to a home where someone has tested positive for COVID-19 .
But that ’ s not happening in the county that is home to Chicago , one of a handful of jurisdictions where patients ’ rights are trumping first responders ’ need to know .
Police and firefighters are fuming that the Cook County Public Health Department , which serves the largest county population in Illinois , is refusing to share the information .
“ We run into dangerous situations on a constant basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Joseph Lukaszek , police chief in Hillside , Illinois .
“ I could possibly die from this or bring this home and my wife and children could die .
I have a responsibility to my family , and it doesn ’ t make any sense that we can ’ t get information that can save our lives.
” His officers ’ safety and ability to respond to the public ’ s needs are compromised , he said .
A coronavirus alert also would help first responders plan to take extra precautions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are in short supply .
First responders are fighting for coronavirus alerts in several states in counties across the U.S. Massachusetts was the first state to order public health officials to share addresses , and Alabama followed .
Maine and parts of California are not providing address lists .
In Minnesota , first responders pressured the governor to issue an executive order directing the release of addresses , but police in the state say they are not receiving the information .
Florida initially refused to share addresses of people who tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because a local sheriff waged a media and Facebook campaign to change the policy .
Mike Chitwood , sheriff of Volusia County , Florida , badgered health officials to release names through social media posts and interviews with local newspapers .
“ We can ’ t just fight this sticking to the same old tactics and rules we ’ ve gone by in the past , ” he wrote on Facebook .
The town of Kittery , Maine , started lobbying state officials after first responders said they couldn ’ t get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and New Hampshire could .
The dispute in Cook County escalated Thursday when the Northwest Central Dispatch System , a 911 service in the region , filed a lawsuit demanding that the county release the data so dispatchers could pass it on to first responders .
The fight is one of many legal boundaries tested by the coronavirus crisis , which has emptied prison and jail cells , spawned unprecedented stay-at-home orders and brought the country ’ s economy to its knees .
The privacy protections in the federal Health Insurance Portability and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibit the release of sensitive medical information .
The Department of Health and Human Services released guidance last month pointing out that HIPAA has an exception to help first responders avoid infections , and HHS said the coronavirus crisis meets the criteria .
Under the exemption , states and localities are permitted to provide the information to first responders but are not required to do so .
States and localities have responded in different ways .
In Pennsylvania , county governments determine whether to release the information to first responders .
Allegheny County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1 in Pittsburgh , said the information has been crucial .
“ Nothing is going to guarantee we are not going to be exposed , but it is a tool that we are using when we respond to a structure so that we can take extra precautions , ” he said .
“ It gives you peace of mind of knowing what you are dealing with.
” The information has helped with contact tracing , the process of learning who might have been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It also helps determine whether first responders have been infected while on a call , he said .
“ It has expedited our ability to backtrack anyone that has become sick and come in contact with someone who tested positive , ” Mr. Sicuro said .
Critics say coronavirus alerts would create an unfair stigma for those with COVID-19 .
“ Putting names on a list that is disclosed to first responders will affect the particularly vulnerable population who live in fear and shadows , ” said Robert Greenwald , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Innovation at Harvard Law School .
“ This population won ’ t get tested , and that is the last thing we want to happen.
” He said he understands the first responders ’ concerns but added that information about test results creates a false sense of security .
“ First responders have to use universal precautions against COVID-19 on all calls , or in the overwhelming majority of times they are not protecting themselves , ” he said .
Identities are protected even when the information is shared .
First responders learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address is associated with someone who has tested positive , but the name of the person is omitted .
That information remains in the dispatch computer for a short time , usually 14 days , but sometimes as long as a month .
Only first responders racing to that address receive the information .
“ We are not asking for gender , age or any personal information , and we are not asking to keep this information indefinitely , ” said Tom Weitzel , police chief in Riverside , Illinois .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are not asking it to be public.
” “ Addresses are a proxy for the name , ” he said .
“ They are just trying to say we are not going for the names , but at the local level when you start creating a list of addresses you can create a list of names of people in the house.
” In Illinois , a Cook County commissioner introduced a resolution Thursday that would require address-sharing with first responders .
“ This measure will increase the safety of everyone , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the measure was tabled until next month .
One commissioner said he feared the list would unfairly target illegal immigrants .
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a legal opinion last month saying local health boards may share addresses , but his advisory opinion is not binding and does not say the law compels sharing .
“ The AG ’ s opinion carries some weight , but it is not necessarily dispositive whether the ordinance is enforceable , ” Mr. Greenwald said .
Rachel V. Rose , a lawyer who specializes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is redundant because the disclosure to first responders already exists in HIPAA and related rules and regulations .
She said people with communicable diseases such as hepatitis C or tuberculosis fall under various HIPAA exceptions .
“ I ’ m surprised people are raising this as a HIPAA issue because I don ’ t think people who are raising that are looking at the exceptions the government already put into place , ” she said .
Chief Lukaszek said it was frustrating to be battling his county ’ s health department over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the opinion that if this information was available to us and an officer gets sick , I think Cook County should be held responsible if they die , ” he said .

An exception to federal medical privacy law allows health departments to warn police and firefighters responding to a home where someone has tested positive for COVID-19.
But that’s not happening in the county that is home to Chicago, one of a handful of jurisdictions where patients’ rights are trumping first responders’ need to know.
Police and firefighters are fuming that the Cook County Public Health Department, which serves the largest county population in Illinois, is refusing to share the information.
“We run into dangerous situations on a constant basis, but COVID-19 is different,” said Joseph Lukaszek, police chief in Hillside, Illinois. “I could possibly die from this or bring this home and my wife and children could die. I have a responsibility to my family, and it doesn’t make any sense that we can’t get information that can save our lives.”
His officers’ safety and ability to respond to the public’s needs are compromised, he said.
A coronavirus alert also would help first responders plan to take extra precautions or carry extra equipment such the N95 masks that are in short supply.
First responders are fighting for coronavirus alerts in several states in counties across the U.S.
Massachusetts was the first state to order public health officials to share addresses, and Alabama followed. Maine and parts of California are not providing address lists. In Minnesota, first responders pressured the governor to issue an executive order directing the release of addresses, but police in the state say they are not receiving the information.
Florida initially refused to share addresses of people who tested positive, but the state relented, partly because a local sheriff waged a media and Facebook campaign to change the policy.
Mike Chitwood, sheriff of Volusia County, Florida, badgered health officials to release names through social media posts and interviews with local newspapers.
“We can’t just fight this sticking to the same old tactics and rules we’ve gone by in the past,” he wrote on Facebook.
The town of Kittery, Maine, started lobbying state officials after first responders said they couldn’t get the list while their counterparts in neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire could.
The dispute in Cook County escalated Thursday when the Northwest Central Dispatch System, a 911 service in the region, filed a lawsuit demanding that the county release the data so dispatchers could pass it on to first responders.
The fight is one of many legal boundaries tested by the coronavirus crisis, which has emptied prison and jail cells, spawned unprecedented stay-at-home orders and brought the country’s economy to its knees.
The privacy protections in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) normally would prohibit the release of sensitive medical information.
The Department of Health and Human Services released guidance last month pointing out that HIPAA has an exception to help first responders avoid infections, and HHS said the coronavirus crisis meets the criteria.
Under the exemption, states and localities are permitted to provide the information to first responders but are not required to do so. States and localities have responded in different ways.
In Pennsylvania, county governments determine whether to release the information to first responders.
Allegheny County has opted in, and Ralph Sicuro, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1 in Pittsburgh, said the information has been crucial.
“Nothing is going to guarantee we are not going to be exposed, but it is a tool that we are using when we respond to a structure so that we can take extra precautions,” he said. “It gives you peace of mind of knowing what you are dealing with.”
The information has helped with contact tracing, the process of learning who might have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. It also helps determine whether first responders have been infected while on a call, he said.
“It has expedited our ability to backtrack anyone that has become sick and come in contact with someone who tested positive,” Mr. Sicuro said.
Critics say coronavirus alerts would create an unfair stigma for those with COVID-19.
“Putting names on a list that is disclosed to first responders will affect the particularly vulnerable population who live in fear and shadows,” said Robert Greenwald, director of the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation at Harvard Law School. “This population won’t get tested, and that is the last thing we want to happen.”
He said he understands the first responders’ concerns but added that information about test results creates a false sense of security.
“First responders have to use universal precautions against COVID-19 on all calls, or in the overwhelming majority of times they are not protecting themselves,” he said.
Identities are protected even when the information is shared. First responders learn through their call response system that an address is associated with someone who has tested positive, but the name of the person is omitted.
That information remains in the dispatch computer for a short time, usually 14 days, but sometimes as long as a month. Only first responders racing to that address receive the information.
“We are not asking for gender, age or any personal information, and we are not asking to keep this information indefinitely,” said Tom Weitzel, police chief in Riverside, Illinois. “I don’t understand the resistance. We are not asking it to be public.”
Mr. Greenwald said giving out addresses breaches a line.
“Addresses are a proxy for the name,” he said. “They are just trying to say we are not going for the names, but at the local level when you start creating a list of addresses you can create a list of names of people in the house.”
In Illinois, a Cook County commissioner introduced a resolution Thursday that would require address-sharing with first responders.
“This measure will increase the safety of everyone,” Commissioner Scott Britton said.
A vote on the measure was tabled until next month. One commissioner said he feared the list would unfairly target illegal immigrants.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a legal opinion last month saying local health boards may share addresses, but his advisory opinion is not binding and does not say the law compels sharing.
“The AG’s opinion carries some weight, but it is not necessarily dispositive whether the ordinance is enforceable,” Mr. Greenwald said.
Rachel V. Rose, a lawyer who specializes in HIPAA law, said the HHS guidance is redundant because the disclosure to first responders already exists in HIPAA and related rules and regulations.
She said people with communicable diseases such as hepatitis C or tuberculosis fall under various HIPAA exceptions.
“I’m surprised people are raising this as a HIPAA issue because I don’t think people who are raising that are looking at the exceptions the government already put into place,” she said.
Chief Lukaszek said it was frustrating to be battling his county’s health department over the issue.
“Honestly, I truly have the opinion that if this information was available to us and an officer gets sick, I think Cook County should be held responsible if they die,” he said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--Texas, Ohio among many states to take steps toward reopening

Restaurants opened up to dine-in patrons in at least three states Monday and the governor of Texas allowed movie theaters , malls and eateries to start letting customers trickle into their establishments later this week .
Across the country , an ever-changing patchwork of loosening stay-home orders and business restrictions took shape Monday .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott outlined a slow reopening of one of the world ’ s largest economies amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Restaurants in Tennessee , Georgia and Alaska ’ s biggest city began opening their doors to dine-in customers , with new rules such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logging of customer information for possible contact tracing .
Construction workers are being allowed back on the job in Vermont and other states .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s first steps toward reopening will require masks for workers and shoppers .
“ No masks , no work , no service , no exception , ” DeWine said .
Here ’ s a look at what ’ s happening in the individual states and their shutdown orders .
TEXAS : Abbott ’ s plan allows restaurants , retailers , movie theaters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 % of capacity as long as they follow social distancing guidelines .
Abbott also said he will let his monthlong stay-at-home order expire on Thursday .
Bars , barbershops , hair salons and gyms remain closed .
ALASKA : Republican Gov .
Mike Dunleavy on Friday began allowing the limited reopening of restaurants , stores , hair and nail salons and other businesses .
It wasn ’ t until Monday that the state ’ s main population center , Anchorage , allowed those businesses to open .
The strict restaurant rules require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tables .
COLORADO : Democratic Gov .
Jared Polis ’ stay-at-home order expired Monday .
A “ Safer at Home ” plan encourages continued telecommuting and allows non-essential retailers to offer drive-up and home delivery .
On May 4 , non-essential business offices can reopen with half the usual staff to allow for social distancing .
GEORGIA : Restaurants resumed dine-in service and movie theaters were allowed to reopen Monday under Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp ’ s controversial reopening order .
Gyms , hair and nail salons , bowling alleys and tattoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The much anticipated return to normalcy in Ohio will happen slowly , with the reopening of many health care offices on Friday .
Retail stores will need to wait two weeks before they can open , the governor said Monday .
He also imposed a strict mask requirement .
LOUISIANA : Gov .
John Bel Edwards announced Monday he is extending Louisiana ’ s stay-at-home order through May 15 , saying some regions of the state haven ’ t shown enough progress to lessen widespread restrictions on businesses and public gatherings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infections continues to decrease , the Democratic governor said he expects he will begin to loosen constraints on May 16 , with churches and more retailers allowed to open statewide at that time , including hair and nail salons and some restaurant dine-in services .
RHODE ISLAND : Gov .
Gina Raimondo said Monday her goal is still to lift the state ’ s stay-at-home order on May 8 and the next day start a “ slow and methodical and careful ” economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic .
FLORIDA : Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state coronavirus task force for recommendations for the first phase of reopening .
He says the state should look at risk factors as it starts to reopen for business , and not just what ’ s essential .
Over the past couple of weeks , many municipalities have reopened beaches and parks to allow recreation under social distancing rules - a key exemption to a state safer-at-home order running through Thursday .
MONTANA : Churches resumed Sunday services and retailers closed for a month cautiously reopened Monday with social distancing and disinfecting guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Steve Bullock .
Schools have the option to return to in-classroom instruction May 7 , but several districts decided to end the academic year with remote instruction .
OKLAHOMA : Republican Gov .
Kevin Stitt allowed non-elective surgeries to resume and hair and nail salons , barbershops , spas and pet groomers to reopen last Friday , by appointment only and if they adhere to social distancing and strict sanitation .
Restaurant dining rooms , movie theaters , gyms and places of worship can open starting this coming Friday as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocols .
SOUTH CAROLINA : Republican Gov .
Henry McMaster has begun to gradually allow more businesses to reopen .
On Tuesday , nonessential businesses such as flea markets , department stores and boutiques could reopen and local governments were allowed to remove barricades to beaches .
McMaster said the timing for additional steps depends on reports from state health officials .
TENNESSEE : Many restaurants were allowed dine-in service again Monday as part of Republican Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s directive to begin reopening the economy .
The plan comes just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest one-day jump in confirmed coronavirus cases .
One restaurant was checking the temperature of customers at the door .
UTAH : Restaurants could begin reopening to dine-in customers Friday in parts of Utah , with social distancing measures in place .
Republican Gov .
Gary Herbert has already allowed elective surgeries to resume and reopened state parks to all residents in one of the few states with a voluntary statewide shelter-in-place order .
VERMONT : Republican Gov .
Phil Scott has taken steps toward loosening restrictions on nonessential businesses .
Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including five construction workers per job site on the condition that they stay 6 feet apart .
ALABAMA : Republican Gov .
Kay Ivey has said she is eager to reopen but urged people to continue following the order .
The order , in place through April , disallows dine-in restaurant service and closes nonessential businesses such as salons and entertainment venues .
ARIZONA : Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey will allow hospitals to resume elective surgeries Friday , but is waiting for more data on the virus before he decides whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it expires Thursday .
ARKANSAS : Republican Gov .
Asa Hutchinson ’ s ban on elective surgeries was eased starting Monday .
Hutchinson has said he hopes to begin lifting some other restrictions May 4 .
Arkansas does not have a broad stay-at-home order but has imposed other rules .
HAWAII : Democratic Gov .
David Ige ’ s stay-home order is in effect until Wednesday and could be extended , but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has extended the stay-at-home order for the state ’ s largest city through May 31 .
Caldwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting with allowing people to walk and jog in city parks beginning Saturday , April 25 .
IDAHO : Republican Gov .
Brad Little ’ s stay-home order restricting nonessential businesses expires Thursday .
Last week , he allowed more businesses to reopen if they could offer curbside service and ensure social distancing .
INDIANA : Republican Gov .
Eric Holcomb lifted elective medical procedures beginning Monday , and the statewide stay-at-home order is in effect until Friday .
Holcomb has said he may announce steps relaxing restrictions on some businesses and major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring states .
KANSAS : Democratic Gov .
Laura Kelly supports a phased economic reopening following widespread testing and contact testing .
She ’ s under increasing pressure from the Republican-controlled Legislature to outline such a plan and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce to start reopening the economy .
KENTUCKY : Democratic Gov .
Andy Beshear has announced plans to ramp up coronavirus testing with new sites in Louisville and Lexington , the state ’ s two largest cities , along with Owensboro and Bowling Green .
The Democratic governor also announced an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as diagnostic and radiology procedures .
MICHIGAN : Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has said she will extend the state ’ s stay-at-home order when it expires Thursday , but also hopes to relax some restrictions that to start reopening some sectors of the economy .
Some has hinted that the elderly and people with chronic lung problems may face restrictions longer than others .
MISSISSIPPI : Republican Gov .
Tate Reeves favors gradual reopening , but has not set a timeline .
He has allowed some nonessential businesses like florists and clothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The statewide state-at-home order has ended , replaced with an order for just medically vulnerable people to stay home .
MISSOURI : Republican Gov .
Mike Parson said Monday all Missouri businesses and social events will be allowed to reopen next week as long as residents and business owners continue to practice proper social distancing requirements .
He said as of next Monday , residents will be able to return to all businesses , such as restaurants , manufacturing plants , gyms and hair salons , along with churches , sporting events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments can impose stricter limitations if their officials believe it is necessary .
Kansas City ’ s stay-at-home order is scheduled to continue through May 15 .
St. Louis , which has had a majority of the state ’ s cases , has not yet said when it will lift its order .
NEW HAMPSHIRE : Republican Gov .
Chris Sununu has appointed a bipartisan group of lawmakers , business leaders and state officials to examine how the state can begin to re-open its economy .
The state ’ s stay-at-home order expires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely will be further extensions .
NORTH CAROLINA : Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper has extended a statewide stay-at-home order until May 8 and closed schools for the rest of the semester .
He has released details on testing , contract tracing and case rate goals that must be met before easing business and movement restrictions .
His three-phase proposal could not be fully achieved until mid-June at the earliest .
OREGON : Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown has circulated Oregon ’ s own version of a three-phase plan to lift restrictions amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities to reopen in phase one and possibly restaurants .
But Oregon ’ s plan contains no time frame for reopening certain areas of the economy , and Brown has listed no specific end date for her social-distancing directives .
PENNSYLVANIA : Democratic Gov .
Tom Wolf has shut schools for the academic year and shuttered tens of thousands of businesses .
But he is allowing construction statewide to resume on Friday , and a week later plans to lift his stay-at-home order and ease other restrictions in the least-impacted parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be loosened once the number of new cases falls below one new infection for every 2,000 people over a two-week period .
WASHINGTON : Democratic Gov .
Jay Inslee has said easing the stay-at-home home order in effect through May 4 will be gradual with decisions based on markers including adequate testing and the pace of new cases .
But there are mounting calls for easing restrictions in the state that had the first major deadly outbreak , including a sheriff who says he won ’ t enforce the stay-home order because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Gov .
Jim Justice announced Monday that as long as the state ’ s positive test rate stays below 3 % for three consecutive days , he ’ s allowing hospital elective procedures , outpatient health care , primary care , dentistry , and psychological and mental health services .
Next week would involve the reopening of small businesses , outdoor seating at restaurants , barber shops , nail salons , and church and funeral services .
In subsequent weeks , offices , hotels , casinos , restaurants and other remaining businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kim Reynolds said Monday she would partially reopen businesses and churches in 77 of Iowa ’ s 99 counties , even as the state experiences increased numbers of coronavirus-related cases and deaths .
Reynolds said restaurants , fitness centers , retail stores and malls could reopen Friday at 50 percent of their operating capacity in those mostly rural countries .
Reynolds will allow church services to resume .
Tougher restrictions remain for counties with Iowa ’ s largest cities , including Des Moines and Cedar Rapids .
NEBRASKA : Republican Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order but required schools to close and imposed a 10-person limit on gatherings , including at businesses .
Ricketts last week announced he will relax coronavirus restrictions in 59 of Nebraska ’ s 93 counties , including the Omaha area , and will allow in-person church services to resume with some limitations .
The changes go into effect May 4 and will allow restaurants in the affected counties to reopen their dining rooms but require them to keep crowds at or below half of their rated occupancy .
NORTH DAKOTA : Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed until at least Thursday and hasn ’ t signaled when he would lift the restrictions .
Burgum last week said the state plans to increase testing and contact tracing to protect residents and meet White House guidelines to put people back to work .
SOUTH DAKOTA : Gov .
Kristi Noem , a Republican , has resisted calls to shut down businesses or issue a stay-at-home order , even amid criticism after an outbreak infected hundreds of workers at a Sioux Falls pork plant that had to be shuttered .
Noem has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 10 or fewer people and on businesses and individuals to practice safe distancing .
WYOMING : Wyoming is among a handful of states that never implemented a statewide stay-at-home order .
Testing capacity for the coronavirus remains limited but Republican Gov .
Mark Gordon considers the state already essentially in Phase One of the White House reopening guidelines .
Gordon has ordered schools and many types of businesses to remain closed until Thursday .
CALIFORNIA : Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom last week allowed hospitals to resume scheduled surgeries in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s most populous state .
But Newsom said the state ’ s broader stay-at-home order won ’ t be lifted until the state can dramatically increase its testing capacity .
Newsom said Monday that California may be just weeks away from “ meaningful changes ” to its stay-at-home order , but warned progress will be jeopardized if people crowd beaches as they did in some places over the warm spring weekend .
Some rural counties are seeking to ease restrictions and some in the San Francisco Bay Area are extending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CONNECTICUT : Democratic Gov .
Ned Lamont has said he ’ ll start thinking about reopening Connecticut ’ s economy on May 20 , when when his order shutting down schools and nonessential businesses is due to expire .
But he says before that happens they must be 14 days of declining hospitalizations , much greater testing capability and more masks and other personal protective equipment for workers who interact with the public .
DELAWARE : Democratic Gov .
John Carney has indicated state officials will develop a plan for reopening Delaware ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC , including 14 days of declining cases .
Carney also says extensive testing and contract tracking programs must be in place before economic restrictions are loosened .
ILLINOIS : Democratic Gov .
J.B. Pritzker last week extended his stay-at-home order , which also closed all nonessential businesses , to May 30 .
Beginning Friday , face coverings must be worn in public when 6-foot distancing is not possible .
Also , surgeries that were delayed may now be rescheduled , retail stores not on the essential-business list can start providing pickup and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for activities such as hiking and fishing .
Schools remain closed through the semester with remote learning .
MARYLAND : Republican Gov .
Larry Hogan has called for a gradual reopening of the state that will be guided by the rate of hospitalizations due to the virus and number of patients admitted to intensive care .
Still in effect is the state-at-home order , which would be lifted under the state ’ s first phase of the reopening process .
It would also enable some small shops and certain small businesses to resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlie Baker has said it ’ s too early to begin reopening the state ’ s economy .
Baker says new hospitalizations is a key data point , and a modest increase continues statewide .
The governor says the question will be less what businesses are essential or nonessential and more about what are the rules everyone will need to follow .
MINNESOTA - The state ’ s stay-at-home order runs through May 4 , and it ’ s not clear when Democratic Gov .
Tim Walz will announce whether it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people who work at some 20,000 industrial , manufacturing and office settings that don ’ t face the public to begin returning to work Monday .
NEVADA : Nevada joined a western regional pact Monday to help fight the virus outbreak while moving closer to reopening businesses and modifying stay-at-home orders .
Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolak has not given a date for easing restrictions .
He said the Western States Pact including Colorado , California , Oregon and Washington has a shared vision that puts science ahead of politics .
Sisolak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West visit Nevada every year so the partnership will be vital to the state ’ s immediate recovery and long-term economic comeback .
NEW MEXICO : Democratic Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham has said the state is likely to extend major social distancing and business restrictions through May 15 as it convenes mayors and business leaders to help with economic recovery plans .
The state has no deadline or date for starting its first phase of reopening the economy .
NEW JERSEY : Democratic Gov .
Phil Murphy Monday unveiled a plan setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s economy .
The governor said any lifting of restrictions will require two weeks ’ worth of a drop in positive cases , expanded testing , increased contact tracing , and safe places for positive people to isolate .
NEW YORK : At the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S. , Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo says he has enlisted former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg to help create a “ tracing army ” to find people infected with the coronavirus and get them into isolation .
New York will work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jersey and Connecticut .
VIRGINIA : Democratic Gov .
Ralph Northam has said state ’ s stay-at-home order in effect through June 10 could be changed and has not outlined a specific timeline for reopening businesses .
Northam has said he generally agrees with federal guidelines recommending a phased-in approach starting after 14 days of declining cases .
WISCONSIN : The health secretary for Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers has extended the state ’ s stay-at-home order closing most nonessential businesses until May 26 .
It originally was to end April 24 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state Supreme Court to block the order , calling it constitutional overreach .
Evers Monday loosened an earlier stay-at-home order to allow reopening of all nonessential businesses that can offer curbside service , like dog groomers and lawnmower repair shops .
He previously allowed golf courses to open and permitted libraries to offer curbside book pickup .
MAINE : Democratic Gov .
Janet Mills has said her administration is planning a phased reopening but the timing remains uncertain because of a lack of adequate testing .

Restaurants opened up to dine-in patrons in at least three states Monday and the governor of Texas allowed movie theaters, malls and eateries to start letting customers trickle into their establishments later this week.
Across the country, an ever-changing patchwork of loosening stay-home orders and business restrictions took shape Monday.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott outlined a slow reopening of one of the world’s largest economies amid the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants in Tennessee, Georgia and Alaska’s biggest city began opening their doors to dine-in customers, with new rules such as temperature checks at the door and logging of customer information for possible contact tracing.
Construction workers are being allowed back on the job in Vermont and other states. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s first steps toward reopening will require masks for workers and shoppers.
“No masks, no work, no service, no exception,” DeWine said.
Here’s a look at what’s happening in the individual states and their shutdown orders.
NEW MOVES
TEXAS: Abbott’s plan allows restaurants, retailers, movie theaters and malls to let in customers up to 25% of capacity as long as they follow social distancing guidelines. Abbott also said he will let his monthlong stay-at-home order expire on Thursday. Bars, barbershops, hair salons and gyms remain closed.
ALASKA: Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday began allowing the limited reopening of restaurants, stores, hair and nail salons and other businesses. It wasn’t until Monday that the state’s main population center, Anchorage, allowed those businesses to open. The strict restaurant rules require reservations and only family members to share tables.
COLORADO: Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ stay-at-home order expired Monday. A “Safer at Home” plan encourages continued telecommuting and allows non-essential retailers to offer drive-up and home delivery. On May 4, non-essential business offices can reopen with half the usual staff to allow for social distancing.
GEORGIA: Restaurants resumed dine-in service and movie theaters were allowed to reopen Monday under Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s controversial reopening order. Gyms, hair and nail salons, bowling alleys and tattoo parlors opened Friday with restrictions.
OHIO: The much anticipated return to normalcy in Ohio will happen slowly, with the reopening of many health care offices on Friday. Retail stores will need to wait two weeks before they can open, the governor said Monday. He also imposed a strict mask requirement.
LOUISIANA: Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday he is extending Louisiana’s stay-at-home order through May 15, saying some regions of the state haven’t shown enough progress to lessen widespread restrictions on businesses and public gatherings. But if the state’s rate of infections continues to decrease, the Democratic governor said he expects he will begin to loosen constraints on May 16, with churches and more retailers allowed to open statewide at that time, including hair and nail salons and some restaurant dine-in services.
RHODE ISLAND: Gov. Gina Raimondo said Monday her goal is still to lift the state’s stay-at-home order on May 8 and the next day start a “slow and methodical and careful” economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
FLORIDA: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked his state coronavirus task force for recommendations for the first phase of reopening. He says the state should look at risk factors as it starts to reopen for business, and not just what’s essential. Over the past couple of weeks, many municipalities have reopened beaches and parks to allow recreation under social distancing rules - a key exemption to a state safer-at-home order running through Thursday.
MONTANA: Churches resumed Sunday services and retailers closed for a month cautiously reopened Monday with social distancing and disinfecting guidelines under a plan announced earlier by Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. Schools have the option to return to in-classroom instruction May 7, but several districts decided to end the academic year with remote instruction.
OKLAHOMA: Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt allowed non-elective surgeries to resume and hair and nail salons, barbershops, spas and pet groomers to reopen last Friday, by appointment only and if they adhere to social distancing and strict sanitation. Restaurant dining rooms, movie theaters, gyms and places of worship can open starting this coming Friday as long as businesses follow social distancing and sanitation protocols.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has begun to gradually allow more businesses to reopen. On Tuesday, nonessential businesses such as flea markets, department stores and boutiques could reopen and local governments were allowed to remove barricades to beaches. McMaster said the timing for additional steps depends on reports from state health officials.
TENNESSEE: Many restaurants were allowed dine-in service again Monday as part of Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s directive to begin reopening the economy. The plan comes just a day after the state reported its biggest one-day jump in confirmed coronavirus cases. One restaurant was checking the temperature of customers at the door.
UTAH: Restaurants could begin reopening to dine-in customers Friday in parts of Utah, with social distancing measures in place. Republican Gov. Gary Herbert has already allowed elective surgeries to resume and reopened state parks to all residents in one of the few states with a voluntary statewide shelter-in-place order.
VERMONT: Republican Gov. Phil Scott has taken steps toward loosening restrictions on nonessential businesses. Still, many of the altered provisions remain strict, including five construction workers per job site on the condition that they stay 6 feet apart.
MORE GRADUAL:
ALABAMA: Republican Gov. Kay Ivey has said she is eager to reopen but urged people to continue following the order. The order, in place through April, disallows dine-in restaurant service and closes nonessential businesses such as salons and entertainment venues.
ARIZONA: Republican Gov. Doug Ducey will allow hospitals to resume elective surgeries Friday, but is waiting for more data on the virus before he decides whether to extend his current stay-at-home order when it expires Thursday.
ARKANSAS: Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s ban on elective surgeries was eased starting Monday. Hutchinson has said he hopes to begin lifting some other restrictions May 4. Arkansas does not have a broad stay-at-home order but has imposed other rules.
HAWAII: Democratic Gov. David Ige’s stay-home order is in effect until Wednesday and could be extended, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has extended the stay-at-home order for the state’s largest city through May 31. Caldwell announced some initial steps to ease rules starting with allowing people to walk and jog in city parks beginning Saturday, April 25.
IDAHO: Republican Gov. Brad Little’s stay-home order restricting nonessential businesses expires Thursday. Last week, he allowed more businesses to reopen if they could offer curbside service and ensure social distancing.
INDIANA: Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb lifted elective medical procedures beginning Monday, and the statewide stay-at-home order is in effect until Friday. Holcomb has said he may announce steps relaxing restrictions on some businesses and major changes will be made in collaboration with neighboring states.
KANSAS: Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly supports a phased economic reopening following widespread testing and contact testing. She’s under increasing pressure from the Republican-controlled Legislature to outline such a plan and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce to start reopening the economy.
KENTUCKY: Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has announced plans to ramp up coronavirus testing with new sites in Louisville and Lexington, the state’s two largest cities, along with Owensboro and Bowling Green. The Democratic governor also announced an initial phase of resuming hospital services such as diagnostic and radiology procedures.
MICHIGAN: Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said she will extend the state’s stay-at-home order when it expires Thursday, but also hopes to relax some restrictions that to start reopening some sectors of the economy. Some has hinted that the elderly and people with chronic lung problems may face restrictions longer than others.
MISSISSIPPI: Republican Gov. Tate Reeves favors gradual reopening, but has not set a timeline. He has allowed some nonessential businesses like florists and clothing stores to start delivery or curbside pickup. The statewide state-at-home order has ended, replaced with an order for just medically vulnerable people to stay home.
MISSOURI: Republican Gov. Mike Parson said Monday all Missouri businesses and social events will be allowed to reopen next week as long as residents and business owners continue to practice proper social distancing requirements. He said as of next Monday, residents will be able to return to all businesses, such as restaurants, manufacturing plants, gyms and hair salons, along with churches, sporting events and social gatherings. Parson said local governments can impose stricter limitations if their officials believe it is necessary. Kansas City’s stay-at-home order is scheduled to continue through May 15. St. Louis, which has had a majority of the state’s cases, has not yet said when it will lift its order.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has appointed a bipartisan group of lawmakers, business leaders and state officials to examine how the state can begin to re-open its economy. The state’s stay-at-home order expires May 4, but Sununu said there likely will be further extensions.
NORTH CAROLINA: Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has extended a statewide stay-at-home order until May 8 and closed schools for the rest of the semester. He has released details on testing, contract tracing and case rate goals that must be met before easing business and movement restrictions. His three-phase proposal could not be fully achieved until mid-June at the earliest.
OREGON: Democratic Gov. Kate Brown has circulated Oregon’s own version of a three-phase plan to lift restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, including allowing childcare facilities to reopen in phase one and possibly restaurants. But Oregon’s plan contains no time frame for reopening certain areas of the economy, and Brown has listed no specific end date for her social-distancing directives.
PENNSYLVANIA: Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has shut schools for the academic year and shuttered tens of thousands of businesses. But he is allowing construction statewide to resume on Friday, and a week later plans to lift his stay-at-home order and ease other restrictions in the least-impacted parts of the state. Wolf says the shutdown can be loosened once the number of new cases falls below one new infection for every 2,000 people over a two-week period.
WASHINGTON: Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee has said easing the stay-at-home home order in effect through May 4 will be gradual with decisions based on markers including adequate testing and the pace of new cases. But there are mounting calls for easing restrictions in the state that had the first major deadly outbreak, including a sheriff who says he won’t enforce the stay-home order because it violates constitutional rights.
WEST VIRGINIA: Republican Gov. Jim Justice announced Monday that as long as the state’s positive test rate stays below 3% for three consecutive days, he’s allowing hospital elective procedures, outpatient health care, primary care, dentistry, and psychological and mental health services. Next week would involve the reopening of small businesses, outdoor seating at restaurants, barber shops, nail salons, and church and funeral services. In subsequent weeks, offices, hotels, casinos, restaurants and other remaining businesses could reopen.
NO STAY-HOME ORDER
IOWA: Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday she would partially reopen businesses and churches in 77 of Iowa’s 99 counties, even as the state experiences increased numbers of coronavirus-related cases and deaths. Reynolds said restaurants, fitness centers, retail stores and malls could reopen Friday at 50 percent of their operating capacity in those mostly rural countries. Reynolds will allow church services to resume. Tougher restrictions remain for counties with Iowa’s largest cities, including Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
NEBRASKA: Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts didn’t impose a stay-at-home order but required schools to close and imposed a 10-person limit on gatherings, including at businesses. Ricketts last week announced he will relax coronavirus restrictions in 59 of Nebraska’s 93 counties, including the Omaha area, and will allow in-person church services to resume with some limitations. The changes go into effect May 4 and will allow restaurants in the affected counties to reopen their dining rooms but require them to keep crowds at or below half of their rated occupancy.
NORTH DAKOTA: Republican Gov. Doug Burgum ordered most businesses closed until at least Thursday and hasn’t signaled when he would lift the restrictions. Burgum last week said the state plans to increase testing and contact tracing to protect residents and meet White House guidelines to put people back to work.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, has resisted calls to shut down businesses or issue a stay-at-home order, even amid criticism after an outbreak infected hundreds of workers at a Sioux Falls pork plant that had to be shuttered. Noem has instead called on gatherings to be limited to 10 or fewer people and on businesses and individuals to practice safe distancing.
WYOMING: Wyoming is among a handful of states that never implemented a statewide stay-at-home order. Testing capacity for the coronavirus remains limited but Republican Gov. Mark Gordon considers the state already essentially in Phase One of the White House reopening guidelines. Gordon has ordered schools and many types of businesses to remain closed until Thursday.
NOT ANYTIME SOON
CALIFORNIA: Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom last week allowed hospitals to resume scheduled surgeries in the first significant change to the stay-at-home order in the nation’s most populous state. But Newsom said the state’s broader stay-at-home order won’t be lifted until the state can dramatically increase its testing capacity. Newsom said Monday that California may be just weeks away from “meaningful changes” to its stay-at-home order, but warned progress will be jeopardized if people crowd beaches as they did in some places over the warm spring weekend. Some rural counties are seeking to ease restrictions and some in the San Francisco Bay Area are extending them through the end of May.
CONNECTICUT: Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont has said he’ll start thinking about reopening Connecticut’s economy on May 20, when when his order shutting down schools and nonessential businesses is due to expire. But he says before that happens they must be 14 days of declining hospitalizations, much greater testing capability and more masks and other personal protective equipment for workers who interact with the public.
DELAWARE: Democratic Gov. John Carney has indicated state officials will develop a plan for reopening Delaware’s economy based on guidance from the CDC, including 14 days of declining cases. Carney also says extensive testing and contract tracking programs must be in place before economic restrictions are loosened.
ILLINOIS: Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week extended his stay-at-home order, which also closed all nonessential businesses, to May 30. Beginning Friday, face coverings must be worn in public when 6-foot distancing is not possible. Also, surgeries that were delayed may now be rescheduled, retail stores not on the essential-business list can start providing pickup and delivery service and state parks will reopen for activities such as hiking and fishing. Schools remain closed through the semester with remote learning.
MARYLAND: Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has called for a gradual reopening of the state that will be guided by the rate of hospitalizations due to the virus and number of patients admitted to intensive care. Still in effect is the state-at-home order, which would be lifted under the state’s first phase of the reopening process. It would also enable some small shops and certain small businesses to resume service.
MASSACHUSETTS: Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has said it’s too early to begin reopening the state’s economy. Baker says new hospitalizations is a key data point, and a modest increase continues statewide. The governor says the question will be less what businesses are essential or nonessential and more about what are the rules everyone will need to follow.
MINNESOTA - The state’s stay-at-home order runs through May 4, and it’s not clear when Democratic Gov. Tim Walz will announce whether it will be extended. Walz gave the green light for people who work at some 20,000 industrial, manufacturing and office settings that don’t face the public to begin returning to work Monday.
NEVADA: Nevada joined a western regional pact Monday to help fight the virus outbreak while moving closer to reopening businesses and modifying stay-at-home orders. Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak has not given a date for easing restrictions. He said the Western States Pact including Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington has a shared vision that puts science ahead of politics. Sisolak said millions of people from the U.S. West visit Nevada every year so the partnership will be vital to the state’s immediate recovery and long-term economic comeback.
NEW MEXICO: Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has said the state is likely to extend major social distancing and business restrictions through May 15 as it convenes mayors and business leaders to help with economic recovery plans. The state has no deadline or date for starting its first phase of reopening the economy.
NEW JERSEY: Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy Monday unveiled a plan setting the stage for reopening the state’s economy. The governor said any lifting of restrictions will require two weeks’ worth of a drop in positive cases, expanded testing, increased contact tracing, and safe places for positive people to isolate.
NEW YORK: At the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he has enlisted former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg to help create a “tracing army” to find people infected with the coronavirus and get them into isolation. New York will work on the massive effort with neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut.
VIRGINIA: Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam has said state’s stay-at-home order in effect through June 10 could be changed and has not outlined a specific timeline for reopening businesses. Northam has said he generally agrees with federal guidelines recommending a phased-in approach starting after 14 days of declining cases.
WISCONSIN: The health secretary for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has extended the state’s stay-at-home order closing most nonessential businesses until May 26. It originally was to end April 24 and Republican legislative leaders on April 21 asked the state Supreme Court to block the order, calling it constitutional overreach. Evers Monday loosened an earlier stay-at-home order to allow reopening of all nonessential businesses that can offer curbside service, like dog groomers and lawnmower repair shops. He previously allowed golf courses to open and permitted libraries to offer curbside book pickup.
MAINE: Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has said her administration is planning a phased reopening but the timing remains uncertain because of a lack of adequate testing.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--1st death from the coronavirus surfaces in Arizona prisons

PHOENIX ( AP ) - The first fatality from the coronavirus in Arizona ’ s prisons came two weeks ago when a 64-year-old prisoner with diabetes died at a hospital in Tucson .
Joseph M. Assyd died as a result of COVID-19 after suffering a respiratory infection , Pima County Medical Examiner Gregory Hess said on Monday .
Over the last week , Arizona corrections officials have declined to say whether any prisoners had died from the virus .
Assyd , who serving a life sentence for convictions in 1995 for first-degree murder and kidnapping in Maricopa County , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tucson on March 27 and died there on April 12 , according to prison records .
Forty-seven inmates in Arizona ’ s prisons have tested positive for the virus .
The most cases were reported at the state prison in Florence , which accounted for 32 cases , including five death row inmates who have tested positive .
Only one case was reported at the state prison in Tucson where Assyd was housed before he was brought to the hospital .
Many prisons , jails and detention centers across the United States are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 4,000 prisoners who fell ill in Ohio .
Those facilities are believed to be vulnerable spots for the spread of the coronavirus because inmates with compromised health live in close quarters .
The Department of Corrections , Rehabilitation and Reentry said in a statement that it hasn ’ t received verification from the medical examiner that Assyd died from COVID-19 .
“ At this time , the department does not have an inmate death due to COVID19 confirmed by a county medical examiner , ” the agency said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying inmates have been given inadequate cleaning supplies and that prison health care operations suffer from staffing shortages and limited infirmary space .
Previously , corrections officials said they were separating prisoners with flu-like symptoms from the general prison population , providing soap for cleaning housing areas and hygiene , and waiving a $ 4 medical copayment that prisoners must pay for receiving treatment for cold and flu symptoms .
Of the state ’ s nearly 42,000 prisoners , the state has said 6,600 are considered medically vulnerable because of their health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Arizona has more than 6,700 confirmed cases of the virus , with 275 deaths .
For most people , the coronavirus causes 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 and death .
The vast majority of people recover .

PHOENIX (AP) - The first fatality from the coronavirus in Arizona’s prisons came two weeks ago when a 64-year-old prisoner with diabetes died at a hospital in Tucson.
Joseph M. Assyd died as a result of COVID-19 after suffering a respiratory infection, Pima County Medical Examiner Gregory Hess said on Monday. Over the last week, Arizona corrections officials have declined to say whether any prisoners had died from the virus.
Assyd, who serving a life sentence for convictions in 1995 for first-degree murder and kidnapping in Maricopa County, was taken to Banner University Medical Center in Tucson on March 27 and died there on April 12, according to prison records.
Forty-seven inmates in Arizona’s prisons have tested positive for the virus. The most cases were reported at the state prison in Florence, which accounted for 32 cases, including five death row inmates who have tested positive.
Only one case was reported at the state prison in Tucson where Assyd was housed before he was brought to the hospital.
Many prisons, jails and detention centers across the United States are experiencing outbreaks of the virus, including nearly 4,000 prisoners who fell ill in Ohio. Those facilities are believed to be vulnerable spots for the spread of the coronavirus because inmates with compromised health live in close quarters.
The Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry said in a statement that it hasn’t received verification from the medical examiner that Assyd died from COVID-19. “At this time, the department does not have an inmate death due to COVID19 confirmed by a county medical examiner,” the agency said in a statement.
Lawyers for inmates maintain prisons are unprepared, saying inmates have been given inadequate cleaning supplies and that prison health care operations suffer from staffing shortages and limited infirmary space.
Previously, corrections officials said they were separating prisoners with flu-like symptoms from the general prison population, providing soap for cleaning housing areas and hygiene, and waiving a $4 medical copayment that prisoners must pay for receiving treatment for cold and flu symptoms.
Of the state’s nearly 42,000 prisoners, the state has said 6,600 are considered medically vulnerable because of their health and being at least 60.
Overall, Arizona has more than 6,700 confirmed cases of the virus, with 275 deaths.
For most people, the coronavirus causes 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 and death. The vast majority of people recover.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--State Supreme Court lets inmate's execution date stand

JEFFERSON CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - The Missouri Supreme Court on Monday denied a request from a man facing execution next month for a hearing to argue that he ’ s innocent and impaired by a traumatic brain injury .
Walter Barton , 64 , was convicted of killing an 81-year-old mobile home park manager nearly three decades ago .
Barton ’ s case has been tied up in court for years due to mistrials , appeals and two overturned convictions , and his attorney continues to maintain his innocence .
The state Supreme Court in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gladys Kuehler operated a mobile home park in the southwestern Missouri town of Ozark .
In October 1991 , officers found Kuehler dead inside her mobile home .
She had been beaten , sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times .
DNA testing showed that a stain on Barton ’ s clothing was Kuehler ’ s blood .
Barton ’ s attorney , Frederick A. Duchardt Jr. , said Barton had blood on his shirt because he was among those who helped identify the victim .
Duchardt said the conviction was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barton sought to argue that information that would impeach the witness and offer a different theory about the blood spatter would prove his innocence , but the state Supreme Court rejected that argument in its Monday ruling .
The court also ruled that Barton had not shown that he was incompetent to be executed .
Barton would be the first Missouri inmate put to death since Russell Bucklew was executed in October .

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Supreme Court on Monday denied a request from a man facing execution next month for a hearing to argue that he’s innocent and impaired by a traumatic brain injury.
Walter Barton, 64, was convicted of killing an 81-year-old mobile home park manager nearly three decades ago. Barton’s case has been tied up in court for years due to mistrials, appeals and two overturned convictions, and his attorney continues to maintain his innocence. The state Supreme Court in February set a May 19 execution date.
Gladys Kuehler operated a mobile home park in the southwestern Missouri town of Ozark. In October 1991, officers found Kuehler dead inside her mobile home. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times.
DNA testing showed that a stain on Barton’s clothing was Kuehler’s blood.
Barton’s attorney, Frederick A. Duchardt Jr., said Barton had blood on his shirt because he was among those who helped identify the victim. Duchardt said the conviction was also based on testimony from an unreliable witness.
Barton sought to argue that information that would impeach the witness and offer a different theory about the blood spatter would prove his innocence, but the state Supreme Court rejected that argument in its Monday ruling. The court also ruled that Barton had not shown that he was incompetent to be executed.
Barton would be the first Missouri inmate put to death since Russell Bucklew was executed in October.


washingtontimes--2020-04-27--Nursing home workers threaten strike in midst of pandemic

CHICAGO ( AP ) - Workers at 40 Chicago-area nursing homes announced Monday they have set a May 8 strike date over wages as many of the facilities are treating patients suffering from the coronavirus .
Members of the Service Employees International Union , which represents more than 10,000 workers at 100 nursing homes , most in the Chicago area , are negotiating with the Illinois Association of Healthcare Facilities to replace a contract that expires April 30 .
Shaba Andrich of the union ’ s nursing home division said many of the workers are making little more than Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour while taking care of society ’ s most vulnerable members , adding they are seeking at least $ 15 an hour and hazard pay for working during the pandemic .
The workers are also demanding improved staffing , better training and more personal protective equipment .
“ They were already struggling to take care of their families , ” Andrich said .
” We ’ re asking nursing homes to step up and do what ’ s right.
” The strike threat comes a day after Illinois officials announced a jump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who live or work at long-term care facilities .
The Illinois Department of Public Health says the state has about 1,200 long-term care facilities .
As of Friday , at least 278 facilities had 4,298 cases of residents and workers testing positive for COVID-19 .
The association representing nursing home operators say they have offered an 11 % pay hike , stable employee health insurance contributions , earlier access to sick time during the pandemic and creation of a training fund among other contract enhancements .
Bob Molitor , the CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the homes ’ offer is fair and equitable .
“ We sincerely hope the union is not using this once-in-a-lifetime crisis to incite a walk-out and put our seniors at even greater risk , ” he said in a letter to state lawmakers .

CHICAGO (AP) - Workers at 40 Chicago-area nursing homes announced Monday they have set a May 8 strike date over wages as many of the facilities are treating patients suffering from the coronavirus.
Members of the Service Employees International Union, which represents more than 10,000 workers at 100 nursing homes, most in the Chicago area, are negotiating with the Illinois Association of Healthcare Facilities to replace a contract that expires April 30.
Shaba Andrich of the union’s nursing home division said many of the workers are making little more than Chicago’s minimum wage of $13 an hour while taking care of society’s most vulnerable members, adding they are seeking at least $15 an hour and hazard pay for working during the pandemic. The workers are also demanding improved staffing, better training and more personal protective equipment.
“They were already struggling to take care of their families,” Andrich said. ”We’re asking nursing homes to step up and do what’s right.”
The strike threat comes a day after Illinois officials announced a jump to 625 deaths from the coronavirus of people who live or work at long-term care facilities. The Illinois Department of Public Health says the state has about 1,200 long-term care facilities. As of Friday, at least 278 facilities had 4,298 cases of residents and workers testing positive for COVID-19.
The association representing nursing home operators say they have offered an 11% pay hike, stable employee health insurance contributions, earlier access to sick time during the pandemic and creation of a training fund among other contract enhancements.
Bob Molitor, the CEO of The Alden Network of nursing homes, says the homes’ offer is fair and equitable.
“We sincerely hope the union is not using this once-in-a-lifetime crisis to incite a walk-out and put our seniors at even greater risk,” he said in a letter to state lawmakers.


washingtontimes--2020-04-28--Explosion levels western Iowa gas station; 2 inside injured

EARLING , Iowa ( AP ) - Two men who were inside a western Iowa gas station and auto repair shop when it was leveled by an explosion are expected to recover from their injuries .
Dan Grote , co-owner of Earling Standard Shop , received stitches for cuts and was released from a hospital hours after the blast Monday morning in the small town of Earling he told Omaha , Nebraska , television station KETV .
Grote said his brother-in-law , Don Bruck , who was also in the shop when it exploded , is expected to be released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he had been in the shop fixing a customer ’ s tire when he heard what he at first thought was another tire exploding .
The blast sent him to the floor .
“ I was kneeling down , and I tried to crawl out because the roof must have come on me , ” he said .
I didn ’ t know , really , what happened.
” Grote said he has no plans to rebuild the business .
The nearest gas station is about 10 miles away from Earling ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion damaged nearby homes and blew debris up to six blocks away and rattled homes throughout the town of about 400 .
Earling is about 100 miles west of Des Moines .
The Iowa State fire marshal ’ s office is investigating the cause of the explosion .

EARLING, Iowa (AP) - Two men who were inside a western Iowa gas station and auto repair shop when it was leveled by an explosion are expected to recover from their injuries.
Dan Grote, co-owner of Earling Standard Shop, received stitches for cuts and was released from a hospital hours after the blast Monday morning in the small town of Earling he told Omaha, Nebraska, television station KETV. Grote said his brother-in-law, Don Bruck, who was also in the shop when it exploded, is expected to be released soon from an Omaha hospital.
Grote said he had been in the shop fixing a customer’s tire when he heard what he at first thought was another tire exploding. The blast sent him to the floor.
“I was kneeling down, and I tried to crawl out because the roof must have come on me,” he said. I didn’t know, really, what happened.”
Grote said he has no plans to rebuild the business. The nearest gas station is about 10 miles away from Earling’s Main Street.
Investigators say the explosion damaged nearby homes and blew debris up to six blocks away and rattled homes throughout the town of about 400. Earling is about 100 miles west of Des Moines.
The Iowa State fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the explosion.