DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Look for Powerball jackpots to get even smaller as the new coronavirus keeps more people at home, not out buying lottery tickets. It was only last week that the Powerball Product Group announced it would cut guaranteed jackpots in half and reduce the minimum amount the big prize could grow between drawings.

On Thursday, the organization said it would toss out even those guarantees and instead decide new jackpots and increases prior to each drawing. The leaders of Mega Millions, the other national lottery game, haven’t said if they will make similar changes to that game.

To reduce health risks associated with COVID-19, officials with the United States Postal Service (USPS) say they are temporarily modifying customer signature capture procedures as part of a social distancing initiative.

A statement from USPS says “While maintaining a safe, appropriate distance, employees will request the customer’s first initial and last name so that the employee can enter the information on the electronic screen or hard copy items such as return receipts, PS Forms 3811 and 3829.

“For increased safety, employees will politely ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.”

In your Post Office, customers are being limited to 10 persons at a time. There may be lines on the floor in the lobby of your Post Office, to help customers maintain a 6-foot distance in the queue to the service desk. There may also be a plastic barrier or shield (like those found in grocery stores), to protect the employee and customer. Once you place you package on the desk or counter, the USPS retail associate will ask you to step back while they process your transaction.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control & prevention), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Surgeon General, have all indicated there is currently NO EVIDENCE that COVID-19 is being spread through mail and packages.

SEYMOUR, Iowa (KCCI-TV) — Officials in southern Iowa say hundreds of people have gathered in Wayne County for a horse auction being held on private property, despite a state order limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the Midwest Trotting Horse Sale was held Thursday near Seymour on the property of Ura Gingerich, after having first been postponed earlier in the month.

The Wayne County Health Department set up checkpoints on the property to screen people before they could enter. Department officials say at least one carload of people was sent away after being questioned as part of the screening. The department says it counted nearly 500 people attending the auction.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced schools in the state will be closed through April 30th. Originally, the plan released on March 15th, had been for classes to resume April 13th. During her Thursday afternoon daily press conference, Reynolds said “Keeping Iowa’s students out of classrooms is a very difficult decision, but it remains necessary for now. We anticipate the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa to continue to grow.

“Keeping schools closed for an extended amount of time will help protect the safety of our students, teachers and school staff, reduce the burden, flatten the curve on our health care system and work force, and of course reduce the risk to our most vulnerable Iowans, and ultimately save lives.”

Reynolds said at this time, she is NOT ordering schools to remain closed until the end of the school year. She said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo “has been working proactively with the Education Task Force to develop a plan that defines options for continuous learning programs., including non-credit and for-credit options. School Districts will be required to select the best option for the students and families they serve, and inform the State of their decision by April 10th.

“School Districts that choose not to provide continuous learning will be required to make up the instructional time lost beyond what has been waived by the Iowa Legislature.” Reynolds said “I also want to let school districts know, while we extended closures through April 30th, and we continue to evaluate information, I know that it’s also extremely important to you when you’re making your decisions, to give you at least a two-week’s notice and we will plan to do that as we move through this process.”

Director Lebo said “The recommendation to close schools through April 30th was not made lightly, and we know the challenges that puts on our schools and families.” Lebo said the two previously announced continuous learning options will remain in place. “Those options  which were based on recommendations from the Continuous Learning Task Force and take into account student needs and district resources include both a Voluntary Option and a Required Option.

“Under the Voluntary Option, schools can encourage students to participate but cannot require them to do so. Under the Required Option, students are required to participate, attendance is taken, work is graded and credit granted.” Lebo said also, “Under new guidance, all public districts and accredited non-public schools, are now required to indicate which method of continuous learning they will use, from April 13 through April 30th. They will have until April 10th to submit their decision.”

An expedited application process has been developed for any school that wants to implement a Required Continuous Learning Program. Lebo said “We encourage schools to work as quickly as possible on their plan, which may include the delivery of content through online learning, paper packets of assignment, or both. Accredited Non-Public Schools may decide to provide Required Educational services without applying to the Department for authority, but we ask that they indicate the decision to do so by the April 10th deadline.”

The applications will be available, soon. Educational resources for both families and educators is available on the Iowa Dept. of Education’s website, and include interactive games, virtual field trip, coding activities and E-Books.

Due to the extension of state and federal mandates of social distancing the Atlantic Rising Group as decided to cancel their 7th Annual Awards Luncheon and Dessert Gala scheduled for April 24th, 2020.

Stay up to date with Atlantic Rising on their Facebook page for future Min-N-Mingles, events, and volunteer opportunities.

Atlantic Rising is sponsored by Cass County Health System.

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Public Health is busy planning and preparing for any potential outbreak of COVID-19 in the Cass County area. Beth Olsen, Cass County Public Health Director, said “While there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Cass County at this time, we are prepared for the likely event of some COVID cases appearing in the next few weeks.” She explained that while Public Health does not do any testing of patients, they are responsible for disease investigation should a resident test positive.

As of 7:30 am on April 2, CCHS had tested 43 people for COVID-19, with 38 of those tests coming back negative and 5 still pending results. Those numbers only reflect people who sought care and testing at CCHS, not those who may have been tested in other medical facilities. Regardless of where they are tested, if a Cass County resident tests positive for COVID-19, then Public Health will be notified by the Iowa Department of Public Health. If a resident tests positive, Public Health staff will follow the same process as with any community infectious disease exposure.

The Cass County Board of Health contracts with Cass County Health System to manage Public Health services for Cass County. This arrangement makes it very efficient for Olsen to coordinate with both the county emergency management services and CCHS. She said “We are fortunate to be in a situation where our county emergency management team and the health system work very closely together every day. That makes us well prepared to work together effectively and efficiently in times of crisis.”