WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Tuesday OK'd the first coronavirus test that allows people to collect their own sample at home, a new approach that could help expand testing options in most states.

The test from LabCorp will initially only be available to health care workers and first responders under a doctor's orders. The sample will still have to be shipped for processing back to LabCorp, which operates diagnostic labs throughout the U.S.

Allowing people to self-swab at home would help reduce infection risks for front-line health care workers and help conserve protective gear.

For the home test, people are initially screened with an online questionnaire. If authorized by a physician, LabCorp will ship a testing kit to their home. The kit includes cotton swabs, a collection tube, an insulated pouch and box to ship the specimen back to LabCorp. To take a sample, a cotton swab is swirled in each nostril. The test results are posted online to a secure company website.

The company said it will make the test available in the coming weeks. Each kit will cost $119. The kits will not be available in Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

Initially, the Food and Drug Administration required health care workers wearing masks, gloves and other protective gear to collect all samples from potential coronavirus patients, usually by sticking a long swab down the nose or throat.

More recently, the FDA has endorsed the self-swab method. LabCorp's test is the first that allows it to be done at home without supervision.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement the agency authorized the self-swab test based on data showing it is “as safe and accurate as sample collection at a doctor's office, hospital or other testing site.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587480608332.png" alt="Image courtesy Lab Corp" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Lab Corp</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Tuesday OK'd the first coronavirus test that allows people to collect their own sample at home, a new approach that could help expand testing options in most states.The test from LabCorp will initially only be available to health care workers and first responders under a doctor's orders. The sample will still have to be shipped for processing back to LabCorp, which operates diagnostic labs throughout the U.S.Allowing people to self-swab at home would help reduce infection risks for front-line health care workers and help conserve protective gear.For the home test, people are initially screened with an online questionnaire. If authorized by a physician, LabCorp will ship a testing kit to their home. The kit includes cotton swabs, a collection tube, an insulated pouch and box to ship the specimen back to LabCorp. To take a sample, a cotton swab is swirled in each nostril. The test results are posted online to a secure company website.The company said it will make the test available in the coming weeks. Each kit will cost $119. The kits will not be available in Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.Initially, the Food and Drug Administration required health care workers wearing masks, gloves and other protective gear to collect all samples from potential coronavirus patients, usually by sticking a long swab down the nose or throat.More recently, the FDA has endorsed the self-swab method. LabCorp's test is the first that allows it to be done at home without supervision.FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement the agency authorized the self-swab test based on data showing it is “as safe and accurate as sample collection at a doctor's office, hospital or other testing site.”

US OKs 1st coronavirus test that allows self-swab at home

By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post&nbsp;

The Box Butte County Election Drop Box arrived approximately 11:30 a.m. on April 21.

The Election Drop Box is located in the Alliance Police Department parking lot directly behind the Box Butte County courthouse.

"We have issued more ballots already than the total of ballots voted on in the May 2018 Primary," said Judy Messersmith, Box Butte Co. Clerk/Election Commissioner. "Box Butte County residents are liking this voting by mail. The turn out is fabulous at this time."

Messersmith stated it takes a team of county employees to make this primary election happen during uncertain times with the pandemic.

"Don't know what I would do without Gwen, Cassie, Raquel and&nbsp;Martie...they are just the best!"&nbsp;

By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post&nbsp;The Box Butte County Election Drop Box arrived approximately 11:30 a.m. on April 21.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587495526082.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Election Drop Box is located in the Alliance Police Department parking lot directly behind the Box Butte County courthouse."We have issued more ballots already than the total of ballots voted on in the May 2018 Primary," said Judy Messersmith, Box Butte Co. Clerk/Election Commissioner. "Box Butte County residents are liking this voting by mail. The turn out is fabulous at this time."Messersmith stated it takes a team of county employees to make this primary election happen during uncertain times with the pandemic."Don't know what I would do without Gwen, Cassie, Raquel and&nbsp;Martie...they are just the best!"&nbsp;

Box Butte Co. Election Drop Box ready to be used 

Hemingford Public Schools announce graduation plans 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon told protesters in Cheyenne he doesn't know when the state will get back to normal but he’s talking with state officials about how to reopen businesses. 

Gordon came out of the Capitol to engage with the protesters Monday on the one-month mark after his orders to close schools and businesses to limit the spread of the coronavirus. 

The 100 or so protesters carried signs reading “Don’t Flatten the Economy” and “Defend Liberty.” 

Protesters said they were turning out in support of local businesses and demanded to know what businesses and jobs Gordon thought were essential.&nbsp;

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon told protesters in Cheyenne he doesn't know when the state will get back to normal but he’s talking with state officials about how to reopen businesses. Gordon came out of the Capitol to engage with the protesters Monday on the one-month mark after his orders to close schools and businesses to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The 100 or so protesters carried signs reading “Don’t Flatten the Economy” and “Defend Liberty.” Protesters said they were turning out in support of local businesses and demanded to know what businesses and jobs Gordon thought were essential.&nbsp;

Wyoming governor engages with COVID-19 protesters at Capitol

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KELO-AM) — The owners of a South Dakota racetrack plan to hold car races Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic.

 Park Jefferson International Speedway tweeted that all 700 tickets to the open-wheel racing event are sold out. 

The track plans to limit spectators as well as limiting entries. 

KELO-AM reports no more than 10 people will be allowed in a team’s pit area. 

Organizers advise people who may be susceptible to COVID-19 to stay home. 

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said at her daily briefing Monday that she did not know about the planned races and would check into it.

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KELO-AM) — The owners of a South Dakota racetrack plan to hold car races Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic. Park Jefferson International Speedway tweeted that all 700 tickets to the open-wheel racing event are sold out. The track plans to limit spectators as well as limiting entries. KELO-AM reports no more than 10 people will be allowed in a team’s pit area. Organizers advise people who may be susceptible to COVID-19 to stay home. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said at her daily briefing Monday that she did not know about the planned races and would check into it.

South Dakota racetrack plans car races amid pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state health officials say five more people in the state have died from COVID-19, bringing the state's total deaths to 33 since the new coronavirus outbreak this year. 

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release that three of the deaths reported Monday were in a hard-hit area of south-central Nebraska. 

They included a woman in her 60s from Hamilton County, and a woman in her 80s and a man in his 60s, both from Hall County. 

The other two deaths came from the Omaha area in Douglas County, where a man in his 40s and a man in his 70s — both with underlying health conditions — died of the disease.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state health officials say five more people in the state have died from COVID-19, bringing the state's total deaths to 33 since the new coronavirus outbreak this year. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release that three of the deaths reported Monday were in a hard-hit area of south-central Nebraska. They included a woman in her 60s from Hamilton County, and a woman in her 80s and a man in his 60s, both from Hall County. The other two deaths came from the Omaha area in Douglas County, where a man in his 40s and a man in his 70s — both with underlying health conditions — died of the disease.

Nebraska officials report 5 new COVID-19 deaths in state

By&nbsp;Judy Messersmith,&nbsp;Box Butte County Clerk/Election Commissioner

The Secretary of State’s office has sent a mailer to Box Butte County residents and we have processed many of those at this time.

 If you did not receive a mailer, please go to sos.nebraska.gov and click to request a mail-in ballot. Complete the form and mail to County Clerk, PO Box 678, Alliance, NE; fax to 762-2867; or email to boxbutteclerk@yahoo.com May 1, 2020 is the last day to receive an application for early voting ballots to be mailed out.

For those desiring to vote at the polls on Election Day, May 12, 2020, please be advised that ALL precincts will be voting at the County Courthouse, 515 Box Butte Ave, Alliance for this election only, due to the COVID-19 virus.

By&nbsp;Judy Messersmith,&nbsp;Box Butte County Clerk/Election CommissionerThe Secretary of State’s office has sent a mailer to Box Butte County residents and we have processed many of those at this time. If you did not receive a mailer, please go to sos.nebraska.gov and click to request a mail-in ballot. Complete the form and mail to County Clerk, PO Box 678, Alliance, NE; fax to 762-2867; or email to boxbutteclerk@yahoo.com May 1, 2020 is the last day to receive an application for early voting ballots to be mailed out.For those desiring to vote at the polls on Election Day, May 12, 2020, please be advised that ALL precincts will be voting at the County Courthouse, 515 Box Butte Ave, Alliance for this election only, due to the COVID-19 virus.

Box Butte Co. Primary Election updates for May 12 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska will take a first step toward relaxing its statewide coronavirus restrictions on May 4 by allowing hospitals to resume elective surgeries if they meet certain conditions. 

Gov. Pete Ricketts says he will lift the state’s ban on elective surgeries for hospitals that have at least 30% of their beds, intensive-care unit space and ventilators available. 

Hospitals must also have at least two weeks worth of personal protective equipment in stock for employees before they can resume surgeries. 

Ricketts says the order also applies to veterinary and dental services.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska will take a first step toward relaxing its statewide coronavirus restrictions on May 4 by allowing hospitals to resume elective surgeries if they meet certain conditions. Gov. Pete Ricketts says he will lift the state’s ban on elective surgeries for hospitals that have at least 30% of their beds, intensive-care unit space and ventilators available. Hospitals must also have at least two weeks worth of personal protective equipment in stock for employees before they can resume surgeries. Ricketts says the order also applies to veterinary and dental services.

Ricketts to relax 1st coronavirus restriction on surgeries

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization chief warned Monday that “the worst is yet ahead of us” in the coronavirus outbreak, reviving the alarm just as many countries ease restrictive measures aimed at reducing its spread.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus didn’t specify why he believes the outbreak that has infected some 2.5 million people and killed over 166,000 could get worse. He and others, however, have previously pointed to the likely future spread of the illness through Africa, where health systems are far less developed.

“Trust us. The worst is yet ahead of us,” Tedros told reporters from WHO headquarters in Geneva. “Let’s prevent this tragedy. It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.”

Some Asian and European governments have gradually eased or started relaxing “lockdown” measures like quarantines, school and business closures and restrictions on public gatherings, citing a decline in the growth of COVID-19 case counts and deaths.

Tedros and his agency have been on the defensive after President Donald Trump of the United States — the WHO’s biggest single donor — last week ordered a halt to U.S. funding for the agency, alleging that it botched the early response to the outbreak.

Among other things, Trump insisted WHO had failed to adequately share “in a timely and transparent” way information about the outbreak after it erupted in China late last year.

Tedros said: “There is no secret in WHO because keeping things confidential or secret is dangerous. It’s a health issue.”

“This virus is dangerous. It exploits cracks between us when we have differences,” he said.

Tedros said U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staffers have been seconded to work with his agency, suggesting that was a sign of WHO’s transparency.

“Having CDC staff (at WHO) means there is nothing hidden from the U.S. from Day One” Tedros said. “Our CDC colleagues also know that we give information immediately to anyone.”

In one of his starkest comparisons yet, the U.N. health agency chief also alluded to the so-called Spanish flu more than a century ago, saying the coronavirus has a “very dangerous combination ... like the 1918 flu that killed up to 100 million people.”

Tedros called the illness “Public Enemy No. 1,” and said: “We have been warning from Day One: This is a devil that everybody should fight.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587401715959.png" alt="General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during Monday's virus press conference" />
 <figcaption>General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during Monday's virus press conference</figcaption>
 </figure>GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization chief warned Monday that “the worst is yet ahead of us” in the coronavirus outbreak, reviving the alarm just as many countries ease restrictive measures aimed at reducing its spread.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus didn’t specify why he believes the outbreak that has infected some 2.5 million people and killed over 166,000 could get worse. He and others, however, have previously pointed to the likely future spread of the illness through Africa, where health systems are far less developed.“Trust us. The worst is yet ahead of us,” Tedros told reporters from WHO headquarters in Geneva. “Let’s prevent this tragedy. It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.”Some Asian and European governments have gradually eased or started relaxing “lockdown” measures like quarantines, school and business closures and restrictions on public gatherings, citing a decline in the growth of COVID-19 case counts and deaths.Tedros and his agency have been on the defensive after President Donald Trump of the United States — the WHO’s biggest single donor — last week ordered a halt to U.S. funding for the agency, alleging that it botched the early response to the outbreak.Among other things, Trump insisted WHO had failed to adequately share “in a timely and transparent” way information about the outbreak after it erupted in China late last year.Tedros said: “There is no secret in WHO because keeping things confidential or secret is dangerous. It’s a health issue.”“This virus is dangerous. It exploits cracks between us when we have differences,” he said.Tedros said U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staffers have been seconded to work with his agency, suggesting that was a sign of WHO’s transparency.“Having CDC staff (at WHO) means there is nothing hidden from the U.S. from Day One” Tedros said. “Our CDC colleagues also know that we give information immediately to anyone.”In one of his starkest comparisons yet, the U.N. health agency chief also alluded to the so-called Spanish flu more than a century ago, saying the coronavirus has a “very dangerous combination ... like the 1918 flu that killed up to 100 million people.”Tedros called the illness “Public Enemy No. 1,” and said: “We have been warning from Day One: This is a devil that everybody should fight.”___

WHO chief says worst of virus outbreak yet to come

WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ufcw.org/about" target="_blank">United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union</a>,&nbsp;which represents more than&nbsp;250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers in Nebraska and across the country, sent&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ufcw.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/61/files/2020/04/Letter-to-USDA-.pdf" target="_blank">a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)</a>&nbsp;calling on Secretary Sonny Perdue to take a series of immediate actions to protect meatpacking workers and our nation’s food supply.&nbsp;

UFCW International President Marc Perrone&nbsp;released the following statement:

“America’s meatpacking workers have been on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic from the beginning, working tirelessly to make sure families have the food they need during this crisis. These brave men and women are providing an essential service despite the enormous risk to their own health and the health of their families. Every day, these workers are not only putting their lives on the line to protect our nation’s food supply, but they also continue to work in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable.

“The threat these workers face during this outbreak is real and their safety concerns must be addressed immediately. At least six of our own members in meatpacking facilities have tragically passed away and hundreds more have been impacted by this ongoing pandemic. All across the country, we are witnessing meatpacking facilities having to close down, endangering our food supply at the worst possible moment.&nbsp;

“For the sake of these workers and our nation, it is clear that more must be done now. We are urgently calling on Secretary Perdue to adopt a series of safety actions and enact immediate guidelines to protect these essential workers which, in turn, will protect our communities and this nation’s food supply.”&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.ufcw.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/61/files/2020/04/Letter-to-USDA-.pdf" target="_blank">Today’s UFCW letter</a>&nbsp;calls on the USDA to take&nbsp;five immediate steps&nbsp;to protect meatpacking workers from the Coronavirus:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587422561498.png" alt="meat-processing.png" />
 <figcaption>meat-processing.png</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release UFCWWASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ufcw.org/about" target="_blank">United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union</a>,&nbsp;which represents more than&nbsp;250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers in Nebraska and across the country, sent&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ufcw.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/61/files/2020/04/Letter-to-USDA-.pdf" target="_blank">a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)</a>&nbsp;calling on Secretary Sonny Perdue to take a series of immediate actions to protect meatpacking workers and our nation’s food supply.&nbsp;UFCW International President Marc Perrone&nbsp;released the following statement:“America’s meatpacking workers have been on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic from the beginning, working tirelessly to make sure families have the food they need during this crisis. These brave men and women are providing an essential service despite the enormous risk to their own health and the health of their families. Every day, these workers are not only putting their lives on the line to protect our nation’s food supply, but they also continue to work in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable.“The threat these workers face during this outbreak is real and their safety concerns must be addressed immediately. At least six of our own members in meatpacking facilities have tragically passed away and hundreds more have been impacted by this ongoing pandemic. All across the country, we are witnessing meatpacking facilities having to close down, endangering our food supply at the worst possible moment.&nbsp;“For the sake of these workers and our nation, it is clear that more must be done now. We are urgently calling on Secretary Perdue to adopt a series of safety actions and enact immediate guidelines to protect these essential workers which, in turn, will protect our communities and this nation’s food supply.”&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ufcw.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/61/files/2020/04/Letter-to-USDA-.pdf" target="_blank">Today’s UFCW letter</a>&nbsp;calls on the USDA to take&nbsp;five immediate steps&nbsp;to protect meatpacking workers from the Coronavirus:<ol>
 <li>Prioritize Essential Workers for Testing: In order to ensure the health and safety of workers and protect the food supply, essential workers, such as those in meatpacking and food processing, must be prioritized for testing&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Immediate Access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):&nbsp;Though social and physical distancing are essential to preventing the spread of COVID-19, workers still need access to PPE, such as masks and gloves. The reality is that many of our meatpacking members lack the critical personal protective equipment necessary to do their job and reduce the risk of exposure. It is essential that the USDA, in conjunction with the White House Taskforce, prioritize all meatpacking and food workers for PPE to ensure the health and safety of these workers and to protect our food supply.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Immediate Halt On-Line Speed Waivers:&nbsp;In the first two weeks of this month, the USDA’s Food and Safety Inspection Service&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/news/usda-removing-safeguards-food-while-everyone-else-fighting-pandemic" target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;11 regulatory waivers for poultry plants to increase their maximum line speed. Rather than protect our food supply and workers, these waivers guarantee that workers are more crowded along a meatpacking line and more workers are put at risk of either catching or spreading the virus. It is critical that the USDA immediately cease granting any new waivers and suspend all existing waivers that allow plants to operate at faster speeds.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Mandate Social Distancing Where Possible:&nbsp;In order to responsibly protect workers and prevent the spread of the disease, companies must enforce and practice six-foot social and physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, even if this means production slows down. Where distancing is not possible, companies should use plexiglass barriers to separate and protect workers, and/or ensure that all workers are provided with masks that can safely be used under these extreme conditions.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Isolate Workers Who Show Symptoms or Test Positive for COVID-19:&nbsp;In light of the largest outbreak to date at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it is critical to identify and isolate workers who have tested positive or who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. These workers should be allowed to quarantine at home, with pay, per the recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>

Union calls on USDA to take immediate actions to protect meatpacking workers, food supply amid virus outbreak

LINCOLN - Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson today announced that his office is sending warning letters to healthcare providers and other businesses&nbsp;making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims about their ability to test for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Specifically, the Attorney General and Nebraska State Epidemiologist Dr. Tom Safranek, are concerned that those offering antibody (or serological)&nbsp;tests for COVID-19 are overstating the efficacy of the tests.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, “serologic test results have limitations that make them less than ideal tools for diagnosing&nbsp;people who are sick. Depending on when someone was infected and the timing of the test, the test may not find antibodies in someone with a current COVID-19 infection.” Similar statements have been made publicly by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While commercially manufactured tests that check for COVID-19 antibodies in individuals are becoming increasingly available for use by healthcare providers,&nbsp;the FDA is warning that the results of these tests come with a series of disclosures. One of those disclosures is that “[p]ositive results may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains, such as coronavirus HKU1, NL63, OC43,&nbsp;or 229E.” Laboratories and providers using serology tests should carefully study the manufacturer’s guidance documents for a particular test and understand the purpose and the limitations of any individual test product.

In response, Attorney General Peterson warned today, “I will aggressively pursue anyone who misrepresents the effectiveness of these tests or seeks to&nbsp;profit from Nebraskans’ uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those making unsubstantiated claims about their products and services are violating Nebraska’s consumer protection statutes and, in the process, endangering the public health.”

Attorney General Peterson reminds Nebraskans that he and his staff are diligently monitoring and investigating consumer complaints related to COVID-19.&nbsp;Consumers are encouraged to visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">www.protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;for additional&nbsp;tips for protecting themselves during the COVID-19 crisis.

Consumers should file a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint">complaint</a>&nbsp;through the Attorney General’s website or send an email&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ago.consumer@nebraska.gov">ago.consumer@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;with information about misleading advertising campaigns regarding COVID-19 tests or treatments.

For information on the spread or treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx">Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC</a>.

LINCOLN - Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson today announced that his office is sending warning letters to healthcare providers and other businesses&nbsp;making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims about their ability to test for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Specifically, the Attorney General and Nebraska State Epidemiologist Dr. Tom Safranek, are concerned that those offering antibody (or serological)&nbsp;tests for COVID-19 are overstating the efficacy of the tests.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, “serologic test results have limitations that make them less than ideal tools for diagnosing&nbsp;people who are sick. Depending on when someone was infected and the timing of the test, the test may not find antibodies in someone with a current COVID-19 infection.” Similar statements have been made publicly by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).While commercially manufactured tests that check for COVID-19 antibodies in individuals are becoming increasingly available for use by healthcare providers,&nbsp;the FDA is warning that the results of these tests come with a series of disclosures. One of those disclosures is that “[p]ositive results may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains, such as coronavirus HKU1, NL63, OC43,&nbsp;or 229E.” Laboratories and providers using serology tests should carefully study the manufacturer’s guidance documents for a particular test and understand the purpose and the limitations of any individual test product.In response, Attorney General Peterson warned today, “I will aggressively pursue anyone who misrepresents the effectiveness of these tests or seeks to&nbsp;profit from Nebraskans’ uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those making unsubstantiated claims about their products and services are violating Nebraska’s consumer protection statutes and, in the process, endangering the public health.”Attorney General Peterson reminds Nebraskans that he and his staff are diligently monitoring and investigating consumer complaints related to COVID-19.&nbsp;Consumers are encouraged to visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">www.protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;for additional&nbsp;tips for protecting themselves during the COVID-19 crisis.Consumers should file a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint">complaint</a>&nbsp;through the Attorney General’s website or send an email&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ago.consumer@nebraska.gov">ago.consumer@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;with information about misleading advertising campaigns regarding COVID-19 tests or treatments.For information on the spread or treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx">Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC</a>.

Attorney General Peterson warns about unsubstantiated claims in testing

United Way of Western Nebraska has awarded $10,525 to four non-profit organizations that applied for funding from United Way’s COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund. 

&nbsp;Northwest Community Action Partnership was granted funds for their food pantries and diaper banks in Alliance and Chadron. 

&nbsp;Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska will receive a grant for rent and utility assistance for their clients in Scotts Bluff and Cheyenne Counties, Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center received funds for food boxes and First Christian Church in Scottsbluff received a grant for their food pantry. &nbsp;

United Way of Western Nebraska established the COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund to provide nonprofit organizations in our service area with flexible resources to address the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis on our community or other publicly declared crisis, including immediate basic needs, gaps in service, and operational challenges. Preference is given to the provision of direct services.

An Ad Hoc Advisory Committee has been formed with community leaders from Alliance, Chadron and the Scottsbluff area to work with United Way to advise on the direction and implementation of support to address the needs in the community. The committee will administer grants from the fund in phases to help address immediate needs and short-term and longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. Grants will be released on a rolling basis as the situation unfolds, making it possible to move resources as quickly as possible and adapt to evolving community needs. The process overall will be dependent upon available dollars. The goal is to notify applicants of granting decisions as expeditiously as possible. &nbsp;

Donations are being accepted to the fund and may be made online at uwwn.org/covid, texting UWGIVE to 313131 or mailing your donation to United Way, P.O. Box 617 Alliance, NE 69301. &nbsp;100% of the funds raised for United Way’s COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund will be granted to nonprofits in our service area. &nbsp;As is the tradition of United Way of Western Nebraska, funds raised in Box Butte County remain in Box Butte County and funds raised in Dawes County remain in Dawes County to support non-profit organizations with a focus of helping people. &nbsp;For more information visit uwwn.org and select the COVID-19 Resources tab.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587409295041.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>United Way of Western Nebraska has awarded $10,525 to four non-profit organizations that applied for funding from United Way’s COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund. &nbsp;Northwest Community Action Partnership was granted funds for their food pantries and diaper banks in Alliance and Chadron. &nbsp;Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska will receive a grant for rent and utility assistance for their clients in Scotts Bluff and Cheyenne Counties, Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center received funds for food boxes and First Christian Church in Scottsbluff received a grant for their food pantry. &nbsp;United Way of Western Nebraska established the COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund to provide nonprofit organizations in our service area with flexible resources to address the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis on our community or other publicly declared crisis, including immediate basic needs, gaps in service, and operational challenges. Preference is given to the provision of direct services.An Ad Hoc Advisory Committee has been formed with community leaders from Alliance, Chadron and the Scottsbluff area to work with United Way to advise on the direction and implementation of support to address the needs in the community. The committee will administer grants from the fund in phases to help address immediate needs and short-term and longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. Grants will be released on a rolling basis as the situation unfolds, making it possible to move resources as quickly as possible and adapt to evolving community needs. The process overall will be dependent upon available dollars. The goal is to notify applicants of granting decisions as expeditiously as possible. &nbsp;Donations are being accepted to the fund and may be made online at uwwn.org/covid, texting UWGIVE to 313131 or mailing your donation to United Way, P.O. Box 617 Alliance, NE 69301. &nbsp;100% of the funds raised for United Way’s COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund will be granted to nonprofits in our service area. &nbsp;As is the tradition of United Way of Western Nebraska, funds raised in Box Butte County remain in Box Butte County and funds raised in Dawes County remain in Dawes County to support non-profit organizations with a focus of helping people. &nbsp;For more information visit uwwn.org and select the COVID-19 Resources tab.

United Way of western NE announces COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund Grants

BBGH is looking for donations of USB webcams with a minimum of 780p, but would prefer those that are HD 1080p or higher.

It’s to assist with telehealth visits. 

The Alliance Chamber is available to receive donations from 1pm- 3pm, Monday- Friday.

By Box Butte General HospitalBBGH is looking for donations of USB webcams with a minimum of 780p, but would prefer those that are HD 1080p or higher.It’s to assist with telehealth visits. The Alliance Chamber is available to receive donations from 1pm- 3pm, Monday- Friday.

BBGH seeking USB webcam donations

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Argus Leader) — South Dakota health officials say the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state has jumped by 93. 

According to the state Department of Health, the number of confirmed cases has risen to 1,635, compared with 1,542 the day before. 

Of the new cases, Minnehaha County accounts for 86. 

Minnehaha County is the location of a large outbreak at a Sioux Falls pork processing plant. 

The Argus Leader reports the number of Smithfield employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus increased by 18 to 725 on Sunday. 

The Department of Health says 143 non-employees who had close contact with Smithfield workers tested positive as of Sunday.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Argus Leader) — South Dakota health officials say the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state has jumped by 93. According to the state Department of Health, the number of confirmed cases has risen to 1,635, compared with 1,542 the day before. Of the new cases, Minnehaha County accounts for 86. Minnehaha County is the location of a large outbreak at a Sioux Falls pork processing plant. The Argus Leader reports the number of Smithfield employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus increased by 18 to 725 on Sunday. The Department of Health says 143 non-employees who had close contact with Smithfield workers tested positive as of Sunday.

South Dakota reports 93 new coronavirus cases

Two Rivers Public Health Department is reporting current daily numbers. The district is reporting 111 total cases today. TRPHD is investigating further into all cases. Additional laboratory confirmations include ten (10) Dawson County residents; two (2) Buffalo County residents; one (1) Kearney County resident: and one (1) member of Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home:

Dawson County• 3 females in their 20s• 1 female in her 30s• 1 male in his 30s• 1 female in her 40s• 1 male in his 60s• 1 female in her 60s• 1 female in her 70s• 1 male in his 70s

Buffalo County• 1 male in his 20s• 1 male in his 40s

Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home• 1 member

Two Rivers Public Health Department is reporting current daily numbers. The district is reporting 111 total cases today. TRPHD is investigating further into all cases. Additional laboratory confirmations include ten (10) Dawson County residents; two (2) Buffalo County residents; one (1) Kearney County resident: and one (1) member of Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home:Dawson County• 3 females in their 20s• 1 female in her 30s• 1 male in his 30s• 1 female in her 40s• 1 male in his 60s• 1 female in her 60s• 1 female in her 70s• 1 male in his 70sBuffalo County• 1 male in his 20s• 1 male in his 40sKearney County• 1 female in her 90sCentral Nebraska Veterans’ Home• 1 member

Health officials report 111 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Buffalo, Dawson and Kearney Counties

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has been notified of an additional person from SWNPHD’s health district that have tested positive for COVID-19.

• One Furnas County resident - A man in his 20s who is currently self-isolating.

Contact investigations are underway to identify people who came into close contact to help prevent further spread. All identified close contacts will self-quarantine and be actively monitored daily by public health officials for fever and respiratory symptoms.

COVID-19 is active in the communities of southwest Nebraska and not related to any specific location. SWNPHD recommends everyone practice the same protective measures when they go to any location outside their own home.

Certain people are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 including older adults and people of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:

People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma

People who are immunocompromised. Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, or organ transplantation.

People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)

People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis

For general information on COVID-19 call the DHHS hotline at 402-552-6645, or visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3oDpBh9aSjJYS8jopPJoYYdKhu4VxPI3bwgnCBnwJyOwxn31pRNahLz6U" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx</a>.

For more information on COVID-19 in southwest Nebraska, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.swhealth.ne.gov/?fbclid=IwAR0OvOBfOOc9RhbrZ107-YTQIlfHU9zv6zELD_yA-RXGceMJHpUuq3UgxzY" target="_blank">www.swhealth.ne.gov.</a>&nbsp;You can also follow SWNPHD on Facebook and Twitter. SWNPHD serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins and Red Willow counties. SWNPHD is located at 404 West 10th St (1 block north of Arby’s) in McCook or at 501 Broadway in Imperial (5th St. entranice.)

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has been notified of an additional person from SWNPHD’s health district that have tested positive for COVID-19.New cases include:• One Furnas County resident - A man in his 20s who is currently self-isolating.Contact investigations are underway to identify people who came into close contact to help prevent further spread. All identified close contacts will self-quarantine and be actively monitored daily by public health officials for fever and respiratory symptoms.COVID-19 is active in the communities of southwest Nebraska and not related to any specific location. SWNPHD recommends everyone practice the same protective measures when they go to any location outside their own home.Certain people are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 including older adults and people of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthmaPeople who have serious heart conditionsPeople who are immunocompromised. Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, or organ transplantation.People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)People with diabetesPeople with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysisPeople with liver diseaseFor general information on COVID-19 call the DHHS hotline at 402-552-6645, or visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3oDpBh9aSjJYS8jopPJoYYdKhu4VxPI3bwgnCBnwJyOwxn31pRNahLz6U" target="_blank">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx</a>.For more information on COVID-19 in southwest Nebraska, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.swhealth.ne.gov/?fbclid=IwAR0OvOBfOOc9RhbrZ107-YTQIlfHU9zv6zELD_yA-RXGceMJHpUuq3UgxzY" target="_blank">www.swhealth.ne.gov.</a>&nbsp;You can also follow SWNPHD on Facebook and Twitter. SWNPHD serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins and Red Willow counties. SWNPHD is located at 404 West 10th St (1 block north of Arby’s) in McCook or at 501 Broadway in Imperial (5th St. entranice.)

Officials report third confirmed case of COVID-19 in southwest NE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration and Congress are nearing an agreement on an aid package of up to $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dded8ead64598a3893f4046bbe857d2e">run out of money&nbsp;</a>and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.

President Donald Trump said Sunday, “We're getting close to a deal.”

Along with the small business boost, Trump said the negotiators were looking at "helping our hospitals," particularly hard-hit rural health care providers.

A deal could be announced Monday, the president said at a White House briefing.

With small-business owners reeling during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier Sunday he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration program back up by midweek.

“I think we’re very close to a deal today. I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he believed a deal could be reached late Sunday or early Monday. “We still have a few more details to deal with,” he said.

The Senate is scheduled for a pro forma session Monday, but no vote has been set.

The House announced it could meet as soon as Wednesday for a recorded vote on the pending package, according to a schedule update from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Under the emerging deal there would be $300 billion for small-business payroll program, and $50 billion would be available for small business disaster fund. Additionally, it would bring $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for testing, according to those involved in the talks

On a conference call Sunday afternoon that included Trump, Mnuchin and Republican senators, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated the only remaining item for discussion involved the money for testing, according to a Senate GOP leadership aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private call.

Under the emerging deal, the government’s Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses would get roughly $300 billion, according to Mnuchin. The program has been swamped by companies applying for loans and reached its appropriations limit last Thursday after approving nearly 1.7 million loans. That left thousands of small businesses in limbo as they sought help. An additional $50 billion in the evolving deal would go for disaster loans.

About $75 billion would go to U.S. hospitals, for those straining under a ballooning coronavirus caseload as well as those struggling to stay financially afloat after suspending elective surgeries during the pandemic. About $25 billion would be added for COVID-19 testing, something states have said was urgently needed. The money for hospitals and testing were priorities sought by congressional Democrats.

But additional aid to state and local governments would be left out, Mnuchin said. Democrats have been keen to boost funding to cash-strapped states and local governments whose revenues have cratered, but the issue threatened to provoke fights between large, high-tax states like California and New York and smaller states more typically run by Republicans.

“The president is willing to consider that in the next bill, but wants to get this over the finish line with a focus on small businesses, hospitals and testing,” Mnuchin said.

He said he’s been in touch with GOP leaders including McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and all are “on board with the same plan.” On the Sunday call with senators, Mnuchin and McConnell reiterated that money for state and local governments as well as food stamps would not be included in the package, according to the GOP aide.

“I’m hopeful that we can reach an agreement, that the Senate can pass this tomorrow, and that the House can take it up on Tuesday, and, Wednesday, we’d be back up and running,” Mnuchin said earlier in his TV interview.

Schumer said Democrats would insist on aid for state and local governments. They had submitted a compromise offer Friday that would provide $150 billion for states as well as cities, counties and towns based on need. ‪Key swing states for Trump in the November presidential election — Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin — would receive billions in new aid under the proposal, according to a senior Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of private negotiations.

“We are pushing hard,” Schumer said. “We don’t want our police, our firefighters, our EMTs, our bus drivers — this is not an abstract issue. We don’t want them fired.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., predicted an agreement would be reached “soon.”

“I am pleased to report that we have been engaged in bipartisan negotiations on our interim legislation, and our progress is encouraging,” she said in a letter late Saturday to Democratic colleagues.

Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who leads the National Governors’ Association, said he and other governors believe that aid for state and local government is “desperately needed,'' but that it may not be an issue worth fighting over for now.

“I don’t think the deal is finalized yet,” he said. “But, look, we do not want to hold up funding to these small businesses. And we hope that the Democrats and the Republicans in the Senate can come together in a bipartisan way and get something moving for the American people."

Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said states needed money from the federal government to ramp up testing, and he blasted legislation that wouldn’t provide it.

“You have the president saying 15 times, ‘It’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors,'" he said. "And then they’re going to pass a piece of legislation that gives you know what to states: zero, zilch, nada, niente. Whatever language you want to say it, nothing. But then how are the states supposed to do this?”

The SBA loans, based on a company’s payroll costs, offer owners forgiveness if they retain workers or rehire those who have been laid off. The law provides for forgiveness for companies in any industry — even businesses like hedge funds and law firms. There’s a limit of $100,000 on the amount of employees’ compensation that can be considered when loan forgiveness is calculated.

While they wait, owners who are shut down or who’ve lost revenue have expressed unease about the longer-term impact the virus outbreak will have on their companies.

“There’s great pain out there,” said Suzanne Clark, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Every hour and day that goes by without this assistance is really hurting them.”

Mnuchin, Schumer and Hogan appeared on CNN's “State of the Union," and Clark spoke on CBS' “Face the Nation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587378698890.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin doing television interviews on Sunday-image courtesy Dept. of Treasury" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin doing television interviews on Sunday-image courtesy Dept. of Treasury</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration and Congress are nearing an agreement on an aid package of up to $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dded8ead64598a3893f4046bbe857d2e">run out of money&nbsp;</a>and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.President Donald Trump said Sunday, “We're getting close to a deal.”Along with the small business boost, Trump said the negotiators were looking at "helping our hospitals," particularly hard-hit rural health care providers.A deal could be announced Monday, the president said at a White House briefing.With small-business owners reeling during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier Sunday he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration program back up by midweek.“I think we’re very close to a deal today. I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” he said.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he believed a deal could be reached late Sunday or early Monday. “We still have a few more details to deal with,” he said.The Senate is scheduled for a pro forma session Monday, but no vote has been set.The House announced it could meet as soon as Wednesday for a recorded vote on the pending package, according to a schedule update from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.Under the emerging deal there would be $300 billion for small-business payroll program, and $50 billion would be available for small business disaster fund. Additionally, it would bring $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for testing, according to those involved in the talksOn a conference call Sunday afternoon that included Trump, Mnuchin and Republican senators, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated the only remaining item for discussion involved the money for testing, according to a Senate GOP leadership aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private call.Under the emerging deal, the government’s Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses would get roughly $300 billion, according to Mnuchin. The program has been swamped by companies applying for loans and reached its appropriations limit last Thursday after approving nearly 1.7 million loans. That left thousands of small businesses in limbo as they sought help. An additional $50 billion in the evolving deal would go for disaster loans.About $75 billion would go to U.S. hospitals, for those straining under a ballooning coronavirus caseload as well as those struggling to stay financially afloat after suspending elective surgeries during the pandemic. About $25 billion would be added for COVID-19 testing, something states have said was urgently needed. The money for hospitals and testing were priorities sought by congressional Democrats.But additional aid to state and local governments would be left out, Mnuchin said. Democrats have been keen to boost funding to cash-strapped states and local governments whose revenues have cratered, but the issue threatened to provoke fights between large, high-tax states like California and New York and smaller states more typically run by Republicans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587378513189.png" alt="President Trump answers questions during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answers questions during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>“The president is willing to consider that in the next bill, but wants to get this over the finish line with a focus on small businesses, hospitals and testing,” Mnuchin said.He said he’s been in touch with GOP leaders including McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and all are “on board with the same plan.” On the Sunday call with senators, Mnuchin and McConnell reiterated that money for state and local governments as well as food stamps would not be included in the package, according to the GOP aide.“I’m hopeful that we can reach an agreement, that the Senate can pass this tomorrow, and that the House can take it up on Tuesday, and, Wednesday, we’d be back up and running,” Mnuchin said earlier in his TV interview.Schumer said Democrats would insist on aid for state and local governments. They had submitted a compromise offer Friday that would provide $150 billion for states as well as cities, counties and towns based on need. ‪Key swing states for Trump in the November presidential election — Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin — would receive billions in new aid under the proposal, according to a senior Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of private negotiations.“We are pushing hard,” Schumer said. “We don’t want our police, our firefighters, our EMTs, our bus drivers — this is not an abstract issue. We don’t want them fired.”House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., predicted an agreement would be reached “soon.”“I am pleased to report that we have been engaged in bipartisan negotiations on our interim legislation, and our progress is encouraging,” she said in a letter late Saturday to Democratic colleagues.Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who leads the National Governors’ Association, said he and other governors believe that aid for state and local government is “desperately needed,'' but that it may not be an issue worth fighting over for now.“I don’t think the deal is finalized yet,” he said. “But, look, we do not want to hold up funding to these small businesses. And we hope that the Democrats and the Republicans in the Senate can come together in a bipartisan way and get something moving for the American people."Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said states needed money from the federal government to ramp up testing, and he blasted legislation that wouldn’t provide it.“You have the president saying 15 times, ‘It’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors,'" he said. "And then they’re going to pass a piece of legislation that gives you know what to states: zero, zilch, nada, niente. Whatever language you want to say it, nothing. But then how are the states supposed to do this?”The SBA loans, based on a company’s payroll costs, offer owners forgiveness if they retain workers or rehire those who have been laid off. The law provides for forgiveness for companies in any industry — even businesses like hedge funds and law firms. There’s a limit of $100,000 on the amount of employees’ compensation that can be considered when loan forgiveness is calculated.While they wait, owners who are shut down or who’ve lost revenue have expressed unease about the longer-term impact the virus outbreak will have on their companies.“There’s great pain out there,” said Suzanne Clark, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Every hour and day that goes by without this assistance is really hurting them.”Mnuchin, Schumer and Hogan appeared on CNN's “State of the Union," and Clark spoke on CBS' “Face the Nation.”

Evolving virus aid package offers billions for hospitals, testing

Unified Command confirms four new cases for COVID-19 in Scotts Bluff County. A male in his 50s and three females, two in their teens and one in her 40s, are all close contacts of a previously positive case.

The investigation is occurring and all close contacts have been notified. Close contacts have been quarantined and are being actively monitored twice daily for fever and respiratory symptoms by public health officials. Contacts that are currently showing symptoms are being tested. There are no community exposures to report.

• One case has recovered and is out of isolation

• Nine have recovered and are out of isolation

• Eight have recovered and are out of isolation

All Panhandle residents are encouraged to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected.

• Do not visit or host people who do not live with you.

• Keep at least 6 feet distance from anyone you don’t live with.

• Stay home if you are sick or if someone in your home is sick.

• Stay in touch with friends and loved ones

• Check in on people who may be alone or need help.

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

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

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

By PPHDUnified Command confirms four new cases for COVID-19 in Scotts Bluff County. A male in his 50s and three females, two in their teens and one in her 40s, are all close contacts of a previously positive case.The investigation is occurring and all close contacts have been notified. Close contacts have been quarantined and are being actively monitored twice daily for fever and respiratory symptoms by public health officials. Contacts that are currently showing symptoms are being tested. There are no community exposures to report.March 2-April 19, 2020Positive: 38Recovered: 18• Box Butte County: 1 case• Cheyenne County: 4 cases• One case has recovered and is out of isolation• Kimball County: 10 Cases• Nine have recovered and are out of isolation• Morrill County: 1 Case• Scotts Bluff County: 22 Cases• Eight have recovered and are out of isolationAll Panhandle residents are encouraged to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected.What does this mean to you?Stay Home• Stay home whenever possible.• Avoid gathering in any groups.• Do not visit or host people who do not live with you.Stay Healthy• Keep at least 6 feet distance from anyone you don’t live with.• Wash your hands• Stay home if you are sick or if someone in your home is sick.Stay Connected• Stay in touch with friends and loved ones• Check in on people who may be alone or need help.Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners.For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

4 new cases in Scotts Bluff Co. brings Panhandle total positives to 38

LINCOLN – The Nebraska State Colleges are proud to be a part of the statewide COVID-19 response by providing resources to support our rural communities during this challenging time. Chadron State,&nbsp;Peru State and Wayne State Colleges will provide residence hall rooms for individuals who need to quarantine, isolate, or convalesce during the COVID-19 pandemic if called upon by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska&nbsp;Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“As a community partner for rural Nebraska and the state as a whole, we believe it is important to offer our colleges’ resources to serve the people of Nebraska during this public health crisis,” said&nbsp;Paul Turman, Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System.

There are no COVID-19 quarantined individuals currently being housed at the Colleges, and there is no immediate need for these rooms. The health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty are very&nbsp;important to us. The residence hall rooms designated for use during the pandemic would be completely separate from any students who remain on campus. If this plan is implemented, each College will work in cooperation with DHHS and NEMA to take steps to ensure&nbsp;safety measures are in place. The Nebraska State Colleges will continue to be a strong community partner as the entire state works to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By NSCS OfficeLINCOLN – The Nebraska State Colleges are proud to be a part of the statewide COVID-19 response by providing resources to support our rural communities during this challenging time. Chadron State,&nbsp;Peru State and Wayne State Colleges will provide residence hall rooms for individuals who need to quarantine, isolate, or convalesce during the COVID-19 pandemic if called upon by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska&nbsp;Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).“As a community partner for rural Nebraska and the state as a whole, we believe it is important to offer our colleges’ resources to serve the people of Nebraska during this public health crisis,” said&nbsp;Paul Turman, Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System.There are no COVID-19 quarantined individuals currently being housed at the Colleges, and there is no immediate need for these rooms. The health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty are very&nbsp;important to us. The residence hall rooms designated for use during the pandemic would be completely separate from any students who remain on campus. If this plan is implemented, each College will work in cooperation with DHHS and NEMA to take steps to ensure&nbsp;safety measures are in place. The Nebraska State Colleges will continue to be a strong community partner as the entire state works to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residence hall rooms agreement for COVID-19

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Educators in several states are broadcasting lessons over television airwaves to help keep students engaged while schools are shut down for the coronavirus outbreak.

 In&nbsp; Nebraska, New Jersey and New Mexico, teachers have begun videotaping lessons at home. 

They are using whatever technology they can to help children feel connected and to overcome hurdles with access to technology needed for distance learning. 

In cities including Boston and Los Angeles, broadcasters and educators are finding ways to emphasize programs that might have educational value for children.&nbsp;

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Educators in several states are broadcasting lessons over television airwaves to help keep students engaged while schools are shut down for the coronavirus outbreak. In&nbsp; Nebraska, New Jersey and New Mexico, teachers have begun videotaping lessons at home. They are using whatever technology they can to help children feel connected and to overcome hurdles with access to technology needed for distance learning. In cities including Boston and Los Angeles, broadcasters and educators are finding ways to emphasize programs that might have educational value for children.&nbsp;

Teachers on TV: Classes hit the airwaves during pandemic

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A cluster of coronavirus cases at a South Dakota pork plant has highlighted the susceptibility of meat processing workers, who stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the line and congregate in crowded spaces. 

The Smithfield Foods plant has reported 518 infections in employees and another 126 in people connected to them. 

Because the workers who slaughter and pack the nation’s meat are vulnerable, so, too, is the supply of that meat.

 Union leaders wish more had been done sooner at the Smithfield plant. 

The company says difficulty in getting masks and thermal scanners led to delays in implementing safety measures. But it added hand-sanitizing stations and was scanning employee temperatures before the plant closed.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A cluster of coronavirus cases at a South Dakota pork plant has highlighted the susceptibility of meat processing workers, who stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the line and congregate in crowded spaces. The Smithfield Foods plant has reported 518 infections in employees and another 126 in people connected to them. Because the workers who slaughter and pack the nation’s meat are vulnerable, so, too, is the supply of that meat. Union leaders wish more had been done sooner at the Smithfield plant. The company says difficulty in getting masks and thermal scanners led to delays in implementing safety measures. But it added hand-sanitizing stations and was scanning employee temperatures before the plant closed.

For meat plant workers, virus makes a hard job perilous

SEATTLE (AP) — Before stay-at-home orders are lifted, the nation's public health agencies want to be ready to douse any new sparks of coronavirus infection — a task they say could require tens of thousands more investigators to call people who test positive, track down their contacts and get them into quarantine.

Without the extra help, officials insist, states cannot possibly be ready to resume normal everyday activities, and some agencies are so desperate they are considering recruiting librarians and Peace Corps volunteers to join the effort.

“We are trying to build these teams and processes in the midst of a crisis,” said Sharon Bogan, a public health spokeswoman for Seattle and King County, which are seeking at least 20 more investigators.

As federal officials weigh how and when to reopen the country, experts worry that the United States does not have enough public health workers to suppress another outbreak, especially those qualified to do contact tracing, the critically important search for people who may have been exposed to the virus.

While the exact number of workers needed is a subject of debate, a top federal health official this week acknowledged the mandate to find many more.

“Everybody agrees that our public health capacity at the local and state level is not ready to take this on at a very large scale without reinforcements,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who oversees the agency’s coronavirus response work.

The work could require as many as 300,000 public health workers — a daunting number given that the combined federal, state, and local public health workforce has been shrinking and is now probably less than 280,000, according to some estimates.

To address the shortage of help, governments are weighing whether to enlist people with little to no experience in public health, including the Peace Corps volunteers, furloughed social workers and public health students. San Francisco is training librarians, medical students and people who work for the city attorney’s office.

The extra workers would help conduct testing, isolate sick cases and trace everyone those sick people had contact with.

It’s crucial that such a system be in place before government officials ease social-distancing guidelines, reopen schools or lift stay-at-home orders, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director.

“If we have explosive spread when we reopen, we’ll have to close again. That will be very damaging, not just economically but from a health standpoint,” Frieden said.

The U.S. government has funneled about $800 million to states for coronavirus response work that can include contact tracing. On top of hundreds of staff sent to states to help with coronavirus work, the CDC has already assembled “community protection teams” of six to 12 people each to do contact tracing and investigate tools that could help with it. Some have already been deployed to states where spread of the virus has been relatively low.

Tiny Rhode Island has nearly 100 people "focused on nothing but contact tracing,” reaching out to hundreds of contacts of infected people each day, Gov. Gina Raimondo told reporters. She has urged all residents to take a minute each evening to write down who they physically encountered that day and where those encounters took place.

SEATTLE (AP) — Before stay-at-home orders are lifted, the nation's public health agencies want to be ready to douse any new sparks of coronavirus infection — a task they say could require tens of thousands more investigators to call people who test positive, track down their contacts and get them into quarantine.Without the extra help, officials insist, states cannot possibly be ready to resume normal everyday activities, and some agencies are so desperate they are considering recruiting librarians and Peace Corps volunteers to join the effort.“We are trying to build these teams and processes in the midst of a crisis,” said Sharon Bogan, a public health spokeswoman for Seattle and King County, which are seeking at least 20 more investigators.As federal officials weigh how and when to reopen the country, experts worry that the United States does not have enough public health workers to suppress another outbreak, especially those qualified to do contact tracing, the critically important search for people who may have been exposed to the virus.While the exact number of workers needed is a subject of debate, a top federal health official this week acknowledged the mandate to find many more.“Everybody agrees that our public health capacity at the local and state level is not ready to take this on at a very large scale without reinforcements,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who oversees the agency’s coronavirus response work.The work could require as many as 300,000 public health workers — a daunting number given that the combined federal, state, and local public health workforce has been shrinking and is now probably less than 280,000, according to some estimates.To address the shortage of help, governments are weighing whether to enlist people with little to no experience in public health, including the Peace Corps volunteers, furloughed social workers and public health students. San Francisco is training librarians, medical students and people who work for the city attorney’s office.The extra workers would help conduct testing, isolate sick cases and trace everyone those sick people had contact with.It’s crucial that such a system be in place before government officials ease social-distancing guidelines, reopen schools or lift stay-at-home orders, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director.“If we have explosive spread when we reopen, we’ll have to close again. That will be very damaging, not just economically but from a health standpoint,” Frieden said.The U.S. government has funneled about $800 million to states for coronavirus response work that can include contact tracing. On top of hundreds of staff sent to states to help with coronavirus work, the CDC has already assembled “community protection teams” of six to 12 people each to do contact tracing and investigate tools that could help with it. Some have already been deployed to states where spread of the virus has been relatively low.Tiny Rhode Island has nearly 100 people "focused on nothing but contact tracing,” reaching out to hundreds of contacts of infected people each day, Gov. Gina Raimondo told reporters. She has urged all residents to take a minute each evening to write down who they physically encountered that day and where those encounters took place.“If I’m going out to the store, I’ll put the date, what store I went to, and then the time I was there,” said Drew Grande, 40, of Cranston, Rhode Island. He started a contacts diary on a note-taking app on his phone after he heard the governor's request.Contact tracing has changed over the last few months in the U.S. When the first handful of infections were being identified, teams of 20 or more might be assigned to each confirmed case. Investigations would often start with a staffer or two doing an in-person interview at a hospital bedside. Disease trackers might spend hours asking a sick person and that person's relatives who they had been in contact with since symptoms surfaced.In-person interviews are often better, said Isaac Ghinai, a CDC disease tracker assigned to Chicago to work with that city's health department.“There's a value to looking someone in the eye. You can build a relationship face to face that you can't always do by phone," he said. Some people are comfortable sharing personal details over the phone but others “require more cajoling.”With hundreds of new cases emerging each day in Chicago, that kind of attention to individual infections has largely stopped. Instead, the priority is large groups of people who are particularly vulnerable, like those at nursing homes or homeless shelters. Many new confirmed cases are not being investigated, and when they are, the interviews may be done by only two or three people, and over the phone, Ghinai said.Could there be a digital solution? Apple and Google are teaming up on a contact-tracing app, and other efforts use Bluetooth to gather data from phones that came close to an infected person. Seattle scientist Trevor Bedford has developed a digital interview that public health departments can use if they don’t have enough people trained in contact tracing.Whatever the solution, it will take a while.People have to be tested and diagnosed before contact tracing kicks into gear, and testing remains limited in many parts of the country. This week, the Association of American Medical Colleges sent a letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force saying that testing materials and machines remain in short supply.President Donald Trump has floated the idea of easing at least some restrictions as early as May 1.Some observers believe restrictions could be eased first in places where the spread is low, if rigorous testing and contact tracing could prevent a sudden explosion in infections.But Schuchat warned that "there is no way the entire country could relax mitigation on May 1 and the country not experience a major resurgence.”

Coronavirus Update