Three more COVID deaths are being reported. A Box Butte County male in his 80s, a Dawes County female in her 80s, and a Grant County male in his 90s have all recently passed. This brings the total deaths in the Panhandle to 24.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of their passing. We wish their family and friends peace and comfort during their time of loss,” expressed Kim Engel, Panhandle Public Health District Director.

Public health is continuing to prioritize COVID cases and close contacts and asks the community to do their part.

If you are confirmed positive for COVID, isolate from everyone and notify your close contacts (less than 6 feet for 15 or more minutes while you were infectious) to tell them to self-quarantine immediately to protect others and limit the spread of sickness. This may include household members, close friends, coworkers, and others who you may have been close to while infected.

It is important for positive cases to self-isolate at home unless isolated in a healthcare facility, until at least ten days have passed since the date of your positive test or at least ten days have passed since the onset of your symptoms, your symptoms have improved, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.&nbsp;

Unified Command confirms 455 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle and 172 recoveries since last reporting on Monday, November 9.&nbsp;The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.

Testing information and access for the Panhandle area:

By PPHD&nbsp;Three more COVID deaths are being reported. A Box Butte County male in his 80s, a Dawes County female in her 80s, and a Grant County male in his 90s have all recently passed. This brings the total deaths in the Panhandle to 24. “We are deeply saddened to hear of their passing. We wish their family and friends peace and comfort during their time of loss,” expressed Kim Engel, Panhandle Public Health District Director.Public health is continuing to prioritize COVID cases and close contacts and asks the community to do their part.If you are confirmed positive for COVID, isolate from everyone and notify your close contacts (less than 6 feet for 15 or more minutes while you were infectious) to tell them to self-quarantine immediately to protect others and limit the spread of sickness. This may include household members, close friends, coworkers, and others who you may have been close to while infected.It is important for positive cases to self-isolate at home unless isolated in a healthcare facility, until at least ten days have passed since the date of your positive test or at least ten days have passed since the onset of your symptoms, your symptoms have improved, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.&nbsp;Unified Command confirms 455 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle and 172 recoveries since last reporting on Monday, November 9.&nbsp;The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605462097177.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Testing information and access for the Panhandle area:<ul>
 <li>You can sign up for the following free testing at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.testnebraska.com/">Testnebraska.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="tel:+14022079377">402-207-9377</a>:</li><li>Box Butte General Hospital in&nbsp;Alliance: Monday-Friday, 9-10am</li><li>212 East 24th Street &nbsp;</li><li>Chadron&nbsp;Community Hospital: Mondays &amp; Fridays, 7-9am</li><li>821 Morehead Street (Old Hospital ER Entrance next to Wilson Park)</li><li>Other testing opportunities for symptomatic patients may be available through the hospital as ordered by your Primary Care Practitioner, call the hospital at&nbsp;<a href="tel:+17472466">747-2466</a>&nbsp;with questions.</li><li>Gordon&nbsp;Memorial Hospital: Tuesdays &amp; Thursdays, 2-4pm</li><li>Regional West Health Services in&nbsp;Scottsbluff: Tuesdays &amp; Fridays, 1pm-4pm; Call&nbsp;<a href="tel:+13086302100">308-630-2100</a>&nbsp;for other testing opportunities for symptomatic patients.</li><li>Sidney&nbsp;Regional Medical Center: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, &amp; Thursdays, 7-9:30am</li><li>Community Action Health Center in&nbsp;Gering: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, &amp; Thursdays, 7-8am</li><li>Testing is free, sign up at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/yydxr5mc">https://tinyurl.com/yydxr5mc</a></li><li>Alliance Community Pharmacy in&nbsp;Alliance: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm</li><li>For people experiencing symptoms, same day results. Call&nbsp;<a href="tel:+13086291045">308-629-1045</a>&nbsp;for appointment, fee is $125.</li><li>Morrill County Community Hospital in&nbsp;Bridgeport: Daily</li><li>Call&nbsp;<a href="tel:+13082621616">308-262-1616</a>&nbsp;for testing, same day results, insurance can be billed.</li><li>Contact your local hospital or clinic for information on testing access.</li>
 </ul>March 2-November 12, 2020<ul>
 <li>Total Tests Conducted: 23,032</li><li>Positive: 4,098</li><li>Cumulative Positivity Rate: 17.8%</li><li>Recovered: 2,136</li><li>Active Cases: 1,938</li><li>Deaths: 24</li><li>Active Hospitalizations: 76</li><li>Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 283</li><li>Last week’s positivity rate updated: 62.4%</li><li>Doubling time (October 26-November 11): 16 days</li>
 </ul>

PPHD: 3 additional COVID deaths reported brings total deaths to 24

ELMWOOD, Neb. (AP) - Danny Rice has a good sense of how dangerous the coronavirus can be.

What puzzles him are the people who have curtailed so much of their lives to avoid being infected by the virus.

"I'm not going out and looking to catch it," he said, sitting at a cluttered desk in his auto repair shop in the tiny eastern Nebraska community of Elmwood. "I don't want to catch it. But if I get it, I get it. That's just how I feel."

Plenty of people agree with Rice, and health experts acknowledge those views are powering soaring COVID-19 infection rates, especially in parts of the rural Midwest where the disease is spreading unabated and threatening to overwhelm hospitals.

It's not that people in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and elsewhere don't realize their states are leading the nation in new cases per capita. It's that many of them aren't especially concerned.

Wayne County, home to 6,400 people in southern Iowa, has the state's second-highest case rate, yet its public health administrator, Shelley Bickel, says mask-wearing is rare. She finds it particularly appalling when she sees older people, who are at high risk, shopping at a grocery store without one.

"I just want to get on the speaker and say, 'Why don't you have your mask on?' It's just amazing," Bickel said.

Jenna Lovaas, public health director of Jones County, Iowa, said even now that her rural county has the state's highest virus rate, people have opted not to make any changes, such as protecting themselves and others by wearing masks.

"They don't think it's real," she said. "They don't think it's going to be that bad or they just don't want to wear a mask because we've made it a whole political thing at this point."

In part, though, some of those views are hard to fight because of the reality that many people have no symptoms, and most of those who do get sick recover quickly. And treatment advances mean that those who become seriously ill are less likely to die from the virus than when it first emerged in the spring. Even though cases and the death toll are rising, infectious disease experts note that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-archive-76133a0e0258f43751b16b031f3a1684" target="_blank">death rates appear to be falling</a>.

Like most people, Jay Stibbe, 52, of Fargo, North Dakota, said he and his family are respectful of COVID-19 protocols and wear masks where required. However, Stibbe said he doesn't see enough "concrete information" about the virus to stop him from going about his normal life, even though North Dakota leads the nation in the number of virus cases per capita.

"We have an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old, and we certainly believe this is an important time of life to maybe shine a little bit," he said. "We're trying to create as much normalcy as we can. We try not to live in fear. We've traveled. We go out to dinner."

In Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Karen Prohaska, 76, said she generally doesn't wear a mask in her downtown purse and jewelry shop but will put one on at the request of a customer. When customers come into the store with a face covering, she asks if they'd like her to don one as well. Most say no and ask if it's OK for them to remove theirs.

"I hope that I don't get the virus, but I've never really been a germophobe," Prohaska said.

The pandemic hasn't stopped Mary Gerteisen, of Eagle, Nebraska, from visiting her 96-year-old father on weekends to watch football. Gerteisen said she understands the risks, given her father's age and vulnerability, but she also weighed the fact that he's in the early stages of dementia and often believes family members have abandoned him.

"There are times when I think that I do need to take the pandemic more seriously," she said. "But I want to see my dad, and I don't know much longer I have with him. I would love for him to live to 100-some years old, but if he comes down with (the virus), he's lived a good, long life."

Even as virus rates have soared in the Midwest, the Republican governors of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota have ruled out requiring masks in all public places, though Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds this week required masks for indoor events with more than 25 people and outdoor events of more than 100 people. Iowa schools are exempted, and bars and restaurants are only required to ensure social distancing. Meanwhile, North Dakota's Republican governor, Doug Burgum,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jamestown-coronavirus-pandemic-441e33d27f7ae39e3200ec095cfe7c6e" target="_blank">imposed statewide mask and business restrictions</a>&nbsp;on Friday after resisting doing so for months. The state had only nine free Intensive Care Unit hospital beds as of Friday.

Although doctors and public health officials have criticized the governors for their lack of action, voters in all of the states last week backed Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who has mocked mask wearing and downplayed the seriousness of a pandemic that has killed more than 240,000 people.

That has left Midwest medical professionals wondering how they will reverse a tide of people being treated for the coronavirus if residents of their states still aren't taking the illness seriously.

Suresh Gunasekaran, CEO of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, said they're managing the surge of patients for now but don't know what will happen if the numbers keep rising.

"The real question is where are we going to be in December? Where are we going to be in January?" he asked. "These are the kinds of questions that I think that we as a state have to continue to ask ourselves but more importantly each local community has to ask themselves."

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press ELMWOOD, Neb. (AP) - Danny Rice has a good sense of how dangerous the coronavirus can be.What puzzles him are the people who have curtailed so much of their lives to avoid being infected by the virus."I'm not going out and looking to catch it," he said, sitting at a cluttered desk in his auto repair shop in the tiny eastern Nebraska community of Elmwood. "I don't want to catch it. But if I get it, I get it. That's just how I feel."Plenty of people agree with Rice, and health experts acknowledge those views are powering soaring COVID-19 infection rates, especially in parts of the rural Midwest where the disease is spreading unabated and threatening to overwhelm hospitals.It's not that people in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and elsewhere don't realize their states are leading the nation in new cases per capita. It's that many of them aren't especially concerned.Wayne County, home to 6,400 people in southern Iowa, has the state's second-highest case rate, yet its public health administrator, Shelley Bickel, says mask-wearing is rare. She finds it particularly appalling when she sees older people, who are at high risk, shopping at a grocery store without one."I just want to get on the speaker and say, 'Why don't you have your mask on?' It's just amazing," Bickel said.Jenna Lovaas, public health director of Jones County, Iowa, said even now that her rural county has the state's highest virus rate, people have opted not to make any changes, such as protecting themselves and others by wearing masks."They don't think it's real," she said. "They don't think it's going to be that bad or they just don't want to wear a mask because we've made it a whole political thing at this point."In part, though, some of those views are hard to fight because of the reality that many people have no symptoms, and most of those who do get sick recover quickly. And treatment advances mean that those who become seriously ill are less likely to die from the virus than when it first emerged in the spring. Even though cases and the death toll are rising, infectious disease experts note that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-archive-76133a0e0258f43751b16b031f3a1684" target="_blank">death rates appear to be falling</a>.Like most people, Jay Stibbe, 52, of Fargo, North Dakota, said he and his family are respectful of COVID-19 protocols and wear masks where required. However, Stibbe said he doesn't see enough "concrete information" about the virus to stop him from going about his normal life, even though North Dakota leads the nation in the number of virus cases per capita."We have an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old, and we certainly believe this is an important time of life to maybe shine a little bit," he said. "We're trying to create as much normalcy as we can. We try not to live in fear. We've traveled. We go out to dinner."In Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Karen Prohaska, 76, said she generally doesn't wear a mask in her downtown purse and jewelry shop but will put one on at the request of a customer. When customers come into the store with a face covering, she asks if they'd like her to don one as well. Most say no and ask if it's OK for them to remove theirs."I hope that I don't get the virus, but I've never really been a germophobe," Prohaska said.The pandemic hasn't stopped Mary Gerteisen, of Eagle, Nebraska, from visiting her 96-year-old father on weekends to watch football. Gerteisen said she understands the risks, given her father's age and vulnerability, but she also weighed the fact that he's in the early stages of dementia and often believes family members have abandoned him."There are times when I think that I do need to take the pandemic more seriously," she said. "But I want to see my dad, and I don't know much longer I have with him. I would love for him to live to 100-some years old, but if he comes down with (the virus), he's lived a good, long life."Even as virus rates have soared in the Midwest, the Republican governors of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota have ruled out requiring masks in all public places, though Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds this week required masks for indoor events with more than 25 people and outdoor events of more than 100 people. Iowa schools are exempted, and bars and restaurants are only required to ensure social distancing. Meanwhile, North Dakota's Republican governor, Doug Burgum,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jamestown-coronavirus-pandemic-441e33d27f7ae39e3200ec095cfe7c6e" target="_blank">imposed statewide mask and business restrictions</a>&nbsp;on Friday after resisting doing so for months. The state had only nine free Intensive Care Unit hospital beds as of Friday.Although doctors and public health officials have criticized the governors for their lack of action, voters in all of the states last week backed Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who has mocked mask wearing and downplayed the seriousness of a pandemic that has killed more than 240,000 people.That has left Midwest medical professionals wondering how they will reverse a tide of people being treated for the coronavirus if residents of their states still aren't taking the illness seriously.Suresh Gunasekaran, CEO of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, said they're managing the surge of patients for now but don't know what will happen if the numbers keep rising."The real question is where are we going to be in December? Where are we going to be in January?" he asked. "These are the kinds of questions that I think that we as a state have to continue to ask ourselves but more importantly each local community has to ask themselves."

Surging virus cases get a shrug in many Midwestern towns

LINCOLN-Governor Pete Ricketts announced that Nebraska will take a phased approach to public health restrictions based on the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by coronavirus patients. &nbsp;As soon as the percentage of coronavirus-related hospitalizations increases above certain thresholds, restrictions will be tightened.&nbsp; If the percentage of coronavirus-related hospitalizations declines below the thresholds (on average, over a seven-day period) restrictions will be relaxed.&nbsp; A document outlining each of the five, color-coded phases is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fhmadcuih3j2xlyd%2FColor-Coded%2520%2520Phase%2520Comparison%252011.13.20.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388747170%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=nngNQyYMKSp7%2F4HkrqmoLI7gwmW8qKUovKM7w7Ud%2B1Q%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.&nbsp; Currently, Nebraska is in the “orange” phase, which is the second most restrictive. &nbsp;

The State is issuing a new Directed Health Measure (DHM) effective statewide as of Monday, November 16th.&nbsp; It temporarily halts elective surgeries that can wait four weeks or longer without substantially changing a patient’s outcome.&nbsp; In addition to the restriction on elective surgeries, the new DHM includes all of the health measures that took effect on November 11, 2020 (see an outline of these changes by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fbcgfg6nkbierlsc%2FOutline%2520of%2520Changes%2520to%2520DHMs%252011.9.20.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388757113%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=0BhGksuol4R2J%2Bnrrv6r8u3nc1RBzqYOtg42g8USjs0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>).

Gov. Ricketts: Color-Coded Phases for Health Measures

Gov. Ricketts: Thanksgiving&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Video from this afternoon’s press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fwdv50jcmyhp022m%2FGov.%2520Press%2520Conference%252011.13.2020.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388757113%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=w4kyroqYu%2F9u3rRLS5ZHdQZhawNNdYyqHnusYQ6YJRQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

To see a chart of the restrictions in each colored phase of the State’s coronavirus response,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fhmadcuih3j2xlyd%2FColor-Coded%2520%2520Phase%2520Comparison%252011.13.20.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388767084%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=W%2BrlwlDRWjmCwehNHRfYx7ISZKCyxUED5T5KamYvS1g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">click here</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605359455800.jpeg" alt="Gov. Ricketts (TV screen) talks about the State’s new, phased approach to the coronavirus pandemic as the Governor’s Director of Strategic Communications Taylor Gage (podium) looks on." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Ricketts (TV screen) talks about the State’s new, phased approach to the coronavirus pandemic as the Governor’s Director of Strategic Communications Taylor Gage (podium) looks on.</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN-Governor Pete Ricketts announced that Nebraska will take a phased approach to public health restrictions based on the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by coronavirus patients. &nbsp;As soon as the percentage of coronavirus-related hospitalizations increases above certain thresholds, restrictions will be tightened.&nbsp; If the percentage of coronavirus-related hospitalizations declines below the thresholds (on average, over a seven-day period) restrictions will be relaxed.&nbsp; A document outlining each of the five, color-coded phases is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fhmadcuih3j2xlyd%2FColor-Coded%2520%2520Phase%2520Comparison%252011.13.20.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388747170%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=nngNQyYMKSp7%2F4HkrqmoLI7gwmW8qKUovKM7w7Ud%2B1Q%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.&nbsp; Currently, Nebraska is in the “orange” phase, which is the second most restrictive. &nbsp;The State is issuing a new Directed Health Measure (DHM) effective statewide as of Monday, November 16th.&nbsp; It temporarily halts elective surgeries that can wait four weeks or longer without substantially changing a patient’s outcome.&nbsp; In addition to the restriction on elective surgeries, the new DHM includes all of the health measures that took effect on November 11, 2020 (see an outline of these changes by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fbcgfg6nkbierlsc%2FOutline%2520of%2520Changes%2520to%2520DHMs%252011.9.20.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388757113%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=0BhGksuol4R2J%2Bnrrv6r8u3nc1RBzqYOtg42g8USjs0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>).Gov. Ricketts: Color-Coded Phases for Health Measures<ul>
 <li>We’ve been working to slow the spread of the virus while protecting hospital capacity.</li><li>However, coronavirus-related hospitalizations have been growing rapidly each day for weeks. &nbsp;They’ve gone from 200 on September 23rd&nbsp;to over 900 today.&nbsp;</li><li>This has created a very serious situation for our hospitals.</li><li>It’s urgently important for all Nebraskans to take personal responsibility for wearing a mask, washing hands often, staying home when sick, and keeping six feet of social distance.</li><li>Even though we’ve put in new restrictions this week, the situation is changing rapidly enough that I want to give Nebraskans a picture of where things may be going.</li><li>We believe that Nebraska’s hospital system will reach capacity when about 25% of hospital beds are occupied by coronavirus patients.</li><li>That is the point when hospitals may not be able to deliver the standard of care you deserve.</li><li>As I said yesterday, additional restrictions may be necessary to protect our hospital system.</li><li>Today, we are announcing that most elective surgeries will be suspended starting Monday. &nbsp;This will help free up additional hospital beds.</li><li>Additionally, I am announcing a series of thresholds and triggers that will bring new restrictions into play or reduce them depending on hospitalizations.</li><li>Our collective decisions will determine where Nebraska goes from here. &nbsp;It’s on all of us to slow the spread in the coming days.</li><li>Working together, we can flatten the curve and help return Nebraska to a more normal life.</li>
 </ul>Gov. Ricketts: Thanksgiving&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>With Thanksgiving only a couple weeks away, Nebraskans are making plans for the holidays.</li><li>Be advised that if we enter the “red” phase of our coronavirus plan, indoor gatherings will be restricted to 10 people or less.</li><li>I urge all Nebraskans to limit the size of their holiday gatherings to help slow the spread of coronavirus. &nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Video from this afternoon’s press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fwdv50jcmyhp022m%2FGov.%2520Press%2520Conference%252011.13.2020.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388757113%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=w4kyroqYu%2F9u3rRLS5ZHdQZhawNNdYyqHnusYQ6YJRQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.To see a chart of the restrictions in each colored phase of the State’s coronavirus response,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fhmadcuih3j2xlyd%2FColor-Coded%2520%2520Phase%2520Comparison%252011.13.20.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C888aeed67d3a434358be08d88822cff8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637409030388767084%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=W%2BrlwlDRWjmCwehNHRfYx7ISZKCyxUED5T5KamYvS1g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">click here</a>.&nbsp;

Gov. Ricketts announces phased approach to public health restrictions

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska will see tighter coronavirus restrictions in less than two weeks if the number of infected people getting hospitalized continues to increase at its current rate, based on new benchmarks announced Friday.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said he will impose new social-distancing mandates on bars, restaurants and other places where people gather if the number of hospitalized virus patients rises to 25% of the state's overall hospital bed capacity.

As of Thursday night, the state's hospitals held 905 virus patients - about 20% of their current capacity, Ricketts said at a news conference. The number of patients has been growing by about 25 per day, and if that trend continues, Nebraska's hospitals would reach the 25% benchmark in about 11 days.

"This is a very serious situation for our hospitals, and we all need to be a part of slowing down the virus," Ricketts said via a video link livestreamed at the Capitol. Ricketts and his wife&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-public-health-health-pete-ricketts-nebraska-0dcb6a3ddc8f4b87591f37e15a86ff44" target="_blank">were exposed to the virus</a>&nbsp;earlier this week during an outdoor dinner with friends.

The new potential restrictions would prohibit extracurricular activities for students below high school level, limit bars to carry-out and delivery services and cap all indoor gatherings at 10 people, among other measures. Elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements would also have to be postponed.

If the number of hospitalized patients rises above the new threshold for even one day, the tighter restrictions would remain in place until the seven-day average of patients drops back to a safer level.

Ricketts warned Thursday that he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-32c654e0133be1d26eaf6bb343022e79" target="_blank">order restrictions very similar to the ones that he put into effect in earlier this year</a>&nbsp;if the state's current trajectory continues.

Top doctors at Nebraska's largest hospital sounded a similar alarm Friday in a virtual news conference, but stressed that they've been preparing for more patients and that their facilities are still safe. Although beds are quickly filling, they said they still have an adequate supply of ventilators.

"With the staff we have, Nebraska is still in good hands," said Dr. Harris Frankel, chief medical officer of Nebraska Medicine.

Because hospitalizations tend to lag behind new coronavirus cases, Frankel said it's unlikely that Nebraska will be able to stem the current increases in patients over the next week.

"But we can change the trajectory through the end of November," he said.

The doctors stopped short of calling for a statewide mask mandate - a step that Ricketts, a Republican, has repeatedly refused to take - but urged residents to wear one voluntarily while in close, confined contact with other people.

"That will do an enormous amount of good," said Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer of CHI Health.

Frankel said: "I think there is a likely to be a higher rate of participation when something is mandated."

Nebraska confirmed 2,611 new virus cases on Thursday, bringing the total number to 92,553 since the pandemic began, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online tracking portal</a>. The number of active hospitalizations has risen sharply over the last few weeks, and 756 people in Nebraska have died from the virus since the pandemic began.

The state's hospitals still have 25% of their beds available, 27% of their intensive care unit beds and 70% of their ventilators.

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

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska will see tighter coronavirus restrictions in less than two weeks if the number of infected people getting hospitalized continues to increase at its current rate, based on new benchmarks announced Friday.Gov. Pete Ricketts said he will impose new social-distancing mandates on bars, restaurants and other places where people gather if the number of hospitalized virus patients rises to 25% of the state's overall hospital bed capacity.As of Thursday night, the state's hospitals held 905 virus patients - about 20% of their current capacity, Ricketts said at a news conference. The number of patients has been growing by about 25 per day, and if that trend continues, Nebraska's hospitals would reach the 25% benchmark in about 11 days."This is a very serious situation for our hospitals, and we all need to be a part of slowing down the virus," Ricketts said via a video link livestreamed at the Capitol. Ricketts and his wife&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-public-health-health-pete-ricketts-nebraska-0dcb6a3ddc8f4b87591f37e15a86ff44" target="_blank">were exposed to the virus</a>&nbsp;earlier this week during an outdoor dinner with friends.The new potential restrictions would prohibit extracurricular activities for students below high school level, limit bars to carry-out and delivery services and cap all indoor gatherings at 10 people, among other measures. Elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements would also have to be postponed.If the number of hospitalized patients rises above the new threshold for even one day, the tighter restrictions would remain in place until the seven-day average of patients drops back to a safer level.Ricketts warned Thursday that he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-32c654e0133be1d26eaf6bb343022e79" target="_blank">order restrictions very similar to the ones that he put into effect in earlier this year</a>&nbsp;if the state's current trajectory continues.Top doctors at Nebraska's largest hospital sounded a similar alarm Friday in a virtual news conference, but stressed that they've been preparing for more patients and that their facilities are still safe. Although beds are quickly filling, they said they still have an adequate supply of ventilators."With the staff we have, Nebraska is still in good hands," said Dr. Harris Frankel, chief medical officer of Nebraska Medicine.Because hospitalizations tend to lag behind new coronavirus cases, Frankel said it's unlikely that Nebraska will be able to stem the current increases in patients over the next week."But we can change the trajectory through the end of November," he said.The doctors stopped short of calling for a statewide mask mandate - a step that Ricketts, a Republican, has repeatedly refused to take - but urged residents to wear one voluntarily while in close, confined contact with other people."That will do an enormous amount of good," said Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer of CHI Health.Frankel said: "I think there is a likely to be a higher rate of participation when something is mandated."Nebraska confirmed 2,611 new virus cases on Thursday, bringing the total number to 92,553 since the pandemic began, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online tracking portal</a>. The number of active hospitalizations has risen sharply over the last few weeks, and 756 people in Nebraska have died from the virus since the pandemic began.The state's hospitals still have 25% of their beds available, 27% of their intensive care unit beds and 70% of their ventilators.For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

New restrictions coming soon in Nebraska if trends continue

Post Podcast: BBGH CEO Lori Mazanec

Scottsbluff, Nebraska— As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and more drivers travel to see family and friends, the Scottsbluff Police Department is reminding all drivers of the importance of seat belt use, each and every trip. This annual campaign is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort that runs from November 16-29, 2020. Aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep everyone on the road safe, the national seat belt campaign runs concurrent with this busy holiday season.

“During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across city, county and state lines to ensure the seat belt safety message gets out to all drivers and passengers,” said Sergeant Philip Eckerberg. “In Nebraska, we know that 3 out of 10 occupants do not buckle up each and every trip. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt firsthand. We see the loss of life and devastating injuries that could’ve been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. We are asking everyone to take two seconds to make it click. Buckling up is more than just a good idea—it’s the law.”

To kick off this year’s Click It or Ticket seat belt mobilization effort, Nebraska law enforcement is participating in the Border to Border (B2B) initiative, a 1-day national seat belt awareness event on November 16 that is coordinated by participating state highway safety offices. B2B aims to increase law enforcement participation by coordinating highly visible seat belt enforcement and providing seat belt fact sheets for drivers at heavily traveled, highly visible state border checkpoints.&nbsp;

Scottsbluff, Nebraska— As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and more drivers travel to see family and friends, the Scottsbluff Police Department is reminding all drivers of the importance of seat belt use, each and every trip. This annual campaign is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort that runs from November 16-29, 2020. Aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep everyone on the road safe, the national seat belt campaign runs concurrent with this busy holiday season.“During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across city, county and state lines to ensure the seat belt safety message gets out to all drivers and passengers,” said Sergeant Philip Eckerberg. “In Nebraska, we know that 3 out of 10 occupants do not buckle up each and every trip. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt firsthand. We see the loss of life and devastating injuries that could’ve been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. We are asking everyone to take two seconds to make it click. Buckling up is more than just a good idea—it’s the law.”To kick off this year’s Click It or Ticket seat belt mobilization effort, Nebraska law enforcement is participating in the Border to Border (B2B) initiative, a 1-day national seat belt awareness event on November 16 that is coordinated by participating state highway safety offices. B2B aims to increase law enforcement participation by coordinating highly visible seat belt enforcement and providing seat belt fact sheets for drivers at heavily traveled, highly visible state border checkpoints.&nbsp;

"Click It Or Ticket" Enforcement Begins Nov. 16

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - Authorities in western Nebraska have identified a man killed in a crash earlier this week when he lost control of his truck on an icy road.

Steven Hergenrader, 69, of Mitchell, died in a crash Tuesday morning just northwest of Scottsbluff as wintery weather slicked area roads, the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's office said in a news release.

Investigators said Hergenrader was on a highway overpass west of Scottsbluff and was passing another vehicle when his pickup truck slid on the ice, went down an embankment and rolled.

Hergenrader was thrown from the truck and died at the scene, authorities said.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - Authorities in western Nebraska have identified a man killed in a crash earlier this week when he lost control of his truck on an icy road.Steven Hergenrader, 69, of Mitchell, died in a crash Tuesday morning just northwest of Scottsbluff as wintery weather slicked area roads, the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's office said in a news release.Investigators said Hergenrader was on a highway overpass west of Scottsbluff and was passing another vehicle when his pickup truck slid on the ice, went down an embankment and rolled.Hergenrader was thrown from the truck and died at the scene, authorities said.

Officials ID man killed in Scottsbluff crash on slick road

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row Wednesday and the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 remains at record levels in the state.

The state said 2,209 new virus cases and one death were reported Wednesday to give the state 89,942 cases and 731 deaths. And the number of people hospitalized with the virus increased to set another new record at 885.

The surge in cases has significantly increased demand for testing. At sites run by the state's main testing service, TestNebraska, the wait to get a test increased to 48 hours this week at most sites in Omaha and Lincoln. Officials with the state Department of Health and Human Services said testing capacity was increased in those cities recently to help meet the demand.

The state continues to have the sixth-highest rate of infection, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, and over the past week, one person in every 137 people in Nebraska was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has more than doubled over the past two weeks, going from 852.43 new cases per day on Oct. 28 to 1,953.29 new cases per day on Wednesday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row Wednesday and the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 remains at record levels in the state.The state said 2,209 new virus cases and one death were reported Wednesday to give the state 89,942 cases and 731 deaths. And the number of people hospitalized with the virus increased to set another new record at 885.The surge in cases has significantly increased demand for testing. At sites run by the state's main testing service, TestNebraska, the wait to get a test increased to 48 hours this week at most sites in Omaha and Lincoln. Officials with the state Department of Health and Human Services said testing capacity was increased in those cities recently to help meet the demand.The state continues to have the sixth-highest rate of infection, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, and over the past week, one person in every 137 people in Nebraska was diagnosed with COVID-19.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has more than doubled over the past two weeks, going from 852.43 new cases per day on Oct. 28 to 1,953.29 new cases per day on Wednesday.

Nebraska again reports more than 2,000 new virus cases

North Platte police are seeking a suspect in the shooting of a man in North Platte and one man is in custody.

According to police, on November 7, 12:07 a.m., officers along with the North Platte Fire Department, were dispatched to the east side of the Platte River Mall, for a male subject that was involved in a shooting.  Upon arrival, officers located a 33-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.  The male victim was transported to Great Plains Health by the North Platte Fire Department.

On November 10, 2020, a warrant was issued for 41-year-old Cortney Hansen, for aiding and abetting-1st-degree assault, in regards to the shooting. 

 Officers observed a vehicle that Hansen was driving and conducted a felony traffic stop near Philip and Bryan.  Hansen was taken into custody without further incident.  Hansen was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center for Aiding and Abetting- 1st Degree Assault.  

An arrest warrant has also been issued for 48-year-old Nathaneal Anthony, for his involvement in the shooting.  Anthony is wanted for 1st-degree assault, use of a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Nathaneal Anthony, please contact the North Platte Police Department or your local Law Enforcement Agency.  You can also submit your information to Lincoln County Crime Stoppers at 308-534-8400, or lincolncountycrimestoppers.com.  

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605199334600.png" alt="Nathaneal Anthony" />
 <figcaption>Nathaneal Anthony</figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte police are seeking a suspect in the shooting of a man in North Platte and one man is in custody.According to police, on November 7, 12:07 a.m., officers along with the North Platte Fire Department, were dispatched to the east side of the Platte River Mall, for a male subject that was involved in a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a 33-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The male victim was transported to Great Plains Health by the North Platte Fire Department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605199365938.jpeg" alt="Courtney Hansen" />
 <figcaption>Courtney Hansen</figcaption>
 </figure>On November 10, 2020, a warrant was issued for 41-year-old Cortney Hansen, for aiding and abetting-1st-degree assault, in regards to the shooting. Officers observed a vehicle that Hansen was driving and conducted a felony traffic stop near Philip and Bryan. Hansen was taken into custody without further incident. Hansen was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center for Aiding and Abetting- 1st Degree Assault. An arrest warrant has also been issued for 48-year-old Nathaneal Anthony, for his involvement in the shooting. Anthony is wanted for 1st-degree assault, use of a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Nathaneal Anthony, please contact the North Platte Police Department or your local Law Enforcement Agency. You can also submit your information to Lincoln County Crime Stoppers at 308-534-8400, or lincolncountycrimestoppers.com.

Police seeking suspect in North Platte shooting, 1 in custody

An Alliance Thanksgiving tradition continues, but--as with so many things in this challenging year--there are changes to ensure a safe experience.

David and Theresa Boyles will once again serve the People Helping People Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday November 26th.&nbsp; This year's event will be pickup and delivery only.&nbsp; Deliveries are limited to elderly citizens and those who have no transportation to pick up a meal.

Theresa Boyles notes,&nbsp; "Deliveries and pickup will start at 11:00am and will go to 1:00pm at the St. Agnes school parking lot at 11th and Cheyenne Ave. You will enter off 11th St and exit onto 12th St. There will be 2 lanes, one for each. If you are volunteering to deliver please let the person at the parking lot entrance know and they will direct you to which lane to go in.

"Our volunteers will be masked and gloved to bring you your meals and they will place them in your vehicle on the passenger side or trunk."

If you are requesting a meal delivery, or planning to pick up a meal, now is the time to do so.&nbsp; Call Cheryl Garrett at 762-2020&nbsp;or Teresa Boyles at 762-4539 and leave your name, address, phone number and number of meals and if it will be delivery or pickup. Boyles notes, "This will help us determine how much food to purchase and prepare. Cut off for meal requests will be Monday, November 23, 2020."&nbsp; As always, phone calls will NOT be taken at the Parish Center, and no orders can be taken Thanksgiving Day; therefore, it is recommended to order your meal now.

The Boyles are always looking for volunteers to help prepare and distribute meals, as well as those willing to bake pies for the dinner.&nbsp; Call 762-4539 to volunteer.&nbsp; All volunteers helping at the school will be required to wear masks and gloves

Boyles notes, "If you have any questions please feel free to call 762-4539 and if not home please leave a message and we will call you back. If you would like to make a donation you can send it to 608 Platte Ave, Alliance NE 69301.

"Thank you for your continued support and we ask for your patience with us while we navigate through these changes and pray for good weather."

An Alliance Thanksgiving tradition continues, but--as with so many things in this challenging year--there are changes to ensure a safe experience.David and Theresa Boyles will once again serve the People Helping People Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday November 26th.&nbsp; This year's event will be pickup and delivery only.&nbsp; Deliveries are limited to elderly citizens and those who have no transportation to pick up a meal.Theresa Boyles notes,&nbsp; "Deliveries and pickup will start at 11:00am and will go to 1:00pm at the St. Agnes school parking lot at 11th and Cheyenne Ave. You will enter off 11th St and exit onto 12th St. There will be 2 lanes, one for each. If you are volunteering to deliver please let the person at the parking lot entrance know and they will direct you to which lane to go in."Our volunteers will be masked and gloved to bring you your meals and they will place them in your vehicle on the passenger side or trunk."If you are requesting a meal delivery, or planning to pick up a meal, now is the time to do so.&nbsp; Call Cheryl Garrett at 762-2020&nbsp;or Teresa Boyles at 762-4539 and leave your name, address, phone number and number of meals and if it will be delivery or pickup. Boyles notes, "This will help us determine how much food to purchase and prepare. Cut off for meal requests will be Monday, November 23, 2020."&nbsp; As always, phone calls will NOT be taken at the Parish Center, and no orders can be taken Thanksgiving Day; therefore, it is recommended to order your meal now.The Boyles are always looking for volunteers to help prepare and distribute meals, as well as those willing to bake pies for the dinner.&nbsp; Call 762-4539 to volunteer.&nbsp; All volunteers helping at the school will be required to wear masks and glovesBoyles notes, "If you have any questions please feel free to call 762-4539 and if not home please leave a message and we will call you back. If you would like to make a donation you can send it to 608 Platte Ave, Alliance NE 69301."Thank you for your continued support and we ask for your patience with us while we navigate through these changes and pray for good weather."

Alliance's People Helping People Thanksgiving Meal To Be Pickup and Delivery Only

Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases locally, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center and Scotts Bluff Count Extension Office, both located at 4502 Avenue I, Scottsbluff, are closed to walk-in traffic effective Nov. 11 until further notice.

Both offices remain open to the public on an appointment-only basis. To make an appointment, call the Panhandle Center main number, 308-632-1230, or the Scotts Bluff County Extension main number, 308-632-1480.

Also until further notice, both offices will not be hosting community meetings, such as local organizations, extension clubs or 4-H clubs. Exceptions will be made for legally-recognized entities that require physical meeting space in accordance to Open Meetings Act.

Extension workshops, classes and similar public events scheduled for upcoming weeks are being cancelled, postponed, or switched to alternative methods, such as online lessons, live-streamed events, and others.

Up-to-date information on cancellations, postponements, and other changes in Extension events will be posted on County Extension websites and also the Panhandle Extension Center’s website, https://panhandle.unl.edu

Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases locally, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center and Scotts Bluff Count Extension Office, both located at 4502 Avenue I, Scottsbluff, are closed to walk-in traffic effective Nov. 11 until further notice.Both offices remain open to the public on an appointment-only basis. To make an appointment, call the Panhandle Center main number, 308-632-1230, or the Scotts Bluff County Extension main number, 308-632-1480.Also until further notice, both offices will not be hosting community meetings, such as local organizations, extension clubs or 4-H clubs. Exceptions will be made for legally-recognized entities that require physical meeting space in accordance to Open Meetings Act.Extension workshops, classes and similar public events scheduled for upcoming weeks are being cancelled, postponed, or switched to alternative methods, such as online lessons, live-streamed events, and others.Up-to-date information on cancellations, postponements, and other changes in Extension events will be posted on County Extension websites and also the Panhandle Extension Center’s website, https://panhandle.unl.edu

Scottsbluff Extension Office Closed to Walk-In Traffic

By Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Educator -&nbsp;Crops &amp; Water Team

The wildfires that took place late this summer and early fall in Colorado and Wyoming are almost completely controlled, but they still might affect agriculture throughout Nebraska next growing season, and for years to come.

Why? Both of these fires as a whole or in part affect the Upper North Platte River watershed. Causes are uknown at this time for the Cameron Peak fire, west of Fort Collins, Colo., and the Mullen fire, west of Laramie, Wyo.

Part of the Cameron Peak fire area takes in a portion of the headwaters of the Laramie River, which is a major tributary to the North Platte River. The remainder of the fire area is part of the South Platte River watershed. This fire started Aug. 13, 2020, and encompasses approximately 208,913 acres or 326 square miles.&nbsp; It was 92 percent contained as of Nov. 9. The fire is located in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

The entirety of the Mullen fire affects the headwaters of the North Platte River watershed. This fire started Sept. 17, 2020, and encompasses approximately 176,878 acres or 276 square miles. It was 97 percent contained as of Nov. 9. The fire is located in the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests.&nbsp;

Most of Nebraska was affected by the smoke from these fires, some days worse than others. In the southern Panhandle the air quality was very poor and visibility was limited to 5 miles or less on some days. Winds as high as 70 miles per hour helped spread the fire in the rugged terrain along with drought conditions and significant timber-beetle kill from several years ago.&nbsp;

The fire crossed over into Colorado on Sept. 26. Burn scars from previous fires helped slow the fire’s progress and on Oct. 24 and 25, up to a foot of snow in the area helped significantly to reduce the fire spread. The fire boundary map would take in approximately 40 percent of the southern portion of the Medicine Bow Range mountains, between Wyoming Highway 230 on the south and Wyoming Highway 130 on the north. All Forest Service roads within the fire area remained closed as of Nov. 9.

Although a large number of acres are indicated, not all of these are acres are affected; the entire area is not burned to a char. The fire was spotty, some areas not affected and others mostly burned up. But there is still a large amount of beetle kill timber across the region and the potential for more wild fires is there.

The Upper North Platte River watershed headwaters is located in north-central Colorado, close to Walden, Colo. The Sierra Madre mountain range is on the west side of the headwaters and the Snowy Range mountain range is on the east side. Snowmelt from both of these mountain ranges together contribute approximately 75 percent of the water flow in the North Platte River, which contributes a significant amount of water for irrigation, recreation, wild life habitat and municipal use across the states of Nebraska and Wyoming.

The fires’ effect on water supplies in the coming years will depend on the amount of snow fall / snow pack in the watershed. There may be slightly higher incidences of sediment runoff in isolated areas and possibly faster snowmelt runoff in the spring due to an increase in the amount of sunlight hitting the slopes and warmer spring temperatures. But all of this is just a wait-and-see, and will depend on what happens next spring.

By Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Educator -&nbsp;Crops &amp; Water TeamThe wildfires that took place late this summer and early fall in Colorado and Wyoming are almost completely controlled, but they still might affect agriculture throughout Nebraska next growing season, and for years to come.Why? Both of these fires as a whole or in part affect the Upper North Platte River watershed. Causes are uknown at this time for the Cameron Peak fire, west of Fort Collins, Colo., and the Mullen fire, west of Laramie, Wyo.Part of the Cameron Peak fire area takes in a portion of the headwaters of the Laramie River, which is a major tributary to the North Platte River. The remainder of the fire area is part of the South Platte River watershed. This fire started Aug. 13, 2020, and encompasses approximately 208,913 acres or 326 square miles.&nbsp; It was 92 percent contained as of Nov. 9. The fire is located in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.The entirety of the Mullen fire affects the headwaters of the North Platte River watershed. This fire started Sept. 17, 2020, and encompasses approximately 176,878 acres or 276 square miles. It was 97 percent contained as of Nov. 9. The fire is located in the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests.&nbsp;Most of Nebraska was affected by the smoke from these fires, some days worse than others. In the southern Panhandle the air quality was very poor and visibility was limited to 5 miles or less on some days. Winds as high as 70 miles per hour helped spread the fire in the rugged terrain along with drought conditions and significant timber-beetle kill from several years ago.&nbsp;The fire crossed over into Colorado on Sept. 26. Burn scars from previous fires helped slow the fire’s progress and on Oct. 24 and 25, up to a foot of snow in the area helped significantly to reduce the fire spread. The fire boundary map would take in approximately 40 percent of the southern portion of the Medicine Bow Range mountains, between Wyoming Highway 230 on the south and Wyoming Highway 130 on the north. All Forest Service roads within the fire area remained closed as of Nov. 9.Although a large number of acres are indicated, not all of these are acres are affected; the entire area is not burned to a char. The fire was spotty, some areas not affected and others mostly burned up. But there is still a large amount of beetle kill timber across the region and the potential for more wild fires is there.The Upper North Platte River watershed headwaters is located in north-central Colorado, close to Walden, Colo. The Sierra Madre mountain range is on the west side of the headwaters and the Snowy Range mountain range is on the east side. Snowmelt from both of these mountain ranges together contribute approximately 75 percent of the water flow in the North Platte River, which contributes a significant amount of water for irrigation, recreation, wild life habitat and municipal use across the states of Nebraska and Wyoming.The fires’ effect on water supplies in the coming years will depend on the amount of snow fall / snow pack in the watershed. There may be slightly higher incidences of sediment runoff in isolated areas and possibly faster snowmelt runoff in the spring due to an increase in the amount of sunlight hitting the slopes and warmer spring temperatures. But all of this is just a wait-and-see, and will depend on what happens next spring.

Panhandle Perspectives: Mullen, Cameron Peak wildfires and potential effects on Nebraska   

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nearly 240 Nebraska prison system staffers have been infected with the coronavirus. 

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said in a news release Tuesday night that another three staff members had tested positive — one each at the Work Ethic Camp in McCook, the Lincoln Correctional Center and the Omaha Correctional Center. 

That follows news late Monday of another five staff members testing positive for the virus.

 The latest cases bring the number of Nebraska prison staffers infected since the outbreak began to 238. Of those, 184 have since recovered.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nearly 240 Nebraska prison system staffers have been infected with the coronavirus. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said in a news release Tuesday night that another three staff members had tested positive — one each at the Work Ethic Camp in McCook, the Lincoln Correctional Center and the Omaha Correctional Center. That follows news late Monday of another five staff members testing positive for the virus. The latest cases bring the number of Nebraska prison staffers infected since the outbreak began to 238. Of those, 184 have since recovered.

More Nebraska prison staffers test positive for coronavirus

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska continues to set records with the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus and health care providers expect that to continue because of the recent surge of cases in the state.

 CHI Health CEO Cliff Robertson says his group of 14 hospitals in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa is preparing for COVID-19 cases to keep increasing over the next three to four weeks. 

Several new virus restrictions took effect in Nebraska on Wednesday. 

The state says the number of virus hospitalizations jumped to 860 on Tuesday and it reported its second-highest one-day total of new cases at 2,182.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska continues to set records with the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus and health care providers expect that to continue because of the recent surge of cases in the state. CHI Health CEO Cliff Robertson says his group of 14 hospitals in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa is preparing for COVID-19 cases to keep increasing over the next three to four weeks. Several new virus restrictions took effect in Nebraska on Wednesday. The state says the number of virus hospitalizations jumped to 860 on Tuesday and it reported its second-highest one-day total of new cases at 2,182.

Nebraska hospitals plan for more increases in virus cases

SCOTTSBLUFF- Regional West Birth and Infant Care nurse Michelle Dillon delivered a special gift to Payton and Trylen Welfl’s newborn son Theodore, the 10,000th baby to receive a book gift from the Cradle Catchers program.

The Cradle Catchers program launched in 2008 as a collaborative effort of educators in the Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library, Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center, and the Western Library System. Cradle Catchers promotes the belief that reading to babies sets the stage for a lifetime of literacy, starting with parents reading to their newborns. The program aims to encourage parents to read to their babies, take children to the library at an early age, and educate parents on the correlation between reading to a child and future academic success.

Each baby born at Regional West receives a yellow “Read to Me” book bag stocked with a board book, a brochure on the benefits of reading to children at an early age, and bilingual book marks with reading suggestions for parents and caregivers. The bag also includes a card listing panhandle libraries and a coupon to take to a local library for a free library card and sippy cup. This gives librarians an opportunity to orient parents to their local library and the programs they offer for children and families.

Cradle Catchers gives books to approximately 700 babies born each year at Regional West. The program is made possible through donations from Soroptimist International, Gering Kiwanis, C.A. Story Foundation, and private individuals.

“The Birth and Infant Care Center is proud to present Payton, Trylen, and baby Theodore with the 10,000th Cradle Catcher gift,” said Erika Carmody, director of Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center. “Cradle Catchers has been a wonderful asset to our patients’ families, and we thank the generous donors who make Cradle Catchers possible.”

For more information, or to donate to the Cradle Catchers program, please contact: Delta Kappa Gamma, Attn: Marcia Schlichtemier, PO Box 192, Scottsbluff, NE, 69363.

SCOTTSBLUFF- Regional West Birth and Infant Care nurse Michelle Dillon delivered a special gift to Payton and Trylen Welfl’s newborn son Theodore, the 10,000th baby to receive a book gift from the Cradle Catchers program.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605110057380.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>The Cradle Catchers program launched in 2008 as a collaborative effort of educators in the Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library, Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center, and the Western Library System. Cradle Catchers promotes the belief that reading to babies sets the stage for a lifetime of literacy, starting with parents reading to their newborns. The program aims to encourage parents to read to their babies, take children to the library at an early age, and educate parents on the correlation between reading to a child and future academic success.Each baby born at Regional West receives a yellow “Read to Me” book bag stocked with a board book, a brochure on the benefits of reading to children at an early age, and bilingual book marks with reading suggestions for parents and caregivers. The bag also includes a card listing panhandle libraries and a coupon to take to a local library for a free library card and sippy cup. This gives librarians an opportunity to orient parents to their local library and the programs they offer for children and families.Cradle Catchers gives books to approximately 700 babies born each year at Regional West. The program is made possible through donations from Soroptimist International, Gering Kiwanis, C.A. Story Foundation, and private individuals.“The Birth and Infant Care Center is proud to present Payton, Trylen, and baby Theodore with the 10,000th Cradle Catcher gift,” said Erika Carmody, director of Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center. “Cradle Catchers has been a wonderful asset to our patients’ families, and we thank the generous donors who make Cradle Catchers possible.”For more information, or to donate to the Cradle Catchers program, please contact: Delta Kappa Gamma, Attn: Marcia Schlichtemier, PO Box 192, Scottsbluff, NE, 69363.

Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center presents gift to 10,000th Cradle Catchers Baby

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. has hit a record number of coronavirus hospitalizations and surpassed 1 million new confirmed cases in just the first 10 days of November.

 The grim milestones Tuesday come amid a nationwide surge of infections that shows no signs of slowing. 

The new wave appears bigger and more widespread than the surges that happened in the spring and summer — and threatens to be worse. 

Deaths are climbing again, reaching an average of more than 930 a day. 

However, experts say medical and testing advances give them reason to believe the nation is better able to deal with the virus this time.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. has hit a record number of coronavirus hospitalizations and surpassed 1 million new confirmed cases in just the first 10 days of November. The grim milestones Tuesday come amid a nationwide surge of infections that shows no signs of slowing. The new wave appears bigger and more widespread than the surges that happened in the spring and summer — and threatens to be worse. Deaths are climbing again, reaching an average of more than 930 a day. However, experts say medical and testing advances give them reason to believe the nation is better able to deal with the virus this time.

US hits record COVID-19 hospitalizations amid virus surge

By Patricia Jones, Task Force on Poverty

People who currently receive SNAP benefits may be eligible for the SNAP Next Step Employment and Training (E&amp;T) Program. This program assists unemployed and underemployed individuals by helping them gain the necessary skills needed to find employment that better fits their career goals and that pays a living wage.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Labor (DOL) have been collaborating in Grand Island, Norfolk, Hastings, Kearney, Columbus, and North Platte,&nbsp;Lexington&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nebraska Panhandle&nbsp;area&nbsp;to launch this program.&nbsp;In addition to those listed, surrounding areas and counties are also served.&nbsp;

The goal of SNAP Next Step is to help families and individuals who are currently enrolled in SNAP (food stamps) who would like to work more hours, earn more income, work in a job more relevant to their education or interests, or establish a more family-friendly work schedule. Ideally, participants may no longer need SNAP benefits after completing the program.

Since 2016, nearly 350 Nebraskans have found new and better employment. Clients who were actively seeking employment started new positions an average of 127 days (approximately 4.5 months) after enrollment. Clients who were placed in Work Experience or On the Job Training were able to start their new positions an average of 31 days (approximately 1 month) after enrollment. Clients who completed a degree or certification before finding new employment were able to start their new positions an average of 130 days (approximately 4.5 months) after enrollment. On average, the monthly gross income increase is $1,260!

DHHS and DOL staff will work with individuals one-on-one to help overcome challenges and to identify programs or assistance available. Participants can receive job search and resume assistance, interview training, occupational skills training services, on-the-job training, and tuition assistance for short-term training programs.&nbsp;

DHHS and DOL recognize that people searching for better employment opportunities have other needs as well. This program offers some help with transportation costs, vouchers to buy clothing for interviews or work clothing, financial assistance for child care, education materials, background checks, and more.

SNAP Next Step E&amp;T receives referrals from DOL, DHHS eligibility workers, and community agencies.&nbsp; Potential participants can also self-refer by contacting their workforce coordinator by phone or email.&nbsp; When a referral is received, contact is made by phone call to discuss the program to screen the applicant and to see if they are going to be eligible.&nbsp;The candidate must receive SNAP but not ADC or TANF, and must be a US citizen or legal permanent resident. If they are interested and eligible, a face to face meeting is set up in one of the DOL offices.&nbsp; If unable to meet face to face, virtual meetings can be held.&nbsp; The coordinator will need their name and social security number or master case to be able to determine if they are SNAP eligible.&nbsp; If someone does not yet have SNAP and would like to apply, Workforce Coordinators will guide them through this process in order to be eligible for Next Step E&amp;T.&nbsp;

Once a person is enrolled, a Workforce Coordinator provides case management. The Workforce Coordinator will meet regularly with participants to discuss the employment plan, progress, and how to deal with any barriers that may arise. They will give guidance on benefit options and budgeting the income being earned. A follow-up will determine whether the new job is a good fit for the new employee, or whether a different career pathway should be pursued.&nbsp;

Interested clients can contact their local SNAP Next Step worker, Jamie Habon, via phone at 308-672-8173,&nbsp;via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Jamie.Habon@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">Jamie.Habon@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;, or by&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dhhs.snapnextstepEandT@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">dhhs.snapnextstepEandT@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;to discuss enrolling.

By Patricia Jones, Task Force on PovertyPeople who currently receive SNAP benefits may be eligible for the SNAP Next Step Employment and Training (E&amp;T) Program. This program assists unemployed and underemployed individuals by helping them gain the necessary skills needed to find employment that better fits their career goals and that pays a living wage.The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Labor (DOL) have been collaborating in Grand Island, Norfolk, Hastings, Kearney, Columbus, and North Platte,&nbsp;Lexington&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nebraska Panhandle&nbsp;area&nbsp;to launch this program.&nbsp;In addition to those listed, surrounding areas and counties are also served.&nbsp;The goal of SNAP Next Step is to help families and individuals who are currently enrolled in SNAP (food stamps) who would like to work more hours, earn more income, work in a job more relevant to their education or interests, or establish a more family-friendly work schedule. Ideally, participants may no longer need SNAP benefits after completing the program.Since 2016, nearly 350 Nebraskans have found new and better employment. Clients who were actively seeking employment started new positions an average of 127 days (approximately 4.5 months) after enrollment. Clients who were placed in Work Experience or On the Job Training were able to start their new positions an average of 31 days (approximately 1 month) after enrollment. Clients who completed a degree or certification before finding new employment were able to start their new positions an average of 130 days (approximately 4.5 months) after enrollment. On average, the monthly gross income increase is $1,260!DHHS and DOL staff will work with individuals one-on-one to help overcome challenges and to identify programs or assistance available. Participants can receive job search and resume assistance, interview training, occupational skills training services, on-the-job training, and tuition assistance for short-term training programs.&nbsp;DHHS and DOL recognize that people searching for better employment opportunities have other needs as well. This program offers some help with transportation costs, vouchers to buy clothing for interviews or work clothing, financial assistance for child care, education materials, background checks, and more.SNAP Next Step E&amp;T receives referrals from DOL, DHHS eligibility workers, and community agencies.&nbsp; Potential participants can also self-refer by contacting their workforce coordinator by phone or email.&nbsp; When a referral is received, contact is made by phone call to discuss the program to screen the applicant and to see if they are going to be eligible.&nbsp;The candidate must receive SNAP but not ADC or TANF, and must be a US citizen or legal permanent resident. If they are interested and eligible, a face to face meeting is set up in one of the DOL offices.&nbsp; If unable to meet face to face, virtual meetings can be held.&nbsp; The coordinator will need their name and social security number or master case to be able to determine if they are SNAP eligible.&nbsp; If someone does not yet have SNAP and would like to apply, Workforce Coordinators will guide them through this process in order to be eligible for Next Step E&amp;T.&nbsp;Once a person is enrolled, a Workforce Coordinator provides case management. The Workforce Coordinator will meet regularly with participants to discuss the employment plan, progress, and how to deal with any barriers that may arise. They will give guidance on benefit options and budgeting the income being earned. A follow-up will determine whether the new job is a good fit for the new employee, or whether a different career pathway should be pursued.&nbsp;Interested clients can contact their local SNAP Next Step worker, Jamie Habon, via phone at 308-672-8173,&nbsp;via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Jamie.Habon@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">Jamie.Habon@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;, or by&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dhhs.snapnextstepEandT@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">dhhs.snapnextstepEandT@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;to discuss enrolling.

Poverty In Our Area: SNAP Next Step Employment and Training Program

Four Scotts Bluff County COVID-related deaths are being reported. Three females, one in her 40s, one in her 50s, and one in her 90s, and one male in his 80s have recently passed away. This brings the total COVID-related deaths in the Panhandle to 21.

“We express our sincerest condolences to their family and friends, we must remain diligent with increased precautions to protect our most vulnerable community members,” shared Paulette Schnell, Scotts Bluff County Health Department Director.

Please continue all of the important precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and your community from the spread of COVID. Wear a mask when possible, stay at least six feet away from others, monitor for any symptoms, and stay home if you are not feeling well. Please practice these safety tips out of an abundance of kindness and humility for others.

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.

The Panhandle COVID dashboard is updated weekdays at 4:30 pm MT and available at www.pphd.org. 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 PPHDFour Scotts Bluff County COVID-related deaths are being reported. Three females, one in her 40s, one in her 50s, and one in her 90s, and one male in his 80s have recently passed away. This brings the total COVID-related deaths in the Panhandle to 21.“We express our sincerest condolences to their family and friends, we must remain diligent with increased precautions to protect our most vulnerable community members,” shared Paulette Schnell, Scotts Bluff County Health Department Director.Please continue all of the important precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and your community from the spread of COVID. Wear a mask when possible, stay at least six feet away from others, monitor for any symptoms, and stay home if you are not feeling well. Please practice these safety tips out of an abundance of kindness and humility for others.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.The Panhandle COVID dashboard is updated weekdays at 4:30 pm MT and available at www.pphd.org. 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.

PPHD: Four more Scotts Bluff County COVID-related deaths announced

Governor Pete Ricketts announced a new online resource to connect nurses and nurse assistants with health care facilities in Nebraska that have staffing needs. &nbsp;

Dr. Gary Anthone, the State’s Chief Medical Officer, joined the Governor to highlight the webpage, which is on the Nebraska Center for Nursing website.&nbsp; Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Chief Data Strategist Ashley Newmyer also participated in the press conference to overview the State’s contact tracing efforts.&nbsp;

Additionally, the Governor gave an update on the State’s Coronavirus Relief Fund grant programs.&nbsp; On October 19th, Gov. Ricketts had announced the opening of grant programs to assist businesses, non-profits, and care providers affected by the pandemic.&nbsp; Some of these programs have now stopped accepting applications, but others—such as stabilization grants for hotels and convention centers—remain open.&nbsp; Nebraskans interested in applying can visit&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Home" target="_blank">coronavirus.nebraska.gov</a>.

Dr. Gary Anthone: Online Nursing Center Resource

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ve seen an increase in hospitalizations recently, which has placed additional stress on our health care professionals.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A couple of weeks ago, the State allocated an extra $40 million to hospitals throughout Nebraska to help them increase staffing.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;I’m hearing from hospital CEOs and CMOs that this has successfully added to their capacity to staff beds in their facilities.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DHHS worked collaboratively with several partners on the development of an online resource to connect nursing assistants and nurses with facilities in Nebraska that have critical staffing needs. &nbsp;The webpage is&nbsp;<a href="https://center4nursing.nebraska.gov/covid19-resources" target="_blank">center4nursing.nebraska.gov/covid19-resources</a>.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The webpage serves as a central location where nursing assistants and registered nurses can find information on opportunities to provide assistance during the pandemic.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nursing students can also take advantage of this opportunity.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All of the health care facilities participating on the website will provide training and orientation for any new hires.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraska health care facilities that would like to list opportunities on the website can contact Ann Oertwich by calling 402.471.0317 or by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ann.oertwich@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">ann.oertwich@nebraska.gov</a>.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following partners were involved in creating the online resource:

o&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska Center for Nursing

o&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska Assembly of Nursing Deans and Directors, which represents 17 schools of nursing.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska Health Care Association

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you to everyone who helped to make this resource available.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact tracing is an important tool to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact tracing starts with a positive test result being reported to the state or local health department.&nbsp; Next, a trained contact tracer calls the person who received a positive test.&nbsp; The contact tracer asks about what symptoms they may be experiencing, if they know where and when they were exposed, as well as who they were in close contact with during the few days prior to their onset of symptoms or positive test result.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Over an eight-week period, starting September 6th, the number of cases handled by DHHS contact tracers increased nearly four times.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For the week of September 6th, 82% of the 750 case interviews handled by DHHS were completed within 48 hours of the positive test result being reported.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For the week ending October 31st, 85% of the 2,961 case interviews were completed within 48 hours of the positive test result being reported.&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even with a nearly fourfold increase in the number of cases handled since early September, the State’s contact tracers have been able to increase the percentage of case interviews completed within 48 hours.&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you receive a call from your Local Health Department or a Lincoln number, it is important to answer. &nbsp;In order to improve the timeliness of contacting those who are positive, the DHHS contact tracers call those persons every 2-3 hours until they are able to speak to them.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Completing your interview with a contact tracer is one way that Nebraskans can be responsible in helping to protect our hospital capacity and slow the transmission of the virus.

Governor Ricketts:&nbsp;Coronavirus Relief Fund Grant Programs

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of the $10 billion of federal coronavirus assistance that has come to Nebraska, $1.084 billion of CARES Act funds came directly to the State of Nebraska for allocation.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 19th, we announced new grants funded through the CARES Act assistance.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grant applications remain open for the following programs:

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) Programs:

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Hotel &amp; Convention Centers Stabilization Program

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Event Centers &amp; Sports Arenas Stabilization Program

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Movie Theatre Stabilization Program

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Stabilization Grant for Charitable Organizations &amp; Licensed Providers

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following grant programs have now closed and are no longer accepting applications:

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Business Stabilization Program

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Livestock Producers Stabilization Program

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Restaurants &amp; Bars Stabilization Program

Governor Pete Ricketts announced a new online resource to connect nurses and nurse assistants with health care facilities in Nebraska that have staffing needs. &nbsp;Dr. Gary Anthone, the State’s Chief Medical Officer, joined the Governor to highlight the webpage, which is on the Nebraska Center for Nursing website.&nbsp; Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Chief Data Strategist Ashley Newmyer also participated in the press conference to overview the State’s contact tracing efforts.&nbsp;Additionally, the Governor gave an update on the State’s Coronavirus Relief Fund grant programs.&nbsp; On October 19th, Gov. Ricketts had announced the opening of grant programs to assist businesses, non-profits, and care providers affected by the pandemic.&nbsp; Some of these programs have now stopped accepting applications, but others—such as stabilization grants for hotels and convention centers—remain open.&nbsp; Nebraskans interested in applying can visit&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Home" target="_blank">coronavirus.nebraska.gov</a>.Dr. Gary Anthone: Online Nursing Center Resource·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ve seen an increase in hospitalizations recently, which has placed additional stress on our health care professionals.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A couple of weeks ago, the State allocated an extra $40 million to hospitals throughout Nebraska to help them increase staffing.o&nbsp;&nbsp;I’m hearing from hospital CEOs and CMOs that this has successfully added to their capacity to staff beds in their facilities.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DHHS worked collaboratively with several partners on the development of an online resource to connect nursing assistants and nurses with facilities in Nebraska that have critical staffing needs. &nbsp;The webpage is&nbsp;<a href="https://center4nursing.nebraska.gov/covid19-resources" target="_blank">center4nursing.nebraska.gov/covid19-resources</a>.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The webpage serves as a central location where nursing assistants and registered nurses can find information on opportunities to provide assistance during the pandemic.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nursing students can also take advantage of this opportunity.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All of the health care facilities participating on the website will provide training and orientation for any new hires.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraska health care facilities that would like to list opportunities on the website can contact Ann Oertwich by calling 402.471.0317 or by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ann.oertwich@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">ann.oertwich@nebraska.gov</a>.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following partners were involved in creating the online resource:o&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska Center for Nursingo&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska Assembly of Nursing Deans and Directors, which represents 17 schools of nursing.o&nbsp;&nbsp;LeadingAge Nebraskao&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska Health Care Association·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you to everyone who helped to make this resource available.Ashley Newmyer: Contact Tracing·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact tracing is an important tool to slow the spread of the coronavirus.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact tracing starts with a positive test result being reported to the state or local health department.&nbsp; Next, a trained contact tracer calls the person who received a positive test.&nbsp; The contact tracer asks about what symptoms they may be experiencing, if they know where and when they were exposed, as well as who they were in close contact with during the few days prior to their onset of symptoms or positive test result.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Over an eight-week period, starting September 6th, the number of cases handled by DHHS contact tracers increased nearly four times.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For the week of September 6th, 82% of the 750 case interviews handled by DHHS were completed within 48 hours of the positive test result being reported.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For the week ending October 31st, 85% of the 2,961 case interviews were completed within 48 hours of the positive test result being reported.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even with a nearly fourfold increase in the number of cases handled since early September, the State’s contact tracers have been able to increase the percentage of case interviews completed within 48 hours.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you receive a call from your Local Health Department or a Lincoln number, it is important to answer. &nbsp;In order to improve the timeliness of contacting those who are positive, the DHHS contact tracers call those persons every 2-3 hours until they are able to speak to them.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Completing your interview with a contact tracer is one way that Nebraskans can be responsible in helping to protect our hospital capacity and slow the transmission of the virus.Governor Ricketts:&nbsp;Coronavirus Relief Fund Grant Programs·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of the $10 billion of federal coronavirus assistance that has come to Nebraska, $1.084 billion of CARES Act funds came directly to the State of Nebraska for allocation.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 19th, we announced new grants funded through the CARES Act assistance.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grant applications remain open for the following programs:o&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) Programs:§&nbsp;&nbsp;Hotel &amp; Convention Centers Stabilization Program§&nbsp;&nbsp;Event Centers &amp; Sports Arenas Stabilization Program§&nbsp;&nbsp;Movie Theatre Stabilization Programo&nbsp;&nbsp;DHHS Programs§&nbsp;&nbsp;Stabilization Grant for Charitable Organizations &amp; Licensed Providers·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following grant programs have now closed and are no longer accepting applications:o&nbsp;&nbsp;DED Programs§&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Business Stabilization Program§&nbsp;&nbsp;Livestock Producers Stabilization Program§&nbsp;&nbsp;Restaurants &amp; Bars Stabilization Program§&nbsp;&nbsp;Licensed Personal Service Business Stabilization Programo&nbsp;&nbsp;DHHS Program§&nbsp;&nbsp;Healthy Places Grant for Centers of Worship·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To apply for open grant programs, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Home" target="_blank">coronavirus.nebraska.gov</a>.&nbsp; For application assistance, call 1-833-500-8810 between 7am and 7pm CT (Monday through Friday).Video from this afternoon’s press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F611dabk3gkba6mq%2FGov.%2520Press%2520Conf%252011.10.2020.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C36493385969b40b4884608d885d72932%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637406506447860118%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=rFjI6hgHGp3y3f%2BLiMUqN6Ieobmn9UxF37kKIm1lgoY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.