By PPHD
Six Panhandle counties join Box Butte County in moving to orange on the risk dial equating to high risk of COVID spread.
Panhandle total: 1106, Active: 185, Recovered: 910, Deaths: 11
Six Panhandle counties join Box Butte County in moving to orange on the risk dial equating to high risk of COVID spread. Cheyenne, Dawes, Kimball, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux all moved to high risk as of Monday, October 12. This makes seven in orange and the remaining five, Banner, Deuel, Garden, Grant, and Morrill Counties, in yellow.
Residents are urged to take increased precautions to slow the spread of COVID. This is out of an abundance of kindness and humility for others and our most vulnerable populations.
· COVID orange guidance can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y5njn6hb. · Guidance for schools can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y4uwhpgc.
· Guidance for school extracurricular events can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y5k6s58x.
Unified Command confirms 77 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Thursday, October 8. The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored for symptoms by public health officials.
Testing information and access for the Panhandle area: · You can sign up for the following free testing at Testnebraska.com or 402-207-9377:
o Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance: Monday-Friday, 9-10am
§ Ambulance Bay on the east side of the emergency department, watch for the green arrows
o Chadron Community Hospital: Mondays & Fridays, 7-9am
§ Collections are at 821 Morehead Street (Old Hospital ER Entrance next to Wilson Park)
§ Other testing opportunities for symptomatic patients may be available through the hospital as ordered by your Primary Care Practitioner, call the hospital at 747-2466 with questions.
o Gordon Memorial Hospital: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2-4pm
o Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff: Mondays & Fridays, Noon-4pm; Wednesdays, 2-6pm
o Sidney Regional Medical Center: Tuesdays & Thursday, 7-9am
· Community Action Health Center in Gering: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, 7-8am o Testing is free, sign up at https://tinyurl.com/yydxr5mc
· Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport: Daily
o Call 308-262-1616 for testing, same day results
· Contact your local hospital or clinic for information on testing access.
March 2-October 12, 2020
· Total Tests Conducted: 16,401
· Positive: 1106
· Cumulative Positivity Rate: 6.7%
· Recovered: 910
· Active Cases: 185
· Deaths: 11
· Active Hospitalizations: 17
· Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 102
Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners.
For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.