Apr 13, 2021

PPHD: 34 more virus cases reported in the Panhandle

Posted Apr 13, 2021 12:30 PM

By PPHD

Additional community locations to access the COVID vaccine have been added. Panhandle residents 18 and older can self-schedule for their COVID vaccine with two easy steps:

  1. Register on the vaccinate.ne.gov website.
  2. For the corresponding counties, pick a location, day, and time that works for you. Dates and times will be added to the links as they are made available.
  3. Box Butte/Grant: https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu or safeway.com
  4. Cheyenne/Deuel: https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p,  walmart.com or safeway.com
  5. Dawes/Sioux: https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbnwalmart.com, or safeway.com
  6. Garden: sign up at vaccinate.ne.gov â€“ a provider will call you
  7. Kimball: https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs
  8. Morrill: https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm
  9. Sheridan: https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38
  10. Scottsbluff/Banner: https://tinyurl.com/w6b84fkfwalmart.com, or safeway.com

The two steps are encouraged to ease the vaccine process. Residents can easily get vaccinated this week. There is no charge for the vaccine.

For the Moderna shot, the second dose is needed to produce the best immunity results. Johnson and Johnson (one dose) is widely available throughout the Panhandle. Pfizer will be coming soon to the Panhandle. Teens ages 16 & 17 can register now at vaccinate.ne.gov.

Vaccines are one of the single greatest achievements in public health, be sure to get your COVID shot when it’s your turn. People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu.

The Governor will soon be updating the Directed Health Measure to include the following:

  1. Unvaccinated persons who have tested antibody positive within 3 months before or immediately following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID and who have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID exposure do not need to quarantine in low-risk situations.
  2. Low risk situations include settings where contact with persons at high risk of COVID severe illness, including older adults and persons with certain medical conditions, is not anticipated for at least 10 days following exposure.
  3. Contacts to COVID should still monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID during the 14 days after exposure and if symptoms of COVID develop, they should self-isolate and seek testing.
  4. It will be verified by public health.

Unified Command confirms 34 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Monday, April 12. The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.

March 2, 2020-April 12, 2021

  1. Total Tests Conducted: 37,174
  2. Positive: 8,945
  3. Last 14 days (active) cases: 45
  4. Last week’s cases: 32
  5. Last week’s positivity rate: 10.2%
  6. Deaths: 191
  7. Active Hospitalizations: 3
  8. Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 537
  9. Doubling time (November 15, 2020 – April 12, 2021): 148 days

Avoid the Three Cs:

  1. Avoid Crowded Places – Avoid gathering in groups where you cannot maintain 6-feet of distance from others
  2. Avoid Close Contact – Wear a mask over your nose and mouth or maintain 6-feet distance when you are spending more than 15 total minutes with people you don’t live with
  3. Avoid Confined Spaces – Avoid enclosed spaces with poor ventilation

Current COVID testing access can be found at www.pphd.org.