By PPHD
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.
Unified Command confirms 455 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle and 172 recoveries since last reporting on Monday, November 9. The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.
Testing information and access for the Panhandle area:
- You can sign up for the following free testing at Testnebraska.com or 402-207-9377:
- Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance: Monday-Friday, 9-10am
- 212 East 24th Street
- Chadron Community Hospital: Mondays & Fridays, 7-9am
- 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.
- Gordon Memorial Hospital: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2-4pm
- Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff: Tuesdays & Fridays, 1pm-4pm; Call 308-630-2100 for other testing opportunities for symptomatic patients.
- Sidney Regional Medical Center: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, 7-9:30am
- Community Action Health Center in Gering: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, 7-8am
- Testing is free, sign up at https://tinyurl.com/yydxr5mc
- Alliance Community Pharmacy in Alliance: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm
- For people experiencing symptoms, same day results. Call 308-629-1045 for appointment, fee is $125.
- Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport: Daily
- Call 308-262-1616 for testing, same day results, insurance can be billed.
- Contact your local hospital or clinic for information on testing access.
March 2-November 12, 2020
- Total Tests Conducted: 23,032
- Positive: 4,098
- Cumulative Positivity Rate: 17.8%
- Recovered: 2,136
- Active Cases: 1,938
- Deaths: 24
- Active Hospitalizations: 76
- Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 283
- Last week’s positivity rate updated: 62.4%
- Doubling time (October 26-November 11): 16 days