By PPHD
Unmasked germs are pretty gross. Nebraska Medicine shows this in a recently shared video published by the New England Journal of Medicine. The video demonstrates fluid droplets using laser light scattering. Visualized droplets when someone is masked or unmasked is a major difference. The demonstration can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/y844xb5x.
Nebraska doctors are urging residents to wear a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19. Mask-wearing can be summed up in three points:
1. COVID-19 is spread by droplets.
2. Masks prevent droplets from spreading.
3. Limit the spread of droplets, and you limit the spread of COVID-19.
Testing opportunities for the week of July 6:
· Chadron Community Hospital: Mondays & Fridays, 7-9am o Testnebraska.com
· Community Action Health Center in Gering: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, 7-8am o https://tinyurl.com/y7msahzq
· Morrill County Community Hospital: Daily
o Call for testing, insurance will be billed
· Contact your local hospital or clinic for information on testing access.
Unified Command confirms thirteen more cases of COVID-19 in the Panhandle since last reporting on July 2:
Close contact and exposure are defined as at least 15 minutes, less than six feet apart. There are no community exposure sites identified. The investigations are complete, all close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored twice daily for fever and respiratory symptoms by public health officials.
Nineteen new recoveries: one in Cheyenne County, two in Kimball County, twelve in Morrill County, and four in Scotts Bluff County, brings the total recoveries to 218.
March 2-July 6, 2020
Total Tests Conducted: 5,620
Positive: 335
Cumulative Positivity Rate: 5.8%
Recovered: 218
Active Cases: 114
Active Hospitalizations: 1
Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 33
Deaths: 3
• Banner County: 2 case (1 active, 1 recovered)
• Box Butte County: 3 cases (recovered)
• Cheyenne County: 20 cases (3 active, 17 recovered)
• Dawes County: 4 cases (2 active, 2 recovered)
• Garden County: 4 cases (recovered)
• Kimball County: 13 cases (1 active, 12 recovered)
• Morrill County: 50 cases (24 active, 26 recovered)
• Scotts Bluff County: 225 cases (75 active, 147 recovered, 3 deaths)
• Sheridan County: 8 cases (active)
• Sioux County: 6 cases (recovered)
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.