Nov 17, 2020

PPHD: COVID requires the public to be caring citizens and to contribute to the solution

Posted Nov 17, 2020 1:00 PM

By PPHD
Panhandle total: 4,644; Active: 2,172; Recovered: 2,448; Deaths: 24

As the Panhandle risk dial moves further into red at severe risk for COVID spread, residents are urged to slow the spread of COVID and help preserve hospital capacity.

This public health emergency requires the public to be caring citizens and to contribute to the solution for the sake of our communities and those we love.

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.

As individuals and as communities we have the power to choose our actions in the COVID response and recovery process, and we can again reverse the trends if everyone comes together to take important steps in our daily lives to protect our communities.

  1. Avoid the Three Cs:
  2. Avoid Crowded Places – Avoid gathering in groups where you cannot maintain 6-feet of distance from others
  3. 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
  4. Avoid Confined Spaces – Avoid enclosed spaces with poor ventilation

Unified Command confirms 551 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Thursday, November 12. Recoveries are available on the Panhandle dashboard at www.pphd.org. The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.

Testing information and access for the Panhandle area:

  1. You can sign up for the following free testing at Testnebraska.com or 402-207-9377:
  2. Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance: Monday-Friday, 9-10am
  3. 212 East 24th Street   
  4. Chadron Community Hospital: Mondays & Fridays, 7-9am
  5. 821 Morehead Street (Old Hospital ER Entrance next to Wilson Park)
  6. 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.
  7. Gordon Memorial Hospital: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2-4pm
  8. Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff: Tuesdays & Fridays, 1pm-4pm; Call 308-630-2100 for other testing opportunities for symptomatic patients.
  9. Sidney Regional Medical Center: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, 7-9:30am
  10. Community Action Health Center in Gering: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, 7-8am
  11. Testing is free, sign up at https://tinyurl.com/yydxr5mc
  12. Alliance Community Pharmacy in Alliance: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm
  13. For people experiencing symptoms, same day results. Call 308-629-1045 for appointment, fee is $125.
  14. Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport: Daily
  15. Call 308-262-1616 for testing, same day results, insurance can be billed.
  16. Contact your local hospital or clinic for information on testing access.

March 2-November 16, 2020

  1. Total Tests Conducted: 23,658
  2. Positive: 4,644
  3. Cumulative Positivity Rate: 19.6%
  4. Recovered: 2,448
  5. Active Cases: 2,172
  6. Deaths: 24
  7. Active Hospitalizations: 78
  8. Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 301
  9. Last week’s positivity rate updated: 51.1%
  10. Last week’s cases: 1,010
  11. Doubling time (October 28-November 15): 19 days
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