By PPHD
As we experience the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s counter it with a remedy of positivity to one another. We can get through this together with kindness and support.
• Be Supportive – Support your family, friends, and neighbors when possible.
• Be Careful – Carefully practice the important prevention strategies to safeguard you and your loved ones against COVID-19.
• Be Alert – Watch for negative social media and individual’s being bullied and take a stand against it with important facts and knowledge.
• Be Kind – Kindness always prevails as we traverse uncertain and fearful times.
Unified Command confirms 23 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle. 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:
- 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
- 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.
- Gordon Memorial Hospital: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2-4pm
- Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff: Monday-Friday, Noon-4pm
- 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
- Call 308-262-1616 for testing, same day results
· Contact your local hospital or clinic for information on testing access.
March 2-August 24, 2020
· Total Tests Conducted: 10,525
· Positive: 567
· Cumulative Positivity Rate: 5.3%
· Recovered: 481
· Active Cases: 80
· Deaths: 6
· Active Hospitalizations: 1
· Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 56
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.