COVID-19 case count update, DHMs now in green
BURWELL - Monday, Feb. 1 there were are fifteen (15) additional positive cases of COVID-19 to report since Friday. The new cases are in the following counties: Custer 6; Greeley 3; Garfield 2; Sherman 2; Valley 1; and Howard 1.
Individuals Tested to Date: 9,205; Negative Labs to Date: 25,729; Cases in the Previous 14 Days: 114; Cases in the Previous 7 Days: 35
Due to the low case counts, LBPHD will transition to a Monday and Thursday update effective immediately.
On Saturday, Jan. 30 at 12:01 a.m. the 9-counties in Loup Basin Public Health Department’s district were issued updated Directed Health Measures (DHMs). The new DHMs are in response to a 7-day rolling average of COVID-19 hospitalized patients occupying under 10 pecent of the state’s hospital beds. This changed moved the state from the “blue” to the “green” level of restrictions.
The updates to the DHMs allow for 100 percent indoor capacity (previously was 75 percent). For events of 500 or more individuals, it remains in place that a plan must be submitted to and approved by LBPHD prior to the event.
Additional updates in the DHMs surround quarantine. Those who have an exposure to COVID-19 but had tested positive within the 3 months prior to their new exposure do not need to quarantine but should monitor for symptoms.
An additional change addresses those who have been vaccinated with an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) COVID vaccine. If you have had an exposure to COVID-19 and have received both doses of either the Pfizer or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you may self-monitor in lieu of quarantine (the individual must wear a mask in public settings).
In both situations, if the exposed person develops symptoms they should isolate and be tested to determine if there has been a possible reinfection.
Loup Basin Public Health Department continues to administer COVID-19 vaccines weekly to those in the district.
As the district moves into Phase 1B, additional vaccine providers have been brought on board to help vaccinate the priority population of 65 years old and older. The entities in the district who are being allocated vaccine at this time include Loup Basin Public Health
Department (Burwell), Howard County Medical Center (St. Paul), Callaway District Hospital and Medical Clinics (Callaway), Frontier Family Pharmacy (Broken Bow), Good Life Pharmacy (Ord & Loup City), Anderson’s Pharmacy (Ord), Loup City Rx Shoppe (Loup City), and Spalding Pharmacy (Spalding).
As LBPHD and our partners work through the vaccine allocations, we encourage everyone to have patience. The district population is approximately 31,000 individuals and currently the entire district is receiving less than 500 doses of vaccine per week. The current projection to complete Phase 1B is 3-5 months unless there is a change in allocations.