LBPHD: Twenty-six new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the nine counties of Loup Basin’s district since Wednesday, December 23.
The cases were reported from:
Howard (10), Valley (6), Custer (3), Greeley (1), Wheeler (1), Garfield (1), and Blaine (1).
All known close contacts have been asked to quarantine.
Fifty-four additional recoveries have also been reported.
Individuals Tested to Date: 8,306
Negative Labs to Date: 20,879
Cases in the Previous 14 Days: 155
Cases in the Previous 7 Days: 49
District Totals: Positives 1,943/ Recovered 1,747 / Deaths 39
Blaine: 19/17/0
Custer: 661/597/14
Garfield: 133/121/5
Greeley: 191/160/2
Howard: 487/431/11
Loup: 27/26/0
Sherman: 147/137/4
Valley: 245/232/3
Wheeler: 33/26/0
Over the next few weeks, LBPHD and other agencies across the district and Nebraska will be vaccinating front line healthcare workers and long-term care residents, who make up Phase 1A of the Nebraska State Vaccination Plan. According to the Frequently Asked Questions on Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website, Nebraska expects to receive approximately 86,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020.
As more vaccine doses become available, efforts will extend to reach other priority groups. Loup Basin Public Health Department will keep its patrons up to date with which priority group is being vaccinated via print and social media.
On December 24, 2020, Nebraska’s Directed Health Measures (DHMs) moved from the “yellow” to the “blue” phase of the pandemic response. The blue phase will be maintained if Nebraska hospitals continue to report less than 15% of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 inpatient. Moving from the “yellow” to the “blue” phase changed the following restrictions:
- Seating persons in groups of 8 or less is removed from the DHMs for restaurants, bars, weddings/funeral receptions, and other venues.
- Individuals at bars and restaurants are no longer required to be seated.
- Maximum indoor capacity increased from 50% in the “yellow” to 75% in the “blue.”
- Elective surgeries are allowed without restrictions.
