SCOTTSBLUFF – Panhandle Unified Command says last weekend’s Cal Ripkin baseball 11-and-under state tournament in Chadron was a community exposure site for COVID-19 with 2 Wyoming residents who attended testing positive for the virus.
Panhandle Public Health District Deputy Director of Health Promotions and Preparedness Tabi Prochazka says the community exposure label was applied because investigators were unable to determine all the close contacts of the 2 positive cases.
As a result, Unified Command is asking all players and fans at the tournament to self-monitor and be tested if they develop symptoms.
Prochazka says the Cal Ripkin Tournament planning committee had put together a solid safety plan for the event and encouraged social distancing – more proof that the best plans work only if everyone attending do their part.
Meanwhile, Unified Command confirmed 3 recoveries yesterday, but no new cases because of delays in receiving test results from the state. Prochazka says they’ve reached out to the state to determine the delay and expected to get the results within 24 hours.
The Panhandle has had 447 positive tests, 401 recoveries, and 6 deaths – leaving 40 active cases with no hospitalizations.
Statewide, Nebraska Health and Human Services reported 332 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 27,821 while 5 new deaths pushed that count to 340.
. Nebraska had another 291 recoveries for a total of 20,176 but the number of active cases grew to 7,305 including 151 who are hospitalized. 40% of all hospital beds and 39% ICU beds in the state remain available along with 79% of respirators.