The number of COVID-19 cases in Dawes County continues to shoot up, but fortunately so does the number of recoveries.
Panhandle Unified Command says there were 61 confirmed cases, 32 recoveries, and 29 active cases as of Monday evening.
Unified Command confirmed 23 more cases of COVID and 26 recoveries across the Panhandle from 4:30 Friday to 4:30 Monday.
Dawes County had 15 of the recoveries and 13 of the new cases – 4 adults and 2 children listed as Close Contact with 5 adults and 2 children Community Spread cases.
The Chadron Public Schools account for 10 of the total cases, 8 at the High School and 1 each at the Middle School and Primary School, with 27 staff and students quarantined. Half of the 10 cases have recovered, all from the High School.
Chadron State College now has 14 positive cases, 10 students and 4 employees – including 4 students on Sunday. All positive students are self-isolating in accordance with CDC and PPHD guidelines. 3 employees and 2 students have recovered, leaving 9 active cases.
Unified Command’s weekend catch-up report also lists 2 new cases in Sheridan County, both deemed Community Spread, and one recovery.
Panhandle-wide, there are now 567 cases, 481 recoveries, 6 deaths, and 80 active cases including 1 who is hospitalized. 56 recovered patients also spent time in the hospital. 5.3% of the 10,525 coronavirus tests given in the Panhandle have been positive.
Statewide, Nebraska Health and Human Services last evening reported 158 new cases, 171 additional recoveries, and 5 more deaths.
The state totals now stand at 32,047 cases with 24,326 recoveries, 383 deaths, and 7,366 7,338 active cases – 28 fewer than Sunday, and 154 hospitalizations – 8 more than on Sunday. 36% of all hospital beds and 35% of ICU beds in the state remain available along with 82% of respirators.
Free testing remains available twice a week in both Chadron and Gordon through Test Nebraska with pre-registration required through testnebraska.com. The next testing in Gordon is today from 2-4:00 at the hospital.