SCOTTSBLUFF – Panhandle Unified Command says the weekly coronavirus risk dial update shows the Panhandle faring slightly better but still in yellow, showing a moderate risk of COVID-19 spread.
The risk dial is updated each Tuesday to provide a summary of current conditions with each color incorporating federal and national guidance published by top public health experts and scientific guidance.
Panhandle Public Health District executive director Kim Engel says to keep the risk dial numbers improving will take each and every one of us practicing important prevention strategies and being extra safe as we near the start of classes and the common goal of getting kiddos back-to-school
Unified Command confirmed 5 more cases of COVID-19 yesterday, including a Dawes County community spread with a person 19 or younger, and 6 recoveries.
The Panhandle has had 444 positive tests, 384 recovered cases, and 6 deaths – leaving only 54 active cases with 1 current hospitalization.
Nebraska Health and Human Services reported 222 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the state total to 27,178 but the number of deaths was dropped from 338 to 332.
. Another 122 recoveries were reported, pushing the count to 19,764 and leaving Nebraska with 7,082 active cases including 151 who are hospitalized. 39% of all hospital beds and 38% of ICU beds in the state remain available along with 79% of respirators.