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Panhandle Public Health District Prepares to Move to Next DHM Phase

Restrictions To Be Eased

LINCOLN – Panhandle Public Health District will be the fourth local health department to move to Phase 4 of the Directed Health Measures (DHMs).

Phase 4 is the highest of the four phases with Phase 1 closing all dine-in services, gatherings limited to 10 people, 50 percent of capacity for restaurants and bowling alleys. Phase 4 allows indoor at 75 percent of capacity, up from 50 percent and a maximum of 10,000 people. Outdoor activities are at 100 percent of rated occupancy as of Friday, Sept. 11.

As of Sept. 8, the Panhandle area had 12047 total people tested resulting in 711 positive cases. Of that number, 622 have recovered, there are 83 active cases with 8 active active hospitalizations and six deaths related to COVID-19. Most of the hospitalizations have occurred in the 50 to 59 age group, followed by the 60 to 69 and 40 to 49. Hospitalizations are dominated by Close Contact and then Community exposure.

The PPHD reports Panhandle medical facilities have 96 percent of their ventilators available, 37 percent of ICU beds and 55 percent of hospital beds are available.

The health department covers 12 counties: Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux. The new DHM will start on Friday, Sept. 11.

“Panhandle Public Health District continues to work closely with the public and partners to monitor and slow the spread of the virus in the health district. The transition from Phase 3 to Phase 4 of the DHMs does not mean the risk has decreased, in fact relaxing the measures may likely increase the risk, so it is even more important that individuals take on personal responsibility for reducing virus transmission.

“Practicing safety measures such as maintaining good social distancing, wearing a face covering when appropriate, washing hands frequently, and staying home when you are sick is everyone’s responsibility to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect your friends, family, and neighbors. This is critical for business continuity and for schools to remain open. We are all in this together, and we are grateful for everyone doing their part.

“We understand the need for our communities to continue to have relaxed measures, but please think of those people you meet every day who need your continued protection and vigilance. As we move into this new phase, your actions are more critical now than ever before. We all want to feel a sense of normalcy, but we must do it safely. Please continue to do these very simple acts out of kindness and humility for others,” said Kim Engel, Health Director.

Currently, 27 counties are in Phase 4 through Sept. 30 and 54 counties will remain in Phase 3 through Sept. 13.

 

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