Several new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Panhandle over the past week, bringing the total number of cases for the region to 45.
On April 21, officials with the COVID-19 Unified Command announced a man in his 60s tested positive for the virus. Another case was confirmed the following day in Scotts Bluff County. That case involved a man in his 40s.
Three additional cases in Scotts Bluff County were announced on April 24, all close contacts to a previous case. The cases involved a woman in her 40s, a girl and a man in his teens. The following day a man in his 40s from Scotts Bluff County was announced to have COVID-19. He is a close contact to a previously positive case.
On Monday morning, one new case in Cheyenne County, a female in her 30s, brought the number of cases to 45. She is a close contact of a previous case as well.
A glitch in the system on April 25 showed that there were two positive cases in Dawes County. After working with the State Epidemiologists, Unified Command was able to fix the error on the state map, and confirmed that there are, as of press time, no positive cases in Dawes County.
As of April 27, there was one active case in Box Butte County, six cases in Cheyenne County, 10 cases in Kimball County, one case in Morrill County and 27 cases in Scotts Bluff County. There have been a total of 28 recoveries from COVID-19. In Box Butte County, 60 tests have been issued, but only one returned as a positive case.
Recently, Governor Pete Ricketts announced updated Directed Health Measures that will help the state begin the process of reopening.
According to the new Directed Health Measures, which will take effect on May 4, elective and dental surgeries will be able to resume, as long as a hospital maintains 30 percent general bed availability, 30 percent ICU bed availability and 30 percent ventilator availability. Hospitals also must have a two-week supply of personal protective equipment.
Under the new measures, churches will see relaxed requirements, although they will need to ensure six feet of separation between different household units. Congregants are also not allowed to pass items between themselves. These measures will also apply to funerals and weddings.
After May 4, salons are required to limit the number of people to 10, and both workers and patrons will be required to wear masks.
Restaurants will be allowed to implement dine-in options as long as they are limited to 50 percent of the rated occupancy limit, they seat parties at least six feet apart, limit dining parties to six people. Under the new measures, bar seating will be prohibited, as well as self-serve buffets and salad bars. Patrons will only be allowed to consume alcohol if they are consuming a meal as well. Bars that do not serve food will continue to be limited to carry-out and delivery services only.
Under the new Directed Health Measures, daycare facilities will be permitted to have up to 15 children per room or space.
As of press time, there were a total of 3,358 positive cases in the state, and a total of 56 deaths.