On Monday, officials with COVID-19 Unified Command announced that Box Butte County experienced an additional COVID-19 related death, bringing the total number of people lost to coronavirus in the county to eight.
Officials confirmed that a woman in her 90s in Box Butte County had succumbed to the virus. Her death was announced with 18 others throughout the Panhandle on Monday.
“We extend our sincere condolences with the friends and loved ones in the loss of our fellow Panhandle residents and wish you peace and comfort,” said Panhandle Public Health District Director Kim Engel in a press release.
As of Monday, the Panhandle has seen a total of 7,966 cases since testing began last March, with 358 of the cases occurring in the past 14 days. A total of 155 cases resulted in death. Box Butte County has had 853 COVID-19 cases with 48 occurring in the last 14 days.
Officials remind anyone 75 and older who are interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine to complete the form located at https://tinyurl.com/ycpxzr5d, or to call 308-262-5764 or 308-633-2866, extension 101. They reported that so far nearly 2,500 people 75 and older have signed up to receive the vaccine.
Since the vaccine was distributed, 3,761 people who have been eligible for the vaccine in the Panhandle have received the vaccine.
Unified Command shared the story of Bev Hanks, a former educator at Hemingford, who received the vaccine last week. Hanks decided to get vaccinated after researching the issue. She said she was blessed to get the vaccine.
She noted that after receiving the vaccine, she felt pain in her arm for a couple days, but has experienced no other symptoms.
“When we have the opportunity to protect us from a virus that can be so deadly, we should take advantage and be proactive,” Hanks told Unified Command.
Unified Command reminds people to take precautions to continue limiting the spread of the virus including avoiding crowded places, close contact with others and confined spaces.