On Monday, the Panhandle saw a milestone in the battle against the spread of COVID-19 as 16,866 Panhandle Residents have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
There is still work to do, COVID-19 Unified Command notes, as vaccine distribution moves into Phase 1B. The vaccine is now available to Panhandle residents over the age of 50, educators, childcare providers, grocery and convenience store workers, railroad employees, truckers public transit officials, postal service employees, cooperatives and food processing facility employees. People are encouraged to register to receive the vaccine at www.vaccinate.ne.gov or by calling 833-998-2275.
“We are hopeful with each resident choosing to get vaccinated and watching the COVID cases continuing to decline but we can’t be too cautious as we get into spring activities like Easter, Mother’s Day, and graduation,” added Kim Engel, Panhandle Public Health District Director. “The best way to prepare for those celebrations is to get vaccinated now.”
Engel explained that the Panhandle’s case fatality rate is higher than the state average at 2.15 percent, compared with the state average of 1.04 percent.
“The Panhandle’s COVID case fatality rate is double that of the state. With the risk of COVID variants increasing the chances of spread coupled with the Panhandle’s high case fatality rate, we can’t urge Panhandle residents enough to get vaccinated,” said Engel.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the Panhandle reached 189 since March 2020 as three more deaths were announced on Monday: a Sheridan County woman in her 80s, a Cheyenne County man in his 80s and a Cheyenne County man in his 90s.
In Box Butte County, there have been 917 cases since the outbreak began, with only three new cases announced in the last 14 days. Eight of those cases have resulted in death.