More Locations for COVID-19 Testing by TestNebraska
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has received reports of two additional facilities, Chase County Community Hospital and Dundy County Hospital, that have contracted to do free testing for COVID-19 through TestNebraska. This will make a total of 5 facilities in the health district providing COVID testing for residents if they are unable to be tested at their medical provider’s office.
SWNPHD encourages any resident who wishes to be tested to sign up at testnebraska. com and take advantage of the exceptional effort being made by these healthcare workers to help identify positive cases of COVID-19 and slow the spread of the virus in southwest Nebraska.
Additional directions and technical support are available at testnebraska.com. Registration is also available by phone at 402-207-9377. All information is confidential, and test results will come directly from TestNebraska. Research is still ongoing to determine how long a person retains immunity after a diagnosis of COVID-19. The current estimate is a minimum of 3 months. Based on that information, those who receive a positive test result have 90 days of immunity when they do not need to quarantine after an exposure to another positive person.
The COVID-19 Community Risk Dial for the week of November 30th is red, meaning residents of southwest Nebraska are at severe risk of contracting COVID-19. SWNPHD asks that residents of the health district stay at home when possible, except for essential errands. If you do leave home, wear a mask or face covering. High-risk and vulnerable individuals should limit their contact with those who work outside the home. All gatherings and events are strongly discouraged until the risk dial is no longer in the red.
SWNPHD had 303 new cases of COVID-19 reported November 24th to November 30th at noon. A breakout by county includes: Chase — 24; Dundy — 7; Frontier — 16; Furnas —39; Hayes — 6; Hitchcock - 21; Keith — 71; Perkins — 22; Red Willow — 97. There is community spread occurring in all nine counties and several cases related to direct contact in the workplace. This brings the totals for the health district to 2037 cases with 1622 cases recovered.
