LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in the state increased Sunday for the first time since late last month.

The state said the number of virus hospitalizations increased 11 on Sunday to 768 after having declined every day since Nov. 30. That total is significantly below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20, but it is more than triple where it was at the start of October when 227 people were hospitalized.

Officials said 19% of the state's hospital beds are filled by COVID-19 patients. That remains below the 25% threshold where Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he would impose additional social distancing restrictions.

The state reported 1,266 new virus cases and 11 new deaths Sunday to give Nebraska a total of 139,834 cases and 1,205 deaths since the pandemic began.

Nebraska's rate of new cases remained the sixth-highest in the nation on Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Over the past week, one in every 146 people in the state was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,313.57 new cases per day on Nov. 22 to 1,892.14 new cases per day on Sunday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in the state increased Sunday for the first time since late last month.The state said the number of virus hospitalizations increased 11 on Sunday to 768 after having declined every day since Nov. 30. That total is significantly below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20, but it is more than triple where it was at the start of October when 227 people were hospitalized.Officials said 19% of the state's hospital beds are filled by COVID-19 patients. That remains below the 25% threshold where Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he would impose additional social distancing restrictions.The state reported 1,266 new virus cases and 11 new deaths Sunday to give Nebraska a total of 139,834 cases and 1,205 deaths since the pandemic began.Nebraska's rate of new cases remained the sixth-highest in the nation on Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Over the past week, one in every 146 people in the state was diagnosed with COVID-19.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,313.57 new cases per day on Nov. 22 to 1,892.14 new cases per day on Sunday.

Nebraska reports nearly 1,300 virus cases, 11 new deaths

LONDON (AP) — Shipments of the coronavirus vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech were delivered Sunday in the U.K. in super-cold containers, two days before it goes public in an immunization program that is being closely watched around the world.

Around 800,000 doses of the vaccine were expected to be in place for the start of the immunization program on Tuesday, a day that Health Secretary Matt Hancock has reportedly dubbed as “V-Day,” a nod to triumphs in World War II.

“To know that they are here, and we are amongst the first in the country to actually receive the vaccine and therefore the first in the world, is just amazing,” said Louise Coughlan, joint chief pharmacist at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, just south of London.

“I’m so proud,” she said after the trust, which runs Croydon University Hospital, took delivery of the vaccine.

Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-authorizes-vaccine-emergency-use-ea0170c978eb281a905866e5bd78bbdf">U.K. became the first country to authorize the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine</a>&nbsp;for emergency use. In trials, the vaccine was shown to have around 95% efficacy. Vaccinations will be administered starting Tuesday at around 50 hospital hubs in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also begin their vaccination rollouts the same day.

Governments and health agencies around the world will be monitoring the British vaccination program, which will take months, to note its successes and failures and adjust their own plans accordingly. The U.S. hopes to start vaccinations later this month. British regulatory authorities are also examining data on the vaccines from American biotechnology company Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford University.

Russia on Saturday began vaccinating thousands of doctors, teachers and others at dozens of centers in Moscow with its Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine, which was approved over the summer after being tested in only a few dozen people.

The excitement in Britain, which has Europe’s highest virus-related death toll at more than 61,000, was palpable.

“Despite the huge complexities, hospitals will kickstart the first phase of the largest scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history from Tuesday,” said Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director.

Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospitals as outpatients and those being discharged after a stay in the hospital will be among the first to receive the jab. Hospitals will also start inviting over 80s in for a vaccine shot and will work with nursing homes to book staff into vaccination clinics. Any appointments not taken up will be offered to those health workers deemed to be at the highest risk of COVID-19. Everyone who is vaccinated will need a booster jab 21 days later.

Buckingham Palace refused to comment on speculation that Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and her 99-year-old husband, Prince Philip, will soon be vaccinated and then make it public, a move that could reassure anyone nervous about getting a vaccination.

“Our goal is totally to protect every member of the population, Her Majesty, of course, as well,” Dr. June Raine, chief executive of Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which authorized the vaccine, told the BBC.

The U.K. has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which can cover 20 million people. Since the British government will only immunize people over 16, around 55 million people in the U.K. will be eligible. In total, Britain has procured 357 million doses of seven vaccine candidates, including 100 million of the much cheaper Oxford vaccine, which has a lower efficacy rate than the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Now that the first tranche of the vaccine has arrived from Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Belgium, checks are being conducted by a specialist medical logistics company to ensure there was no damage in transit. This could take up to a day.

Each box containing the vaccines, which includes five packs of 975 doses, will need to be opened and unpacked manually at specially licensed sites. After that, the vaccines will then be made available to hospitals.

Delivering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is complicated because it needs to be stored at super-chilled temperatures: about minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit). Fortunately, the vaccine is stable at normal refrigerator temperatures, between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (35.6 to 46.4 F), for a few days, meaning it can be stored locally. After defrosting the vaccine, which takes a few hours, additional time is required to prepare it to be given in a shot.

Public Health England has secured 58 special Twin Guard ultra-low temperature freezers that provide sufficient storage for approximately five million doses. The fridges, which are not portable, each hold around 86,000 doses.

The vaccine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-germany-immunizations-coronavirus-pandemic-3ac7e19981b7937f0f08a29667ddf09e">won’t just be provided by hospitals</a>. Local doctors’ offices and other local health care centers are being put on standby to start delivering the vaccine, with a small number expected to do so the week of Dec. 14. More medical practices in more parts of the country will be phased in during December and in the coming months.

There are plans for vaccination centers treating large numbers of patients in sports areas and conference centers and for local pharmacies to be able to offer the jabs as they do with annual influenza shots.

Although nursing home residents top the prioritization list given to the British government by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, they won’t be getting the vaccinations straight away, as the vaccine packs of 975 doses cannot yet be divided, making it very difficult to deliver vaccines to individual care homes.

The NHS hopes authorities will soon approve a safe way of splitting up the dose packs so the shots can get to nursing homes during December.

During the first phase of the immunization program, Britain has created nine separate groups in its prioritization list down to those aged 50 and above. Overall, it hopes that up to 99% of people most at risk of dying from COVID 19 will have been immunized during the first phase.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600861747887.png" alt="Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Shipments of the coronavirus vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech were delivered Sunday in the U.K. in super-cold containers, two days before it goes public in an immunization program that is being closely watched around the world.Around 800,000 doses of the vaccine were expected to be in place for the start of the immunization program on Tuesday, a day that Health Secretary Matt Hancock has reportedly dubbed as “V-Day,” a nod to triumphs in World War II.“To know that they are here, and we are amongst the first in the country to actually receive the vaccine and therefore the first in the world, is just amazing,” said Louise Coughlan, joint chief pharmacist at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, just south of London.“I’m so proud,” she said after the trust, which runs Croydon University Hospital, took delivery of the vaccine.Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-authorizes-vaccine-emergency-use-ea0170c978eb281a905866e5bd78bbdf">U.K. became the first country to authorize the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine</a>&nbsp;for emergency use. In trials, the vaccine was shown to have around 95% efficacy. Vaccinations will be administered starting Tuesday at around 50 hospital hubs in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also begin their vaccination rollouts the same day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605532171471.png" alt="Photo courtesy Moderna" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Moderna</figcaption>
 </figure>Governments and health agencies around the world will be monitoring the British vaccination program, which will take months, to note its successes and failures and adjust their own plans accordingly. The U.S. hopes to start vaccinations later this month. British regulatory authorities are also examining data on the vaccines from American biotechnology company Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford University.Russia on Saturday began vaccinating thousands of doctors, teachers and others at dozens of centers in Moscow with its Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine, which was approved over the summer after being tested in only a few dozen people.The excitement in Britain, which has Europe’s highest virus-related death toll at more than 61,000, was palpable.“Despite the huge complexities, hospitals will kickstart the first phase of the largest scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history from Tuesday,” said Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director.Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospitals as outpatients and those being discharged after a stay in the hospital will be among the first to receive the jab. Hospitals will also start inviting over 80s in for a vaccine shot and will work with nursing homes to book staff into vaccination clinics. Any appointments not taken up will be offered to those health workers deemed to be at the highest risk of COVID-19. Everyone who is vaccinated will need a booster jab 21 days later.Buckingham Palace refused to comment on speculation that Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and her 99-year-old husband, Prince Philip, will soon be vaccinated and then make it public, a move that could reassure anyone nervous about getting a vaccination.“Our goal is totally to protect every member of the population, Her Majesty, of course, as well,” Dr. June Raine, chief executive of Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which authorized the vaccine, told the BBC.The U.K. has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which can cover 20 million people. Since the British government will only immunize people over 16, around 55 million people in the U.K. will be eligible. In total, Britain has procured 357 million doses of seven vaccine candidates, including 100 million of the much cheaper Oxford vaccine, which has a lower efficacy rate than the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.Now that the first tranche of the vaccine has arrived from Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Belgium, checks are being conducted by a specialist medical logistics company to ensure there was no damage in transit. This could take up to a day.Each box containing the vaccines, which includes five packs of 975 doses, will need to be opened and unpacked manually at specially licensed sites. After that, the vaccines will then be made available to hospitals.Delivering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is complicated because it needs to be stored at super-chilled temperatures: about minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit). Fortunately, the vaccine is stable at normal refrigerator temperatures, between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (35.6 to 46.4 F), for a few days, meaning it can be stored locally. After defrosting the vaccine, which takes a few hours, additional time is required to prepare it to be given in a shot.Public Health England has secured 58 special Twin Guard ultra-low temperature freezers that provide sufficient storage for approximately five million doses. The fridges, which are not portable, each hold around 86,000 doses.The vaccine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-germany-immunizations-coronavirus-pandemic-3ac7e19981b7937f0f08a29667ddf09e">won’t just be provided by hospitals</a>. Local doctors’ offices and other local health care centers are being put on standby to start delivering the vaccine, with a small number expected to do so the week of Dec. 14. More medical practices in more parts of the country will be phased in during December and in the coming months.There are plans for vaccination centers treating large numbers of patients in sports areas and conference centers and for local pharmacies to be able to offer the jabs as they do with annual influenza shots.Although nursing home residents top the prioritization list given to the British government by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, they won’t be getting the vaccinations straight away, as the vaccine packs of 975 doses cannot yet be divided, making it very difficult to deliver vaccines to individual care homes.The NHS hopes authorities will soon approve a safe way of splitting up the dose packs so the shots can get to nursing homes during December.During the first phase of the immunization program, Britain has created nine separate groups in its prioritization list down to those aged 50 and above. Overall, it hopes that up to 99% of people most at risk of dying from COVID 19 will have been immunized during the first phase.

Huge coronavirus vaccine rollout set to begin

LINCOLN, Neb. (DHHS)-The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today issued updated directions for Nebraskans on COVID-19 quarantine standards.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new recommendations Wednesday following research to better understand when COVID-19 transmission is most likely to occur. The new recommendations shorten the window for quarantine.

For those with a close contact exposure to someone with COVID-19 or anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, quarantine is recommended to limit opportunities for virus transmission to others.

Effective today, quarantine can end after seven (7) days since a COVID-19 close contact only if all of the following conditions have been met:

For those who've had a close contact exposure to COVID-19 but don't take a test, quarantine can end when all of the following conditions have been met:

Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 10 days from the date of their test. Isolation can end when the following conditions have been met:

The current Directed Health Measures (DHM) will be updated to reflect these changes and take effect today, Thursday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. CT. More on the new guidance is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx</a>

LINCOLN, Neb. (DHHS)-The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today issued updated directions for Nebraskans on COVID-19 quarantine standards.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new recommendations Wednesday following research to better understand when COVID-19 transmission is most likely to occur. The new recommendations shorten the window for quarantine.For those with a close contact exposure to someone with COVID-19 or anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, quarantine is recommended to limit opportunities for virus transmission to others.Effective today, quarantine can end after seven (7) days since a COVID-19 close contact only if all of the following conditions have been met:<ul>
 <li>The person seeks a COVID-19 test on day five (5) following their exposure to another person testing positive and their test is negative.</li><li>The person is not experiencing symptoms.</li><li>The person continues to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and wears a mask through day 14.</li>
 </ul>For those who've had a close contact exposure to COVID-19 but don't take a test, quarantine can end when all of the following conditions have been met:<ul>
 <li>At least 10 days have passed since close contact exposure.</li><li>No COVID-19 symptoms have developed.</li><li>The person continues to self-monitor for symptoms, and wears a facial covering through day 14.</li>
 </ul>Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 10 days from the date of their test. Isolation can end when the following conditions have been met:<ul>
 <li>The person is fever-free without the use of fever reducing medicine for 24 hours.</li><li>Any COVID-19 symptoms are improving, though some symptoms may linger.</li>
 </ul>The current Directed Health Measures (DHM) will be updated to reflect these changes and take effect today, Thursday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. CT. More on the new guidance is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx</a>

Nebraska updates COVID-19 quarantine directions to match CDC reccomendations

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has dropped below 800 for the first time in nearly a month, but it's not clear if the positive trend will continue in the wake of Thanksgiving gatherings.

The state said the number of virus hospitalizations fell to 755 Saturday from the previous day's 819. That marked the first time since Nov. 8 that the total was below 800.

But the state's chief medical officer, Gary Anthone, said hospitalizations still remain high and continue to put stress on the state's hospitals. Nebraska estimates that 19% of the state's hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Anthone said it won't be clear for some time how Thanksgiving gatherings and travel will affect the virus trends within the state.

Nebraska's rate of infections remains the sixth-highest in the nation. And over the past week, one person in every 146 people in the state was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The state said Saturday that 2,243 new cases were reported to give Nebraska 138,568 cases since the pandemic began. There have also been 1,194 deaths linked to the coronavirus in the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583198146602.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has dropped below 800 for the first time in nearly a month, but it's not clear if the positive trend will continue in the wake of Thanksgiving gatherings.The state said the number of virus hospitalizations fell to 755 Saturday from the previous day's 819. That marked the first time since Nov. 8 that the total was below 800.But the state's chief medical officer, Gary Anthone, said hospitalizations still remain high and continue to put stress on the state's hospitals. Nebraska estimates that 19% of the state's hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.Anthone said it won't be clear for some time how Thanksgiving gatherings and travel will affect the virus trends within the state.Nebraska's rate of infections remains the sixth-highest in the nation. And over the past week, one person in every 146 people in the state was diagnosed with COVID-19.The state said Saturday that 2,243 new cases were reported to give Nebraska 138,568 cases since the pandemic began. There have also been 1,194 deaths linked to the coronavirus in the state.

Nebraska virus hospitalizations drop below 800 but stay high

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Another three Nebraska prison workers have tested positive for COVID-19, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services on Friday announced.

Two of the sick staffers work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, and the other ill staffer works at the Lincoln Correctional Center.

The state correctional department said the workers at self-isolating at their homes.

The announcement comes after the agency reported another three infected staffers Wednesday and six more sick workers Thursday.

On Tuesday, the agency announced that an inmate in his 70s had died after contracting the virus.

So far 359 Nebraska prison workers have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Most have recovered, but roughly 100 are still ill.

Statewide, the Nebraska health department reports at least 136,325 people have tested positive for the virus statewide so far.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Another three Nebraska prison workers have tested positive for COVID-19, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services on Friday announced.Two of the sick staffers work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, and the other ill staffer works at the Lincoln Correctional Center.The state correctional department said the workers at self-isolating at their homes.The announcement comes after the agency reported another three infected staffers Wednesday and six more sick workers Thursday.On Tuesday, the agency announced that an inmate in his 70s had died after contracting the virus.So far 359 Nebraska prison workers have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Most have recovered, but roughly 100 are still ill.Statewide, the Nebraska health department reports at least 136,325 people have tested positive for the virus statewide so far.

More Nebraska prison staff test positive for virus

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Americans couldn’t resist the urge to gather for Thanksgiving, driving only slightly less than a year ago and largely ignoring the pleas of public health experts, who begged them to forgo holiday travel to help contain the coronavirus pandemic, data from roadways and airports shows.

The nation’s unwillingness to tamp down on travel offered a warning in advance of Christmas and New Year’s as virus deaths and hospitalizations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-virus-deaths-top-3000-single-day-cfc242870ccad7a41c3cc858bfe24e49">hit new highs</a>&nbsp;a week after Thanksgiving. U.S. deaths from the outbreak eclipsed 3,100 on Thursday, obliterating the single-day record set last spring.

Vehicle travel in early November was as much as 20% lower than a year earlier, but it surged around the holiday and peaked on Thanksgiving Day at only about 5% less than the pandemic-free period in 2019, according to StreetLight Data, which provided an analysis to The Associated Press.

“People were less willing to change their behavior than any other day during the pandemic,” said Laura Schewel, founder of StreetLight Data.

Airports also saw some of their busiest days of the pandemic, though air travel was much lower than last year. The Transportation Security Administration screened more than 1 million passengers on four separate days during the Thanksgiving travel period. Since the pandemic gutted travel in March, there has been only one other day when the number of travelers topped 1 million — Oct. 18.

“If only a small percentage of those travelers were asymptomatically infected, this can translate into hundreds of thousands of additional infections moving from one community to another,” Dr. Cindy Friedman, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, said this week during a briefing.

Wide swaths of the country saw a sudden influx of people arriving from university campuses in the days leading up to the holiday, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45yIfKAEc8" target="_blank">a data visualization of anonymous cellphone data</a>&nbsp;from a firm called Tectonix.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to stay home for the holidays, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5cb89b5245ad2371bee3b97c33150ef8">officials acknowledged that many people would not heed that advice</a>&nbsp;and advised them to get tested before and after trips. Friedman said that this year’s holidays presented “tough choices” for many families.

The travelers included some elected officials who preached against trips. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-austin-texas-26340eabdc1d450e21ba650e42060f30">mayors of Denver and Austin, Texas</a>, faced fierce backlashes for traveling after telling other people to stay home.

Others had no regrets. Trananda Graves, who runs a travel-planning company in Keller, Texas, took a Thanksgiving road trip with her family to Nashville, Tennessee. It was a chance for her daughter to connect with relatives as they shared recipes, and Graves said everyone’s mood was uplifted.

“It was just a break to get away from home,” Graves said. “We work at home, we go to school at home.”

She decided to drive to meet extended family after seeing that flights were crowded and said her family followed guidance to avoid spreading infections.

But infections, even from small Thanksgiving gatherings, have begun to stream in around the country, adding another burden to health departments that are already overwhelmed.

“This uptick here is really coming at a time when everyone’s exhausted,” said Don Lehman, a spokesman for the Warren County Public Health Department in upstate New York.

The county concluded that Thanksgiving gatherings or travel likely caused 40% of the 22 cases it reported in the last two days. That means contact tracers have to figure out where people came from or traveled to and contact health officials in those places. Lehman said it adds “a lot of legwork” to the contact-tracing process.

Graves said she expects an uptick in the travel-planning business around the holidays. Several groups have already inquired about going to Las Vegas to celebrate the end of an arduous year.

And her personal holiday plans? After the Thanksgiving trip, she said, “Now we are considering visiting my mother for Christmas.”

By STEPHEN GROVESSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Americans couldn’t resist the urge to gather for Thanksgiving, driving only slightly less than a year ago and largely ignoring the pleas of public health experts, who begged them to forgo holiday travel to help contain the coronavirus pandemic, data from roadways and airports shows.The nation’s unwillingness to tamp down on travel offered a warning in advance of Christmas and New Year’s as virus deaths and hospitalizations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-virus-deaths-top-3000-single-day-cfc242870ccad7a41c3cc858bfe24e49">hit new highs</a>&nbsp;a week after Thanksgiving. U.S. deaths from the outbreak eclipsed 3,100 on Thursday, obliterating the single-day record set last spring.Vehicle travel in early November was as much as 20% lower than a year earlier, but it surged around the holiday and peaked on Thanksgiving Day at only about 5% less than the pandemic-free period in 2019, according to StreetLight Data, which provided an analysis to The Associated Press.“People were less willing to change their behavior than any other day during the pandemic,” said Laura Schewel, founder of StreetLight Data.Airports also saw some of their busiest days of the pandemic, though air travel was much lower than last year. The Transportation Security Administration screened more than 1 million passengers on four separate days during the Thanksgiving travel period. Since the pandemic gutted travel in March, there has been only one other day when the number of travelers topped 1 million — Oct. 18.“If only a small percentage of those travelers were asymptomatically infected, this can translate into hundreds of thousands of additional infections moving from one community to another,” Dr. Cindy Friedman, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, said this week during a briefing.Wide swaths of the country saw a sudden influx of people arriving from university campuses in the days leading up to the holiday, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45yIfKAEc8" target="_blank">a data visualization of anonymous cellphone data</a>&nbsp;from a firm called Tectonix.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to stay home for the holidays, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5cb89b5245ad2371bee3b97c33150ef8">officials acknowledged that many people would not heed that advice</a>&nbsp;and advised them to get tested before and after trips. Friedman said that this year’s holidays presented “tough choices” for many families.The travelers included some elected officials who preached against trips. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-austin-texas-26340eabdc1d450e21ba650e42060f30">mayors of Denver and Austin, Texas</a>, faced fierce backlashes for traveling after telling other people to stay home.Others had no regrets. Trananda Graves, who runs a travel-planning company in Keller, Texas, took a Thanksgiving road trip with her family to Nashville, Tennessee. It was a chance for her daughter to connect with relatives as they shared recipes, and Graves said everyone’s mood was uplifted.“It was just a break to get away from home,” Graves said. “We work at home, we go to school at home.”She decided to drive to meet extended family after seeing that flights were crowded and said her family followed guidance to avoid spreading infections.But infections, even from small Thanksgiving gatherings, have begun to stream in around the country, adding another burden to health departments that are already overwhelmed.“This uptick here is really coming at a time when everyone’s exhausted,” said Don Lehman, a spokesman for the Warren County Public Health Department in upstate New York.The county concluded that Thanksgiving gatherings or travel likely caused 40% of the 22 cases it reported in the last two days. That means contact tracers have to figure out where people came from or traveled to and contact health officials in those places. Lehman said it adds “a lot of legwork” to the contact-tracing process.Graves said she expects an uptick in the travel-planning business around the holidays. Several groups have already inquired about going to Las Vegas to celebrate the end of an arduous year.And her personal holiday plans? After the Thanksgiving trip, she said, “Now we are considering visiting my mother for Christmas.”

Data shows Americans couldn’t resist Thanksgiving travel

Governor Pete Ricketts held a press conference at the State Capitol to provide an update on the State’s coronavirus pandemic response. &nbsp;The Governor announced that the State of Nebraska has issued new Directed Health Measures (DHMs) to align with CDC recommendations to shorten the length of quarantine required for persons who’ve had close contact exposure to the coronavirus. &nbsp;The updated DHMs took effect December 3, 2020 at 5:00 PM.

Gov. Ricketts also announced new guidance for long-term care (LTC) facilities to designate “essential caregivers” for their residents.&nbsp; These caregivers may be family members, friends, or volunteers who provided regular support to the resident before the pandemic.&nbsp; By recognizing them as essential caregivers, LTC facilities can allow these folks to have more regular interactions assisting residents during this time of enhanced restrictions.&nbsp;

The Governor was joined by Becky Wisell, Interim Deputy Director of Health Licensure and Environmental Health for the Division of Public Health in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).&nbsp; She outlined guidance for LTC facilities to follow with their essential caregiver program.&nbsp; Jenifer Acierno, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, talked about the many ways essential caregivers benefit residents in long-term care.

Jim Engelbart, President of the Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild, took part in the press conference to talk about the challenges facing Nebraska’s breweries during the pandemic.&nbsp; He shared ways Nebraskans can continue to support the restaurants, bars, and breweries in their community.

Gov. Ricketts: Shortening Length of Quarantine

Becky Wisell: Essential Caregiver Guidance

Jenifer Acierno: Essential Caregiver Guidance

Jim Engelbart: Supporting Nebraska’s Breweries

Video from the press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fxrp5vihc3ebvoyp%2FGov.%2520Pres%2520Conf%252012.04.2020.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8d6662fe87674be4f17008d8989b0261%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637427138857048175%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=8LsST%2FujUfg9e13fH%2F0DhcX08cUH4YceuetTG5hqrwI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607174103165.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Governor Pete Ricketts held a press conference at the State Capitol to provide an update on the State’s coronavirus pandemic response. &nbsp;The Governor announced that the State of Nebraska has issued new Directed Health Measures (DHMs) to align with CDC recommendations to shorten the length of quarantine required for persons who’ve had close contact exposure to the coronavirus. &nbsp;The updated DHMs took effect December 3, 2020 at 5:00 PM.Gov. Ricketts also announced new guidance for long-term care (LTC) facilities to designate “essential caregivers” for their residents.&nbsp; These caregivers may be family members, friends, or volunteers who provided regular support to the resident before the pandemic.&nbsp; By recognizing them as essential caregivers, LTC facilities can allow these folks to have more regular interactions assisting residents during this time of enhanced restrictions.&nbsp;The Governor was joined by Becky Wisell, Interim Deputy Director of Health Licensure and Environmental Health for the Division of Public Health in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).&nbsp; She outlined guidance for LTC facilities to follow with their essential caregiver program.&nbsp; Jenifer Acierno, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, talked about the many ways essential caregivers benefit residents in long-term care.Jim Engelbart, President of the Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild, took part in the press conference to talk about the challenges facing Nebraska’s breweries during the pandemic.&nbsp; He shared ways Nebraskans can continue to support the restaurants, bars, and breweries in their community.Gov. Ricketts: Shortening Length of Quarantine<ul>
 <li>The CDC has updated its quarantine guidelines, and we’ve revised our DHMs to reflect these changes.&nbsp;</li><li>The new DHMs took effect statewide at 5:00 PM on December 3, 2020.</li><li>Quarantine may discontinue&nbsp;without testing&nbsp;under the following conditions:At least ten (10) days have passed since close contact exposure ANDNo coronavirus symptoms have developed and the person self-monitors for symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since the last close contact</li><li>At least ten (10) days have passed since close contact exposure AND</li><li>No coronavirus symptoms have developed and the person self-monitors for symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since the last close contact</li><li>Quarantine may discontinue&nbsp;with testing&nbsp;under the following conditions:At least seven (7) days have passed since close contact exposure, no coronavirus symptoms have developed ANDResults of a diagnostic specimen test (molecular or antigen) is negative that was collected no earlier than five (5) days since last close contact exposure ANDThe person self-monitors for symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since the last close contact</li><li>At least seven (7) days have passed since close contact exposure, no coronavirus symptoms have developed AND</li><li>Results of a diagnostic specimen test (molecular or antigen) is negative that was collected no earlier than five (5) days since last close contact exposure AND</li><li>The person self-monitors for symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since the last close contact</li>
 </ul>Becky Wisell: Essential Caregiver Guidance<ul>
 <li>The Essential Caregiver Guidance document is intended for nursing homes and assisted-living facilities that decide to designate Essential Caregivers in their facilities.An Essential Caregiver is a person who was previously actively engaged with a resident or who is committed to providing companionship and/or assistance with basic activities of daily living.&nbsp;</li><li>An Essential Caregiver is a person who was previously actively engaged with a resident or who is committed to providing companionship and/or assistance with basic activities of daily living.&nbsp;</li><li>The guidance is important because:It provides long-term care facilities with the opportunity to supplement their limited staffing with valuable volunteers who are willing to provide care for residents; andIt provides family members and other outside caregivers who have worked with these residents an opportunity to spend more time with them.</li><li>It provides long-term care facilities with the opportunity to supplement their limited staffing with valuable volunteers who are willing to provide care for residents; and</li><li>It provides family members and other outside caregivers who have worked with these residents an opportunity to spend more time with them.</li><li>Essential Caregivers have an important role in providing care for residents in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.Because of their relationships with residents, Essential Caregivers can observe and communicate important details about changes in a resident’s condition or behavior;Caregivers provide emotional support to residents and honor the residents’ personal values and preferences of care; andMost importantly, Essential Caregivers help promote quality of life for residents.</li><li>Because of their relationships with residents, Essential Caregivers can observe and communicate important details about changes in a resident’s condition or behavior;</li><li>Caregivers provide emotional support to residents and honor the residents’ personal values and preferences of care; and</li><li>Most importantly, Essential Caregivers help promote quality of life for residents.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>LTC facilities must establish policies and procedures for how to designate and utilize an Essential Caregiver.&nbsp; This will take time for facilities to develop; the policies won’t immediately be in place.</li><li>Nebraskans should consult the facility’s administrator, Director of Nursing, Social Services Director, or other designated facility staff to help determine who meets the criteria of an Essential Caregiver.</li><li>The resident must be consulted about their wishes to determine whom to designate as the Essential Caregiver.</li><li>The Essential Caregiver Guidance also includes necessary precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus such as screening Essential Caregivers prior to entering the facility, requiring PPE and frequent hand hygiene, and limiting the number of Essential Caregivers in a facility at one time.</li><li>The Essential Caregiver Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities can be found on the DHHS website at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Long-Term-Care-Essential-Caregiver-Guidance.pdf" target="_blank">dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Long-Term-Care-Essential-Caregiver-Guidance.pdf</a>.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Jenifer Acierno: Essential Caregiver Guidance<ul>
 <li>Thanks to DHHS for seeking out options to keep our LTC residents in Nebraska connected the best we can during this challenging time.</li><li>During the pandemic state and federal guidelines have been put in place to protect residents, who are among the most vulnerable to the coronavirus.</li><li>Typically, we like to engage residents with social activity, and we encourage it.&nbsp; But we recognize that these times are not typical.</li><li>Isolation has taken a toll on LTC residents physically, mentally, and emotionally.&nbsp; This program allows for an Essential Caregiver provider to help maintain resident health across that spectrum.</li><li>Essential Caregivers will help to reduce isolation for LTC residents while helping LTC staff with basic activities of caring for a resident.</li><li>The program is voluntary.&nbsp; It allows providers to assess their specific situation and implement the program when it makes the most sense for their residents and their facility.&nbsp; Decisions on if and when to implement a program take account of community spread, availability of staff for screenings, as well as availability of necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).&nbsp; Some LTC facilities may be able to implement an Essential Caregiver program in the next few weeks.&nbsp; Others may have to hold off until a later date.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Jim Engelbart: Supporting Nebraska’s Breweries<ul>
 <li>At Empyrean Brewing Co. and Lazlo’s Brewery and Grill, we went to curbside dining only when the virus broke out.</li><li>Of our breweries in Nebraska, many operate similarly to restaurants.</li><li>Being able to offer curbside and takeout has been essential to all of us as we’ve gone through the pandemic.</li><li>As breweries, we want to stay open and serve customers, but we very much want to keep our staff safe and employed.</li><li>There are over 50 breweries in operation across Nebraska.&nbsp; Chances are that you live within 50 miles of a brewery if you reside in Nebraska.</li><li>We appreciate the business we’re getting during this time.&nbsp; Many breweries have the option to deliver beer directly to your home.&nbsp; You can call to place your order, and many breweries have also added online ordering options.</li><li>This past weekend we celebrated Small Brewery Sunday nationwide.&nbsp; The Governor and many State Senators came out to support Nebraska breweries. &nbsp;We greatly appreciated that.</li>
 </ul>Video from the press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fxrp5vihc3ebvoyp%2FGov.%2520Pres%2520Conf%252012.04.2020.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8d6662fe87674be4f17008d8989b0261%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637427138857048175%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=8LsST%2FujUfg9e13fH%2F0DhcX08cUH4YceuetTG5hqrwI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Gov. Ricketts announces shortened quarantines

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Residents of Nebraska's long-term care facilities could soon get in-person visits from relatives or friends under a new program designed to help them during the pandemic, state officials said Friday.

The essential caregivers program will allow volunteers to go into nursing homes and other care facilities once they've been trained on how to properly don and doff protective clothing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The program was created as a workaround to restrictions that have kept most visitors out of Nebraska's long-term care facilities since March. Gov. Pete Ricketts and other officials warned that facilities that choose to participate may not be opening their doors right away.

"They're going to have to implement it, and that may take time," Ricketts said at a news conference.

The pandemic has had a disproportionately large impact on nursing homes, as the elderly are especially vulnerable to severe reactions to the virus. As of Sept. 20, nursing homes had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-nebraska-archive-nursing-homes-omaha-8c06aec71ba4c5c9650fe63174500cd4" target="_blank">accounted for more than 40%&nbsp;</a>of all of Nebraska's coronavirus deaths.

Nebraska's program was modeled after one in Minnesota, said Jennifer Acierno, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, an advocacy group for the elderly. Florida, South Dakota and Indiana have similar programs intended to ease the social isolation that many residents have faced.

"Isolation has taken a toll on long-term care residents physically, mentally, and emotionally," Acierno said.

The volunteers could also help ease the workload on a facility's regular staff members, said Becky Wisell, an administrator with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. She said they'll be able to advocate on a resident's behalf and bring problems to the attention of staff members.

They'll also likely assist with simple tasks, such as helping residents get dressed and keeping them company. Friends, relatives and others who have worked before with a resident can qualify.

"Essential caregivers have an important role," Wisell said.

Nebraska's hospitals remained under pressure this week even though the number of patients with the coronavirus declined from last month's record highs.

Hospitals in the state held a combined 845 coronavirus patients as of Thursday night, which was well above the numbers seen earlier in the pandemic, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's coronavirus tracking portal</a>. The all-time high of 987 was set on Nov. 20.

Nebraska has had 134,710 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,159 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began. The state reported 845 new cases on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607132201578.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Residents of Nebraska's long-term care facilities could soon get in-person visits from relatives or friends under a new program designed to help them during the pandemic, state officials said Friday.The essential caregivers program will allow volunteers to go into nursing homes and other care facilities once they've been trained on how to properly don and doff protective clothing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.The program was created as a workaround to restrictions that have kept most visitors out of Nebraska's long-term care facilities since March. Gov. Pete Ricketts and other officials warned that facilities that choose to participate may not be opening their doors right away."They're going to have to implement it, and that may take time," Ricketts said at a news conference.The pandemic has had a disproportionately large impact on nursing homes, as the elderly are especially vulnerable to severe reactions to the virus. As of Sept. 20, nursing homes had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-nebraska-archive-nursing-homes-omaha-8c06aec71ba4c5c9650fe63174500cd4" target="_blank">accounted for more than 40%&nbsp;</a>of all of Nebraska's coronavirus deaths.Nebraska's program was modeled after one in Minnesota, said Jennifer Acierno, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, an advocacy group for the elderly. Florida, South Dakota and Indiana have similar programs intended to ease the social isolation that many residents have faced."Isolation has taken a toll on long-term care residents physically, mentally, and emotionally," Acierno said.The volunteers could also help ease the workload on a facility's regular staff members, said Becky Wisell, an administrator with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. She said they'll be able to advocate on a resident's behalf and bring problems to the attention of staff members.They'll also likely assist with simple tasks, such as helping residents get dressed and keeping them company. Friends, relatives and others who have worked before with a resident can qualify."Essential caregivers have an important role," Wisell said.Nebraska's hospitals remained under pressure this week even though the number of patients with the coronavirus declined from last month's record highs.Hospitals in the state held a combined 845 coronavirus patients as of Thursday night, which was well above the numbers seen earlier in the pandemic, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's coronavirus tracking portal</a>. The all-time high of 987 was set on Nov. 20.Nebraska has had 134,710 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,159 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began. The state reported 845 new cases on Thursday.

Nebraska program to open door for nursing home visits

The West Central District Health Department reported 59 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Friday.

WCDHD reports that 51 people are currently hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

According to Great Plains Health, there are currently two ventilators in use, however, they currently on have a little over eight percent of their Intensive Care Unit beds available.

For the latest information on COVID-19 in our area, visit the <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation">WCDHD COVID-19 Dashboard</a>.

The West Central District Health Department reported 59 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Friday.WCDHD reports that 51 people are currently hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19.According to Great Plains Health, there are currently two ventilators in use, however, they currently on have a little over eight percent of their Intensive Care Unit beds available.For the latest information on COVID-19 in our area, visit the <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation">WCDHD COVID-19 Dashboard</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607131734763.png" alt="covid update december 4 2020.png" />
 <figcaption>covid update december 4 2020.png</figcaption>
 </figure>

WCDHD reports 59 new confirmed cases of COVID on Friday

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska Director

The global COVID-19 pandemic has upset the status quo in all sorts of ways this year, but at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Northwest Nebraska, the staff is using the pandemic to expand the park’s offerings.

“2020 has been unique for all of us, but even through all of that, we started the year off very well,” said Superintendent Dan Morford. “The staff here was very resourceful.”

Established in 1965, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument south of Harrison features exhibits and walking trails that detail the ancient mammals that called the region home, ranging from small rhinos and gazelle camels to burrowing land beavers and the large Moropus, an animal that resembled a cross between a horse and a ground sloth. The park is also home to the famed Cook Collection, which showcases the relationship between rancher James Cook and Native American Chief Red Cloud and other Plains Indians.

While the Agate Fossil Beds visitors’ center was forced to close for part of the year during the pandemic, the park remained open to visitors.

“The trails are still wide open from sunrise to sunset,” Morford said, adding that the picnic shelters are also available for use. Rangers at Agate Fossil Beds also set up an outdoor visitors’ center inside a tent that included appropriate social distancing measures, allowing staff to greet visitors and answer questions. The main visitors’ center re-opened in September, though the Cook gallery of Native American artifacts remains closed due to its smaller confines, Morford said.

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is unique in the National Park system in large part due to its distinction as one of a handful of parks focused on a region’s fossil record.

“You get to walk the grounds where different mammals used to roam, and in that you get exposure to the prairie. And the Niobrara River runs through the park,” Morford said. Agate is the first interpretive stop after the Wyoming-based headwaters of the Niobrara River, where visitors can learn about the river.

Add in wildlife sightings and the ability to sit and hear the breeze through the cattails or a variety of birds singing, along with views of the river, prairie and rock outcroppings, and Agate offers a unique, off-the-beaten-path experience, Morford said.

“It’s a beautiful, quiet (spot),” he added. “We had visitors a few weeks ago that said ‘we did not realize places like this still existed.’”

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the park to cancel its slate of onsite programming this year, which typically includes star parties, writing workshops, ranger talks and artists-in-residence, as well as its Boxing Day celebration. School field trips and ranger visits to schools have also been halted. In their place, however, rangers hosted Facebook Live events and created other digital programming.

“We’re really looking at how to use this whole experience to take us to a widened perspective on what we can offer to visitors and (to followers) on social media,” Morford said.

Staff tested the waters on a small scale in 2020 and will look to expand those offerings in 2021 with You Tube videos and safe, outdoor 5-7 minute “popcorn talks,”, all of which can add to the experience of visiting Agate Fossil Beds even after the pandemic subsides, Morford said.

Online offerings aren’t entirely new for Agate Fossil Beds, as the park implemented distance learning opportunities in 2014. Lead Park Ranger Alvis Mar said the distance learning programs focus on the park’s main themes of geology, paleontology and the culture of the Northern Plains Native Americans. Since its inception, the distance learning lessons have been primarily made available to school groups that cannot visit Agate Fossil Beds in person due to distance.

Schools in eastern Nebraska and from across the country have taken advantage of distance learning lessons, the complexity of which increases with the age of the students. Mar, a former science teacher, has also custom-built lesson plans for schools if they are interested in other topics, such as the region’s ecosystem or career exploration. The recent addition of Education Ranger Jeremy Hoyt, who was a history and English major, will provide a broader variety of programs in the future.

An on-site field trip to Agate Fossil Beds typically lasts three to four hours and includes hikes on either the Fossil Hills or Daemonelix Trails. Distance learning lessons, by contrast, last anywhere from 20-90 minutes. In 2020, Mar has noticed that sessions have been lasting a bit longer as there are more questions, and park staff is willing to accommodate leaving the session open to answer those.

“We want them to understand that fossils are not just dinosaurs. It’s the full spectrum of life,” he said.

To accomplish that goal, the rangers work to make their distance learning activities interactive to increase engagement and retention.

“That’s the key to our success,” Mar said.

Students might play a game of charades to learn about Old Faithful or use the force of their hands pushing against each other to demonstrate how mountains are formed, Mar said.

“Even doing distance learning, we can do a lot to help kids hone in on the concepts,” he noted.

Distance learning requests have stayed relatively stable in 2020, as the park is typically at capacity in teaching the lessons due to staffing levels. Hoyt’s addition to the staff will allow Agate Fossil Beds to offer more slots, Mar said, but 2020 has seen another major change and that is the increased number of requests for home-schooled students.

“Homeschool is a newer audience for us,” Mar said.

Agate Fossil Beds works closely with ESU 13, so its programming aligns well with the Nebraska standards. About half of the park’s distance learning lessons are delivered to in-state students, and half to out-of-state students. Even regional schools who visit the park in person often take advantage of distance learning, providing students with a brief introduction to the park online before their field trip, Mar said.

The park is using the lessons learned during the pandemic to build a catalog of videos that will be available on its website in the future, which will allow teachers to select from short snippets to augment their own lesson plans throughout the year.

“Essentially, we’ll have self-serve opportunities for teachers,” Mar said.

With Hoyt now on board, and expanded digital offerings coming soon, Agate Fossil Beds also hopes to broaden its digital programming reach beyond schools. Mar has worked with summer camps in the past and would also like to make the digital programming available to civic groups, museums, nursing homes and assisted living centers.

To learn more about Agate Fossil Beds distance learning programming, call 308-665-4110 or 308-436-9760.

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska Director<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607112644333.jpeg" alt="The trails and picnic shelters at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument have remained open for use throughout the pandemic. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>The trails and picnic shelters at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument have remained open for use throughout the pandemic. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>The global COVID-19 pandemic has upset the status quo in all sorts of ways this year, but at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Northwest Nebraska, the staff is using the pandemic to expand the park’s offerings.“2020 has been unique for all of us, but even through all of that, we started the year off very well,” said Superintendent Dan Morford. “The staff here was very resourceful.”Established in 1965, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument south of Harrison features exhibits and walking trails that detail the ancient mammals that called the region home, ranging from small rhinos and gazelle camels to burrowing land beavers and the large Moropus, an animal that resembled a cross between a horse and a ground sloth. The park is also home to the famed Cook Collection, which showcases the relationship between rancher James Cook and Native American Chief Red Cloud and other Plains Indians.While the Agate Fossil Beds visitors’ center was forced to close for part of the year during the pandemic, the park remained open to visitors.“The trails are still wide open from sunrise to sunset,” Morford said, adding that the picnic shelters are also available for use. Rangers at Agate Fossil Beds also set up an outdoor visitors’ center inside a tent that included appropriate social distancing measures, allowing staff to greet visitors and answer questions. The main visitors’ center re-opened in September, though the Cook gallery of Native American artifacts remains closed due to its smaller confines, Morford said.Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is unique in the National Park system in large part due to its distinction as one of a handful of parks focused on a region’s fossil record.“You get to walk the grounds where different mammals used to roam, and in that you get exposure to the prairie. And the Niobrara River runs through the park,” Morford said. Agate is the first interpretive stop after the Wyoming-based headwaters of the Niobrara River, where visitors can learn about the river.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607112674291.jpeg" alt="The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument visitors' center re-opened in September after being closed to the public during the summer due to the pandemic. The Cook Gallery remains closed, however. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument visitors' center re-opened in September after being closed to the public during the summer due to the pandemic. The Cook Gallery remains closed, however. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>Add in wildlife sightings and the ability to sit and hear the breeze through the cattails or a variety of birds singing, along with views of the river, prairie and rock outcroppings, and Agate offers a unique, off-the-beaten-path experience, Morford said.“It’s a beautiful, quiet (spot),” he added. “We had visitors a few weeks ago that said ‘we did not realize places like this still existed.’”The COVID-19 pandemic forced the park to cancel its slate of onsite programming this year, which typically includes star parties, writing workshops, ranger talks and artists-in-residence, as well as its Boxing Day celebration. School field trips and ranger visits to schools have also been halted. In their place, however, rangers hosted Facebook Live events and created other digital programming.“We’re really looking at how to use this whole experience to take us to a widened perspective on what we can offer to visitors and (to followers) on social media,” Morford said.Staff tested the waters on a small scale in 2020 and will look to expand those offerings in 2021 with You Tube videos and safe, outdoor 5-7 minute “popcorn talks,”, all of which can add to the experience of visiting Agate Fossil Beds even after the pandemic subsides, Morford said.Online offerings aren’t entirely new for Agate Fossil Beds, as the park implemented distance learning opportunities in 2014. Lead Park Ranger Alvis Mar said the distance learning programs focus on the park’s main themes of geology, paleontology and the culture of the Northern Plains Native Americans. Since its inception, the distance learning lessons have been primarily made available to school groups that cannot visit Agate Fossil Beds in person due to distance.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607112789505.jpeg" alt="Agate Fossil Beds Lead Ranger Alvis Mar describes the Niobrara River and prairie ecosystem during a distance learning lesson. Photo courtesy of Agate Fossil Beds" />
 <figcaption>Agate Fossil Beds Lead Ranger Alvis Mar describes the Niobrara River and prairie ecosystem during a distance learning lesson. Photo courtesy of Agate Fossil Beds</figcaption>
 </figure>Schools in eastern Nebraska and from across the country have taken advantage of distance learning lessons, the complexity of which increases with the age of the students. Mar, a former science teacher, has also custom-built lesson plans for schools if they are interested in other topics, such as the region’s ecosystem or career exploration. The recent addition of Education Ranger Jeremy Hoyt, who was a history and English major, will provide a broader variety of programs in the future.An on-site field trip to Agate Fossil Beds typically lasts three to four hours and includes hikes on either the Fossil Hills or Daemonelix Trails. Distance learning lessons, by contrast, last anywhere from 20-90 minutes. In 2020, Mar has noticed that sessions have been lasting a bit longer as there are more questions, and park staff is willing to accommodate leaving the session open to answer those.“We want them to understand that fossils are not just dinosaurs. It’s the full spectrum of life,” he said.To accomplish that goal, the rangers work to make their distance learning activities interactive to increase engagement and retention.“That’s the key to our success,” Mar said.Students might play a game of charades to learn about Old Faithful or use the force of their hands pushing against each other to demonstrate how mountains are formed, Mar said.“Even doing distance learning, we can do a lot to help kids hone in on the concepts,” he noted.Distance learning requests have stayed relatively stable in 2020, as the park is typically at capacity in teaching the lessons due to staffing levels. Hoyt’s addition to the staff will allow Agate Fossil Beds to offer more slots, Mar said, but 2020 has seen another major change and that is the increased number of requests for home-schooled students.“Homeschool is a newer audience for us,” Mar said.Agate Fossil Beds works closely with ESU 13, so its programming aligns well with the Nebraska standards. About half of the park’s distance learning lessons are delivered to in-state students, and half to out-of-state students. Even regional schools who visit the park in person often take advantage of distance learning, providing students with a brief introduction to the park online before their field trip, Mar said.The park is using the lessons learned during the pandemic to build a catalog of videos that will be available on its website in the future, which will allow teachers to select from short snippets to augment their own lesson plans throughout the year.“Essentially, we’ll have self-serve opportunities for teachers,” Mar said.With Hoyt now on board, and expanded digital offerings coming soon, Agate Fossil Beds also hopes to broaden its digital programming reach beyond schools. Mar has worked with summer camps in the past and would also like to make the digital programming available to civic groups, museums, nursing homes and assisted living centers.To learn more about Agate Fossil Beds distance learning programming, call 308-665-4110 or 308-436-9760.

Pandemic drives innovation at Agate Fossil Beds

The risk dial moved from a 3.77 up to a
3.88 this week, which remains in the severe risk level. There were
changes in the following variables that contributed to movement in
the dial:

The COVID-19 Risk Dial contains
recommended guidance to help prevent and control the spread of
COVID-19.

While in the Severe Risk category,
physical distance of 6 feet or greater, wearing face coverings when
outside the home, frequent handwashing (or use of hand sanitizer),
staying home if you are having flu-like or COVID-like symptoms,
disinfecting high touch surfaces, and having at-risk and vulnerable
people remain home are recommended as the greatest tools in reducing
the spread of COVID-19. For more information on recommendations for
the various risk categories of the WCDHD Community Risk Dial, please
visit the COVID-19 Risk Dial page on our website.

View the WCDHD Community Risk Dial page <a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">HERE</a>.

View the WCDHD COVID-19 Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation">HERE</a>.

Additionally, the state directed health measure regarding quarantining has been updated as follows, per the Department of Health and Human Services:

Quarantine may discontinue without testing under the following conditions:

o	At least ten (10) days have passed since close contact exposure AND

o	No COVID-19 symptoms have developed and the person self-monitors for COVID-19 symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since last close contact.

Quarantine may discontinue with testing under the following conditions:

o	At least seven (7) days have passed since close contact exposure, no COVID-19 symptoms have developed AND

o	Results of a diagnostic specimen test (molecular or antigen) is negative that was collected no earlier than five (5) days since last close contact exposure AND

o	The person self-monitors for COVID-19 symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since last close contact.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607048068670.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release WCDHDThe risk dial moved from a 3.77 up to a
3.88 this week, which remains in the severe risk level. There were
changes in the following variables that contributed to movement in
the dial:We had an increase in the following:<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R0: Positivity Rate
	(Overall)
	</li><li>Measure ID R5: ICU Availability
	</li><li>Measure ID R6: Ventilator
	Availability
</li>
 </ul>We had a decrease in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R9: Average Testing
	Turnaround Time
</li>
 </ul>The COVID-19 Risk Dial contains
recommended guidance to help prevent and control the spread of
COVID-19.While in the Severe Risk category,
physical distance of 6 feet or greater, wearing face coverings when
outside the home, frequent handwashing (or use of hand sanitizer),
staying home if you are having flu-like or COVID-like symptoms,
disinfecting high touch surfaces, and having at-risk and vulnerable
people remain home are recommended as the greatest tools in reducing
the spread of COVID-19. For more information on recommendations for
the various risk categories of the WCDHD Community Risk Dial, please
visit the COVID-19 Risk Dial page on our website.View the WCDHD Community Risk Dial page <a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">HERE</a>.View the WCDHD COVID-19 Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation">HERE</a>.Additionally, the state directed health measure regarding quarantining has been updated as follows, per the Department of Health and Human Services:Quarantine may discontinue without testing under the following conditions:o	At least ten (10) days have passed since close contact exposure ANDo	No COVID-19 symptoms have developed and the person self-monitors for COVID-19 symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since last close contact.Quarantine may discontinue with testing under the following conditions:o	At least seven (7) days have passed since close contact exposure, no COVID-19 symptoms have developed ANDo	Results of a diagnostic specimen test (molecular or antigen) is negative that was collected no earlier than five (5) days since last close contact exposure ANDo	The person self-monitors for COVID-19 symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14 since last close contact.

WCDHD increases COVID Community Risk Dial, remains 'severe'

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - City leaders in Nebraska find they're left with the onus of whether to require masks as the state's governor continues to resist issuing a statewide mask mandate in the face of a raging coronavirus pandemic.

The Omaha suburb of Papillion was slated to vote Thursday on a proposal to require masks in public buildings, after two consecutive nights of public debate over the proposal.

About 40 people turned up Tuesday and Wednesday to debate Papillion's mask proposal, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/after-two-public-hearings-papillion-will-vote-on-a-mask-mandate-thursday/article_fcaa5dcc-0a2d-55cb-937b-36891804435b.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. The proposals would require anyone 5 or older to wear masks in many indoor places.

The Papillion Board of Health has recommended the mask mandate, and several medical workers and educators - two professions hit particularly hard by the outbreak - spoke in favor of a mandate. More than a dozen people spoke against the proposal, including laundromat owner Peter Mayberry, believed to be the first person in Omaha ticketed for violating that city's mask mandate.

In Grand Island, police made clear this week that they will enforce that city's mandate passed last week, including charging violators with public nuisance counts.

"If someone has a complaint about someone not wearing a mask, they are to go to the business manager. That's the first step," Grand Island Police Capt. Jim Duering&nbsp;<a href="https://theindependent.com/news/local/police-will-respond-to-complaints-about-noncompliance-with-mask-mandate/article_0249e142-351e-11eb-8958-0f23e18314ff.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Grand Island Independent. "So we will respond if a business has already intervened and is not getting compliance."

A surge in cases in recent weeks led Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-ricketts-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-59bf8bc37bae54af2c407d33ffd641f3" target="_blank">reissue some statewide restrictions</a>, including requiring masks in certain businesses like salons and tattoo parlors. But Ricketts has refused to impose a statewide mask mandate, arguing that mandates breed resentment and may face resistance.

More than a dozen Nebraska cities have adopted their own mask mandates, including some of the state's largest. That includes Omaha and many of its suburbs, Lincoln, Norfolk, Columbus, Hastings, Beatrice and Kearney.

On Wednesday, the state reported 48 more coronavirus deaths and an additional 2,336 new coronavirus cases. That brought the state's total deaths to 1,128 and 132,530 cases since the pandemic began, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online virus tracker</a>.

The number of people hospitalized with the virus declined again Wednesday to 853 from the previous day's 869. But the numbers remain well over the level seen two months earlier when 232 people were hospitalized. The state also reported dwindling hospital space to treat patients, with only 24% of the state's intensive care unit beds available on Wednesday.

Nebraska continued to have the sixth-highest rate of infection in the nation on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,296 new cases per day on Nov. 18 to more than 1,787 new cases per day on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606183578618.png" alt="Photo: pixabay.com" />
 <figcaption>Photo: pixabay.com</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - City leaders in Nebraska find they're left with the onus of whether to require masks as the state's governor continues to resist issuing a statewide mask mandate in the face of a raging coronavirus pandemic.The Omaha suburb of Papillion was slated to vote Thursday on a proposal to require masks in public buildings, after two consecutive nights of public debate over the proposal.About 40 people turned up Tuesday and Wednesday to debate Papillion's mask proposal, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/after-two-public-hearings-papillion-will-vote-on-a-mask-mandate-thursday/article_fcaa5dcc-0a2d-55cb-937b-36891804435b.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. The proposals would require anyone 5 or older to wear masks in many indoor places.The Papillion Board of Health has recommended the mask mandate, and several medical workers and educators - two professions hit particularly hard by the outbreak - spoke in favor of a mandate. More than a dozen people spoke against the proposal, including laundromat owner Peter Mayberry, believed to be the first person in Omaha ticketed for violating that city's mask mandate.In Grand Island, police made clear this week that they will enforce that city's mandate passed last week, including charging violators with public nuisance counts."If someone has a complaint about someone not wearing a mask, they are to go to the business manager. That's the first step," Grand Island Police Capt. Jim Duering&nbsp;<a href="https://theindependent.com/news/local/police-will-respond-to-complaints-about-noncompliance-with-mask-mandate/article_0249e142-351e-11eb-8958-0f23e18314ff.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Grand Island Independent. "So we will respond if a business has already intervened and is not getting compliance."A surge in cases in recent weeks led Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-ricketts-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-59bf8bc37bae54af2c407d33ffd641f3" target="_blank">reissue some statewide restrictions</a>, including requiring masks in certain businesses like salons and tattoo parlors. But Ricketts has refused to impose a statewide mask mandate, arguing that mandates breed resentment and may face resistance.More than a dozen Nebraska cities have adopted their own mask mandates, including some of the state's largest. That includes Omaha and many of its suburbs, Lincoln, Norfolk, Columbus, Hastings, Beatrice and Kearney.On Wednesday, the state reported 48 more coronavirus deaths and an additional 2,336 new coronavirus cases. That brought the state's total deaths to 1,128 and 132,530 cases since the pandemic began, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online virus tracker</a>.The number of people hospitalized with the virus declined again Wednesday to 853 from the previous day's 869. But the numbers remain well over the level seen two months earlier when 232 people were hospitalized. The state also reported dwindling hospital space to treat patients, with only 24% of the state's intensive care unit beds available on Wednesday.Nebraska continued to have the sixth-highest rate of infection in the nation on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,296 new cases per day on Nov. 18 to more than 1,787 new cases per day on Wednesday.

Mask orders stay at forefront of virus outbreak in Nebraska

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, North Platte Public Schools (NPPS) is in need of additional substitute teachers for the 2020 – 2021 school year.

In&nbsp;late August, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) released a statement relaxing substitute teacher requirements to allow schools to fill the substitute teacher shortages.&nbsp; These relaxed requirements are;

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An individual has filed an application with the NDE for a local substitute teaching permit at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.education.ne.gov/tcert" target="_blank">www.education.ne.gov/tcert</a>

2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The individual has paid the fee for such a permit

3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The individual has completed the NPPS Substitute Teacher application at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nppsd.org/" target="_blank">www.nppsd.org</a>

4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The superintendent or local governing body of the school system or district has submitted the form indicating the desire to have the individual be employed as a substitute teacher in the district

Once these requirements are met, the district can employ the individual as a classroom substitute teacher while NDE is processing and issuing the permit to sub to the individual.

NPPS is currently hiring substitute teachers at a base pay of $130.00 - $ 200.00 per day.&nbsp; If you would like more information about becoming an NPPS substitute teacher, please contact Carol Halley, NPPS HR Administrative Assistant, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:challey@nppsd.org" target="_blank">challey@nppsd.org</a>&nbsp;or 308-696-3319.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, North Platte Public Schools (NPPS) is in need of additional substitute teachers for the 2020 – 2021 school year.In&nbsp;late August, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) released a statement relaxing substitute teacher requirements to allow schools to fill the substitute teacher shortages.&nbsp; These relaxed requirements are;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An individual has filed an application with the NDE for a local substitute teaching permit at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.education.ne.gov/tcert" target="_blank">www.education.ne.gov/tcert</a>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The individual has paid the fee for such a permit3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The individual has completed the NPPS Substitute Teacher application at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nppsd.org/" target="_blank">www.nppsd.org</a>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The superintendent or local governing body of the school system or district has submitted the form indicating the desire to have the individual be employed as a substitute teacher in the districtOnce these requirements are met, the district can employ the individual as a classroom substitute teacher while NDE is processing and issuing the permit to sub to the individual.NPPS is currently hiring substitute teachers at a base pay of $130.00 - $ 200.00 per day.&nbsp; If you would like more information about becoming an NPPS substitute teacher, please contact Carol Halley, NPPS HR Administrative Assistant, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:challey@nppsd.org" target="_blank">challey@nppsd.org</a>&nbsp;or 308-696-3319.

North Platte Public Schools in need of substitute teachers

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska could gets its first shipments of a coronavirus vaccine in less than two weeks if the proposed drug wins federal approval, but health care workers will be given first priority and the general public may not get access until April, state officials said Wednesday.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said the state tentatively expects to receive 15,600 doses of a vaccine produced by the drug manufacturer Pfizer the week of Dec. 13. Another 19,500 doses from the company are slated to arrive the following week, plus 32,100 doses from manufacturer Moderna if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves that company's drug.

State officials are planning to receive more than 100,000 doses by the month's end. With roughly 34,000 medical personnel in the state as of 2018, according to a University of Nebraska Medical Center report, and each person requiring two vaccine doses taken several weeks apart, that would account for many of the doses the state expects to receive this month.

"Help is on the way," Ricketts said at a news conference to discuss the state's pandemic response.

Nebraska's distribution plan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-public-health-seniors-pete-ricketts-health-4c3deff7d024a06e5e522f876c6bad3d" target="_blank">unveiled in October</a>, places health care workers at the front of the line for a vaccine once it becomes available.

Health care workers who will get the first doses include doctors, nurses, ancillary hospital workers and others who are often exposed to coronavirus patients, said Angie Ling, incident commander for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Elderly and vulnerable residents will also get priority.

Ling said more residents will qualify for a vaccinations as the supply grows, but "it's vitally important that those on the front lines of the pandemic stay as healthy as possible."

A surge in cases over the last month is putting a huge strain on health care providers, and Ricketts has warned that he will impose tighter social-distancing restrictions if available hospital capacity continues to drop.

The state's vaccine distribution plan was developed because it's likely to take months to produce and distribute enough of the vaccine for everyone.

Moderna has said its vaccine appears to be 94.5% effective, while Pfizer reported that its version looks to be 90% effective.

Meanwhile, the state reported 62 more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday and nearly 2,000 more cases of COVID-19.

The state confirmed 1,080 deaths and 1,787 new virus cases, for a total of 130,194 cases of the virus since the pandemic began.

The number of people hospitalized with the virus declined again Tuesday to 869 from the previous day's 907. That total is now more than 100 people lower than the record of 987 that was set on Nov. 20, but it remains nearly four times higher than the level it was at two months ago when 232 people were hospitalized.

Nebraska continued to have the sixth-highest rate of infection in the nation on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,292.86 new cases per day on Nov. 17 to 1,783.71 new cases per day on Tuesday.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska could gets its first shipments of a coronavirus vaccine in less than two weeks if the proposed drug wins federal approval, but health care workers will be given first priority and the general public may not get access until April, state officials said Wednesday.Gov. Pete Ricketts said the state tentatively expects to receive 15,600 doses of a vaccine produced by the drug manufacturer Pfizer the week of Dec. 13. Another 19,500 doses from the company are slated to arrive the following week, plus 32,100 doses from manufacturer Moderna if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves that company's drug.State officials are planning to receive more than 100,000 doses by the month's end. With roughly 34,000 medical personnel in the state as of 2018, according to a University of Nebraska Medical Center report, and each person requiring two vaccine doses taken several weeks apart, that would account for many of the doses the state expects to receive this month."Help is on the way," Ricketts said at a news conference to discuss the state's pandemic response.Nebraska's distribution plan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-public-health-seniors-pete-ricketts-health-4c3deff7d024a06e5e522f876c6bad3d" target="_blank">unveiled in October</a>, places health care workers at the front of the line for a vaccine once it becomes available.Health care workers who will get the first doses include doctors, nurses, ancillary hospital workers and others who are often exposed to coronavirus patients, said Angie Ling, incident commander for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Elderly and vulnerable residents will also get priority.Ling said more residents will qualify for a vaccinations as the supply grows, but "it's vitally important that those on the front lines of the pandemic stay as healthy as possible."A surge in cases over the last month is putting a huge strain on health care providers, and Ricketts has warned that he will impose tighter social-distancing restrictions if available hospital capacity continues to drop.The state's vaccine distribution plan was developed because it's likely to take months to produce and distribute enough of the vaccine for everyone.Moderna has said its vaccine appears to be 94.5% effective, while Pfizer reported that its version looks to be 90% effective.Meanwhile, the state reported 62 more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday and nearly 2,000 more cases of COVID-19.The state confirmed 1,080 deaths and 1,787 new virus cases, for a total of 130,194 cases of the virus since the pandemic began.The number of people hospitalized with the virus declined again Tuesday to 869 from the previous day's 907. That total is now more than 100 people lower than the record of 987 that was set on Nov. 20, but it remains nearly four times higher than the level it was at two months ago when 232 people were hospitalized.Nebraska continued to have the sixth-highest rate of infection in the nation on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,292.86 new cases per day on Nov. 17 to 1,783.71 new cases per day on Tuesday.

Nebraska could get first virus vaccine doses mid-December

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - U.S. hospitals slammed with COVID-19 patients are trying to lure nurses and doctors out of retirement, recruiting students and new graduates who have yet to earn their licenses and offering eye-popping salaries in a desperate bid to ease staffing shortages.

With the virus surging from coast to coast, the number of patients in the hospital with the virus has more than doubled over the past month to a record high of nearly 100,000, pushing medical centers and health care workers to the breaking point. Nurses are increasingly burned out and getting sick on the job, and the stress on the nation's medical system prompted a dire warning from the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The reality is December and January and February are going to be rough times. I actually believe they are going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation," Dr. Robert Redfield said.

Governors in hard-hit states like Wisconsin and Nebraska are making it easier for retired nurses to come back, including by waiving licensing requirements and fees, though it can be a tough sell for older nurses, who would be in more danger than many of their colleagues if they contracted the virus.

Some are taking jobs that don't involve working directly with patients to free up front-line nurses, McMillan said.

Iowa is allowing temporary, emergency licenses for new nurses who have met the state's educational requirements but haven't yet taken the state licensing exam. Some Minnesota hospitals are offering winter internships to nursing students to boost their staffs. The internships are typically offered in the summer but were canceled this year because of COVID-19.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - U.S. hospitals slammed with COVID-19 patients are trying to lure nurses and doctors out of retirement, recruiting students and new graduates who have yet to earn their licenses and offering eye-popping salaries in a desperate bid to ease staffing shortages.With the virus surging from coast to coast, the number of patients in the hospital with the virus has more than doubled over the past month to a record high of nearly 100,000, pushing medical centers and health care workers to the breaking point. Nurses are increasingly burned out and getting sick on the job, and the stress on the nation's medical system prompted a dire warning from the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."The reality is December and January and February are going to be rough times. I actually believe they are going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation," Dr. Robert Redfield said.Governors in hard-hit states like Wisconsin and Nebraska are making it easier for retired nurses to come back, including by waiving licensing requirements and fees, though it can be a tough sell for older nurses, who would be in more danger than many of their colleagues if they contracted the virus.Some are taking jobs that don't involve working directly with patients to free up front-line nurses, McMillan said.Iowa is allowing temporary, emergency licenses for new nurses who have met the state's educational requirements but haven't yet taken the state licensing exam. Some Minnesota hospitals are offering winter internships to nursing students to boost their staffs. The internships are typically offered in the summer but were canceled this year because of COVID-19.Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis will place 25 interns for one to two months to work with COVID-19 patients, though certain tasks will remain off-limits, such as inserting IVs or urinary catheters, said Tina Kvalheim, a nurse who runs the program."They'll be fully supported in their roles so that our patients receive the best possible, safe care," Kvalheim said..Landon Brown, 21, of Des Moines, Iowa, a senior nursing student at Minnesota State University, Mankato, recently accepted an internship at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato. He was assigned to the pediatric unit's medical-surgical area but said he might come across patients with the coronavirus.Brown's resolve to help patients as a nurse was reaffirmed after his 90-year-old grandfather contracted the virus and died over the weekend."The staff that he had were great, and they really took a lot of pressure off of my folks and my family," he said. "I think that if I can be that for another family, that would be great."The University of Iowa's College of Nursing is also trying to get graduates into the workforce quickly. It worked to fast-track students' transcripts to the Iowa Board of Nursing so they could get licensed sooner upon graduating, said Anita Nicholson, associate dean for undergraduate programs.Nicholson said the college also scheduled senior internships earlier than normal and created a program that allows students to gain hospital experience under a nurse's supervision. Those students aren't caring for coronavirus patients, but their work frees up nurses to do so, Nicholson said."The sooner we can get our graduates out and into the workforce, the better," she said.Wausau, Wisconsin-based Aspirus Health Care is offering signing bonuses of up to $15,000 for nurses with a year of experience.Hospitals also are turning to nurses who travel from state to state. But that's expensive, because hospitals around the country are competing for them, driving salaries as high as $6,200 per week, according to postings for travel nursing jobs.April Hansen, executive vice president at San Diego-based Aya Healthcare, said there are now 31,000 openings for travel nurses, more than twice the number being sought when the pandemic surged in the spring."It is crazy," Hansen said. "It doesn't matter if you are rural or urban, if you are an Indian health facility or an academic medical center or anything in between. ... All facilities are experiencing increased demand right now."Nurses who work in intensive care and on medical-surgical floors are the most in demand. Employers also are willing to pay extra for nurses who can show up on short notice and work 48 or 60 hours per week instead of the standard 36.Laura Cutolo, a 32-year-old emergency room and ICU nurse from Gilbert, Arizona, began travel nursing when the pandemic began, landing in New York during the deadliest stretch of the U.S. outbreak last spring. She is now working in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and soon will return to New York.She said she hopes her work will be an example to her children, now 2 and 5, when the crisis passes into history and they read about it someday."If they ask me, 'Where were you?' I can be proud of where I was and what I did," Cutolo said.Doctors are in demand, too."I don't even practice anymore, and I've gotten lots of emails asking me to travel across the country to work in ERs," said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.The outbreak in the U.S. is blamed for more than 270,000 deaths and 13.8 million confirmed infections. New cases are running at over 160,000 a day on average, and deaths are up to more than 1,500 a day, a level seen back in May, during the crisis in the New York City area. Several states reported huge numbers of new cases Wednesday, including a combined 40,000 in California, Illinois and Florida alone.States are seeing record-breaking surges in deaths, including Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky in the middle of the country. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the virus is "spreading like wildfire."A COVID-19 vaccine is expected to become available in a few weeks, and health care workers are likely to be given priority for the first shots. That could make it easier for hospitals to recruit help.To make room for the sickest, hard-hit institutions are sending home some COVID-19 patients who otherwise would have been kept in the hospital. They are also canceling elective surgeries or sending adult non-COVID-19 patients to pediatric hospitals.A hospital system in Idaho is sending some COVID-19 patients home with iPads, supplemental oxygen, blood pressure cuffs and oxygen monitors so they can finish recovering in their own beds. The computer tablets enable nurses to check in with them, and the oxygen monitors automatically send back vital information.Across the U.S., hospitals are converting cafeterias, waiting rooms, even a parking garage to patient treatment areas. Some states are opening field hospitals.But that does nothing to ease the staffing shortage, especially in rural areas where officials say many people aren't taking basic precautions against the virus.Dr. Eli Perencevich, an epidemiology and internal medicine professor at the University of Iowa, said health care workers are paying the price for other people's refusal to wear masks."It's sending everyone to war, really," he said. "We've decided as a society that we're going to take all the people in our health care system and pummel them because we have some insane idea about what freedom really is."

Coronavirus Update