Americans went to the polls Tuesday under the shadow of a resurging pandemic, with an alarming increase in cases nationwide and the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 reaching record highs in a growing number of states.

While daily infections were rising in all but three states, the surge was most pronounced in the Midwest and Southwest.

Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and New Mexico all reported record high hospitalizations this week. Nebraska's largest hospitals started limiting elective surgeries and looked to bring in nurses from other states to cope with the surge. Hospital officials in Iowa and Missouri warned bed capacity could soon be overwhelmed.

The resurgence loomed over candidates and voters, fearful of both the virus itself and the economic toll of any new shutdowns to control its spread. The debate over how far to take economically costly measures has divided a country already sharply polarized over President Donald Trump's turbulent four years in office.

The pandemic colored who voters chose at the ballot box and how they did it. While many Americans took advantage of expanded access to mail-in voting, lines were long in many polling places, with record turnout expected and reminders of the pandemic were everywhere.

"It's very serious that we have 400 people gathered in one space at the height of the pandemic here in Wisconsin. So, we've tried to take every measure to limit the movement throughout the room," said Claire Woodall-Vogg, the election commission director of the city of Milwaukee, where poll workers were spread out into 12 different pods to limit contact.

Wisconsin health officials reported 5,771 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, a new record.

In Indiana, the Republican candidate for attorney general tested positive for COVID-19 after developing "some symptoms," his campaign announced Tuesday. Former U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita had been quarantining with this family after learning he was exposed to the virus, it said.

Hand sanitizer on voters' hands caused a ballot scanner to jam at a polling place in Des Moines, Iowa, secretary of state spokesman Kevin Hall said.

Hall said some voters' hands were moist when they handled the ballots and the buildup of sanitizer eventually caused the scanner to stop working. The machine was fixed in about an hour.

Meanwhile, Iowa hospital officials warned their facilities and staff could be overwhelmed without serious efforts to curtail the virus spread. The state's seven-day rolling average of positive cases reached 36.4% over the weekend, the third-highest in the nation behind South Dakota and Wyoming, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Hospitalizations reached a record 730 on Monday.

Suresh Gunasekaran, CEO of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, said Iowa is entering its third peak, one that is higher than previous ones in May and July. He said his biggest concern is that this peak comes at the beginning of the cold weather season, when the flu and other respiratory conditions typically increase hospitalizations.

"The infection rate is definitely a leading indicator for hospitalizations, and the hospitalization rate is a leading indicator of mortality," Gunasekaran said.

Health officials in Nebraska said hospitalizations have doubled in recent weeks, reaching a record 613 on Sunday.

"No doubt if this trend continues - not just at our hospitals - but every hospital in the state could be at capacity in a very short period of time," Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer for CHI Health's network of 14 hospitals across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa said during a video call with reporters.

In Missouri, leaders of several rural hospitals raised alarms about bed capacity during a conference call last week with Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who drew renewed fire from his Democratic election challenger for his refusal to issue a statewide mask mandate. The state health department reported 1,659 hospitalizations statewide Monday, surpassing by 10 the previous record set a day earlier. Among the five additional deaths was a 13-year-old boy, the first child under 14 to die from the virus in Missouri.

In Colorado, officials said more residents have been hospitalized with the coronavirus than at any time since a peak in April. Flags were flying at half-staff in New Mexico, where death from COVID-19 surpassed 1,000 last week and hospitalizations reached a record 380 on Monday.

Trump's insistence that the U.S. is "rounding the turn" on the virus angered many voters confronting figures that tell a different story.

The virus has killed more than 232,000 people in the country and total confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 9 million. As hospitalizations have climbed, so have deaths. The seven-day rolling average for deaths from COVID-19 has risen over the past two weeks from about 58,424 on Oct. 19 to 83,805 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.

"The fact that he (Trump) acts like this is a fake virus that the entire world is out to get him out of office shows just how convoluted his thinking is," said Carrie Rogers, 44, a software development manager from Mount Laurel, N.J., who dropped off her ballot for former Vice President Joe Biden in one of hundreds of locked boxes set up around the state.

Of equal concern is the fear of more economic pain if the country heads into another round of lockdowns to contain the virus. While the U.S. economy grew at a record 33.1% annual rate in the July-September quarter, it has yet to fully rebound from the plunge in the spring.

Trump's message prioritizing economic recovery over virus containment resonated with voters like Jason Schanta, a business owner and father of twin 13-year-old boys from Fountain Valley, California. He said his business was doing well before the pandemic, motivating him to vote for the president.

"I don't trust Biden to get it open," Schanta said of the economy.

But there were signs of the virus' resurgence hampering economic reopening even without government shutdown orders, as a fearful public stays away from riskier activities.

Cruise Lines International Association, which represents the bulk of the cruise industry, said its members are extending the suspension of U.S. sailing operations through the end of the year, just days after the U.S. government effectively lifted its no-sail order. The cruise industry group estimates that the suspension of cruises snuffed out more than $25 billion in economic activity and 164,000 American jobs.

By ALEXANDRA OLSON-Associated Press Americans went to the polls Tuesday under the shadow of a resurging pandemic, with an alarming increase in cases nationwide and the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 reaching record highs in a growing number of states.While daily infections were rising in all but three states, the surge was most pronounced in the Midwest and Southwest.Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and New Mexico all reported record high hospitalizations this week. Nebraska's largest hospitals started limiting elective surgeries and looked to bring in nurses from other states to cope with the surge. Hospital officials in Iowa and Missouri warned bed capacity could soon be overwhelmed.The resurgence loomed over candidates and voters, fearful of both the virus itself and the economic toll of any new shutdowns to control its spread. The debate over how far to take economically costly measures has divided a country already sharply polarized over President Donald Trump's turbulent four years in office.The pandemic colored who voters chose at the ballot box and how they did it. While many Americans took advantage of expanded access to mail-in voting, lines were long in many polling places, with record turnout expected and reminders of the pandemic were everywhere."It's very serious that we have 400 people gathered in one space at the height of the pandemic here in Wisconsin. So, we've tried to take every measure to limit the movement throughout the room," said Claire Woodall-Vogg, the election commission director of the city of Milwaukee, where poll workers were spread out into 12 different pods to limit contact.Wisconsin health officials reported 5,771 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, a new record.In Indiana, the Republican candidate for attorney general tested positive for COVID-19 after developing "some symptoms," his campaign announced Tuesday. Former U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita had been quarantining with this family after learning he was exposed to the virus, it said.Hand sanitizer on voters' hands caused a ballot scanner to jam at a polling place in Des Moines, Iowa, secretary of state spokesman Kevin Hall said.Hall said some voters' hands were moist when they handled the ballots and the buildup of sanitizer eventually caused the scanner to stop working. The machine was fixed in about an hour.Meanwhile, Iowa hospital officials warned their facilities and staff could be overwhelmed without serious efforts to curtail the virus spread. The state's seven-day rolling average of positive cases reached 36.4% over the weekend, the third-highest in the nation behind South Dakota and Wyoming, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Hospitalizations reached a record 730 on Monday.Suresh Gunasekaran, CEO of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, said Iowa is entering its third peak, one that is higher than previous ones in May and July. He said his biggest concern is that this peak comes at the beginning of the cold weather season, when the flu and other respiratory conditions typically increase hospitalizations."The infection rate is definitely a leading indicator for hospitalizations, and the hospitalization rate is a leading indicator of mortality," Gunasekaran said.Health officials in Nebraska said hospitalizations have doubled in recent weeks, reaching a record 613 on Sunday."No doubt if this trend continues - not just at our hospitals - but every hospital in the state could be at capacity in a very short period of time," Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer for CHI Health's network of 14 hospitals across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa said during a video call with reporters.In Missouri, leaders of several rural hospitals raised alarms about bed capacity during a conference call last week with Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who drew renewed fire from his Democratic election challenger for his refusal to issue a statewide mask mandate. The state health department reported 1,659 hospitalizations statewide Monday, surpassing by 10 the previous record set a day earlier. Among the five additional deaths was a 13-year-old boy, the first child under 14 to die from the virus in Missouri.In Colorado, officials said more residents have been hospitalized with the coronavirus than at any time since a peak in April. Flags were flying at half-staff in New Mexico, where death from COVID-19 surpassed 1,000 last week and hospitalizations reached a record 380 on Monday.Trump's insistence that the U.S. is "rounding the turn" on the virus angered many voters confronting figures that tell a different story.The virus has killed more than 232,000 people in the country and total confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 9 million. As hospitalizations have climbed, so have deaths. The seven-day rolling average for deaths from COVID-19 has risen over the past two weeks from about 58,424 on Oct. 19 to 83,805 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers."The fact that he (Trump) acts like this is a fake virus that the entire world is out to get him out of office shows just how convoluted his thinking is," said Carrie Rogers, 44, a software development manager from Mount Laurel, N.J., who dropped off her ballot for former Vice President Joe Biden in one of hundreds of locked boxes set up around the state.Of equal concern is the fear of more economic pain if the country heads into another round of lockdowns to contain the virus. While the U.S. economy grew at a record 33.1% annual rate in the July-September quarter, it has yet to fully rebound from the plunge in the spring.Trump's message prioritizing economic recovery over virus containment resonated with voters like Jason Schanta, a business owner and father of twin 13-year-old boys from Fountain Valley, California. He said his business was doing well before the pandemic, motivating him to vote for the president."I don't trust Biden to get it open," Schanta said of the economy.But there were signs of the virus' resurgence hampering economic reopening even without government shutdown orders, as a fearful public stays away from riskier activities.Cruise Lines International Association, which represents the bulk of the cruise industry, said its members are extending the suspension of U.S. sailing operations through the end of the year, just days after the U.S. government effectively lifted its no-sail order. The cruise industry group estimates that the suspension of cruises snuffed out more than $25 billion in economic activity and 164,000 American jobs.

Virus hospitalizations surge as pandemic shadows US election

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Officials with the North Platte Public Schools are warning parents and students of a possible COVID-19 exposure at North Platte High School.

Officials sent the following letter to parents and students:

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Officials with the North Platte Public Schools are warning parents and students of a possible COVID-19 exposure at North Platte High School. Officials sent the following letter to parents and students:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604419085831.png" alt="11.3.20 Covid-19 Letter.png" />
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Officials warn of possible COVID-19 exposure at North Platte High School

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-After a weekend where numbers aren't updated, the West Central District Health Department reported another increase in positive cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction.

WCDHD said Monday that 114 new cases have been reported in their jurisdiction since October 30.

Numbers from WCDHD show that, as of Tuesday morning, 34 people are hospitalized who have tested positive for COVID, four on ventilators.

There have been 1,317 total confirmed cases since March. 572 cases are considered recovered.

WCDHD officials have attributed 11 deaths to COVID with 17 deaths "pending."

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-After a weekend where numbers aren't updated, the West Central District Health Department reported another increase in positive cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction.WCDHD said Monday that 114 new cases have been reported in their jurisdiction since October 30.Numbers from WCDHD show that, as of Tuesday morning, 34 people are hospitalized who have tested positive for COVID, four on ventilators.There have been 1,317 total confirmed cases since March. 572 cases are considered recovered.WCDHD officials have attributed 11 deaths to COVID with 17 deaths "pending."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604402316486.png" alt="covid update november 2 2020.png" />
 <figcaption>covid update november 2 2020.png</figcaption>
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114 new confirmed cases of COVID in WCDHD jurisdiction since Friday

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The surge in COVID-19 cases in Nebraska has led to record-high hospitalizations that are straining the state's health care system, officials said Monday.

The number of people hospitalized in the state with the coronavirus set another record on Sunday, with 613, which was one more than the previous day. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 have surged over the last month, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online tracking portal</a>.

"We have seen a doubling of COVID positive patients in the last several weeks. No doubt if this trend continues - not just at our hospitals - but every hospital in the state could be at capacity in a very short period of time," Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer for CHI Health's network of 14 hospitals across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, said during a video call with reporters.

Nebraska's largest hospitals have started limiting elective surgeries as they work to cope with the increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, which is expected to continue because cases of the virus are still rising, said Dr. Bill Lydiatt, the chief medical officer for Methodist Health System's two hospitals in Omaha. The number of confirmed cases increased by 934 on Sunday in Nebraska, which has the seventh-highest rate of new cases in the nation.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska increased over the past two weeks from about 778 new cases per day on Oct. 18 to roughly 1,074 new cases per day on Sunday.

Ensuring that hospitals have enough nurses and doctors to care for the COVID patients is key. Nebraska hospitals are working to bring in nurses from other parts of the country to help.

"We can manage a significant surge in COVID-19 patients. However we cannot produce unlimited hospital capacity," Lydiatt said.

Also Monday, state officials said Nebraska's nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will get a temporary financial boost to help cover the cost of dealing with the pandemic.

The state will increase its Medicaid reimbursement for care facilities by an extra $20 per day for each eligible resident, using a combination of $25 million in federal money and $15 million from the state. The cost of caring for long-term care residents varies widely throughout Nebraska, but the average is around $200, so the extra money would amount to about a 10% increase, health officials said.

Nebraska's long-term care facilities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic, with residents accounting for about 36% of the state's overall virus deaths. The virus has infected 1,774 long-term care residents and 1,832 staff members since the pandemic began, and 238 residents have died, according to state health officials.

"This financial aid could not have come at a better time," said Heath Boddy, president and CEO of the Nebraska Health Care Association.

Boddy said care facilities will likely use the money to cover earlier pandemic-related expenses, and possibly offer retention and recruitment bonuses to help with staffing shortages. The assistance will apply retroactively to costs incurred from May 1 and will continue until the end of this year.

Nebraska has had 71,666 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 654 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The surge in COVID-19 cases in Nebraska has led to record-high hospitalizations that are straining the state's health care system, officials said Monday.The number of people hospitalized in the state with the coronavirus set another record on Sunday, with 613, which was one more than the previous day. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 have surged over the last month, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online tracking portal</a>."We have seen a doubling of COVID positive patients in the last several weeks. No doubt if this trend continues - not just at our hospitals - but every hospital in the state could be at capacity in a very short period of time," Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer for CHI Health's network of 14 hospitals across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, said during a video call with reporters.Nebraska's largest hospitals have started limiting elective surgeries as they work to cope with the increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, which is expected to continue because cases of the virus are still rising, said Dr. Bill Lydiatt, the chief medical officer for Methodist Health System's two hospitals in Omaha. The number of confirmed cases increased by 934 on Sunday in Nebraska, which has the seventh-highest rate of new cases in the nation.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska increased over the past two weeks from about 778 new cases per day on Oct. 18 to roughly 1,074 new cases per day on Sunday.Ensuring that hospitals have enough nurses and doctors to care for the COVID patients is key. Nebraska hospitals are working to bring in nurses from other parts of the country to help."We can manage a significant surge in COVID-19 patients. However we cannot produce unlimited hospital capacity," Lydiatt said.Also Monday, state officials said Nebraska's nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will get a temporary financial boost to help cover the cost of dealing with the pandemic.The state will increase its Medicaid reimbursement for care facilities by an extra $20 per day for each eligible resident, using a combination of $25 million in federal money and $15 million from the state. The cost of caring for long-term care residents varies widely throughout Nebraska, but the average is around $200, so the extra money would amount to about a 10% increase, health officials said.Nebraska's long-term care facilities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic, with residents accounting for about 36% of the state's overall virus deaths. The virus has infected 1,774 long-term care residents and 1,832 staff members since the pandemic began, and 238 residents have died, according to state health officials."This financial aid could not have come at a better time," said Heath Boddy, president and CEO of the Nebraska Health Care Association.Boddy said care facilities will likely use the money to cover earlier pandemic-related expenses, and possibly offer retention and recruitment bonuses to help with staffing shortages. The assistance will apply retroactively to costs incurred from May 1 and will continue until the end of this year.Nebraska has had 71,666 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 654 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began.

Surge in coronavirus cases straining Nebraska hospitals

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will get a temporary financial boost from the state to help cover the cost of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, state officials said Monday as the number of virus-related hospitalizations hit a new record.

The state will increase its Medicaid reimbursement for care facilities by an extra $20 per day for each eligible resident, using a combination of federal and state money. The cost of caring for long-term care residents varies widely throughout Nebraska, but the average is around $200, so the extra money would amount to about a 10% increase, health officials said.

Boddy said care facilities will likely use the money to cover earlier pandemic-related expenses, and possibly offer retention and recruitment bonuses to help with staffing shortages.

The assistance will apply retroactively to costs incurred from May 1 and will continue until the end of this year. The additional aid will cost $40 million, with $25 million coming from the federal government and $15 million from the state, said Jeremy Brunssen, interim director of Nebraska's Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care.

"It really has been a team effort with regard to keeping our seniors safe in long-term care facilities," Gov. Pete Ricketts said at a news conference announcing the increase.

The announcement came as Nebraska's hospitals saw a record number of coronavirus patients on Sunday.

State public health officials reported 613 active hospitalizations on Sunday, up slightly from 612 the day before. The numbers have surged over the last month, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online tracking portal</a>. Overall, 3,050 people in Nebraska have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.

The number of new cases fell to 934 on Sunday, down from 1,087 the previous day.

Nebraska has seen 71,666 known coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, including 654 deaths. So far, 44,773 are listed as recovered.

Nebraska still has 32% of its hospital beds available, as well as 37% of its intensive care unit beds and 77% of its ventilators.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1566593255414.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will get a temporary financial boost from the state to help cover the cost of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, state officials said Monday as the number of virus-related hospitalizations hit a new record.The state will increase its Medicaid reimbursement for care facilities by an extra $20 per day for each eligible resident, using a combination of federal and state money. The cost of caring for long-term care residents varies widely throughout Nebraska, but the average is around $200, so the extra money would amount to about a 10% increase, health officials said.Nebraska's long-term care facilities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic, with residents accounting for about 36% of the state's overall virus deaths. The virus has infected 1,774 long-term care residents and 1,832 staff members since the pandemic began, and 238 residents have died, according to state health officials."This financial aid could not have come at a better time," said Heath Boddy, president and CEO of the Nebraska Health Care Association.Boddy said care facilities will likely use the money to cover earlier pandemic-related expenses, and possibly offer retention and recruitment bonuses to help with staffing shortages.The assistance will apply retroactively to costs incurred from May 1 and will continue until the end of this year. The additional aid will cost $40 million, with $25 million coming from the federal government and $15 million from the state, said Jeremy Brunssen, interim director of Nebraska's Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care."It really has been a team effort with regard to keeping our seniors safe in long-term care facilities," Gov. Pete Ricketts said at a news conference announcing the increase.The announcement came as Nebraska's hospitals saw a record number of coronavirus patients on Sunday.State public health officials reported 613 active hospitalizations on Sunday, up slightly from 612 the day before. The numbers have surged over the last month, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online tracking portal</a>. Overall, 3,050 people in Nebraska have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.The number of new cases fell to 934 on Sunday, down from 1,087 the previous day.Nebraska has seen 71,666 known coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, including 654 deaths. So far, 44,773 are listed as recovered.Nebraska still has 32% of its hospital beds available, as well as 37% of its intensive care unit beds and 77% of its ventilators.

Nebraska to boost aid for nursing homes hit by coronavirus

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's hospitals saw a record number of coronavirus patients on Sunday as the state continues to deal with the pandemic.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's hospitals saw a record number of coronavirus patients on Sunday as the state continues to deal with the pandemic.State public health officials reported 613 active hospitalizations on Sunday, up slightly from 612 the day before. The numbers have surged over the last month, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online tracking portal</a>. Overall, 3,050 people in Nebraska have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.The number of new cases fell to 934 on Sunday, down from 1,087 the previous day.Nebraska has seen 71,666 known coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, including 654 deaths. So far, 44,773 are listed as recovered.Nebraska still has 32% of its hospital beds available, as well as 37% of its intensive care unit beds and 77% of its ventilators.

Nebraska sees virus hospitalizations rise to new high

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Five of the six states with the nation's lowest unemployment rates are in the Midwest, have Republican governors and have almost no restrictions intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The governors say their decisions not to impose harsher restrictions are paying off with fewer business closures and more hiring reflected in the strong jobless numbers. But economists say it's not so simple. Although businesses that are struggling during the pandemic can benefit when governors opt not to require masks or limit in-door gatherings, other factors may play an even bigger role in producing such low unemployment rates.

And those same rules that could initially help the states' economies also are blamed for their leading the nation in coronavirus infection rates, raising questions about whether their hands-off approach is sustainable. North Dakota and South Dakota have the most cases per capita in the U.S., and Nebraska and Iowa aren't far behind.

"If hospitalization and death rates increase, then you have a motivation by politicians to close the economy down. That would be very deadly and push unemployment rates back up," said Ernie Goss, an economist at Creighton University in Omaha.

For now, though, those Midwestern states have a lock atop the unemployment rankings, far below the national average rate for September of 7.9%. Nebraska leads the nation with a 3.5% unemployment rate, followed by South Dakota, Vermont, North Dakota, Iowa and Missouri.

Most of the Midwestern governors imposed some restrictions last spring, but they were among the first to ease them, arguing that they needed to balance efforts to slow the virus' spread with the need for a robust economy.

"I've got to believe that if you shut down harder, you're going to see a more severe impact to your industries and the longer you're shut down, the harder it's going to be for those industries to rebound," Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts told The Associated Press.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, who tested positive for COVID-19 in September, has touted a balanced approach to coping with the pandemic. And Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds urged residents not to let the virus dominate their lives.

In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem said: "There's consequences to what we've seen happen in other states - that shutting down businesses, stopping people's way of life has some devastating impacts. We're taking a very balanced approach."

In contrast, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has worked aggressively to tamp down the virus, including closing some businesses in the spring and imposing a mask mandate. Vermont now has one of the nation's lowest COVID-19 infection rates along with the third-lowest unemployment rate.

Like the Midwestern states, Vermont is largely rural with industries that weren't hurt as badly by the pandemic.

Economists say that's not a coincidence, noting that states dominated by agriculture and some kinds of manufacturing were able to operate closer to normal and managed to bounce back more quickly. That contrasts with states that rely on tourism, such as California, Nevada and Hawaii, which have the nation's highest unemployment rates.

"The economy of a rural state has a different structure, so more of the people work in industries that wouldn't really be disrupted by a need for social distancing like agriculture," said Eric Thompson, who leads the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Midwestern states already had ultra-low unemployment rates before the pandemic, and they benefitted early on from a lack of population density, with plenty of wide-open spaces and few major cities where it would be harder to avoid catching the virus. More recently, though, many of those rural areas have seen some of the nation's highest virus rates.

Even in industries like meatpacking that initially were devastated by workers catching COVID-19, the companies have managed to make changes that have allowed their operations to nearly return to normal.

Thompson said a lack of restrictions may have been most important in the spring. At the height of the shutdowns in April, Nebraska's unemployment rate peaked at 8.7%, which was slightly more than half the national rate of 14.7% at that time.

Nathan Kauffman, Omaha branch executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, said fewer businesses closed in these states because many of them are in what are considered essential industries.

Ricketts agreed that Nebraska's mix of industries played a significant role in helping the state's economy.

"The kinds of things that we're strong in are agriculture, manufacturing, finance and technology. You've just got industries that are not going to be as impacted by a pandemic," Ricketts said.

But even if business has remained better in these states, that doesn't mean they have been completely spared. Restaurants, hotels and other types of businesses are still struggling because people remain wary of resuming their normal shopping patterns, and those economic costs could rise amid spikes in virus rates.

Despite the low unemployment figures, all of the states now have fewer jobs than before the pandemic hit. Nationally, the economy has regained only about half of the 22 million jobs that were lost.

Still, many Midwestern business owners and leaders say they appreciate their governors' lighter touch.

In Rapid City, South Dakota, Black Hills Bagels never had to close because the wholesale side of its operation continued providing products to grocery stores, and its retail store turned to drive-thru and delivery options, owner Debra Jensen said. It even had trouble hiring the workers it needed this year because unemployment remained so low.

"I'm just happy that the state and the folks in South Dakota made the right decisions to make sure our economy didn't just bottom out," Jensen said.

Arik Spencer, president and CEO of the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, said he doesn't think shutting down the economy is the right approach, but every state is trying to help the economy while managing the virus.

"We hope that with the thoughtful approach of decisionmakers here in North Dakota, we're poised to recover quickly. But if there was a silver bullet for recovery, every state in the country would be utilizing that right now," Spencer said.

By JOSH FUNK-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Five of the six states with the nation's lowest unemployment rates are in the Midwest, have Republican governors and have almost no restrictions intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.The governors say their decisions not to impose harsher restrictions are paying off with fewer business closures and more hiring reflected in the strong jobless numbers. But economists say it's not so simple. Although businesses that are struggling during the pandemic can benefit when governors opt not to require masks or limit in-door gatherings, other factors may play an even bigger role in producing such low unemployment rates.And those same rules that could initially help the states' economies also are blamed for their leading the nation in coronavirus infection rates, raising questions about whether their hands-off approach is sustainable. North Dakota and South Dakota have the most cases per capita in the U.S., and Nebraska and Iowa aren't far behind."If hospitalization and death rates increase, then you have a motivation by politicians to close the economy down. That would be very deadly and push unemployment rates back up," said Ernie Goss, an economist at Creighton University in Omaha.For now, though, those Midwestern states have a lock atop the unemployment rankings, far below the national average rate for September of 7.9%. Nebraska leads the nation with a 3.5% unemployment rate, followed by South Dakota, Vermont, North Dakota, Iowa and Missouri.Most of the Midwestern governors imposed some restrictions last spring, but they were among the first to ease them, arguing that they needed to balance efforts to slow the virus' spread with the need for a robust economy."I've got to believe that if you shut down harder, you're going to see a more severe impact to your industries and the longer you're shut down, the harder it's going to be for those industries to rebound," Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts told The Associated Press.Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, who tested positive for COVID-19 in September, has touted a balanced approach to coping with the pandemic. And Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds urged residents not to let the virus dominate their lives.In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem said: "There's consequences to what we've seen happen in other states - that shutting down businesses, stopping people's way of life has some devastating impacts. We're taking a very balanced approach."In contrast, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has worked aggressively to tamp down the virus, including closing some businesses in the spring and imposing a mask mandate. Vermont now has one of the nation's lowest COVID-19 infection rates along with the third-lowest unemployment rate.Like the Midwestern states, Vermont is largely rural with industries that weren't hurt as badly by the pandemic.Economists say that's not a coincidence, noting that states dominated by agriculture and some kinds of manufacturing were able to operate closer to normal and managed to bounce back more quickly. That contrasts with states that rely on tourism, such as California, Nevada and Hawaii, which have the nation's highest unemployment rates."The economy of a rural state has a different structure, so more of the people work in industries that wouldn't really be disrupted by a need for social distancing like agriculture," said Eric Thompson, who leads the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.The Midwestern states already had ultra-low unemployment rates before the pandemic, and they benefitted early on from a lack of population density, with plenty of wide-open spaces and few major cities where it would be harder to avoid catching the virus. More recently, though, many of those rural areas have seen some of the nation's highest virus rates.Even in industries like meatpacking that initially were devastated by workers catching COVID-19, the companies have managed to make changes that have allowed their operations to nearly return to normal.Thompson said a lack of restrictions may have been most important in the spring. At the height of the shutdowns in April, Nebraska's unemployment rate peaked at 8.7%, which was slightly more than half the national rate of 14.7% at that time.Nathan Kauffman, Omaha branch executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, said fewer businesses closed in these states because many of them are in what are considered essential industries.Ricketts agreed that Nebraska's mix of industries played a significant role in helping the state's economy."The kinds of things that we're strong in are agriculture, manufacturing, finance and technology. You've just got industries that are not going to be as impacted by a pandemic," Ricketts said.But even if business has remained better in these states, that doesn't mean they have been completely spared. Restaurants, hotels and other types of businesses are still struggling because people remain wary of resuming their normal shopping patterns, and those economic costs could rise amid spikes in virus rates.Despite the low unemployment figures, all of the states now have fewer jobs than before the pandemic hit. Nationally, the economy has regained only about half of the 22 million jobs that were lost.Still, many Midwestern business owners and leaders say they appreciate their governors' lighter touch.In Rapid City, South Dakota, Black Hills Bagels never had to close because the wholesale side of its operation continued providing products to grocery stores, and its retail store turned to drive-thru and delivery options, owner Debra Jensen said. It even had trouble hiring the workers it needed this year because unemployment remained so low."I'm just happy that the state and the folks in South Dakota made the right decisions to make sure our economy didn't just bottom out," Jensen said.Arik Spencer, president and CEO of the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, said he doesn't think shutting down the economy is the right approach, but every state is trying to help the economy while managing the virus."We hope that with the thoughtful approach of decisionmakers here in North Dakota, we're poised to recover quickly. But if there was a silver bullet for recovery, every state in the country would be utilizing that right now," Spencer said.

Midwestern states with few virus rules have low unemployment

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The recent surge in coronavirus cases in Nebraska has prompted one expert to predict that the number of deaths in the state linked to the virus could nearly quadruple by the start of 2021.

Dr. James Lawler, a director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Global Center for Health Security in Omaha, said Friday that the state could have more than 2,500 COVID-19-related deaths by January if current trends continue without more stringent public health measures or better compliance with the measures already in place. The state has so far reported 652 deaths linked to the virus.

"If the outbreak continues at this pace, and we don't implement much more stringent public health interventions - or at least if we don't get people to adopt those behaviors, which ultimately is the most important thing - I think we could easily see three times the total we've seen so far," he said&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/unmc-pandemic-expert-fears-dramatic-increase-in-nebraskas-covid-19-deaths/article_234fc101-c85f-5524-89e2-bd9f9742d6e3.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">to the Omaha World-Herald</a>.

Nebraska reported 1,087 new virus cases Saturday to give the state a total of 70,732 cases so far. The rate of new cases in the state ranked sixth-highest in the nation Saturday.

And the number of people hospitalized with the virus set another new record at 612 Saturday. That is more than 2.5 times the spring peak of 232 set on May 27.

The rate of new cases per 100,000 Nebraska residents over the past two weeks registered 694.56 on Saturday, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has risen over the past two weeks from 795.71 new cases per day on Oct. 17 to 1,019.29 new cases per day on Saturday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The recent surge in coronavirus cases in Nebraska has prompted one expert to predict that the number of deaths in the state linked to the virus could nearly quadruple by the start of 2021.Dr. James Lawler, a director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Global Center for Health Security in Omaha, said Friday that the state could have more than 2,500 COVID-19-related deaths by January if current trends continue without more stringent public health measures or better compliance with the measures already in place. The state has so far reported 652 deaths linked to the virus."If the outbreak continues at this pace, and we don't implement much more stringent public health interventions - or at least if we don't get people to adopt those behaviors, which ultimately is the most important thing - I think we could easily see three times the total we've seen so far," he said&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/unmc-pandemic-expert-fears-dramatic-increase-in-nebraskas-covid-19-deaths/article_234fc101-c85f-5524-89e2-bd9f9742d6e3.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">to the Omaha World-Herald</a>.Nebraska reported 1,087 new virus cases Saturday to give the state a total of 70,732 cases so far. The rate of new cases in the state ranked sixth-highest in the nation Saturday.And the number of people hospitalized with the virus set another new record at 612 Saturday. That is more than 2.5 times the spring peak of 232 set on May 27.The rate of new cases per 100,000 Nebraska residents over the past two weeks registered 694.56 on Saturday, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has risen over the past two weeks from 795.71 new cases per day on Oct. 17 to 1,019.29 new cases per day on Saturday.

Nebraska virus deaths could surge if current trends continue

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska is reporting nearly 1,500 new coronavirus cases for just a single day and another high for the number of people hospitalized because of COVID-19.

The state Department of Health and Human services online virus tracker said that as of Friday evening, Nebraska has had 69,645 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. That was an increase of 1,495 cases since Thursday or 2.2%.

The department also said that 584 people were hospitalized, an increase of 56 or 10.6% from the previous high Thursday of 528. The state has had more than 3,000 hospitalizations in all. The department reported that 76% of the state's 827 ventilators were in use as of Friday.

The health department also reported an additional nine COVID-19-related deaths to bring the total to 646.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska is reporting nearly 1,500 new coronavirus cases for just a single day and another high for the number of people hospitalized because of COVID-19.The state Department of Health and Human services online virus tracker said that as of Friday evening, Nebraska has had 69,645 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. That was an increase of 1,495 cases since Thursday or 2.2%.The department also said that 584 people were hospitalized, an increase of 56 or 10.6% from the previous high Thursday of 528. The state has had more than 3,000 hospitalizations in all. The department reported that 76% of the state's 827 ventilators were in use as of Friday.The health department also reported an additional nine COVID-19-related deaths to bring the total to 646.

Nebraska agency reports nearly 1,500 new coronavirus cases

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska saw a record number of cases of the coronavirus confirmed for one day, as well as a record number of people hospitalized with the virus, according to state health department numbers.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online virus </a>tracker&nbsp;showed 1,605 new cases were confirmed Thursday - the most in one day since 1,286 on Oct. 16. The site also showed 528 people with the virus hospitalized on Thursday, well over the previous day's record of 483. The state's rate of new cases jumped to the seventh-highest in the nation as the number of cases in Nebraska grew to 68,150 and 637 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

The rate of new cases per 100,000 Nebraska residents over the past two weeks increased to 659.42 on Thursday, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska jumped over the past two weeks from 724.43 new cases per day on Oct. 15 to 891 new cases per day on Thursday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Even with the increase in cases, the state said 31% of Nebraska's intensive care beds and 74% of its ventilators remain available. But in Douglas County - the state's most populous encompassing Omaha - only 15% of hospital beds and 19% of ICU beds remained available Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.douglascountyhealth.com/latest-news" target="_blank">according&nbsp;</a>to local health officials.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska saw a record number of cases of the coronavirus confirmed for one day, as well as a record number of people hospitalized with the virus, according to state health department numbers.The&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online virus </a>tracker&nbsp;showed 1,605 new cases were confirmed Thursday - the most in one day since 1,286 on Oct. 16. The site also showed 528 people with the virus hospitalized on Thursday, well over the previous day's record of 483. The state's rate of new cases jumped to the seventh-highest in the nation as the number of cases in Nebraska grew to 68,150 and 637 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.The rate of new cases per 100,000 Nebraska residents over the past two weeks increased to 659.42 on Thursday, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska jumped over the past two weeks from 724.43 new cases per day on Oct. 15 to 891 new cases per day on Thursday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Even with the increase in cases, the state said 31% of Nebraska's intensive care beds and 74% of its ventilators remain available. But in Douglas County - the state's most populous encompassing Omaha - only 15% of hospital beds and 19% of ICU beds remained available Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.douglascountyhealth.com/latest-news" target="_blank">according&nbsp;</a>to local health officials.

Nebraska sees record number of cases, hospitalizations

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department again raised the COVID-19 Community Risk dial on Thursday.


The risk dial moved from a 2.92 up to a 3.0 this week, which remains
within the elevated risk level. There were changes in the following
variables that contributed to the movement in the dial:

Considering feedback from the
community, WCDHD has updated the look of the community risk dial. The
new appearance more clearly displays the range of numbers expressed
in each category. Please note that the change is in appearance
only. There has been no change to the data used to formulate the
level we are in on the dial.

With community partnership, wearing a
mask in public, social distancing, avoiding crowded places, avoiding
close contact, and avoiding confined spaces, officials say we can flatten the curve
of COVID-19 in our area. #MaskUpAmerica #WearAMaskForMe

View the Community Risk Dial <a href="https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/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>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1604021999947.png" alt="As of October 29, 2020" />
 <figcaption>As of October 29, 2020</figcaption>
 </figure>NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department again raised the COVID-19 Community Risk dial on Thursday.
The risk dial moved from a 2.92 up to a 3.0 this week, which remains
within the elevated risk level. There were changes in the following
variables that contributed to the movement in the dial:We had an increase in the following:<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R11: Individuals
	Affected
</li>
 </ul>Considering feedback from the
community, WCDHD has updated the look of the community risk dial. The
new appearance more clearly displays the range of numbers expressed
in each category. Please note that the change is in appearance
only. There has been no change to the data used to formulate the
level we are in on the dial.With community partnership, wearing a
mask in public, social distancing, avoiding crowded places, avoiding
close contact, and avoiding confined spaces, officials say we can flatten the curve
of COVID-19 in our area. #MaskUpAmerica #WearAMaskForMeView the Community Risk Dial <a href="https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/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>.

WCDHD Community Risk Dial rises again, remains in 'Orange' level

LINCOLN, Neb. (DHHS)-The latest statewide case total is 65,376, as of Oct. 27. There were 55 new COVID-19-related deaths in the state over the last seven days, for a total of 620. A total of 42,633 Nebraskans diagnosed with COVID-19 have since recovered.

The daily average of positive cases for the last seven days is 852, compared to a daily average of 838 last week, and 684 and 530 cases in prior weeks.

Daily hospitalizations increased by 37 over the last seven days for a total of 436 and 91 of Nebraska's 93 counties have had one or more positive COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days.

DHHS urges all Nebraskans to avoid the Three Cs to slow the spread of the virus:

Door to door trick-or-treating, truck-or-treat events and community celebrations come with a higher risk for infection. Nebraskans are encouraged to adapt these and other fall activities to help limit the potential for COVID-19 exposure.

Anyone dressing up is encouraged to make a cloth face mask part of their costume, as layering a costume mask over a cloth mask can make it hard to breathe.

Nebraskans are reminded to wear a mask, keep at least six feet of distance, wash hands and use hand sanitizer anytime you're with people from outside your household, and avoid crowded places, close contact and confined spaces. Anyone with COVID-19, or who may have been exposed to COVID-19, should avoid in-person celebrations.

The CDC has tips to help adjust plans for Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, Thanksgiving and other celebrations at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween&nbsp;</a>.

If you plan to vote in person, the CDC offers basic precautions to help limit time spent at polling places and reduce the likelihood of spreading COVID-19.

More information is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/going-out/voting-tips.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/going-out/voting-tips.html&nbsp;</a>.

Gov. Pete Ricketts and state leaders announced this week that Nebraska will use an existing vaccine provider network to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one receives federal approval and supplies are made available to the state.

Doses are expected to be limited early on and will go to health care personnel and at-risk groups. Nebraska's existing Vaccines for Children network will distribute doses via health care providers, local health departments, federally qualified health centers, community-based clinics, tribal health care centers, and hospitals across the state.

A second phase of vaccine distribution for the wider population will begin when large numbers of vaccine doses are available. The CDC has not yet announced an arrival date for a vaccine. Nebraska's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/covid19vaccine">http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/covid19vaccine</a>.

The state is launching the first of several testing pods designed to help expand rapid mobile COVID-19 testing during winter. Five drive-through and five walk-up models will be deployed to support testing as needed across the state.

The drive-through model have a heated, enclosed center unit for healthcare workers to administer tests to drivers and passengers who can remain in their vehicle. The freestanding walk-up model allows medical personnel to collect data while minimizing the contact with patients.

The first drive-through pod will be in use this weekend at the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha campus. Appointments can be scheduled starting Thursday, Oct. 29. Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/en" target="_blank">Testnebraska.com&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;or use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/es/" target="_blank">TestNebraska/es&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for Spanish.

Last testing date for Test Nebraska Crossroads location is today

Due to upcoming construction at the Crossroads site in Omaha, the last testing date for that Test Nebraska location is today.

Those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or who are experiencing symptoms can receive a free test through Test Nebraska. Symptoms can include a fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, tiredness, muscle aches, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.&nbsp;

Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/en" target="_blank">Testnebraska.com&nbsp;</a>, or use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/es/" target="_blank">TestNebraska/es&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for Spanish, to schedule an appointment at one of more than 60 Test Nebraska locations across the state. Nebraskans with general questions about testing or who need help completing the online assessment can call the&nbsp;Test Nebraska hotline at (402) 207-9377.

Community resilience through Community CARES grants

The state of Nebraska and the DHHS are pleased to announce Round 2 of Community CARES grants. Grants will help organizations and communities mitigate the impacts of Covid-19. Grants in Round 2 will be available to eligible organizations that did not receive funding in Round 1.

Charities, providers and centers of worship may apply by visiting the Coronavirus Relief Fund at&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Programs%26Grants" target="_blank">https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Programs&amp;Grants&nbsp;</a>.&nbsp; Application deadline is November 13.

Nebraskans seeking information or help with general questions can call the DHHS COVID-19 information hotline at (402) 552-6645, or toll-free (833) 998-2275. The COVID-19 hotline is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CT, 7 days a week. DHHS will continue to share new information via the DHHS website,&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx</a>, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

LINCOLN, Neb. (DHHS)-The latest statewide case total is 65,376, as of Oct. 27. There were 55 new COVID-19-related deaths in the state over the last seven days, for a total of 620. A total of 42,633 Nebraskans diagnosed with COVID-19 have since recovered.The daily average of positive cases for the last seven days is 852, compared to a daily average of 838 last week, and 684 and 530 cases in prior weeks.Daily hospitalizations increased by 37 over the last seven days for a total of 436 and 91 of Nebraska's 93 counties have had one or more positive COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days.DHHS urges all Nebraskans to avoid the Three Cs to slow the spread of the virus:<ul>
 <li>Crowded places&nbsp;– avoid group gatherings if you can't maintain 6-feet of distance from others.</li><li>Close contact&nbsp;– wear a mask or maintain 6-feet of distance from people not in your household.</li><li>Confined spaces&nbsp;– avoid enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.</li>
 </ul>Halloween safetyDoor to door trick-or-treating, truck-or-treat events and community celebrations come with a higher risk for infection. Nebraskans are encouraged to adapt these and other fall activities to help limit the potential for COVID-19 exposure.Anyone dressing up is encouraged to make a cloth face mask part of their costume, as layering a costume mask over a cloth mask can make it hard to breathe.Nebraskans are reminded to wear a mask, keep at least six feet of distance, wash hands and use hand sanitizer anytime you're with people from outside your household, and avoid crowded places, close contact and confined spaces. Anyone with COVID-19, or who may have been exposed to COVID-19, should avoid in-person celebrations.The CDC has tips to help adjust plans for Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, Thanksgiving and other celebrations at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween&nbsp;</a>.Tips for voters on Election DayIf you plan to vote in person, the CDC offers basic precautions to help limit time spent at polling places and reduce the likelihood of spreading COVID-19.<ul>
 <li>Wear a mask</li><li>Bring your own supplies - including hand sanitizer, a black pen, and any materials such as voter registration card or sample ballot.</li><li>If using public or private transportation to get to your polling place, open a window and avoid touching things if possible.</li><li>While in line, keep your distance from others - even if everyone is wearing masks. </li>
 </ul>More information is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/going-out/voting-tips.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/going-out/voting-tips.html&nbsp;</a>.COVID-19 vaccine updateGov. Pete Ricketts and state leaders announced this week that Nebraska will use an existing vaccine provider network to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one receives federal approval and supplies are made available to the state.Doses are expected to be limited early on and will go to health care personnel and at-risk groups. Nebraska's existing Vaccines for Children network will distribute doses via health care providers, local health departments, federally qualified health centers, community-based clinics, tribal health care centers, and hospitals across the state.A second phase of vaccine distribution for the wider population will begin when large numbers of vaccine doses are available. The CDC has not yet announced an arrival date for a vaccine. Nebraska's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/covid19vaccine">http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/covid19vaccine</a>.COVID-19 testing updateNew testing pod deployed in OmahaThe state is launching the first of several testing pods designed to help expand rapid mobile COVID-19 testing during winter. Five drive-through and five walk-up models will be deployed to support testing as needed across the state.The drive-through model have a heated, enclosed center unit for healthcare workers to administer tests to drivers and passengers who can remain in their vehicle. The freestanding walk-up model allows medical personnel to collect data while minimizing the contact with patients.The first drive-through pod will be in use this weekend at the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha campus. Appointments can be scheduled starting Thursday, Oct. 29. Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/en" target="_blank">Testnebraska.com&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;or use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/es/" target="_blank">TestNebraska/es&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for Spanish.Last testing date for Test Nebraska Crossroads location is todayDue to upcoming construction at the Crossroads site in Omaha, the last testing date for that Test Nebraska location is today. COVID-19 testing through Test NebraskaThose who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or who are experiencing symptoms can receive a free test through Test Nebraska. Symptoms can include a fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, tiredness, muscle aches, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.&nbsp;Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/en" target="_blank">Testnebraska.com&nbsp;</a>, or use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/es/" target="_blank">TestNebraska/es&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for Spanish, to schedule an appointment at one of more than 60 Test Nebraska locations across the state. Nebraskans with general questions about testing or who need help completing the online assessment can call the&nbsp;Test Nebraska hotline at (402) 207-9377.Community resilience through Community CARES grantsThe state of Nebraska and the DHHS are pleased to announce Round 2 of Community CARES grants. Grants will help organizations and communities mitigate the impacts of Covid-19. Grants in Round 2 will be available to eligible organizations that did not receive funding in Round 1.Charities, providers and centers of worship may apply by visiting the Coronavirus Relief Fund at&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Programs%26Grants" target="_blank">https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Programs&amp;Grants&nbsp;</a>.&nbsp; Application deadline is November 13.Nebraskans seeking information or help with general questions can call the DHHS COVID-19 information hotline at (402) 552-6645, or toll-free (833) 998-2275. The COVID-19 hotline is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CT, 7 days a week. DHHS will continue to share new information via the DHHS website,&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx</a>, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

Nebraska reports 55 COVID-related deaths over last 7 days

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska jumped to nearly 500 and set another new record as cases of the virus continued to surge in the state.

State health officials said 483 people were hospitalized with the virus Wednesday, up from the previous day's record-tying 436, as 1,169 new cases of the virus were reported. The state's rate of new cases remained eighth-highest in the nation as the number of cases in Nebraska grew to 66,545 and 628 deaths were linked to the virus.

The rate of new cases per 100,000 Nebraska residents over the past two weeks increased to 626.04 on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska jumped over the past two weeks from 683.71 new cases per day on Oct. 14 to 852.43 new cases per day on Wednesday according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Even with the increase in cases, the state said 32% of Nebraska's intensive care beds and 72% of its ventilators remain available, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online virus tracker</a>.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska jumped to nearly 500 and set another new record as cases of the virus continued to surge in the state.State health officials said 483 people were hospitalized with the virus Wednesday, up from the previous day's record-tying 436, as 1,169 new cases of the virus were reported. The state's rate of new cases remained eighth-highest in the nation as the number of cases in Nebraska grew to 66,545 and 628 deaths were linked to the virus.The rate of new cases per 100,000 Nebraska residents over the past two weeks increased to 626.04 on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska jumped over the past two weeks from 683.71 new cases per day on Oct. 14 to 852.43 new cases per day on Wednesday according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Even with the increase in cases, the state said 32% of Nebraska's intensive care beds and 72% of its ventilators remain available, according to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online virus tracker</a>.

Nebraska virus hospitalizations jump to set another record

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department reported another increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

WCDHD officials say 29 tests were returned as positive for the virus, saying all of the new cases are in Lincoln County.

There are now 560 active cases reported in the WCDHD jurisdiction with 21 people currently hospitalized. Since March, there have been 1,102 confirmed cases of the virus with 11 deaths determined to be COVID-related.

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

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department reported another increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.WCDHD officials say 29 tests were returned as positive for the virus, saying all of the new cases are in Lincoln County.There are now 560 active cases reported in the WCDHD jurisdiction with 21 people currently hospitalized. Since March, there have been 1,102 confirmed cases of the virus with 11 deaths determined to be COVID-related.For more information, 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/2020/10/1603966572724.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

29 new positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Lincoln County on Wednesday

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (GPH)-At a news conference Wednesday, Great Plains Health along with representatives from the primary care community, the public school and the local health department demonstrated a united front to stress to the community the importance of wearing masks to help mitigate the further spread of COVID-19.

Shannon Vanderheiden, WCDHD executive director, credited the community with their early compliance in mitigation strategies to help keep our cases down in the first four months. “However in the last few months, we have seen a community decline in individual ownership, which has significantly impacted our communities in terms of increases in cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Vanderheiden.

Dr. Jeff Brittan with Midlands Family Medicine encouraged the public to look at the science. “We need to concern ourselves with science and not politics, and the science says that we should be wearing masks,” he said. &nbsp;“With this particular infection, you’ve got to do what you can do and wearing the mask is what we can do to prevent spread.”

Dr. Ned Mack borrowed a quote from Chris Christie who spent a week in an intensive care unit after contracting COVID-19, he said, "When you get this disease, it hits you how easy it is to prevent.&nbsp;We are asked to wear cloth over our mouth and nose, wash our hands and avoid crowds. These minor inconveniences can save your life, your neighbors, and the economy. Seldom has so little been asked for so much benefit.”

Dr. Mack finished his remarks by saying, "Our strength during this crisis is crucial to our own lives as well as the lives of our families, friends and neighbors. The doctors and nurses of this hospital are risking their lives for us. They are counting on you and me to be a force in moving this community's COVID crisis in a better direction and the way to do that has been made very clear.”

Dr. Emily Jones shared a personal story about how hospital capacity impacts patients that are sick with other ailments, not just COVID. “This is about more than just those that contract COVID,” she said. “We know a lot of people are surviving this, but there are a lot of hospitalizations across the state because of COVID and that is concerning. When others can’t get the care they need because hospitals are full.”

Continuing the message of the importance of masks, Great Plains Health chief executive officer, Mel McNea stressed the impacts on healthcare workers and providers when masks are not worn.

“My concern is not bed capacity, my concern is nursing capacity,” he said. &nbsp;“As a community, we cannot afford to overwhelm this healthcare system. We have patients that need hospitalization. I’m asking your help because someday you’re going to need our help.&nbsp; I’m worried about not having the staff to care for patients. We need to take action now and be respectful of our healthcare providers. In May, there were 232 hospitalizations, today Nebraska hospitalizations are over 436.”

McNea closed the media conference underscoring the importance of the community’s role in mitigating the spread of COVID19 by,

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wearing a mask

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maintaining social distance

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoiding large gatherings

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staying home when you are sick

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (GPH)-At a news conference Wednesday, Great Plains Health along with representatives from the primary care community, the public school and the local health department demonstrated a united front to stress to the community the importance of wearing masks to help mitigate the further spread of COVID-19.Shannon Vanderheiden, WCDHD executive director, credited the community with their early compliance in mitigation strategies to help keep our cases down in the first four months. “However in the last few months, we have seen a community decline in individual ownership, which has significantly impacted our communities in terms of increases in cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Vanderheiden.Dr. Jeff Brittan with Midlands Family Medicine encouraged the public to look at the science. “We need to concern ourselves with science and not politics, and the science says that we should be wearing masks,” he said. &nbsp;“With this particular infection, you’ve got to do what you can do and wearing the mask is what we can do to prevent spread.”Dr. Ned Mack borrowed a quote from Chris Christie who spent a week in an intensive care unit after contracting COVID-19, he said, "When you get this disease, it hits you how easy it is to prevent.&nbsp;We are asked to wear cloth over our mouth and nose, wash our hands and avoid crowds. These minor inconveniences can save your life, your neighbors, and the economy. Seldom has so little been asked for so much benefit.”Dr. Mack finished his remarks by saying, "Our strength during this crisis is crucial to our own lives as well as the lives of our families, friends and neighbors. The doctors and nurses of this hospital are risking their lives for us. They are counting on you and me to be a force in moving this community's COVID crisis in a better direction and the way to do that has been made very clear.”Dr. Emily Jones shared a personal story about how hospital capacity impacts patients that are sick with other ailments, not just COVID. “This is about more than just those that contract COVID,” she said. “We know a lot of people are surviving this, but there are a lot of hospitalizations across the state because of COVID and that is concerning. When others can’t get the care they need because hospitals are full.”Continuing the message of the importance of masks, Great Plains Health chief executive officer, Mel McNea stressed the impacts on healthcare workers and providers when masks are not worn.“My concern is not bed capacity, my concern is nursing capacity,” he said. &nbsp;“As a community, we cannot afford to overwhelm this healthcare system. We have patients that need hospitalization. I’m asking your help because someday you’re going to need our help.&nbsp; I’m worried about not having the staff to care for patients. We need to take action now and be respectful of our healthcare providers. In May, there were 232 hospitalizations, today Nebraska hospitalizations are over 436.”McNea closed the media conference underscoring the importance of the community’s role in mitigating the spread of COVID19 by,·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wearing a mask·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maintaining social distance·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoiding large gatherings·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staying home when you are sick

Great Plains Health, primary care providers ask community members to wear masks

A joint news conference held Wednesday, October 28, 2020, with North Platte Public Schools, West Central District Health Department, Great Plains Health, Dr. Emily Jones, Dr. Ned Mack and Dr. Mike Britton. The topic of discussion was the wearing of face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A joint news conference held Wednesday, October 28, 2020, with North Platte Public Schools, West Central District Health Department, Great Plains Health, Dr. Emily Jones, Dr. Ned Mack and Dr. Mike Britton. The topic of discussion was the wearing of face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnorthplattepost%2Fvideos%2F948086242269081%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

🎥 News Conference: NPPSD, WCDHD, Great Plains Health and local physicians

North Platte Public Schools' Return to School Plan for educating students in a pandemic no longer indicates the district will automatically shift to fully remote learning if the West Central District Health Department's Community Risk Dial moves into the red or the severe zone.

Superintendent Dr. Ron Hanson said the change, made October 28, 2020, updates the previously written protocols to match what has been said publicly and is more aligned with federal, state, and local health officials now know about the virus.&nbsp; "After completing ten weeks of schools and the Fall activities season, we now know more about the effectiveness of face coverings, social distancing, and other safety protocols that have been successfully implemented in our schools," Hanson stated.

Dr. Hanson went on to add, "If the Community Risk Dial evaluates into the 'red' zone, NPPS will work with the West Central District Health Department and the Nebraska Department of Education to continue to implement plans and protocols that address the concerns in our schools.&nbsp; We will continue to follow recommendations from both agencies regarding how schools can continue to operate with in-person learning while continuing to control and reduce the risk of the COVID-19 spread effectively."

NPPS officials meet weekly with the West Central District Health Department and biweekly meetings with the Education Commissioner. They have followed their guidance in keeping students and staff safe, and schools open. &nbsp; Using the Community Risk Factors, NPPS uses District Internal Factors, including the number of students and staff who are either quarantined or isolated weekly to determine steps that should be taken for keeping schools open.&nbsp; So far, NPPS has seen no evidence of school spread.&nbsp; Even though the community and state have witnessed a recent increase in hospitalizations, deaths, and positive cases, the schools have kept the quarantine and positive rate low.

Changes to the pandemic plans and playbooks will be launched this Friday, October 30, 2020, <a href="https://www.nppsd.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Students%20%26%20Parents%7CCOVID-19%20Resources" target="_blank">https://www.nppsd.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Students%20%26%20Parents%7CCOVID-19%20Resources</a>.

NPPSD News ReleaseNorth Platte Public Schools' Return to School Plan for educating students in a pandemic no longer indicates the district will automatically shift to fully remote learning if the West Central District Health Department's Community Risk Dial moves into the red or the severe zone.Superintendent Dr. Ron Hanson said the change, made October 28, 2020, updates the previously written protocols to match what has been said publicly and is more aligned with federal, state, and local health officials now know about the virus.&nbsp; "After completing ten weeks of schools and the Fall activities season, we now know more about the effectiveness of face coverings, social distancing, and other safety protocols that have been successfully implemented in our schools," Hanson stated.Dr. Hanson went on to add, "If the Community Risk Dial evaluates into the 'red' zone, NPPS will work with the West Central District Health Department and the Nebraska Department of Education to continue to implement plans and protocols that address the concerns in our schools.&nbsp; We will continue to follow recommendations from both agencies regarding how schools can continue to operate with in-person learning while continuing to control and reduce the risk of the COVID-19 spread effectively."NPPS officials meet weekly with the West Central District Health Department and biweekly meetings with the Education Commissioner. They have followed their guidance in keeping students and staff safe, and schools open. &nbsp; Using the Community Risk Factors, NPPS uses District Internal Factors, including the number of students and staff who are either quarantined or isolated weekly to determine steps that should be taken for keeping schools open.&nbsp; So far, NPPS has seen no evidence of school spread.&nbsp; Even though the community and state have witnessed a recent increase in hospitalizations, deaths, and positive cases, the schools have kept the quarantine and positive rate low.Changes to the pandemic plans and playbooks will be launched this Friday, October 30, 2020, <a href="https://www.nppsd.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Students%20%26%20Parents%7CCOVID-19%20Resources" target="_blank">https://www.nppsd.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Students%20%26%20Parents%7CCOVID-19%20Resources</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603911409296.png" alt="" />
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 </figure><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnorthplattepost%2Fvideos%2F948086242269081%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

NPPSD plans to stick with in-person learning if dial moves to 'Red' level

MERRIMAN, Neb. – Bowring Ranch State Historical Park has canceled its annual holiday event, Christmas at the Bowring, because of the potential spread of coronavirus.

Diane Burress, park superintendent, said the Sandhills park is planning events for 2021 and is hopeful the popular holiday dinner can return next winter.

More information about how COVID-19 precautions have affected properties and services of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission may be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://outdoornebraska.org/" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603900386262.png" alt="Photo: NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks" />
 <figcaption>Photo: NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks</figcaption>
 </figure>MERRIMAN, Neb. – Bowring Ranch State Historical Park has canceled its annual holiday event, Christmas at the Bowring, because of the potential spread of coronavirus.Diane Burress, park superintendent, said the Sandhills park is planning events for 2021 and is hopeful the popular holiday dinner can return next winter.More information about how COVID-19 precautions have affected properties and services of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission may be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://outdoornebraska.org/" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.org</a>.

Bowring Ranch Christmas event canceled

WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare will cover the yet-to-be approved coronavirus vaccine free for older people under a policy change expected to be announced shortly, a senior Trump administration official said Tuesday.

The coming announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aims to align the time-consuming process for securing Medicare coverage of a new vaccine, drug or treatment with the rapid campaign to have a coronavirus vaccine ready for initial distribution once it is ready, possibly as early as the end of the year.

It’s questionable under normal circumstances if Medicare can pay for a drug that receives emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, as expected for the eventual coronavirus vaccine. Emergency use designation is a step short of full approval.

The administration official said Medicare’s announcement will try to resolve several legal technicalities that could conceivably get in the way of delivering free vaccines to millions of seniors, a high-risk group for COVID-19, the disease caused by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">the coronavirus</a>. The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss a pending regulation.

President Donald Trump and lawmakers of both parties in Congress have spelled out their intention that all Americans will be able to get the vaccine for free. But the official said a series of potential legal obstacles that could get in the way of Medicare payment never got unscrambled.

Earlier this month, Medicare administrator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/seema-verma">Seema Verma</a>&nbsp;said her agency was close to resolving the issue.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602590971875.png" alt="photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare will cover the yet-to-be approved coronavirus vaccine free for older people under a policy change expected to be announced shortly, a senior Trump administration official said Tuesday.The coming announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aims to align the time-consuming process for securing Medicare coverage of a new vaccine, drug or treatment with the rapid campaign to have a coronavirus vaccine ready for initial distribution once it is ready, possibly as early as the end of the year.It’s questionable under normal circumstances if Medicare can pay for a drug that receives emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, as expected for the eventual coronavirus vaccine. Emergency use designation is a step short of full approval.The administration official said Medicare’s announcement will try to resolve several legal technicalities that could conceivably get in the way of delivering free vaccines to millions of seniors, a high-risk group for COVID-19, the disease caused by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">the coronavirus</a>. The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss a pending regulation.President Donald Trump and lawmakers of both parties in Congress have spelled out their intention that all Americans will be able to get the vaccine for free. But the official said a series of potential legal obstacles that could get in the way of Medicare payment never got unscrambled.Earlier this month, Medicare administrator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/seema-verma">Seema Verma</a>&nbsp;said her agency was close to resolving the issue.“I think we’ve figured out a path forward,” Verma said at the HLTH conference, a forum for innovators. “It was very clear that Congress wants to make sure that Medicare beneficiaries have this vaccine and that there isn’t any cost-sharing.”“Stay tuned,” she added.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c3988cd848c818b3e7317df306b926cc">$1.8 trillion CARES Act</a>&nbsp;passed by Congress in March called for free vaccination for all Americans, from seniors covered by Medicare to families with employer-sponsored health insurance.A White House-backed initiative called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/756e5b743058701c4a2ebefd0af1ade4">“Operation Warp Speed”</a>&nbsp;is pushing to have a vaccine ready for distribution in the coming months. The government is spending billions of dollars to manufacture vaccines even before they receive FDA approval, thereby cutting the timeline for delivery. Officials at the FDA have committed that the program will not interfere with their own science-based decisions. Vaccines that don’t meet the test for approval would be discarded.States have already begun submitting their plans for vaccine distribution to the federal government.Initially, it’s expected vaccines will go to people in high-risk groups such as medical personnel, frontline workers and nursing home residents and staff. Older people are also high on the priority list because their risks of serious illness and death from the coronavirus — which has&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">killed more than 225,000 people</a>&nbsp;in the United States — are much higher. It could be well into next year before a vaccine is widely available.Medicare’s impending announcement was first reported by Politico.

Coronavirus Update