A longtime Noth Platte physician is hospitalized with COVID-19.

Dr. Leland Lamberty was diagnosed with COVID-19 and is currently at Great Plains Health in North Platte due to complications.

According to a Facebook post from First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dr. Lamberty is asking for prayers for his spouse and family and is also asking people to take the coronavirus seriously, calling it "real and dangerous."

Dr. Lamberty is in practice at Great Plains Family Medicine. He graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Medicine in 1971 and has practiced family medicine since.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598737639136.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A longtime Noth Platte physician is hospitalized with COVID-19.Dr. Leland Lamberty was diagnosed with COVID-19 and is currently at Great Plains Health in North Platte due to complications.According to a Facebook post from First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dr. Lamberty is asking for prayers for his spouse and family and is also asking people to take the coronavirus seriously, calling it "real and dangerous."Dr. Lamberty is in practice at Great Plains Family Medicine. He graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Medicine in 1971 and has practiced family medicine since.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFirstLutheranNP%2Fposts%2F3303975139664071&width=500" width="500" height="729" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Longtime North Platte physician hospitalized with COVID-19

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department reported 12 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Friday.

WCDHD says all cases are from Lincoln County and are "Under Investigation."

WCDHD will report any positives for today later this evening.

*PLEASE NOTE: The weekly positivity rate on the dashboard is based on live data. You will see changes to the weekly number due to the fact that this is live data. We will report and make changes as we get additional data from the state system. This section is currently being worked on. You can still find our overall positivity rate in the table on the first page of the dashboard.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department reported 12 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Friday.WCDHD says all cases are from Lincoln County and are "Under Investigation."WCDHD will report any positives for today later this evening.*PLEASE NOTE: The weekly positivity rate on the dashboard is based on live data. You will see changes to the weekly number due to the fact that this is live data. We will report and make changes as we get additional data from the state system. This section is currently being worked on. You can still find our overall positivity rate in the table on the first page of the dashboard.WCDHD Dashboard<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598730586134.png" alt="covid update august 29 2020 1.png" />
 <figcaption>covid update august 29 2020 1.png</figcaption>
 </figure>

WCDHD: 12 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Lincoln County on Friday

LONDON&nbsp; (AP)— The World Health Organization says countries should actively test people to find coronavirus cases, even if they have mild or no symptoms.

That’s despite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently switched guidance to say asymptomatic contacts of cases don’t need to be tested.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead for the coronavirus, says when officials are investigating clusters of COVID-19, “testing may need to be expanded to look for individuals who are on the more mild end of the spectrum or who may indeed be asymptomatic.”

Van Kerkhove says countries were free to adapt their testing guidance for their individual needs and its critical how fast countries get results.

“What’s really important is that testing is used as an opportunity, to define active cases so that they can be isolated and so that contact tracing can also take place,” Van Kerkhove said. “This is really fundamental to breaking chains of transmission.”

Earlier in the pandemic, WHO recommend that countries focus on “testing, testing, testing.”

Van Kerkhove also says wearing masks alone to protect against the spread of the coronavirus isn’t enough, expressing concerns that people are growing too lax on maintaining physical distancing.

“So it’s not just masks alone. It’s not just physical distancing alone,” Van Kerkhove said. “It’s not just hand cleaning alone. Do it all.”

LONDON&nbsp; (AP)— The World Health Organization says countries should actively test people to find coronavirus cases, even if they have mild or no symptoms.That’s despite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently switched guidance to say asymptomatic contacts of cases don’t need to be tested.Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead for the coronavirus, says when officials are investigating clusters of COVID-19, “testing may need to be expanded to look for individuals who are on the more mild end of the spectrum or who may indeed be asymptomatic.”Van Kerkhove says countries were free to adapt their testing guidance for their individual needs and its critical how fast countries get results.“What’s really important is that testing is used as an opportunity, to define active cases so that they can be isolated and so that contact tracing can also take place,” Van Kerkhove said. “This is really fundamental to breaking chains of transmission.”Earlier in the pandemic, WHO recommend that countries focus on “testing, testing, testing.”Van Kerkhove also says wearing masks alone to protect against the spread of the coronavirus isn’t enough, expressing concerns that people are growing too lax on maintaining physical distancing.“So it’s not just masks alone. It’s not just physical distancing alone,” Van Kerkhove said. “It’s not just hand cleaning alone. Do it all.”

WHO says test for virus, despite CDC's recent flip flop

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department reported 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.

Officials say all of the new cases are from Lincoln County and are Under Investigation.

5 of these cases are from yesterday (8/26/2020) 5 of these cases are from today (8/27/2020)

After further investigation, the two cases that were reported yesterday initially identified as Thomas County have been corrected to Hooker County.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR3fpPk0KYyGtCaiQ7ta1Rd0PilC2HWodMNiT7gOazkiyuZGNTM_YiTsCA0#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a>

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department reported 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.Officials say all of the new cases are from Lincoln County and are Under Investigation.5 of these cases are from yesterday (8/26/2020) 5 of these cases are from today (8/27/2020)After further investigation, the two cases that were reported yesterday initially identified as Thomas County have been corrected to Hooker County.*PLEASE NOTE: The weekly positivity rate on the dashboard is based on live data. You will see changes to the weekly number due to the fact that this is live data. We will report and make changes as we get additional data from the state system. This section is currently being worked on. You can still find our overall positivity rate in the table on the first page of the dashboard.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR3fpPk0KYyGtCaiQ7ta1Rd0PilC2HWodMNiT7gOazkiyuZGNTM_YiTsCA0#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598577236549.png" alt="covid update august 27 2020.png" />
 <figcaption>covid update august 27 2020.png</figcaption>
 </figure>

10 news cases of COVID-19 reported in Lincoln County on Thursday

The risk dial did not move this week
and remains at 2.46, which remains within the elevated risk level.
There were changes in the following variables, however those changes
were not significant enough to move the dial. 


The WCDHD risk
dial is used to show our community how COVID-19 is impacting our area
at a point-in-time.&nbsp;
Every week WCDHD’s team applies a set process for reviewing
available, current data (including positivity rate, cases, testing,
contact tracing and health care system capacity) to set the risk dial
for that week.&nbsp; Because our process is driven by the current
data each week, we cannot predict when the dial will move up or down.

To better
understand the data that contribute to the risk dial, we have a
document titled ‘Understanding the Data in the Risk Dial’ located
on the WCDHD website on the risk dial page. Please see helpful links
at the end of this media release. 
 
The best way to move our
community toward green is to practice social distancing and to wear
face coverings when appropriate social distancing cannot be
maintained.

The COVID-19 Community Risk Dial
provides a summary of current COVID-19 conditions in the West Central
District. Each level of risk: low (green), moderate (yellow),
elevated (orange), and high (red) are determined by federal and
national guidance published by top public health experts and is
coupled with specific guidance for actions to take at home, at work,
and in the community. 


The following data is used when
determining dial placement:&nbsp;

The risk dial will be updated every
Thursday after the information is reviewed by the Public Health
Command Center. Dial updates are posted to:
<a href="https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html</a>,
the WCDHD Facebook page, as well as the dashboard:
<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/shared/JXDHSGQTF">https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/shared/JXDHSGQTF</a>

COVID-19 Risk Dial page:
<a href="https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598568351123.png" alt="As of August 27, 2020" />
 <figcaption>As of August 27, 2020</figcaption>
 </figure>The risk dial did not move this week
and remains at 2.46, which remains within the elevated risk level.
There were changes in the following variables, however those changes
were not significant enough to move the dial. 
We had increases in the following:<ul>
 <li>Weekly Positivity Rate
	</li><li>Daily Hospitalizations
	</li><li>Community Spread
	</li><li>Medical &amp; Surgical Bed
	Availability
</li>
 </ul>We had decreases in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Cases
	</li><li>Number of individuals needing
	contact tracing
</li>
 </ul>The WCDHD risk
dial is used to show our community how COVID-19 is impacting our area
at a point-in-time.&nbsp;
Every week WCDHD’s team applies a set process for reviewing
available, current data (including positivity rate, cases, testing,
contact tracing and health care system capacity) to set the risk dial
for that week.&nbsp; Because our process is driven by the current
data each week, we cannot predict when the dial will move up or down.To better
understand the data that contribute to the risk dial, we have a
document titled ‘Understanding the Data in the Risk Dial’ located
on the WCDHD website on the risk dial page. Please see helpful links
at the end of this media release. 
 
The best way to move our
community toward green is to practice social distancing and to wear
face coverings when appropriate social distancing cannot be
maintained. 
The COVID-19 Community Risk Dial
provides a summary of current COVID-19 conditions in the West Central
District. Each level of risk: low (green), moderate (yellow),
elevated (orange), and high (red) are determined by federal and
national guidance published by top public health experts and is
coupled with specific guidance for actions to take at home, at work,
and in the community. 
The following data is used when
determining dial placement:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Overall Positivity Rate
	</li><li>Weekly Positivity Rate
	</li><li>Trajectory of Cases in the last 14
	days
	</li><li>Cases per Million per Day
	</li><li>Average Daily Hospitalization
	</li><li>ICU Availability
	</li><li>Ventilator&nbsp;Availability&nbsp;
	</li><li>Community Spread
	</li><li>Testing Availability
	</li><li>Average Testing Turnaround Time
	</li><li>Contact Tracing
	</li><li>Individuals Affected
	</li><li>Medical &amp; Surgical Bed
	Availability 
	
	</li><li>Availability of Reliable and Valid
	Antibody Testing
	</li><li>Availability of effective
	treatment&nbsp;modalities&nbsp;for COVID-19&nbsp;
	</li><li>An effective vaccine that is
	widely available&nbsp;
	</li><li>Being able to easily obtain PPE
	through standard supply chains
</li>
 </ul>The risk dial will be updated every
Thursday after the information is reviewed by the Public Health
Command Center. Dial updates are posted to:
<a href="https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html</a>,
the WCDHD Facebook page, as well as the dashboard:
<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/shared/JXDHSGQTF">https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/shared/JXDHSGQTF</a>COVID-19 Risk Dial page:
<a href="https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html</a>
<a></a>
XXXX

WCDHD: Community Risk Dial remains elevated, does not move

By ERIC OLSON-AP College Football Writer

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - The temperature was approaching 90 and a light breeze was blowing while Jeff Jamrog put his Midland University football team through its paces under the midday sun.

From the street running past Heedum Field, it looked like a typical August practice. A group of linemen hit a blocking sled, there was a skeleton passing drill and a no-tackle scrimmage.

Signs of normalcy vanish at the field entrance. Visitors are checked for fever. A hand sanitizer dispenser hangs on a wooden post a few steps from the gate. Everyone, unless participating in a drill, is supposed to wear a mask.

"It's annoying," linebacker Theo Blum said of masking up. "After the first three or four days most people got used to it. It is what it is. We wear it. Maybe we get the sun off our face a little bit and get nice tan lines. We do what we have to do to play."

While the majority of the nation's college football teams won't play this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic, Midland is among five in Nebraska pushing forward. They do not include the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who will be idle after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0856ff5425c65bb3031d574a43c2252f" target="_blank">the Big Ten decided to push back the season to the spring.</a>

Disappointed Huskers fans will find no consolation in the fact Memorial Stadium will be surrounded by teams - albeit all from small colleges - attempting to carry on as usual. Of the 52 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools planning to play, 35 are in Nebraska and bordering states Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota.

Jamrog and Midland athletic director Dave Gillespie each spent nearly two decades with the Huskers as players, coaches and administrators. Both said they feel terrible their alma mater isn't playing this fall and understand the outrage the Big Ten's decision has caused in this state of 1.8 million.

Midland's league, the Great Plains Athletic Conference, announced July 21 it would attempt a football season starting Sept. 12. The NAIA is allowing each team to play nine games, two fewer than usual, but playoffs won't be held until spring.

Gillespie said Midland is following GPAC protocols and local health department guidelines to mitigate the COVID-19 risk.

"There doesn't seem to be any consensus nationally on what the right thing to do is (as far as playing), and you can get a lot of different opinions on that," Gillespie said. "It's not completely safe, and we're never going to make it completely safe. We're trying to make it as safe as possible and take an abundance of caution wherever we need to and can."

Midland football players are required to wear masks indoors. Outdoors, they need to social distance as much as possible when not participating in a drill and use hand sanitizer frequently.

Plexiglass barriers have been installed in the cafeteria and other areas of the athletic facilities. Players shower at their residences instead of in the locker room. There are temperature checks and screening questions every day. Lunches are prepared for takeout. For meals eaten in the cafeteria, players sit 6 feet apart.

The challenge of maintaining the quasi-bubble increases with school starting Thursday. Midland will hold in-person and online classes.

Gillespie said coronavirus testing is done if an athlete shows symptoms. He said there had been a "handful" of positive tests among more than 200 fall athletes. Jamrog said one football player has opted out because of COVID-19 concerns.

Blum said he and his teammates are grateful to have a fall season to look forward to even if it comes with some minor inconveniences.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0c53d50c88dd9fc9132c97d9023128c2" target="_blank">Only 145 of 765 teams in the NAIA and across three divisions of the NCAA are scheduled to play at least one game this fall (19%).</a>&nbsp;Another 57 junior colleges have moved their seasons to the spring.

"I know there are hundreds of thousands of people across the country not getting to play," he said. "That's been a motto for us this year starting out: Every day is a blessing to be able to play."

The Warriors enters the season with momentum. They won six straight to end 2019 and are picked third in the GPAC.

"If we got shut down," Blum said, "everybody would have been heartbroken."

Jamrog, beginning his fifth year at Midland, said he would love it if football-starved Huskers fans wanted to adopt his Warriors as their team for 2020 when they kick off 50 miles from Memorial Stadium. More than 100 of his 150 players are from Nebraska. And in a kidding-not-kidding comment, he invited ESPN's College GameDay show to visit Fremont.

Heedum Field will be limited to 75% capacity. Midland drew about 1,200 fans per game at the 5,000-seat stadium in 2019, meaning there should be plenty of room.

"Hey, Nebraska fans, you guys come out and support us," tight end Austin Harris said. "We're going to be playing ball this fall."

By ERIC OLSON-AP College Football Writer FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - The temperature was approaching 90 and a light breeze was blowing while Jeff Jamrog put his Midland University football team through its paces under the midday sun.From the street running past Heedum Field, it looked like a typical August practice. A group of linemen hit a blocking sled, there was a skeleton passing drill and a no-tackle scrimmage.Signs of normalcy vanish at the field entrance. Visitors are checked for fever. A hand sanitizer dispenser hangs on a wooden post a few steps from the gate. Everyone, unless participating in a drill, is supposed to wear a mask."It's annoying," linebacker Theo Blum said of masking up. "After the first three or four days most people got used to it. It is what it is. We wear it. Maybe we get the sun off our face a little bit and get nice tan lines. We do what we have to do to play."While the majority of the nation's college football teams won't play this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic, Midland is among five in Nebraska pushing forward. They do not include the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who will be idle after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0856ff5425c65bb3031d574a43c2252f" target="_blank">the Big Ten decided to push back the season to the spring.</a>Disappointed Huskers fans will find no consolation in the fact Memorial Stadium will be surrounded by teams - albeit all from small colleges - attempting to carry on as usual. Of the 52 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools planning to play, 35 are in Nebraska and bordering states Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota.Jamrog and Midland athletic director Dave Gillespie each spent nearly two decades with the Huskers as players, coaches and administrators. Both said they feel terrible their alma mater isn't playing this fall and understand the outrage the Big Ten's decision has caused in this state of 1.8 million.Midland's league, the Great Plains Athletic Conference, announced July 21 it would attempt a football season starting Sept. 12. The NAIA is allowing each team to play nine games, two fewer than usual, but playoffs won't be held until spring.Gillespie said Midland is following GPAC protocols and local health department guidelines to mitigate the COVID-19 risk."There doesn't seem to be any consensus nationally on what the right thing to do is (as far as playing), and you can get a lot of different opinions on that," Gillespie said. "It's not completely safe, and we're never going to make it completely safe. We're trying to make it as safe as possible and take an abundance of caution wherever we need to and can."Midland football players are required to wear masks indoors. Outdoors, they need to social distance as much as possible when not participating in a drill and use hand sanitizer frequently.Plexiglass barriers have been installed in the cafeteria and other areas of the athletic facilities. Players shower at their residences instead of in the locker room. There are temperature checks and screening questions every day. Lunches are prepared for takeout. For meals eaten in the cafeteria, players sit 6 feet apart.The challenge of maintaining the quasi-bubble increases with school starting Thursday. Midland will hold in-person and online classes.Gillespie said coronavirus testing is done if an athlete shows symptoms. He said there had been a "handful" of positive tests among more than 200 fall athletes. Jamrog said one football player has opted out because of COVID-19 concerns.Blum said he and his teammates are grateful to have a fall season to look forward to even if it comes with some minor inconveniences.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0c53d50c88dd9fc9132c97d9023128c2" target="_blank">Only 145 of 765 teams in the NAIA and across three divisions of the NCAA are scheduled to play at least one game this fall (19%).</a>&nbsp;Another 57 junior colleges have moved their seasons to the spring."I know there are hundreds of thousands of people across the country not getting to play," he said. "That's been a motto for us this year starting out: Every day is a blessing to be able to play."The Warriors enters the season with momentum. They won six straight to end 2019 and are picked third in the GPAC."If we got shut down," Blum said, "everybody would have been heartbroken."Jamrog, beginning his fifth year at Midland, said he would love it if football-starved Huskers fans wanted to adopt his Warriors as their team for 2020 when they kick off 50 miles from Memorial Stadium. More than 100 of his 150 players are from Nebraska. And in a kidding-not-kidding comment, he invited ESPN's College GameDay show to visit Fremont.Heedum Field will be limited to 75% capacity. Midland drew about 1,200 fans per game at the 5,000-seat stadium in 2019, meaning there should be plenty of room."Hey, Nebraska fans, you guys come out and support us," tight end Austin Harris said. "We're going to be playing ball this fall."

Huskers surrounded by college teams pushing on with football

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials sparked criticism and confusion after posting guidelines on coronavirus testing from the White House task force that run counter to what scientists say is necessary to control the pandemic.

The new guidance says it’s not necessary for people who have been in close contact with infected people, but don’t feel sick, to get tested. It was posted earlier this week on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC previously had advised local health departments to test people who have been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.

Across the country, public health experts called the change bizarre. They noted that testing contacts of infected people is a core element of public health efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of infected people — the CDC has said as many as 40% — exhibit no symptoms.

“The recommendation not to test asymptomatic people who likely have been exposed is not in accord with the science,” said John Auerbach, president of Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. preparedness against disease.

“We are seeking clarification from CDC about its recent guidance around testing,” said a spokesman for Michigan’s health department.

Federal officials said the new recommendation was issued by consensus of the White House virus task force.

However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert and perhaps the best known task force member, said Wednesday he wasn’t part of the discussion that green-lighted the change.

Fauci told CNN he was undergoing surgery when the new guidance was discussed last week, adding he was “worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact it is.”

The American Medical Association, in a statement, called the change “a recipe for community spread.” The Association of American Medical Colleges called it “a step backward in fighting the pandemic.”

Some officials — including some state governors — said it was another sign of a dysfunctional federal response to the pandemic.

“This is like a public health version of Vietnam,” said Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which works to strengthen the public health system.

CDC officials referred all media questions to the agency’s parent organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. That suggests that HHS ordered the change, not CDC, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.

After Twitter lit up with head-scratching and alarm about the change, HHS officials sent an email Wednesday saying the guidance was revised “to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions,” but did not detail what the new evidence was.

The decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force, HHS officials said.

In a call with reporters, Dr. Brett Giroir, the HHS assistant secretary for health, said guidance language originated at the CDC. But he also said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said federal officials achieved consensus but it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.

Ultimately, restricting testing could be self-defeating, because it could skew the numbers and create a perception that rates of infection are higher. Testing people who appear to be healthy would tend to lower the overall rate of positive results, while narrowing testing to people who are sick would raise the overall positive rate, Auerbach said.

Why HHS would order such a change quickly became a matter of speculation. Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at Emory University, suggested in a tweet that there are two possible explanations.

One is that it may be driven by testing supply issues that in many parts of the country have caused widely reported delays in results of a week or more, he suggested.

HHS officials suggested that wasn’t the reason, arguing that testing capacity is plentiful.

But Dr. Mysheika Roberts, health commissioner for Columbus, Ohio, said the city had to curtail testing last month because of a shortage of reagents used in lab procedures.

“When we were testing asymptomatic people here in Columbus, we were picking up a large number of individuals” with the virus, she said

Another possible explanation for the change is that President Donald Trump simply wants to see case counts drop, and discouraging more people from getting tested is one way to do it, del Rio said in his tweet.

Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/VirusOutbreak">Virus Outbreak</a>

Giroir said the change was made without input from Trump or Vice President Mike Pence. “There was no weight on the scales by the president or the vice president” or HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Giroir said.

Dr. Tom Frieden, who was head of the CDC during the Obama administration, said the move follows another recent change: to no longer recommend quarantine for travelers coming from areas where infections are more common.

“Both changes are highly problematic” and need to be better explained, said Frieden, who now is president of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit program that works to prevent epidemics.

Frieden said he, too, believes HHS forced CDC to post the changes. He called it “a sad day” because “CDC is being told what to write on their website.”

The governors of California, New York, Washington and Kentucky — all Democrats — criticized the new recommendations.

Washington Gov Jay Inslee said on Twitter that the changes likely will cause thousands of infections in his state to go unrecognized, and allow the virus to spread even more. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the new guidance “reckless.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said their states will not follow the new guidance.

“We will not be influenced by that change,” Newsom said. “We’re influenced by the folks that are experts in the field who feel very differently.”

“Why would you reverse yourself on the quarantine order?” Cuomo told reporters on a conference call. “Because they don’t want publicity that there is a COVID problem. Because the president’s politics are, ‘COVID isn’t a problem We’re past COVID.’”

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials sparked criticism and confusion after posting guidelines on coronavirus testing from the White House task force that run counter to what scientists say is necessary to control the pandemic.The new guidance says it’s not necessary for people who have been in close contact with infected people, but don’t feel sick, to get tested. It was posted earlier this week on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC previously had advised local health departments to test people who have been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.Across the country, public health experts called the change bizarre. They noted that testing contacts of infected people is a core element of public health efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of infected people — the CDC has said as many as 40% — exhibit no symptoms.“The recommendation not to test asymptomatic people who likely have been exposed is not in accord with the science,” said John Auerbach, president of Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. preparedness against disease.“We are seeking clarification from CDC about its recent guidance around testing,” said a spokesman for Michigan’s health department.Federal officials said the new recommendation was issued by consensus of the White House virus task force.However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert and perhaps the best known task force member, said Wednesday he wasn’t part of the discussion that green-lighted the change.Fauci told CNN he was undergoing surgery when the new guidance was discussed last week, adding he was “worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact it is.”The American Medical Association, in a statement, called the change “a recipe for community spread.” The Association of American Medical Colleges called it “a step backward in fighting the pandemic.”Some officials — including some state governors — said it was another sign of a dysfunctional federal response to the pandemic.“This is like a public health version of Vietnam,” said Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which works to strengthen the public health system.CDC officials referred all media questions to the agency’s parent organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. That suggests that HHS ordered the change, not CDC, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.After Twitter lit up with head-scratching and alarm about the change, HHS officials sent an email Wednesday saying the guidance was revised “to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions,” but did not detail what the new evidence was.The decision came out of meetings of the White House coronavirus task force, HHS officials said.In a call with reporters, Dr. Brett Giroir, the HHS assistant secretary for health, said guidance language originated at the CDC. But he also said many federal leaders outside the agency were involved in “lots of editing, lots of input.” He said federal officials achieved consensus but it was difficult to attribute the final language to any one source.Ultimately, restricting testing could be self-defeating, because it could skew the numbers and create a perception that rates of infection are higher. Testing people who appear to be healthy would tend to lower the overall rate of positive results, while narrowing testing to people who are sick would raise the overall positive rate, Auerbach said.Why HHS would order such a change quickly became a matter of speculation. Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at Emory University, suggested in a tweet that there are two possible explanations.One is that it may be driven by testing supply issues that in many parts of the country have caused widely reported delays in results of a week or more, he suggested.HHS officials suggested that wasn’t the reason, arguing that testing capacity is plentiful.But Dr. Mysheika Roberts, health commissioner for Columbus, Ohio, said the city had to curtail testing last month because of a shortage of reagents used in lab procedures.“When we were testing asymptomatic people here in Columbus, we were picking up a large number of individuals” with the virus, she saidAnother possible explanation for the change is that President Donald Trump simply wants to see case counts drop, and discouraging more people from getting tested is one way to do it, del Rio said in his tweet.Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/VirusOutbreak">Virus Outbreak</a>Giroir said the change was made without input from Trump or Vice President Mike Pence. “There was no weight on the scales by the president or the vice president” or HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Giroir said.Dr. Tom Frieden, who was head of the CDC during the Obama administration, said the move follows another recent change: to no longer recommend quarantine for travelers coming from areas where infections are more common.“Both changes are highly problematic” and need to be better explained, said Frieden, who now is president of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit program that works to prevent epidemics.Frieden said he, too, believes HHS forced CDC to post the changes. He called it “a sad day” because “CDC is being told what to write on their website.”The governors of California, New York, Washington and Kentucky — all Democrats — criticized the new recommendations.Washington Gov Jay Inslee said on Twitter that the changes likely will cause thousands of infections in his state to go unrecognized, and allow the virus to spread even more. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the new guidance “reckless.”California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said their states will not follow the new guidance.“We will not be influenced by that change,” Newsom said. “We’re influenced by the folks that are experts in the field who feel very differently.”“Why would you reverse yourself on the quarantine order?” Cuomo told reporters on a conference call. “Because they don’t want publicity that there is a COVID problem. Because the president’s politics are, ‘COVID isn’t a problem We’re past COVID.’”___

Officials change COVID testing advice, bewildering experts

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) officials reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Wednesday.

11 cases are from Lincoln County 2 cases are from Thomas County 1 case is from Arthur County

8 of these cases is from yesterday (8/25/2020) 4 of these cases are from today (8/26/2020) *The rest of these cases are from previous days.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR12Rd12dCMv0_dJjDyWgetfqgIwnLTIcOrJNu0IY_tTtaNMJaJyyx820ck#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a>

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) officials reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Wednesday.The case breakdown is as follows:11 cases are from Lincoln County 2 cases are from Thomas County 1 case is from Arthur County8 of these cases is from yesterday (8/25/2020) 4 of these cases are from today (8/26/2020) *The rest of these cases are from previous days.*PLEASE NOTE: The weekly positivity rate on the dashboard is based on live data. You will see changes to the weekly number due to the fact that this is live data. We will report and make changes as we get additional data from the state system. This section is currently being worked on. You can still find our overall positivity rate in the table on the first page of the dashboard.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR12Rd12dCMv0_dJjDyWgetfqgIwnLTIcOrJNu0IY_tTtaNMJaJyyx820ck#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598492502087.png" alt="From the West Central District Health Department" />
 <figcaption>From the West Central District Health Department</figcaption>
 </figure>

WCDHD reports 14 news cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday

TestNebraska in North Platte on Friday

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-After a week and a half of in-person classes, North Platte Public Schools officials have released the first numbers on COVID-19.

According to District spokesperson Tina Smith, the District has three students and three adults who have tested positive for COVID-19. Smith says these people are actively isolating at home.

Smith says the total number of cases being monitored by NPPS, which includes any reported case of direct contact, a case under investigation, in quarantine, or have tested positive, is 56 (45 students and 11 adults).

At this time, NPPS is not in jeopardy&nbsp;of closing any classroom or school, according to Smith.&nbsp; 

District officials say they will continue to work with the West Central District Health Department to monitor all cases that are brought to our attention.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-After a week and a half of in-person classes, North Platte Public Schools officials have released the first numbers on COVID-19.According to District spokesperson Tina Smith, the District has three students and three adults who have tested positive for COVID-19. Smith says these people are actively isolating at home.Smith says the total number of cases being monitored by NPPS, which includes any reported case of direct contact, a case under investigation, in quarantine, or have tested positive, is 56 (45 students and 11 adults). At this time, NPPS is not in jeopardy&nbsp;of closing any classroom or school, according to Smith.&nbsp; District officials say they will continue to work with the West Central District Health Department to monitor all cases that are brought to our attention.

North Platte Public Schools: 3 students, 3 adults positive for COVID-19; 56 being 'monitored'

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota universities have reported nearly 100 cases of coronavirus cases among students and staff.

 The University of South Dakota reported the highest number of people affected by the coronavirus, with 61 active cases and 331 people in quarantine. 

Four other public universities reported cases among students and staff, with a total of 38 cases.

  The Argus Leader reports that the Board of Regents launched the dashboards to provide a real-time look at case numbers. 

The Department of Health is giving a weekly report on the number of cases in schools and universities statewide, but will not provide a breakdown by school or district.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota universities have reported nearly 100 cases of coronavirus cases among students and staff. The University of South Dakota reported the highest number of people affected by the coronavirus, with 61 active cases and 331 people in quarantine. Four other public universities reported cases among students and staff, with a total of 38 cases. The Argus Leader reports that the Board of Regents launched the dashboards to provide a real-time look at case numbers. The Department of Health is giving a weekly report on the number of cases in schools and universities statewide, but will not provide a breakdown by school or district.

South Dakota universities report over 90 COVID-19 cases

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Officials say two outbreaks of the coronavirus in the Wyoming county of Fremont, just southeast of Yellowstone National Park, were tied to churches. 

The exact number of confirmed cases is uncertain. 

Fremont County spokesman Michael Jones said the first cluster had anywhere between 10 and 30 confirmed coronavirus cases. 

Jones said the second church was hosting a camp. Officials are currently investigating the church and contact tracing possible infections. 

The Casper Star-Tribune reports Fremont County has had 506 confirmed coronavirus cases since March. 

The county accounts for more than a third of the state’s overall death toll of 37 with 13 deaths.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Officials say two outbreaks of the coronavirus in the Wyoming county of Fremont, just southeast of Yellowstone National Park, were tied to churches. The exact number of confirmed cases is uncertain. Fremont County spokesman Michael Jones said the first cluster had anywhere between 10 and 30 confirmed coronavirus cases. Jones said the second church was hosting a camp. Officials are currently investigating the church and contact tracing possible infections. The Casper Star-Tribune reports Fremont County has had 506 confirmed coronavirus cases since March. The county accounts for more than a third of the state’s overall death toll of 37 with 13 deaths.

Two coronavirus outbreaks in Wyoming tied to churches

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of Americans newly diagnosed with the coronavirus is falling — a development experts say most likely reflects more mask-wearing but also insufficient testing — even as the disease continues to claim nearly 1,000 lives in the U.S. each day.

About 43,000 new cases are being reported daily across the country, down 21% from early August, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. While the U.S., India and Brazil still have the highest numbers of new cases in the world, the downward trend is encouraging.

“It’s profoundly hopeful news,” said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious-diseases expert at the University of California, San Francisco, who credits the American public’s growing understanding of how the virus spreads, more mask-wearing and, possibly, an increasing level of immunity.

“Hopefully all those factors are coming into play to get this virus under control in this country that’s really been battered by the pandemic,” she said.

But insufficient testing is probably concealing the full extent of the crisis, said Dr. Jonathan Quick, who leads the pandemic response for the Rockefeller Foundation, which has recommended the U.S. test 4 million people a day by fall.

“We’re grossly under-testing in some of the places that are still having high caseloads,” Quick said, singling out Mississippi, Texas, Georgia and North Dakota as hot spots with high rates of positive test results.

Even at 43,000 new cases per day, the U.S. remains far above the numbers seen during the spring, when new daily cases peaked at about 34,000, he said.

“It’s a good trend, but nowhere near what we need to be,” Quick said of the recent decline.

The virus is blamed for more than 5.7 million confirmed infections and about 178,000 deaths in the U.S. Worldwide, the death toll is put at more than 810,000, with about 23.7 million cases.

Jeffrey Shaman, a public health expert at Columbia University, said he is skeptical enough people are immune to significantly slow the spread. But he agreed that changes in Americans’ behavior could well be making a difference, recalling the impact that people’s actions had in containing Ebola in West Africa several years ago.

“Ebola stopped for reasons we didn’t anticipate at the time. It was so horrifying that people stopped touching each other,” Shaman said. Something similar may be happening with the coronavirus, he said.

“I know I don’t have nearly the number of contacts that I used to,” Shaman said. “But if we relax that, if we get complacent, will we just see another outbreak?”

The decline in newly reported cases in the U.S. comes even as deaths from the virus remain alarmingly high. Over the past two weeks, officials have reported an average of 965 deaths a day from COVID-19, down from 1,051 a day in early August.

Deaths from the coronavirus are a lagging indicator — they trail new infections because of the time it takes for people to get sick and succumb to the disease.

The percentage of tests coming back positive for the disease has also declined over the past two weeks, from 7.3% to 6.1%. But that comes as the total number of tests administered has fallen from its August peak of more than 820,000 a day, leveling off in recent weeks at about 690,000 a day.

The situation has improved dramatically in several states that struggled with high caseloads earlier this summer.

In Arizona, for example, officials reported 859 new cases Tuesday, down from a peak of 5,500 in late June. More than 2,000 people arrived at the state’s hospitals showing symptoms of the virus on a single day in early July. This week, that number has been less than 1,000.

In Florida, where more than 10,000 people have died, the state reported 2,600 new virus cases Tuesday. Earlier in the summer, it was regularly reporting more than 10,000 new cases.

Malinda Coler, 37, of San Francisco, said she has been diligent about mask wearing and other preventive measures, less to protect herself than a best friend who has a compromised immune system, with severe arthritis psoriasis.

“So I wear a damned mask and get infuriated when others don’t,” she said.

Most states now have some type of mask requirement, either through statewide orders issued by governors or from city and county rules that cover most of their population.

Even some conservative governors have gone along with masks. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves mandated masks in all public places earlier this month, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp dropped a lawsuit against Atlanta in a dispute over a requirement by the state’s largest city.

In Leeds, Alabama, Will Heath said he has seen greater adherence to mask rules around town, whether in stores or at his 5-year-old daughter’s cheerleading practice.

He and his wife, a nurse, have worn masks all along but said the attitude among others has shifted from “Even if I get it, I’ll be OK,” to “Let’s make sure we don’t give it to somebody else.”

“We have all been sort of operating under the assumption that we all have it or we’re going to get it eventually. So we want to make sure we don’t spread it,” Heath said.

Many places around the U.S. are seeing pockets of contagion, especially in college towns where students are holding parties and crowding into bars.

Over the past week, 531 students, faculty and staff at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa have tested positive for the virus, according to the school. Alabama said it tested nearly 30,000 students before classes began. The mayor of Tuscaloosa shut down bars for two weeks because of the spike, which could derail plans to continue the semester on campus.

The university is still moving ahead with fall sports in the football-crazed state, with plans to allow only about 20,000 fans at its 101,000-capacity stadium and a ban on tailgating. Coach Nick Saban weighed in on the virus Monday, urging people to wear masks.

“It’s not just about football. So, for people to make the right choices and decisions to wear their masks, do the things when they’re out publicly, respect the rules, respect the virus, that’s important,” he said.

It’s not clear what will happen to case numbers as more school districts bring students back to classrooms and colleges reopen their campuses. In recent weeks, schools including the University of North Carolina, Michigan State and Notre Dame have moved instruction online after outbreaks on their campuses.

Officials at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville said four students are facing disciplinary proceedings after three hosted off-campus parties with no mask or other distancing and another left isolation to meet with others despite testing positive for the virus.

“If the facts reported to the university are accurate, these students will face at least suspension from the university, and potentially greater penalties,” Chancellor Donde Plowman wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590784947764.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The number of Americans newly diagnosed with the coronavirus is falling — a development experts say most likely reflects more mask-wearing but also insufficient testing — even as the disease continues to claim nearly 1,000 lives in the U.S. each day.About 43,000 new cases are being reported daily across the country, down 21% from early August, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. While the U.S., India and Brazil still have the highest numbers of new cases in the world, the downward trend is encouraging.“It’s profoundly hopeful news,” said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious-diseases expert at the University of California, San Francisco, who credits the American public’s growing understanding of how the virus spreads, more mask-wearing and, possibly, an increasing level of immunity.“Hopefully all those factors are coming into play to get this virus under control in this country that’s really been battered by the pandemic,” she said.But insufficient testing is probably concealing the full extent of the crisis, said Dr. Jonathan Quick, who leads the pandemic response for the Rockefeller Foundation, which has recommended the U.S. test 4 million people a day by fall.“We’re grossly under-testing in some of the places that are still having high caseloads,” Quick said, singling out Mississippi, Texas, Georgia and North Dakota as hot spots with high rates of positive test results.Even at 43,000 new cases per day, the U.S. remains far above the numbers seen during the spring, when new daily cases peaked at about 34,000, he said.“It’s a good trend, but nowhere near what we need to be,” Quick said of the recent decline.The virus is blamed for more than 5.7 million confirmed infections and about 178,000 deaths in the U.S. Worldwide, the death toll is put at more than 810,000, with about 23.7 million cases.Jeffrey Shaman, a public health expert at Columbia University, said he is skeptical enough people are immune to significantly slow the spread. But he agreed that changes in Americans’ behavior could well be making a difference, recalling the impact that people’s actions had in containing Ebola in West Africa several years ago.“Ebola stopped for reasons we didn’t anticipate at the time. It was so horrifying that people stopped touching each other,” Shaman said. Something similar may be happening with the coronavirus, he said.“I know I don’t have nearly the number of contacts that I used to,” Shaman said. “But if we relax that, if we get complacent, will we just see another outbreak?”The decline in newly reported cases in the U.S. comes even as deaths from the virus remain alarmingly high. Over the past two weeks, officials have reported an average of 965 deaths a day from COVID-19, down from 1,051 a day in early August.Deaths from the coronavirus are a lagging indicator — they trail new infections because of the time it takes for people to get sick and succumb to the disease.The percentage of tests coming back positive for the disease has also declined over the past two weeks, from 7.3% to 6.1%. But that comes as the total number of tests administered has fallen from its August peak of more than 820,000 a day, leveling off in recent weeks at about 690,000 a day.The situation has improved dramatically in several states that struggled with high caseloads earlier this summer.In Arizona, for example, officials reported 859 new cases Tuesday, down from a peak of 5,500 in late June. More than 2,000 people arrived at the state’s hospitals showing symptoms of the virus on a single day in early July. This week, that number has been less than 1,000.In Florida, where more than 10,000 people have died, the state reported 2,600 new virus cases Tuesday. Earlier in the summer, it was regularly reporting more than 10,000 new cases.Malinda Coler, 37, of San Francisco, said she has been diligent about mask wearing and other preventive measures, less to protect herself than a best friend who has a compromised immune system, with severe arthritis psoriasis.“So I wear a damned mask and get infuriated when others don’t,” she said.Most states now have some type of mask requirement, either through statewide orders issued by governors or from city and county rules that cover most of their population.Even some conservative governors have gone along with masks. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves mandated masks in all public places earlier this month, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp dropped a lawsuit against Atlanta in a dispute over a requirement by the state’s largest city.In Leeds, Alabama, Will Heath said he has seen greater adherence to mask rules around town, whether in stores or at his 5-year-old daughter’s cheerleading practice.He and his wife, a nurse, have worn masks all along but said the attitude among others has shifted from “Even if I get it, I’ll be OK,” to “Let’s make sure we don’t give it to somebody else.”“We have all been sort of operating under the assumption that we all have it or we’re going to get it eventually. So we want to make sure we don’t spread it,” Heath said.Many places around the U.S. are seeing pockets of contagion, especially in college towns where students are holding parties and crowding into bars.Over the past week, 531 students, faculty and staff at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa have tested positive for the virus, according to the school. Alabama said it tested nearly 30,000 students before classes began. The mayor of Tuscaloosa shut down bars for two weeks because of the spike, which could derail plans to continue the semester on campus.The university is still moving ahead with fall sports in the football-crazed state, with plans to allow only about 20,000 fans at its 101,000-capacity stadium and a ban on tailgating. Coach Nick Saban weighed in on the virus Monday, urging people to wear masks.“It’s not just about football. So, for people to make the right choices and decisions to wear their masks, do the things when they’re out publicly, respect the rules, respect the virus, that’s important,” he said.It’s not clear what will happen to case numbers as more school districts bring students back to classrooms and colleges reopen their campuses. In recent weeks, schools including the University of North Carolina, Michigan State and Notre Dame have moved instruction online after outbreaks on their campuses.Officials at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville said four students are facing disciplinary proceedings after three hosted off-campus parties with no mask or other distancing and another left isolation to meet with others despite testing positive for the virus.“If the facts reported to the university are accurate, these students will face at least suspension from the university, and potentially greater penalties,” Chancellor Donde Plowman wrote.___

New virus cases decline in the US and experts credit masks

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Officials with the West Central District Health Department reported seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

6 cases are from Lincoln County 1 case is from Hooker County

2 of these cases are from yesterday (8/24/2020) 2 of these cases are from today (8/25/2020) *The rest of these cases are from previous days.

*PLEASE NOTE: The weekly positivity rate on the dashboard is based on live data. You will see changes to the weekly number due to the fact that this is live data. We will report and make changes as we get additional data from the state system. This section is currently being worked on. You can still find our overall positivity rate in the table on the first page of the dashboard.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR3U-ckh6cDgifW7mt17AWKSkh6g_LxcpX-7v5PG4lLehe-ar6KOajRO5JE#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a>

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Officials with the West Central District Health Department reported seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.According to officials:6 cases are from Lincoln County 1 case is from Hooker County2 of these cases are from yesterday (8/24/2020) 2 of these cases are from today (8/25/2020) *The rest of these cases are from previous days.*PLEASE NOTE: The weekly positivity rate on the dashboard is based on live data. You will see changes to the weekly number due to the fact that this is live data. We will report and make changes as we get additional data from the state system. This section is currently being worked on. You can still find our overall positivity rate in the table on the first page of the dashboard.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR3U-ckh6cDgifW7mt17AWKSkh6g_LxcpX-7v5PG4lLehe-ar6KOajRO5JE#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwcdhd%2Fvideos%2F309068630358088%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598442987407.png" alt="covid update august 26 2020.png" />
 <figcaption>covid update august 26 2020.png</figcaption>
 </figure>

Officials report 7 new cases of COVID-19 in WCDHD jurisdiction on Tuesday

LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt held a press conference to discuss the start of the 2020-2021 academic year in Nebraska’s K-12 schools.

John Wyvill, Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, joined the Governor and Commissioner Blomstedt.&nbsp; He talked about the challenges of the coronavirus for kids with special needs, and the plans in place to ensure their educational and social success this fall.

Piyush Srivastav, incoming Chair of the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools also spoke at this morning’s briefing.&nbsp; As a parent of a middle-school student and supporter of LPS, he shared his perspective on the importance of in-school learning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598349862867.png" alt="Gov. Ricketts (podium) and NDE Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (standing, far left) at Monday’s press briefing." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Ricketts (podium) and NDE Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (standing, far left) at Monday’s press briefing.</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt held a press conference to discuss the start of the 2020-2021 academic year in Nebraska’s K-12 schools.John Wyvill, Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, joined the Governor and Commissioner Blomstedt.&nbsp; He talked about the challenges of the coronavirus for kids with special needs, and the plans in place to ensure their educational and social success this fall.Piyush Srivastav, incoming Chair of the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools also spoke at this morning’s briefing.&nbsp; As a parent of a middle-school student and supporter of LPS, he shared his perspective on the importance of in-school learning.Gov. Ricketts: Start of School<ul>
 <li>As schools reopen, we want to continue to emphasize how important in-person learning is for the overall well-being of kids and their families.</li><li>The pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health and well-being of Americans.</li><li>We’ve highlighted the risks associated with severe measures at coronavirus briefings over the past few months. The CDC is reporting a sharp rise in Americans considering suicide.There has also been a sharp increase in substance abuse.</li><li>The CDC is reporting a sharp rise in Americans considering suicide.</li><li>There has also been a sharp increase in substance abuse.</li><li>For people that need help, we want to remind them of the resources that are available: Nebraska Family Helpline: 1-888-866-8660Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 1-800-464-0258National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)</li><li>Nebraska Family Helpline: 1-888-866-8660</li><li>Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 1-800-464-0258</li><li>National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)</li><li>Education plays an important role in helping kids learn and growing the overall social well-being of a child.</li><li>In person learning is important for many reasons… Many students with special needs can’t receive the services they need over an iPad.Students from many families rely on school meals to supplement their nutrition.Teachers are often the top reporters of child abuse, meaning some abuse will go unreported when schools rely only on remote learning.Not every parent can devote time and attention to oversee remote learning.</li><li>Many students with special needs can’t receive the services they need over an iPad.</li><li>Students from many families rely on school meals to supplement their nutrition.</li><li>Teachers are often the top reporters of child abuse, meaning some abuse will go unreported when schools rely only on remote learning.</li><li>Not every parent can devote time and attention to oversee remote learning.</li>
 </ul>Commissioner Blomstedt: Start of School<ul>
 <li>As students come back and schools gain experience, we can continue to develop safer practices.</li><li>We’re especially focused on individual student needs during this time.&nbsp; Parents and schools are working together closely to address issues and provide high-quality instruction for students with disabilities, individual education plans, or other special needs.</li><li>Social and emotional well-being are particularly important during the pandemic.&nbsp; With my own children, I’ve seen the excitement of students to be back in class, interacting with their friends and teachers.&nbsp;</li><li>Right now, a key part of the school environment is helping students and families learn to be thoughtful and safe in public settings.</li><li>I’d like to thank our teachers. &nbsp;They have to figure out what’s best for their particular setting and then adapt as needed. &nbsp;We encourage their innovation as we navigate this school year.</li><li>As a reminder, all of our back-to-school guidance is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.launchne.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd16e9b0be58e4950859608d848744043%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637339011410508925&amp;sdata=e64fIFWfRu17V0k%2FlfSxYRL7dp4%2FvKLNMPYRqX4dJBQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.launchne.com</a>.</li>
 </ul>John Wyvill: Start of School<ul>
 <li>Based on our experience at the end of last school year, we have firsthand knowledge that the disruption of school has been challenging for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.&nbsp;</li><li>We have a duty to these students to provide them with an appropriate education.</li><li>Working in a remote environment is not the best scenario for these students.</li><li>Parents or guardians may not have the training and skills to cope in a remote environment in order to set up students for success.</li><li>The social/emotional challenge is evident in the deaf and hard-of-hearing student population.&nbsp; Without school, they may feel cut off from peers and have difficulty connecting with their friends.</li><li>The Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is here to help Nebraskans during this time of uncertainty (<a href="https://ncdhh.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">ncdhh.nebraska.gov</a>).&nbsp; Nebraska Hands &amp; Voices, a nonprofit organization, is another helpful resource for the deaf and hard of hearing (<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.handsandvoicesne.org%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd16e9b0be58e4950859608d848744043%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637339011410508925&amp;sdata=OnIjqmMzsIIrr%2FXlxdOodvm5e9XVv71RdfYptqSWnGg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.handsandvoicesne.org</a>).</li>
 </ul>Piyush Srivastav: Start of School<ul>
 <li>I’m a small business owner here in Lincoln, and I have a daughter who attends Lincoln Public Schools (LPS).</li><li>After reviewing the changes that LPS has made to mitigate the risk of the coronavirus, we felt comfortable sending our daughter to school for in-person learning. Wearing face coveringsLimiting movement throughout school buildingsSpacing desks farther apartCanceling assembliesChanging lunch procedures</li><li>Wearing face coverings</li><li>Limiting movement throughout school buildings</li><li>Spacing desks farther apart</li><li>Canceling assemblies</li><li>Changing lunch procedures</li><li>We’ve asked our daughter detailed questions about the changes, and we feel very comfortable with how LPS is handling this situation.</li><li>Our daughter sees numerous advantages with in-person learning. Better quality of learningBetter interaction with teachersBetter interaction with peers for group projectsEase of exchanging ideas</li><li>Better quality of learning</li><li>Better interaction with teachers</li><li>Better interaction with peers for group projects</li><li>Ease of exchanging ideas</li><li>After one week of school at LPS, my understanding is that more students are opting for in-school learning.</li><li>With in-person learning, mental health needs can be more readily identified and addressed.&nbsp; In-person learning also provides better access to good nutrition.</li><li>At LPS Foundation, we’ve given over $400,000 in coronavirus-related assistance to families.</li><li>LPS has worked very hard in collaboration with the city and local health department to come up with a comprehensive plan to tackle the challenges brought on by the pandemic.</li>
 </ul>Gov. Ricketts: Test Nebraska<ul>
 <li>All Nebraskans are eligible for testing through Test Nebraska.</li><li>I encourage Nebraskans to sign up, take the assessment, and schedule a time to get tested.</li><li>We are pleased to announce that a new Test Nebraska site in South Omaha opens today.</li><li>It will operate from 1:00-6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.</li><li>The site is located at Metropolitan Community College’s South Omaha Campus.</li><li>We encourage anyone who needs a test to sign up and get tested.</li><li>The latest schedule is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.testnebraska.com%2Fen&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd16e9b0be58e4950859608d848744043%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637339011410518882&amp;sdata=vL90m%2Fuy212RT%2Fh5mowbjscUo4GCiCAeBM5fc17Vhwg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">TestNebraska.com</a>.</li>
 </ul>

Gov. Ricketts, Education Commissioner discuss start of school year

On Monday, the State of Nebraska issued updated guidance for local governments seeking Coronavirus Relief Fund reimbursement.&nbsp; 

New guidance now allows qualified applicants to seek “reimbursement for presumptive payroll expenses for public safety employees for the period March 1, 2020 thru May 31, 2020.”

A copy of the guidance issued to counties, cities, municipalities, and villages can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/assets/Revised%20Guidance%20to%20Local%20Governments.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. &nbsp;Additional FAQ can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/assets/CRF%20Public%20Safety%20Payroll%20Reimmbursement.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

On Monday, the State of Nebraska issued updated guidance for local governments seeking Coronavirus Relief Fund reimbursement.&nbsp; New guidance now allows qualified applicants to seek “reimbursement for presumptive payroll expenses for public safety employees for the period March 1, 2020 thru May 31, 2020.”A copy of the guidance issued to counties, cities, municipalities, and villages can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/assets/Revised%20Guidance%20to%20Local%20Governments.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. &nbsp;Additional FAQ can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/assets/CRF%20Public%20Safety%20Payroll%20Reimmbursement.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Gov. Ricketts provides additional coronavirus relief to local governments

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's education commissioner on Monday urged public schools to remain flexible for students and teachers as they resume classes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

State Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt said his agency will continue to help schools as needed while maintaining its largely hands-off approach that lets individual schools decide how to proceed.

In Nebraska, state education officials have released nonbinding public health guidelines for schools and worked with local districts to develop coronavirus plans. But they haven't imposed statewide requirements to specify whether schools should mandate masks or in-person attendance. School policies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/70f77baed429e57eb6e309ed0f3be161" target="_blank">varied nationally as well</a>.

The result has been a patchwork of approaches throughout Nebraska, with some schools returning to in-class learning while others still provide online coursework. The latter has raised concerns among parents that their children are spending too much time in front of computer screens.

"If something's not working, we really encourage schools to adapt their plans based on what they ultimately think is best," Blomstedt said at a briefing with Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Blomstedt encouraged schools and teachers to stay flexible in how they manage classrooms to keep students engaged. He said schools should allow online students to have social time and break them up into smaller groups where they can interact more.

In-person schooling is particularly important for children with disabilities because it allows them to interact socially with teachers and other students, said John Wybold, executive director of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

But some teachers have said they're worried that resuming classes in person will help spread the virus and threaten the lives of those who are most vulnerable. Nebraska doesn't have a specific statewide date for when schools must start, but virtually all of them have resumed classes in some form in the last few weeks.

"Teachers want to go back to school, they want to be with kids," Maddie Fennell, the executive director of the Nebraska State Education Association, said in a recent interview. "But they're concerned that there aren't enough safety measures being mandated instead of just suggested."

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.

Nebraska has confirmed 31,889 coronavirus cases and 378 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online tracking portal</a>. More than 340,000 people have gotten tested so far.

The tracking portal says 37% of hospital beds and 82% of its ventilators are available for patients if needed.

Ricketts has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/eca1c32a98a680f45220d4315815117c" target="_blank">said he's confident that schools are safe to reopen</a>&nbsp;with proper safety measures to try to keep the virus from spreading. On Monday, he said it's also important to bring children back to avoid the kind of social isolation that can contribute to mental health problems. He also argued that teachers are more likely to catch and report cases of child abuse.

"The overall well-being of our children is tied to our kids being back in school," he said.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's education commissioner on Monday urged public schools to remain flexible for students and teachers as they resume classes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.State Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt said his agency will continue to help schools as needed while maintaining its largely hands-off approach that lets individual schools decide how to proceed.In Nebraska, state education officials have released nonbinding public health guidelines for schools and worked with local districts to develop coronavirus plans. But they haven't imposed statewide requirements to specify whether schools should mandate masks or in-person attendance. School policies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/70f77baed429e57eb6e309ed0f3be161" target="_blank">varied nationally as well</a>.The result has been a patchwork of approaches throughout Nebraska, with some schools returning to in-class learning while others still provide online coursework. The latter has raised concerns among parents that their children are spending too much time in front of computer screens."If something's not working, we really encourage schools to adapt their plans based on what they ultimately think is best," Blomstedt said at a briefing with Gov. Pete Ricketts.Blomstedt encouraged schools and teachers to stay flexible in how they manage classrooms to keep students engaged. He said schools should allow online students to have social time and break them up into smaller groups where they can interact more.In-person schooling is particularly important for children with disabilities because it allows them to interact socially with teachers and other students, said John Wybold, executive director of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.But some teachers have said they're worried that resuming classes in person will help spread the virus and threaten the lives of those who are most vulnerable. Nebraska doesn't have a specific statewide date for when schools must start, but virtually all of them have resumed classes in some form in the last few weeks."Teachers want to go back to school, they want to be with kids," Maddie Fennell, the executive director of the Nebraska State Education Association, said in a recent interview. "But they're concerned that there aren't enough safety measures being mandated instead of just suggested."For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.Nebraska has confirmed 31,889 coronavirus cases and 378 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">state's online tracking portal</a>. More than 340,000 people have gotten tested so far.The tracking portal says 37% of hospital beds and 82% of its ventilators are available for patients if needed.Ricketts has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/eca1c32a98a680f45220d4315815117c" target="_blank">said he's confident that schools are safe to reopen</a>&nbsp;with proper safety measures to try to keep the virus from spreading. On Monday, he said it's also important to bring children back to avoid the kind of social isolation that can contribute to mental health problems. He also argued that teachers are more likely to catch and report cases of child abuse."The overall well-being of our children is tied to our kids being back in school," he said.

Official: Nebraska schools must stay flexible with virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.

The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.

On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.

The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.

In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, said: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”

But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager to showcase good news in the battle against the virus, and the timing allowed him to head into his convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and used the White House briefing room to make the announcement.

Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598222952199.png" alt="President Trump took only 3 questions during the Sunday evening press conference-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump took only 3 questions during the Sunday evening press conference-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, said: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager to showcase good news in the battle against the virus, and the timing allowed him to head into his convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and used the White House briefing room to make the announcement.Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval. The accusations of an FDA slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on what he refers to as the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598222686256.png" alt="President Donald Trump accompanied by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, center and HHS Secretary Alex Azar during a media briefing Sunday -photo Courtesy White House." />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump accompanied by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, center and HHS Secretary Alex Azar during a media briefing Sunday -photo Courtesy White House.</figcaption>
 </figure>During Sunday’s 18-minute press conference, Trump said he thought there had been a “logjam” at the FDA over granting the emergency authorization. He alleged there are people at the FDA “that can see things being held up ... and that’s for political reasons.”Dr. Joshua Sharfstein said the statement, and Hahn’s silence while Trump said it, “was disgraceful.”“The FDA commissioner basically allowed the president to mischaracterize the decision and attack the integrity of FDA employees. I was horrified,” said Sharfstein, a vice dean at John Hopkins University’s school of public health who was a top FDA official during the Obama administration.“This is a promising therapy that has not been fully established,” he saidThe push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.There’s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement, government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate.Hahn, who called the development “promising,” said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement. He said “this has been in the works for several weeks.”But some health experts were skeptical. Benjamin Corb, of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, called it “conspicuous timing.”“President Trump is once again putting his political goals ahead of the health and well-being of the American public,” Corb said.Rigorous studies are under way around the country, comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead.Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown.“I firmly reject the idea they would slow-walk anything or accelerate anything based on any political consideration or any consideration other than what is best for the public health and a real sense of mission to patients,” Gottlieb told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598218807664.png" alt="President Trump during the Sunday evening news conference -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during the Sunday evening news conference -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump, in news conferences, “has made all kinds of therapeutic suggestions” that have not proven to be supported by science — and are even dangerous, Schaffner said. That includes statements about the possible value of treating COVID-19 patients with ultraviolet light and disinfectant. Trump reportedly also recently became enthusiastic about oleandrin, a plant extract derived from a toxic shrub that scientists immediately warned against.But the president is perhaps best known for his early and ardent embrace of the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Earlier this month, Hahn emphasized that routine evaluation procedures will remain in place to evaluate COVID vaccine candidates.“I think this administration has put more pressure on the Food and Drug Administration than I can remember” ever happening in the past, Schaffner said.“Everybody is just a little bit nervous,” he said.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Sunday the emergency authorization of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients, in a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising,” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.The announcement came after days of White House officials suggesting there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization — it makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment — in a news conference Sunday evening.The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling with the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, noted: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”An emergency use authorization is not the same as full FDA approval.In the authorization letter, FDA officials emphasized convalescent plasma is still under investigation. “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months,” it said.But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager for a piece of good news on the battle of the pandemic, and the timing allowed him to head into the convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and utilized the White House briefing room to make the announcement.Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval, but the accusations of a slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”The push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.There’s no solid evidence yet that it fights the coronavirus and, if so, how best to use it.The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.There’s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement, government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate.Hahn, who called the development “promising,” said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement, which comes just before a pivotal week for the president’s reelection chances. Hahn said “this has been in the works for several weeks” and came after a data validation for which the agency had been waiting.But some health experts were skeptical. Benjamin Corb, of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, called it “conspicuous timing.”“President Trump is once again putting his political goals ahead of the health and well-being of the American public,” Corb said.Rigorous studies underway around the country are designed to get that proof, by comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead.Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown.ADVERTISEMENT“I firmly reject the idea they would slow-walk anything or accelerate anything based on any political consideration or any consideration other than what is best for the public health and a real sense of mission to patients,” Gottlieb told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”Hundreds of drugs are currently being developed as possible treatments against the coronavirus infection, taking a range of approaches.Trump, in news conferences, “has made all kinds of therapeutic suggestions” that have not proven to be supported by science — and are even dangerous, Schaffner said. That includes statements about the possible value of treating COVID-19 patients with ultraviolet light and disinfectant. Trump reportedly also recently became enthusiastic about oleandrin, a plant extract derived from a toxic shrub that scientists immediately warned against.But the president is perhaps best known for his early and ardent embrace of the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Earlier this month, Hahn emphasized that routine evaluation procedures will remain in place to evaluate COVID vaccine candidates.“I think this administration has put more pressure on the Food and Drug Administration than I can remember” ever happening in the past, Schaffner said.“Everybody is just a little bit nervous,” he said.----

Coronavirus Update