LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska continues to report a small number of new COVID-19 cases, but that number crept up slightly over the past week. 

State health officials said Nebraska recorded 280 new coronavirus cases over the past week, which was up from 237 cases the week before. But as recently as April the state was reporting more cases than that in a single day. 

The state said 54 people were hospitalized with the virus across Nebraska Wednesday. That number has been below 100 since mid-May, and it is a fraction of the November peak of 987.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska continues to report a small number of new COVID-19 cases, but that number crept up slightly over the past week. State health officials said Nebraska recorded 280 new coronavirus cases over the past week, which was up from 237 cases the week before. But as recently as April the state was reporting more cases than that in a single day. The state said 54 people were hospitalized with the virus across Nebraska Wednesday. That number has been below 100 since mid-May, and it is a fraction of the November peak of 987.

Nebraska continues to report small number of new virus cases

By Scott Carlson-North Platte Post

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department has released the schedule of their upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

WCDHD is administering the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johson &amp; Johnson vaccines.

By Scott Carlson-North Platte PostNORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department has released the schedule of their upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics.WCDHD is administering the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johson &amp; Johnson vaccines.<h2>Clinics and locations</h2><figure>
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WCDHD announces upcoming COVID vaccine clinics

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is predicting a return to normal in Nebraska’s K-12 schools by this fall after a year of coronavirus restrictions that included mask-wearing in classrooms and remote learning. 

Ricketts says the state appears to be in good shape with its vaccination efforts and virus-related hospitalizations, which have now fallen below 100 statewide. 

He made the comments as he encouraged Nebraska’s new high school graduates to get vaccinated if they haven’t already. 

He says he also supports younger children getting vaccinated, as long as a vaccine has been federally approved for a child’s age group and the parents' consent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621278220447.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is predicting a return to normal in Nebraska’s K-12 schools by this fall after a year of coronavirus restrictions that included mask-wearing in classrooms and remote learning. Ricketts says the state appears to be in good shape with its vaccination efforts and virus-related hospitalizations, which have now fallen below 100 statewide. He made the comments as he encouraged Nebraska’s new high school graduates to get vaccinated if they haven’t already. He says he also supports younger children getting vaccinated, as long as a vaccine has been federally approved for a child’s age group and the parents' consent.

Ricketts predicts return to normal in K-12 schools this fall

News Release West Central District Health Department

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The risk dial moved from a 1.78 up to a 1.94, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:

There have been 40 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD.

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

<a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">COVID-19 Risk Dial page</a>

For COVID-19 case number updates within
the West Central District Health Department Jurisdiction, check the
WCDHD Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation?:language=en&amp;:display_count=y&amp;:origin=viz_share_link">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621165496916.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release West Central District Health DepartmentNORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The risk dial moved from a 1.78 up to a 1.94, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:Decrease in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R1: Cases
</li>
 </ul>Increase in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R4: ICU Availability
</li>
 </ul>New Variable:<ul>
 <li>Vaccination
</li>
 </ul>Variable Removed:<ul>
 <li>Contact Tracing
</li>
 </ul>There have been 40 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD.While in the Moderate Risk category,
physical distance of 6 feet or greater, wearing face coverings when
outside the home, frequent handwashing (or use of hand sanitizer),
staying home if you are having flu-like or COVID-like symptoms,
disinfecting high touch surfaces, and having at-risk and vulnerable
people remain home are recommended as the greatest tools in reducing
the spread of COVID-19. For more information on recommendations for
the various risk categories of the WCDHD Community Risk Dial, please
visit the COVID-19 Risk Dial page on our website.<a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">COVID-19 Risk Dial page</a>For COVID-19 case number updates within
the West Central District Health Department Jurisdiction, check the
WCDHD Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation?:language=en&amp;:display_count=y&amp;:origin=viz_share_link">HERE</a>.

WCDHD moves COVID risk dial up again, risk remains moderate

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials said an extremely contagious variant of the coronavirus that was first identified in India has been confirmed in the state. 

The first case of the virus variant, officially known as the B.1.617 variant, was found in a Lancaster County resident who has ties to international travelers. 

The discovery of the new variant comes as the state was reporting a relatively small number of new cases of the virus. 

Nebraska health officials said Wednesday that 1,368 new virus cases had been reported over the past week, down slightly from 1,397 cases the week before.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612437418456.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials said an extremely contagious variant of the coronavirus that was first identified in India has been confirmed in the state. The first case of the virus variant, officially known as the B.1.617 variant, was found in a Lancaster County resident who has ties to international travelers. The discovery of the new variant comes as the state was reporting a relatively small number of new cases of the virus. Nebraska health officials said Wednesday that 1,368 new virus cases had been reported over the past week, down slightly from 1,397 cases the week before.

Virus variant first identified in India found in Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. health advisers endorsed use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in kids as young as 12 on Wednesday, just as expected new guidelines say it’s OK for people of any age to get the shot at the same time as other needed vaccinations.

The sprint to vaccinate millions of middle and high school students has already started in parts of the country, as a long line of kids rolled up their sleeves in suburban Atlanta for a first dose Wednesday. But much of the nation was awaiting recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that Pfizer’s vaccine, already used for months in those 16 and older, was a good choice for 12- to 15-year-olds, too. The CDC was expected to accept its advisers’ recommendation.

“It just felt like a flu shot, honestly,” said Meredith Rogers, a 14-year-old middle school student from Decatur, Georgia, after getting her vaccination.

Michelle Rogers, Meredith’s mother, said she hoped the youth vaccinations would help bring some normalcy back.

“A little apprehensive, but you know what? This is a step towards getting life back to normal so, we’re all in,” Michelle Rogers said with a slight fist pump.

Earlier in the week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the two-shot vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech. A study of more than 2,000 12- to 15-year-olds found the same dose adults use is safe and strongly protective in the kids, too.

Among the outstanding questions: Is it OK to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the same doctor’s visit as people receive some routine vaccinations? That’s an urgent back-to-school concern especially for the 12- to 15-year-olds, who have missed out on regularly scheduled vaccines during the pandemic — but also an issue for adults, too.

The CDC until now has recommended not getting other vaccinations within two weeks of a COVID-19 shot, mostly as a precaution so that safety monitors could spot if any unexpected side effects crop up. But the CDC said Wednesday it is changing that advice because the COVID-19 vaccines have proved so safe — and that health workers can decide to give another needed vaccine at the same time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics on Wednesday also endorsed the Pfizer vaccine for the 12-and-up crowd — and agreed that it’s fine to give more than one vaccine at the same time, especially for kids who are behind on their regular vaccinations.

In the Pfizer study, there were no cases of COVID-19 among volunteers given the two-shot vaccination compared with 16 in the group given dummy shots. Kids also developed higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies than vaccinated adults. Side effects are the same as adults experience, mostly sore arms and flu-like fever, chills or aches that signal the immune system is revving up.

Vaccinating Americans of all ages will be critical to getting back to normal, and there’s plenty of supply for the nation’s nearly 17 million 12- to 15-year-olds.

In addition to the mass vaccination sites and health department rollouts that were key for adults, many states will be offering kids more familiar options -- shipping doses to pediatricians and even to schools.

Pfizer is not the only company seeking to lower the age limit for its vaccine. Moderna recently said preliminary results from its study in 12- to 17-year-olds show strong protection and no serious side effects, data the FDA will need to scrutinize.

As for even younger children, both companies have begun tests in youngsters ages 6 months to 11 years. Those studies explore if different doses are needed at the youngest ages, and FDA plans to hold a public meeting next month to debate exactly what evidence is needed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608677701818.png" alt="A worker at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City prepares doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 photo courtesyTruman Medical Center" />
 <figcaption>A worker at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City prepares doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 photo courtesyTruman Medical Center</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. health advisers endorsed use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in kids as young as 12 on Wednesday, just as expected new guidelines say it’s OK for people of any age to get the shot at the same time as other needed vaccinations.The sprint to vaccinate millions of middle and high school students has already started in parts of the country, as a long line of kids rolled up their sleeves in suburban Atlanta for a first dose Wednesday. But much of the nation was awaiting recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that Pfizer’s vaccine, already used for months in those 16 and older, was a good choice for 12- to 15-year-olds, too. The CDC was expected to accept its advisers’ recommendation.“It just felt like a flu shot, honestly,” said Meredith Rogers, a 14-year-old middle school student from Decatur, Georgia, after getting her vaccination.Michelle Rogers, Meredith’s mother, said she hoped the youth vaccinations would help bring some normalcy back.“A little apprehensive, but you know what? This is a step towards getting life back to normal so, we’re all in,” Michelle Rogers said with a slight fist pump.Earlier in the week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the two-shot vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech. A study of more than 2,000 12- to 15-year-olds found the same dose adults use is safe and strongly protective in the kids, too.Among the outstanding questions: Is it OK to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the same doctor’s visit as people receive some routine vaccinations? That’s an urgent back-to-school concern especially for the 12- to 15-year-olds, who have missed out on regularly scheduled vaccines during the pandemic — but also an issue for adults, too.The CDC until now has recommended not getting other vaccinations within two weeks of a COVID-19 shot, mostly as a precaution so that safety monitors could spot if any unexpected side effects crop up. But the CDC said Wednesday it is changing that advice because the COVID-19 vaccines have proved so safe — and that health workers can decide to give another needed vaccine at the same time.The American Academy of Pediatrics on Wednesday also endorsed the Pfizer vaccine for the 12-and-up crowd — and agreed that it’s fine to give more than one vaccine at the same time, especially for kids who are behind on their regular vaccinations.In the Pfizer study, there were no cases of COVID-19 among volunteers given the two-shot vaccination compared with 16 in the group given dummy shots. Kids also developed higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies than vaccinated adults. Side effects are the same as adults experience, mostly sore arms and flu-like fever, chills or aches that signal the immune system is revving up.Vaccinating Americans of all ages will be critical to getting back to normal, and there’s plenty of supply for the nation’s nearly 17 million 12- to 15-year-olds.In addition to the mass vaccination sites and health department rollouts that were key for adults, many states will be offering kids more familiar options -- shipping doses to pediatricians and even to schools.Pfizer is not the only company seeking to lower the age limit for its vaccine. Moderna recently said preliminary results from its study in 12- to 17-year-olds show strong protection and no serious side effects, data the FDA will need to scrutinize.As for even younger children, both companies have begun tests in youngsters ages 6 months to 11 years. Those studies explore if different doses are needed at the youngest ages, and FDA plans to hold a public meeting next month to debate exactly what evidence is needed.

US advisers endorse Pfizer COVID shot for kids 12 and up

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The pace of coronavirus vaccinations in Nebraska has slowed significantly over the past month. 

The state said 49,016 vaccine doses were administered in Nebraska last week. That continues the steady decline seen in recent weeks when roughly 70,000 and 93,000 doses were administered. 

The latest weekly total of vaccine doses is less than one-quarter of the mid-April peak of 211,057 doses in a single week. 

Health officials said 49.9% of the state’s population over the age of 16 has now been vaccinated.

 The state reported 411 new virus cases and one death Tuesday to give Nebraska a total of 221,911 cases and 2,247 deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1619996336144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The pace of coronavirus vaccinations in Nebraska has slowed significantly over the past month. The state said 49,016 vaccine doses were administered in Nebraska last week. That continues the steady decline seen in recent weeks when roughly 70,000 and 93,000 doses were administered. The latest weekly total of vaccine doses is less than one-quarter of the mid-April peak of 211,057 doses in a single week. Health officials said 49.9% of the state’s population over the age of 16 has now been vaccinated. The state reported 411 new virus cases and one death Tuesday to give Nebraska a total of 221,911 cases and 2,247 deaths.

Pace of virus vaccinations slows significantly in Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) —COVID-19 vaccines finally are headed for more kids as U.S. regulators on Monday expanded use of Pfizer’s shot to those as young as 12, sparking a race to protect middle and high school students before they head back to class in the fall.

Shots could begin as soon as a federal vaccine advisory committee issues recommendations for using the two-dose vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds, expected Wednesday.

Vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to a return to normalcy. Most COVID-19 vaccines rolling out worldwide have been authorized for adults. Pfizer’s vaccine is being used in multiple countries for teens as young as 16, and Canada recently became the first to expand use to 12 and up. Parents, school administrators and public health officials elsewhere are anxiously awaiting the shot to become available to more kids.

“This is a watershed moment in our ability to fight back the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer senior vice president who’s also a pediatrician, told The Associated Press.

The Food and Drug Administration declared the Pfizer vaccine is safe and offers strong protection for younger teens based on testing of more than 2,000 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15. The study found no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 among kids given dummy shots. More intriguing, researchers found the kids developed higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies than earlier studies measured in young adults.

The younger teens received the same vaccine dosage as adults and had the same side effects, mostly sore arms and flu-like fever, chills or aches that signal a revved-up immune system, especially after the second dose.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech recently requested similar authorization in the European Union, with other countries to follow.

The latest news is welcome for U.S. families struggling to decide what activities are safe to resume when only the youngest family members remain unvaccinated.

“I can’t feel totally comfortable because my boys aren’t vaccinated,” said Carrie Vittitoe, a substitute teacher and freelance writer in Louisville, Kentucky, who is fully vaccinated as are her husband and 17-year-old daughter.

The FDA decision means her 13-year-old son soon could be eligible, leaving only her 11-year-old son who would be unvaccinated. The family hasn’t yet resumed going to church, and summer vacation will be a road trip so they don’t have to get on a plane.

“We can’t really go back to normal because two-fifths of our family don’t have protection,” Vittitoe said.

Pfizer isn’t the only company seeking to lower the age limit for its vaccine. Moderna recently said preliminary results from its study in 12- to 17-year-olds show strong protection and no serious side effects. Another U.S. company, Novavax, has a COVID-19 vaccine in late-stage development and just began a study in 12- to 17-year-olds as well.

Next up is testing whether the vaccine works for even younger children. Both Pfizer and Moderna have begun U.S. studies in children ages 6 months to 11 years. Those studies explore whether babies, preschoolers and elementary-age kids will need different doses than teens and adults. Gruber said Pfizer expects its first results sometime in the fall.

Outside of the U.S., AstraZeneca is studying its vaccine among 6- to 17-year-olds in Britain. And in China, Sinovac recently announced it has submitted preliminary data to Chinese regulators showing its vaccine is safe in children as young as 3.

Children are far less likely than adults to get seriously ill from COVID-19 yet they still have been hard-hit by the pandemic. They represent nearly 14% of the nation’s coronavirus cases. At least 296 have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. alone and more than 15,000 have been hospitalized, according to a tally by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

That’s not counting the toll of family members becoming ill or dying -- or the disruption to school, sports and other activities so crucial to children’s overall well-being.

“Children right now are struggling,” Gruber said. Plus, “we need as many people in the country who have the potential to transmit the virus to be protected.”

Experts say children must get the shots if the country is to vaccinate the 70% to 85% of the population necessary to reach what’s called herd immunity.

In the meantime, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says unvaccinated people -- including children -- should continue taking precautions such as wearing masks indoors and keeping their distance from other unvaccinated people outside of their households.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608677701818.png" alt="A worker at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City prepares doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 -Photo courtesy Truman Medical Center" />
 <figcaption>A worker at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City prepares doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 -Photo courtesy Truman Medical Center</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —COVID-19 vaccines finally are headed for more kids as U.S. regulators on Monday expanded use of Pfizer’s shot to those as young as 12, sparking a race to protect middle and high school students before they head back to class in the fall.Shots could begin as soon as a federal vaccine advisory committee issues recommendations for using the two-dose vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds, expected Wednesday.Vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to a return to normalcy. Most COVID-19 vaccines rolling out worldwide have been authorized for adults. Pfizer’s vaccine is being used in multiple countries for teens as young as 16, and Canada recently became the first to expand use to 12 and up. Parents, school administrators and public health officials elsewhere are anxiously awaiting the shot to become available to more kids.“This is a watershed moment in our ability to fight back the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer senior vice president who’s also a pediatrician, told The Associated Press.The Food and Drug Administration declared the Pfizer vaccine is safe and offers strong protection for younger teens based on testing of more than 2,000 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15. The study found no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 among kids given dummy shots. More intriguing, researchers found the kids developed higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies than earlier studies measured in young adults.The younger teens received the same vaccine dosage as adults and had the same side effects, mostly sore arms and flu-like fever, chills or aches that signal a revved-up immune system, especially after the second dose.Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech recently requested similar authorization in the European Union, with other countries to follow.The latest news is welcome for U.S. families struggling to decide what activities are safe to resume when only the youngest family members remain unvaccinated.“I can’t feel totally comfortable because my boys aren’t vaccinated,” said Carrie Vittitoe, a substitute teacher and freelance writer in Louisville, Kentucky, who is fully vaccinated as are her husband and 17-year-old daughter.The FDA decision means her 13-year-old son soon could be eligible, leaving only her 11-year-old son who would be unvaccinated. The family hasn’t yet resumed going to church, and summer vacation will be a road trip so they don’t have to get on a plane.“We can’t really go back to normal because two-fifths of our family don’t have protection,” Vittitoe said.Pfizer isn’t the only company seeking to lower the age limit for its vaccine. Moderna recently said preliminary results from its study in 12- to 17-year-olds show strong protection and no serious side effects. Another U.S. company, Novavax, has a COVID-19 vaccine in late-stage development and just began a study in 12- to 17-year-olds as well.Next up is testing whether the vaccine works for even younger children. Both Pfizer and Moderna have begun U.S. studies in children ages 6 months to 11 years. Those studies explore whether babies, preschoolers and elementary-age kids will need different doses than teens and adults. Gruber said Pfizer expects its first results sometime in the fall.Outside of the U.S., AstraZeneca is studying its vaccine among 6- to 17-year-olds in Britain. And in China, Sinovac recently announced it has submitted preliminary data to Chinese regulators showing its vaccine is safe in children as young as 3.Children are far less likely than adults to get seriously ill from COVID-19 yet they still have been hard-hit by the pandemic. They represent nearly 14% of the nation’s coronavirus cases. At least 296 have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. alone and more than 15,000 have been hospitalized, according to a tally by the American Academy of Pediatrics.That’s not counting the toll of family members becoming ill or dying -- or the disruption to school, sports and other activities so crucial to children’s overall well-being.“Children right now are struggling,” Gruber said. Plus, “we need as many people in the country who have the potential to transmit the virus to be protected.”Experts say children must get the shots if the country is to vaccinate the 70% to 85% of the population necessary to reach what’s called herd immunity.In the meantime, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says unvaccinated people -- including children -- should continue taking precautions such as wearing masks indoors and keeping their distance from other unvaccinated people outside of their households.___

US children age 12-15 can now get Pfizer COVID shot 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nearly half of Nebraska’s adult population has now been vaccinated against the coronavirus. 

The state said Monday that 49.6% of the population aged 16 and up has now been fully vaccinated and more than 1.5 million doses of the shots have been administered across Nebraska. 

The campaign to distribute the shots continues to make progress across the state although the pace of vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks as demand has weakened. 

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 322.71 new cases per day on April 24 to 186.71 new cases per day on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1619996217569.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nearly half of Nebraska’s adult population has now been vaccinated against the coronavirus. The state said Monday that 49.6% of the population aged 16 and up has now been fully vaccinated and more than 1.5 million doses of the shots have been administered across Nebraska. The campaign to distribute the shots continues to make progress across the state although the pace of vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks as demand has weakened. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 322.71 new cases per day on April 24 to 186.71 new cases per day on Saturday.

Nearly half of Nebraska's adult population now vaccinated


The risk dial moved from 1.61 up to 1.78, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:

Vaccines play a critical role in
decreasing the spread of disease and death within our communities.
WCDHD closely monitors the vaccination rates in each of the six
counties within our jurisdiction. Currently, the vaccination rate for
the district is at 23% of those who are fully vaccinated. The highest
rate is 36% in Hooker County, with the lowest rate in McPherson
County at 14%. The next Risk Dial release will include a variable
that indicates the percentage of the eligible WCDHD jurisdiction
population that is fully vaccinated. Leading world experts state that
between 60% and 80% of the population needs to be vaccinated to
achieve herd immunity.&nbsp; Based on these highly reputable sources,
WCDHD among other local health departments across the state, has set
a goal of having 75% of eligible people fully vaccinated.&nbsp;
Currently, that includes everyone age 16 and older that does not have
a contraindication for vaccination.&nbsp; Note: vaccinating 75% of
persons 50 years of age and older will be a key milestone in reducing
the impact of COVID-19 in our community, since that age group
includes the vast majority of persons who are at increased risk of
hospitalization or death due to COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There have been 42 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD.

“As we see the increase in new cases
and the low percentage rates of COVID-19 vaccinations within our
area, we are reminded of the importance of our communities following
the mitigation strategies that have gotten us this far and
re-energizing efforts for individuals to become immunized,” stated
Shannon Vanderheiden, Executive Director of WCDHD.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620512141333.png" alt="As of May 8, 2021" />
 <figcaption>As of May 8, 2021</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release West Central District Health Department
The risk dial moved from 1.61 up to 1.78, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:Decrease in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R8: Individuals
	Affected
</li>
 </ul>Increase in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R2: Cases
</li>
 </ul>Vaccines play a critical role in
decreasing the spread of disease and death within our communities.
WCDHD closely monitors the vaccination rates in each of the six
counties within our jurisdiction. Currently, the vaccination rate for
the district is at 23% of those who are fully vaccinated. The highest
rate is 36% in Hooker County, with the lowest rate in McPherson
County at 14%. The next Risk Dial release will include a variable
that indicates the percentage of the eligible WCDHD jurisdiction
population that is fully vaccinated. Leading world experts state that
between 60% and 80% of the population needs to be vaccinated to
achieve herd immunity.&nbsp; Based on these highly reputable sources,
WCDHD among other local health departments across the state, has set
a goal of having 75% of eligible people fully vaccinated.&nbsp;
Currently, that includes everyone age 16 and older that does not have
a contraindication for vaccination.&nbsp; Note: vaccinating 75% of
persons 50 years of age and older will be a key milestone in reducing
the impact of COVID-19 in our community, since that age group
includes the vast majority of persons who are at increased risk of
hospitalization or death due to COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;There have been 42 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD.“As we see the increase in new cases
and the low percentage rates of COVID-19 vaccinations within our
area, we are reminded of the importance of our communities following
the mitigation strategies that have gotten us this far and
re-energizing efforts for individuals to become immunized,” stated
Shannon Vanderheiden, Executive Director of WCDHD.While in the Moderate Risk category,
physical distance of 6 feet or greater, wearing face coverings when
outside the home, frequent handwashing (or use of hand sanitizer),
staying home if you are having flu-like or COVID-like symptoms,
disinfecting high touch surfaces, and having at-risk and vulnerable
people remain home are recommended as the greatest tools in reducing
the spread of COVID-19. For more information on recommendations for
the various risk categories of the WCDHD Community Risk Dial, please
visit the COVID-19 Risk Dial page on our website.<a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">COVID-19 Risk Dial page</a>For COVID-19 case number updates within
the West Central District Health Department Jurisdiction, check the
WCDHD Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation?:language=en&amp;:display_count=y&amp;:origin=viz_share_link">HERE</a>.

WCDHD moves risk dial up in 'moderate' level

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say a small number of Nebraskans who have been vaccinated for the coronavirus later developed COVID-19. 

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said that 343 people have tested positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. But that represents just 0.05% of the 689,561 people who have been fully vaccinated in the state. 

So far, 46.5% of Nebraska’s population over 16 has been vaccinated. The state also said school-aged children who come in contact with someone who is infected with the coronavirus no longer have to quarantine themselves at home. 

Instead, those children can just monitor themselves for symptoms while continuing to attend school.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618856537909.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say a small number of Nebraskans who have been vaccinated for the coronavirus later developed COVID-19. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said that 343 people have tested positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. But that represents just 0.05% of the 689,561 people who have been fully vaccinated in the state. So far, 46.5% of Nebraska’s population over 16 has been vaccinated. The state also said school-aged children who come in contact with someone who is infected with the coronavirus no longer have to quarantine themselves at home. Instead, those children can just monitor themselves for symptoms while continuing to attend school.

Nebraska says small number of vaccinated people got COVID-19

News Release Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified a death from COVID-19 that occurred after a patient was fully vaccinated. 

A woman in her 80s with underlying medical conditions developed COVID-19 and was hospitalized more than 14 days after completing a vaccination series with the Pfizer vaccine. She was a resident of Two Rivers Health District. 

Only one death due to COVID-19 after completing a vaccination series has been identified in our state. Of 2,244 people that have died from COVID-19 in Nebraska, only one of these had been fully vaccinated. This represents 0.0004 or 0.04% of all COVID-19 deaths. 

Weekly deaths due to COVID-19 appear to be the lowest they've been since March 2020 and vaccines have likely played the biggest role in the steep decline. Cases of COVID-19 have declined substantially in long-term care facilities and across the state since vaccinations became available, underscoring the tremendous efficacy of the vaccine. 

Still, a small number of elderly and immunosuppressed patients may not mount a strong immune response, hence it's all of our duty and responsibility to get vaccinated to further protect ourselves and the most vulnerable among us.

Vaccine breakthrough cases occur in only a small percentage of vaccinated persons. Per CDC, no unexpected patterns have been identified in the case demographics or vaccine characteristics among people with reported vaccine breakthrough infections. 

Among 95 million people in the United States who have been fully vaccinated, only 112 deaths due to COVID-19 have been identified. (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html&nbsp;</a>).&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

“We are saddened to learn of this occurrence. While no deaths occurred in vaccinated individuals in the clinical trials, we understand that no vaccine or medication is 100% effective when used by millions of people. This does not negate the importance of vaccination and all of the positive effects of vaccination," said Nebraska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone. "Our state is approaching 50% of the total population being fully vaccinated and we need to keep that momentum. All Nebraskans who can get vaccinated should do so as soon as possible."

Nebraskans can register for vaccination at&nbsp;<a href="https://vaccinate.ne.gov/" target="_blank">Vaccinate.Ne.Gov&nbsp;</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608071469793.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska Department of Health and Human ServicesNebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified a death from COVID-19 that occurred after a patient was fully vaccinated. A woman in her 80s with underlying medical conditions developed COVID-19 and was hospitalized more than 14 days after completing a vaccination series with the Pfizer vaccine. She was a resident of Two Rivers Health District. Only one death due to COVID-19 after completing a vaccination series has been identified in our state. Of 2,244 people that have died from COVID-19 in Nebraska, only one of these had been fully vaccinated. This represents 0.0004 or 0.04% of all COVID-19 deaths. Weekly deaths due to COVID-19 appear to be the lowest they've been since March 2020 and vaccines have likely played the biggest role in the steep decline. Cases of COVID-19 have declined substantially in long-term care facilities and across the state since vaccinations became available, underscoring the tremendous efficacy of the vaccine. Still, a small number of elderly and immunosuppressed patients may not mount a strong immune response, hence it's all of our duty and responsibility to get vaccinated to further protect ourselves and the most vulnerable among us.Vaccine breakthrough cases occur in only a small percentage of vaccinated persons. Per CDC, no unexpected patterns have been identified in the case demographics or vaccine characteristics among people with reported vaccine breakthrough infections. Among 95 million people in the United States who have been fully vaccinated, only 112 deaths due to COVID-19 have been identified. (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html&nbsp;</a>).&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.“We are saddened to learn of this occurrence. While no deaths occurred in vaccinated individuals in the clinical trials, we understand that no vaccine or medication is 100% effective when used by millions of people. This does not negate the importance of vaccination and all of the positive effects of vaccination," said Nebraska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone. "Our state is approaching 50% of the total population being fully vaccinated and we need to keep that momentum. All Nebraskans who can get vaccinated should do so as soon as possible."Nebraskans can register for vaccination at&nbsp;<a href="https://vaccinate.ne.gov/" target="_blank">Vaccinate.Ne.Gov&nbsp;</a>.

DHHS: Fully vaccinated elderly Nebraska woman dies from COVID complications

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Many parents and educators are excited over the news that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by next week for youngsters ages 12 to 15. 

Officials are hoping that extending vaccinations to children will drive down the nation’s caseload even further and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruption this fall. It could also reassure parents and teachers alike. 

While children are less likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus, they can still get sick and spread it to others, too.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604926559777.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Many parents and educators are excited over the news that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by next week for youngsters ages 12 to 15. Officials are hoping that extending vaccinations to children will drive down the nation’s caseload even further and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruption this fall. It could also reassure parents and teachers alike. While children are less likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus, they can still get sick and spread it to others, too.

US parents excited over prospect of virus shots for children

Dr. Matthew Bruner, OB/GYN and Chief Medical Officer at Regional West Health Services based in Scottsbluff joined the regular Monday briefing to discuss COVID vaccines and answer questions from attendees. Bruner has been involved regionally and statewide in COVID response and addressed an array of misconceptions and information circulating.

One misconception has been commonly shared around the vaccine causing infertility.

“We’ve seen people into their second trimester who have received the vaccine prior to pregnancy. The concern has been debunked and this has been affirmed by reproductive endocrinologists,” said Dr. Bruner.

As a freedom-loving American, he believes people are able to make their own decisions, but those decisions involve the safety of the person and the safety of the population which is improved with vaccinations.

When asked about encouraging older people to get the vaccine, Dr. Bruner relayed the importance of weighing the risk and benefits. Some people find that 24-36 hours of potentially not feeling good is not worth it but what they don’t realize is this could keep them from having a very serious bout of COVID. Potential side effects are true with getting your shingles, whooping cough, and measles shots as well.

While he acknowledged the reluctance, he shared the importance of more people needing to get the COVID shot, or we must continue with social distancing and masking as it just prolongs the pandemic.

“The vaccines are safe and the ability of the vaccine to cover the disease is excellent. I encourage everybody to take the leap and get the vaccination. Finish the course, don’t skip it just with one [specific to a two-dose series]. Don’t be afraid of it, patients that we have seen recently in medical care have been unvaccinated individuals,” Dr. Bruner concluded.

Ample COVID vaccine supply and appointments are available. Panhandle residents 18 and older can self-schedule with two easy steps:

The two steps are encouraged to ease the vaccine process. There is no charge for the vaccine. Pfizer will be coming soon to the Panhandle. Teens ages 16 &amp; 17 can register now at vaccinate.ne.gov. For the Moderna shot, the second dose is needed to produce the best immunity results.

<a>People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to&nbsp;</a><a href="https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu</a>.

Unified Command confirms 20 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Monday, April 26.&nbsp;The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.

Doubling time (November 15, 2020 – May 3, 2021): 169 days

Avoid Crowded Places – Avoid gathering in groups where you cannot maintain 6-feet of distance from others

Avoid Close Contact – Wear a mask over your nose and mouth or maintain 6-feet distance when you are spending more than 15 total minutes with people you don’t live with

Avoid Confined Spaces – Avoid enclosed spaces with poor ventilation

Current COVID testing access can be found at www.pphd.org.

The Panhandle COVID dashboard is now being updated on Mondays only prior to the 3:30pm MT briefing and available at www.pphd.org. For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

By PPHDDr. Matthew Bruner, OB/GYN and Chief Medical Officer at Regional West Health Services based in Scottsbluff joined the regular Monday briefing to discuss COVID vaccines and answer questions from attendees. Bruner has been involved regionally and statewide in COVID response and addressed an array of misconceptions and information circulating.One misconception has been commonly shared around the vaccine causing infertility.“We’ve seen people into their second trimester who have received the vaccine prior to pregnancy. The concern has been debunked and this has been affirmed by reproductive endocrinologists,” said Dr. Bruner.As a freedom-loving American, he believes people are able to make their own decisions, but those decisions involve the safety of the person and the safety of the population which is improved with vaccinations.When asked about encouraging older people to get the vaccine, Dr. Bruner relayed the importance of weighing the risk and benefits. Some people find that 24-36 hours of potentially not feeling good is not worth it but what they don’t realize is this could keep them from having a very serious bout of COVID. Potential side effects are true with getting your shingles, whooping cough, and measles shots as well.While he acknowledged the reluctance, he shared the importance of more people needing to get the COVID shot, or we must continue with social distancing and masking as it just prolongs the pandemic.“The vaccines are safe and the ability of the vaccine to cover the disease is excellent. I encourage everybody to take the leap and get the vaccination. Finish the course, don’t skip it just with one [specific to a two-dose series]. Don’t be afraid of it, patients that we have seen recently in medical care have been unvaccinated individuals,” Dr. Bruner concluded.Ample COVID vaccine supply and appointments are available. Panhandle residents 18 and older can self-schedule with two easy steps:<ul>
 <li>Register on the vaccinate.ne.gov website.</li><li>For the corresponding counties, pick a location, day, and time that works for you.&nbsp;Dates and times will be added to the links as they are made available.</li><li>Box Butte/Grant:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/25mwaapu</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Cheyenne/Deuel:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5b5uac8p</a>,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>,&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Dawes/Sioux:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/x5d5nnbn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>,&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li><li>Garden:&nbsp;sign up at&nbsp;<a href="http://vaccinate.ne.gov/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>&nbsp;– a provider will call you</li><li>Kimball:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/d2u8txrs</a></li><li>Morrill:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/sb8mvumm</a></li><li>Sheridan:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/cvrmkv38</a></li><li>Scottsbluff/Banner:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/w6b84fkf" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/w6b84fkf</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/immunizations-flu-shots/1228302" target="_blank">walmart.com</a>,&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html" target="_blank">safeway.com</a></li>
 </ul>The two steps are encouraged to ease the vaccine process. There is no charge for the vaccine. Pfizer will be coming soon to the Panhandle. Teens ages 16 &amp; 17 can register now at vaccinate.ne.gov. For the Moderna shot, the second dose is needed to produce the best immunity results.<a>People who are fully COVID vaccinated will not be required to quarantine due to close contact. If you have lost your COVID vaccine card, go to&nbsp;</a><a href="https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2zh7uhhu</a>. Unified Command confirms 20 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Monday, April 26.&nbsp;The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620139196496.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>March 2, 2020-May 3, 2021Total Tests Conducted: 38,191Positive: 9,020Last 14 days (active) cases: 31Last week’s cases: 20Last week’s positivity rate: 5.3%Deaths: 191Active Hospitalizations: 2Total Cumulative Hospitalizations: 546Doubling time (November 15, 2020 – May 3, 2021): 169 daysAvoid the Three Cs:Avoid Crowded Places – Avoid gathering in groups where you cannot maintain 6-feet of distance from othersAvoid Close Contact – Wear a mask over your nose and mouth or maintain 6-feet distance when you are spending more than 15 total minutes with people you don’t live withAvoid Confined Spaces – Avoid enclosed spaces with poor ventilationCurrent COVID testing access can be found at www.pphd.org.The Panhandle COVID dashboard is now being updated on Mondays only prior to the 3:30pm MT briefing and available at www.pphd.org. For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Dr. Bruner: 'Don’t be afraid of it, the vaccines are safe,' more cases reported

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The pace of coronavirus vaccinations is slowing down across Nebraska as the state reported less than 100,000 shots were given in a week for the first time this month. 

State health officials said 93,284 doses of the vaccines were administered last week in Nebraska. That is less than half the 211,057 doses the state reported a week earlier. 

In each of the two previous weeks, roughly 120,000 doses of the shots were given statewide. 

Terra Uhing, who leads Three Rivers Public Health that serves Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties said there doesn't seem to be the same urgency to get the vaccine across the state.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The pace of coronavirus vaccinations is slowing down across Nebraska as the state reported less than 100,000 shots were given in a week for the first time this month. State health officials said 93,284 doses of the vaccines were administered last week in Nebraska. That is less than half the 211,057 doses the state reported a week earlier. In each of the two previous weeks, roughly 120,000 doses of the shots were given statewide. Terra Uhing, who leads Three Rivers Public Health that serves Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties said there doesn't seem to be the same urgency to get the vaccine across the state.

Pace of virus vaccinations slows across Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska plans to immediately resume using Johnson &amp; Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine after federal health officials decided the shot’s benefits outweigh a rare risk of developing blood clots. 

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced the decision on Monday. 

Federal health officials gave the OK to resume using the shots Friday. 

Use of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine was suspended earlier this month after federal health officials documented a handful of cases, including one in Nebraska, in which women developed blood clots in the days after receiving the single-dose vaccine. Three of the women who developed blood clots later died.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska plans to immediately resume using Johnson &amp; Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine after federal health officials decided the shot’s benefits outweigh a rare risk of developing blood clots. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced the decision on Monday. Federal health officials gave the OK to resume using the shots Friday. Use of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine was suspended earlier this month after federal health officials documented a handful of cases, including one in Nebraska, in which women developed blood clots in the days after receiving the single-dose vaccine. Three of the women who developed blood clots later died.

Nebraska to resume using Johnson & Johnson's virus vaccine

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand eligibility limits for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program" target="_blank">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>&nbsp;(SNAP), the program formerly known as food stamps. Proponents say&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB108.pdf" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 108</a>&nbsp;would help working families hit by the coronavirus pandemic's economic fallout. Shelley Mann, assistant director of SNAP at Food Bank for the Heartland, said her organization has not seen a hunger crisis on this scale in its 40-year history. She argued making SNAP accessible to more Nebraskans is critical because the program is a much more efficient way to feed people. "There's just no way that we can 'food bank' our way out of this increase in hunger," Mann contended. "For every meal provided by every food bank in the United States, there are nine additional meals provided by the food stamp program." The legislation aims to eliminate the so-called cliff effect, where workers who get promotions and small pay increases end up losing hundreds of dollars in food assistance. The measure would allow families to continue receiving help, in part by considering expenses including child care that make it harder to purchase food. Critics warn that expanding SNAP eligibility from Nebraskans earning 130% of the federal poverty level to 185% would disincentivize people from seeking work. Mann countered allowing workers to bring in a little more income without losing the assistance keeping them afloat will set them up for long-term success in the workforce, which will help families become less dependent on government programs and food pantries. "We are incentivizing work," Mann asserted. "We're incentivizing promotion, we're incentivizing taking more hours. Because we're saying 'If you do those things, we are not going to punish you.'" She added expanding SNAP eligibility also will help Nebraska's state and local economies recover from the public health crisis. Every dollar in federal benefits generates $1.70 in economic activity. Mann pointed out SNAP dollars are spent quickly and locally at farmer's markets and grocery stores.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571410354379.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From Nebraska News ConnectionBy Eric GalatasLINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand eligibility limits for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program" target="_blank">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>&nbsp;(SNAP), the program formerly known as food stamps. Proponents say&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB108.pdf" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 108</a>&nbsp;would help working families hit by the coronavirus pandemic's economic fallout. Shelley Mann, assistant director of SNAP at Food Bank for the Heartland, said her organization has not seen a hunger crisis on this scale in its 40-year history. She argued making SNAP accessible to more Nebraskans is critical because the program is a much more efficient way to feed people. "There's just no way that we can 'food bank' our way out of this increase in hunger," Mann contended. "For every meal provided by every food bank in the United States, there are nine additional meals provided by the food stamp program." The legislation aims to eliminate the so-called cliff effect, where workers who get promotions and small pay increases end up losing hundreds of dollars in food assistance. The measure would allow families to continue receiving help, in part by considering expenses including child care that make it harder to purchase food. Critics warn that expanding SNAP eligibility from Nebraskans earning 130% of the federal poverty level to 185% would disincentivize people from seeking work. Mann countered allowing workers to bring in a little more income without losing the assistance keeping them afloat will set them up for long-term success in the workforce, which will help families become less dependent on government programs and food pantries. "We are incentivizing work," Mann asserted. "We're incentivizing promotion, we're incentivizing taking more hours. Because we're saying 'If you do those things, we are not going to punish you.'" She added expanding SNAP eligibility also will help Nebraska's state and local economies recover from the public health crisis. Every dollar in federal benefits generates $1.70 in economic activity. Mann pointed out SNAP dollars are spent quickly and locally at farmer's markets and grocery stores.

Expanding access to SNAP could help more Nebraskans weather COVID


The risk dial moved from a 1.78 up to a 1.83, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:

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

There have been 27 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD. 


<a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">COVID-19 Risk Dial page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619187495731.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release West Central District Health Department
The risk dial moved from a 1.78 up to a 1.83, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:We had an increase in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R1: Cases
</li>
 </ul>The COVID-19 Risk Dial contains
recommended guidance to help prevent and control the spread of
COVID-19.While in the Moderate Risk category,
physical distance of 6 feet or greater, wearing face coverings when
outside the home, frequent handwashing (or use of hand sanitizer),
staying home if you are having flu-like or COVID-like symptoms,
disinfecting high touch surfaces, and having at-risk and vulnerable
people remain home are recommended as the greatest tools in reducing
the spread of COVID-19. For more information on recommendations for
the various risk categories of the WCDHD Community Risk Dial, please
visit the COVID-19 Risk Dial page on our website.There have been 27 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD. 
<a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">COVID-19 Risk Dial page</a>.For COVID-19 case number updates within
the West Central District Health Department Jurisdiction, check the
WCDHD Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation?:language=en&amp;:display_count=y&amp;:origin=viz_share_link">HERE</a>.

WCDHD COVID risk dial moves up

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska administered nearly 135,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines last week as the state continued to ramp up distribution of the shots. 

State health officials said 134,829 doses of the vaccines were administered last week, including one day when more than 40,000 shots were given. That is up from roughly 116,000 doses the week before. 

The state said Monday that 36.3% of the state’s population has now been fully vaccinated. 

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 484 new cases per day on April 3 to 323.71 new cases per day on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618856566652.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska administered nearly 135,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines last week as the state continued to ramp up distribution of the shots. State health officials said 134,829 doses of the vaccines were administered last week, including one day when more than 40,000 shots were given. That is up from roughly 116,000 doses the week before. The state said Monday that 36.3% of the state’s population has now been fully vaccinated. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 484 new cases per day on April 3 to 323.71 new cases per day on Saturday.

Nearly 135,000 virus shots given last week in Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) — The global death toll from the coronavirus topped a staggering 3 million people Saturday amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India and France.

The number of lives lost, <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">as compiled by Johns Hopkins University</a>, is about equal to the population of Kyiv, Ukraine; Caracas, Venezuela; or metropolitan Lisbon, Portugal. It is bigger than Chicago (2.7 million) and equivalent to Philadelphia and Dallas combined.

And the true number is believed to be significantly higher because of possible government concealment and the many cases overlooked in the early stages of the outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019.

When the world back in January passed the bleak threshold of 2 million deaths, immunization drives had just started in Europe and the United States. Today, they are underway in more than 190 countries, though progress in bringing the virus under control varies widely.

While the campaigns in the U.S. and Britain have hit their stride and people and businesses there are beginning to contemplate life after the pandemic, other places, mostly poorer countries but some rich ones as well, are lagging behind in putting shots in arms and have imposed new lockdowns and other restrictions as virus cases soar.

Worldwide, deaths are on the rise again, running at around 12,000 per day on average, and new cases are climbing too, eclipsing 700,000 a day.

“This is not the situation we want to be in 16 months into a pandemic, where we have proven control measures,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, one of the World Health Organization’s leaders on COVID-19.

In Brazil, where deaths are running at about 3,000 per day, accounting for one-quarter of the lives lost worldwide in recent weeks, the crisis has been likened to a “raging inferno” by one WHO official. A more contagious variant of the virus has been rampaging across the country.

As cases surge, hospitals are running out of critical sedatives. As a result, there have been reports of some doctors diluting what supplies remain and even tying patients to their beds while breathing tubes are pushed down their throats.

The slow vaccine rollout has crushed Brazilians’ pride in their own history of carrying out huge immunization campaigns that were the envy of the developing world.

Taking cues from President Jair Bolsonaro, who has likened the virus to little more than a flu, his Health Ministry for months bet big on a single vaccine, ignoring other producers. When bottlenecks emerged, it was too late to get large quantities in time.

Watching so many patients suffer and die alone at her Rio de Janeiro hospital impelled nurse Lidiane Melo to take desperate measures.

In the early days of the pandemic, as sufferers were calling out for comfort that she was too busy to provide, Melo filled two rubber gloves with warm water, knotted them shut, and sandwiched them around a patient’s hand to simulate a loving touch.

Some have christened the practice the “hand of God,” and it is now the searing image of a nation roiled by a medical emergency with no end in sight.

“Patients can’t receive visitors. Sadly, there’s no way. So it’s a way to provide psychological support, to be there together with the patient holding their hand,” Melo said. She added: “And this year it’s worse, the seriousness of patients is 1,000 times greater.”

This situation is similarly dire in India, where cases spiked in February after weeks of steady decline, taking authorities by surprise. In a surge driven by variants of the virus, India saw over 180,000 new infections in one 24-hour span during the past week, bringing the total number of cases to over 13.9 million.

Problems that India had overcome last year are coming back to haunt health officials. Only 178 ventilators were free Wednesday afternoon in New Delhi, a city of 29 million, where 13,000 new infections were reported the previous day.

The challenges facing India reverberate beyond its borders since the country is the biggest supplier of shots to COVAX, the U.N.-sponsored program to distribute vaccines to poorer parts of the world. Last month, India said it would suspend vaccine exports until the virus’s spread inside the country slows.

The WHO recently described the supply situation as precarious. Up to 60 countries might not receive any more shots until June, by one estimate. To date, COVAX has delivered about 40 million doses to more than 100 countries, enough to cover barely 0.25% of the world’s population.

Globally, about 87% of the 700 million doses dispensed have been given out in rich countries. While 1 in 4 people in wealthy nations have received a vaccine, in poor countries the figure is 1 in more than 500.

In recent days, the U.S. and some European countries put the use of Johnson &amp; Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine on hold while authorities investigate extremely rare but dangerous blood clots. AstraZeneca’s vaccine has likewise been hit with delays and restrictions because of a clotting scare.

Another concern: Poorer countries are relying on vaccines made by China and Russia, which some scientists believe provide less protection than those made by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Last week, the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged the country’s vaccines offer low protection and said officials are considering mixing them with other shots to improve their effectiveness.

In the U.S., where over 560,000 lives have been lost, accounting for more than 1 in 6 of the world’s COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped, businesses are reopening, and life is beginning to return to something approaching normalcy in several states. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, a post-COVID-19 low.

But progress has been patchy, and new hot spots — most notably Michigan — have flared up in recent weeks. Still, deaths in the U.S. are down to about 700 per day on average, plummeting from a mid-January peak of about 3,400.

In Europe, countries are feeling the brunt of a more contagious variant that first ravaged Britain and has pushed the continent’s COVID-19-related death toll beyond 1 million.

Close to 6,000 gravely ill patients are being treated in French critical care units, numbers not seen since the first wave a year ago.

Dr. Marc Leone, head of intensive care at the North Hospital in Marseille, said exhausted front-line staff members who were feted as heroes at the start of the pandemic now feel alone and are clinging to hope that renewed school closings and other restrictions will help curb the virus in the coming weeks.

“There’s exhaustion, more bad tempers. You have to tread carefully because there are a lot of conflicts,” he said. “We’ll give everything we have to get through these 15 days as best we can.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618692413792.png" alt="John Hopkins -Number of Daily Deaths" />
 <figcaption>John Hopkins -Number of Daily Deaths</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The global death toll from the coronavirus topped a staggering 3 million people Saturday amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India and France.The number of lives lost, <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">as compiled by Johns Hopkins University</a>, is about equal to the population of Kyiv, Ukraine; Caracas, Venezuela; or metropolitan Lisbon, Portugal. It is bigger than Chicago (2.7 million) and equivalent to Philadelphia and Dallas combined.And the true number is believed to be significantly higher because of possible government concealment and the many cases overlooked in the early stages of the outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019.When the world back in January passed the bleak threshold of 2 million deaths, immunization drives had just started in Europe and the United States. Today, they are underway in more than 190 countries, though progress in bringing the virus under control varies widely.While the campaigns in the U.S. and Britain have hit their stride and people and businesses there are beginning to contemplate life after the pandemic, other places, mostly poorer countries but some rich ones as well, are lagging behind in putting shots in arms and have imposed new lockdowns and other restrictions as virus cases soar.Worldwide, deaths are on the rise again, running at around 12,000 per day on average, and new cases are climbing too, eclipsing 700,000 a day.“This is not the situation we want to be in 16 months into a pandemic, where we have proven control measures,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, one of the World Health Organization’s leaders on COVID-19.In Brazil, where deaths are running at about 3,000 per day, accounting for one-quarter of the lives lost worldwide in recent weeks, the crisis has been likened to a “raging inferno” by one WHO official. A more contagious variant of the virus has been rampaging across the country.As cases surge, hospitals are running out of critical sedatives. As a result, there have been reports of some doctors diluting what supplies remain and even tying patients to their beds while breathing tubes are pushed down their throats.The slow vaccine rollout has crushed Brazilians’ pride in their own history of carrying out huge immunization campaigns that were the envy of the developing world.Taking cues from President Jair Bolsonaro, who has likened the virus to little more than a flu, his Health Ministry for months bet big on a single vaccine, ignoring other producers. When bottlenecks emerged, it was too late to get large quantities in time.Watching so many patients suffer and die alone at her Rio de Janeiro hospital impelled nurse Lidiane Melo to take desperate measures.In the early days of the pandemic, as sufferers were calling out for comfort that she was too busy to provide, Melo filled two rubber gloves with warm water, knotted them shut, and sandwiched them around a patient’s hand to simulate a loving touch.Some have christened the practice the “hand of God,” and it is now the searing image of a nation roiled by a medical emergency with no end in sight.“Patients can’t receive visitors. Sadly, there’s no way. So it’s a way to provide psychological support, to be there together with the patient holding their hand,” Melo said. She added: “And this year it’s worse, the seriousness of patients is 1,000 times greater.”This situation is similarly dire in India, where cases spiked in February after weeks of steady decline, taking authorities by surprise. In a surge driven by variants of the virus, India saw over 180,000 new infections in one 24-hour span during the past week, bringing the total number of cases to over 13.9 million.Problems that India had overcome last year are coming back to haunt health officials. Only 178 ventilators were free Wednesday afternoon in New Delhi, a city of 29 million, where 13,000 new infections were reported the previous day.The challenges facing India reverberate beyond its borders since the country is the biggest supplier of shots to COVAX, the U.N.-sponsored program to distribute vaccines to poorer parts of the world. Last month, India said it would suspend vaccine exports until the virus’s spread inside the country slows.The WHO recently described the supply situation as precarious. Up to 60 countries might not receive any more shots until June, by one estimate. To date, COVAX has delivered about 40 million doses to more than 100 countries, enough to cover barely 0.25% of the world’s population.Globally, about 87% of the 700 million doses dispensed have been given out in rich countries. While 1 in 4 people in wealthy nations have received a vaccine, in poor countries the figure is 1 in more than 500.In recent days, the U.S. and some European countries put the use of Johnson &amp; Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine on hold while authorities investigate extremely rare but dangerous blood clots. AstraZeneca’s vaccine has likewise been hit with delays and restrictions because of a clotting scare.Another concern: Poorer countries are relying on vaccines made by China and Russia, which some scientists believe provide less protection than those made by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.Last week, the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged the country’s vaccines offer low protection and said officials are considering mixing them with other shots to improve their effectiveness.In the U.S., where over 560,000 lives have been lost, accounting for more than 1 in 6 of the world’s COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped, businesses are reopening, and life is beginning to return to something approaching normalcy in several states. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, a post-COVID-19 low.But progress has been patchy, and new hot spots — most notably Michigan — have flared up in recent weeks. Still, deaths in the U.S. are down to about 700 per day on average, plummeting from a mid-January peak of about 3,400.In Europe, countries are feeling the brunt of a more contagious variant that first ravaged Britain and has pushed the continent’s COVID-19-related death toll beyond 1 million.Close to 6,000 gravely ill patients are being treated in French critical care units, numbers not seen since the first wave a year ago.Dr. Marc Leone, head of intensive care at the North Hospital in Marseille, said exhausted front-line staff members who were feted as heroes at the start of the pandemic now feel alone and are clinging to hope that renewed school closings and other restrictions will help curb the virus in the coming weeks.“There’s exhaustion, more bad tempers. You have to tread carefully because there are a lot of conflicts,” he said. “We’ll give everything we have to get through these 15 days as best we can.”

Global COVID deaths on the rise again, top 3 million

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say the highly contagious variant of COVID-19 first found in South Africa, known as B.1.351, has now been found in Nebraska. 

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services say in a news release Friday that the first case of the variant was recently confirmed in a Lancaster County resident. 

News of the discovery of the variant comes as the agency says about 524,000, or just over 35% of Nebraskans, have been fully vaccinated. 

Everyone 16 and older in Nebraska is now eligible to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say the highly contagious variant of COVID-19 first found in South Africa, known as B.1.351, has now been found in Nebraska. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services say in a news release Friday that the first case of the variant was recently confirmed in a Lancaster County resident. News of the discovery of the variant comes as the agency says about 524,000, or just over 35% of Nebraskans, have been fully vaccinated. Everyone 16 and older in Nebraska is now eligible to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

South African variant of COVID-19 found in Nebraska


The risk dial moved from a 1.83 down to a 1.78, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:

There have been 38 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618569127589.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release West Central District Health Department
The risk dial moved from a 1.83 down to a 1.78, which is in the
moderate risk level. There were changes in the following variables
that contributed to movement in the dial:We had an increase in the following: 
<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R2: Case Rate per
	Million
	</li><li>Measure ID R8: Individuals
	Affected
</li>
 </ul>We had a decrease in the following:<ul>
 <li>Measure ID R1: Cases
	</li><li>Measure ID R7: Contact Tracing
</li>
 </ul>The COVID-19 Risk Dial contains
recommended guidance to help prevent and control the spread of
COVID-19.While in the Moderate Risk category,
physical distance of 6 feet or greater, wearing face coverings when
outside the home, frequent handwashing (or use of hand sanitizer),
staying home if you are having flu-like or COVID-like symptoms,
disinfecting high touch surfaces, and having at-risk and vulnerable
people remain home are recommended as the greatest tools in reducing
the spread of COVID-19. For more information on recommendations for
the various risk categories of the WCDHD Community Risk Dial, please
visit the COVID-19 Risk Dial page on our website.There have been 38 new cases of
COVID-19 reported to WCDHD.<a href="https://wcdhd.org/coronavirus/risk-dial.html">COVID-19 Risk Dial page</a>For COVID-19 case number updates within
the West Central District Health Department Jurisdiction, check the
WCDHD Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/CaseInformation?:language=en&amp;:display_count=y&amp;:origin=viz_share_link">HERE</a>.

WCDHD COVID risk dial falls, risk remains moderate

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials continue to find more coronavirus cases caused by different strains of the virus in the state. 

Health officials said 291 cases of variants of the virus have been confirmed in Nebraska, up from 237 a week ago. 

Most of those cases were caused by a variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom that is more contagious. 

The state said the number of people hospitalized with the virus in the state has generally been increasing since late March although the number has declined slightly in the past few days and it remains well below the peak of 987 reached in November.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials continue to find more coronavirus cases caused by different strains of the virus in the state. Health officials said 291 cases of variants of the virus have been confirmed in Nebraska, up from 237 a week ago. Most of those cases were caused by a variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom that is more contagious. The state said the number of people hospitalized with the virus in the state has generally been increasing since late March although the number has declined slightly in the past few days and it remains well below the peak of 987 reached in November.

Coronavirus Update