Unified Command confirms two new cases for COVID-19 in Morrill County. A female in her teens is a close contact of a previously positive case. The other case is a female in her 50s and acquired through community spread.

Both investigations are complete. Close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored twice daily for fever and respiratory symptoms by public health officials.

o Four have recovered and are out of isolation

o 10 have recovered and are out of isolation

o One case has recovered and is out of isolation

o 22 have recovered and are out of isolation

All Panhandle residents are encouraged to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected. What does this mean to you?

• Do not visit or host people who do not live with you.

• Keep at least 6 feet distance from anyone you don’t live with.

• Stay home if you are sick or if someone in your home is sick.

• Stay in touch with friends and loved ones

• Check in on people who may be alone or need help.

Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners.

For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

By PPHDUnified Command confirms two new cases for COVID-19 in Morrill County. A female in her teens is a close contact of a previously positive case. The other case is a female in her 50s and acquired through community spread.Both investigations are complete. Close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored twice daily for fever and respiratory symptoms by public health officials.March 2-May 4, 2020Positive: 55Recovered: 37· Box Butte County: 1 case· Cheyenne County: 7 caseso Four have recovered and are out of isolation· Kimball County: 10 Caseso 10 have recovered and are out of isolation· Morrill County: 3 Caseo One case has recovered and is out of isolation· Scotts Bluff County: 34 Caseso 22 have recovered and are out of isolationAll Panhandle residents are encouraged to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected. What does this mean to you?Stay Home• Stay home whenever possible.• Avoid gathering in any groups.• Do not visit or host people who do not live with you.Stay Healthy• Keep at least 6 feet distance from anyone you don’t live with.• Wash your hands• Stay home if you are sick or if someone in your home is sick.Stay Connected• Stay in touch with friends and loved ones• Check in on people who may be alone or need help.Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners.For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

Two new cases in Morrill Co., Panhandle total positive count 55

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CDC issues guidance for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, homes, businesses

NEW YORK (AP) - Many Americans are getting their first taste of what pandemic shopping looks like at their local mall.

Simon Property Group, the nation's largest mall operator, reopened several dozen shopping centers across Texas, Georgia and roughly ten other states between Friday and Monday.

There, a new reality is on display: Play areas and water fountains are off limits. Employees wear masks and shopping in groups is banned. Shoppers can also get their temperature checked for free on the premises.

Among other changes: Every other urinal and sink is taped off, and there's ample space between seating in the food court. Simon also has technologies that will make sure occupancy will not exceed one person for every 50 feet (15 meters).

But despite all the safety measures, the question remains: Will anyone come?

"There are still a lot of people who are scared," said Jon Reily, global head of commerce strategy at Isobar Global, a global digital agency. "The tricky part for malls is finding that sweet spot. Yes, you can come here and yes, you can be safe."

So far, the early signs haven't been encouraging.

At Simon's Town Center at Cobb, which reopened Monday in Kennesaw, a suburb of Atlanta, many of the stores remained closed. Those still dark and locked by gates included Starbucks, Victoria Secret, Helzberg Diamonds and the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Some of the kiosks selling jewelry, cell phones and T-shirts were open, though others were closed.

For sale at one of the kiosks: A black-and-white T-shirt emblazoned with a gas mask and the words "I Survived Coronavirus 2020."

Douglas Butler, 28, arrived at Simon's Lenox Square mall in Atlanta around 11 a.m. on Monday. It was much less crowded than normal, and he easily found a parking spot in the normally packed lot.

Mall employees were handing out masks at the door, and just about everyone was wearing one while also maintaining distance from other shoppers, he said. Many stores still weren't open, especially the higher-end and designer stores. He bought two new pairs of shoes for his 4-year-old son. He added he might pick up something for himself as well.

"Since I'm here, I might as well," Butler said. "Everybody has a sale on. If you're open, you have a sale."

Meanwhile, a Nebraska mall got off to a subdued start Friday morning with just a few shops welcoming customers and about half a dozen patrons wandering the open-air facility wearing masks.

Nebraska Crossing resumed business with new safety measures, including hand sanitizing stations, plexiglass barriers and signs to promote social distancing guidelines. A handful of mall patrons walked through mostly empty pathways between stores, glancing into shop windows.

"I do think it's a little soon, but it's kind of slow and there aren't a lot of people here, so I'm not too worried," said Jasmine Ramos of Omaha.

Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University who has been consulting businesses and governors on reopenings, agrees that it is too soon. There first needs to be a "long-term verifiable significant reduction" in cases and ample virus testing and contact tracing, he said.

And shoppers should be required to wear masks, he said.

"Malls are inherently risky places for transmission of the coronavirus by design," he said. "They are there to have a lot of people congregating among each other and among the staff."

Given so much uncertainty, many major national mall operators have held off on announcing reopening plans and are weighing safety protocols while waiting for stay-at-home restrictions to be lifted.

Taubman Centers, which operates 26 malls worldwide and is being acquired by Indianapolis-based Simon, said it plans to open three malls - two in Florida and one in Utah- on Wednesday. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based CBL Properties, which owns and manages 108 properties, said it will be announcing its reopening plans on a property-by-property basis.

Even before the cornonavirus pandemic, malls were grappling with a shift to online retail as well as shoppers who'd grown bored of department stores and specialty chains like The Gap. That resulted in a number of bankruptcies and liquidations of stores.

The coronavirus has brought further peril by derailing consumer spending and scaring off public gatherings.

Jan Rogers Kniffen, a consultant to investors in retail companies and a former retail executive, now expects that 500 of the 1,000 malls in the U.S. will either close or be unrecognizable in two years. Before the pandemic, he expected 300 to shutter by 2030.

The imminent demise of several key tenants could also leave shoppers with fewer places to spend. J.Crew, saddled by debt, filed for Chapter 11 on Monday, becoming the first major retailer to do so. J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus are also expected to file for Chapter 11.

And Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette told analysts Thursday that it would emerge from this crisis as a "smaller company." That's bad news because 60% of U.S. malls are still anchored by department stores, according to research firm Green Street Advisors.

Macy's reopened nearly 70 stores Monday, with many just focusing only on curbside pickup. Gennette said he expects less than 20% of the business to come back at first. And shoppers will notice a lot of changes: The chain is banning spa-like services, as well as bra fitting and ear piercing. For clothes that have been tried or returned, workers will take them off the sales floor for 24 hours.

Higher-end malls are expected to survive the crisis because owners like Simon, which operates 200 properties in 37 states, have enough money to cover losses. A Simon spokesperson declined to comment.

There was already a growing gap between the high- and low-end malls. While vacancies at top malls have remained tight at 2.7 %, the bottom-rung of malls are struggling with an average vacancy rate of 7.9% as of the first three months of 2020, according to Kevin Cody, senior consultant at CoStar Portfolio.

"It's really a tale of two cities," said Steve Dennis, president and CEO of SageBerry Consulting, a retail consultancy. "(The crisis) really pushes the extremes further apart."

William Taubman, chief operating officer at Taubman Centers, which operates such high-end centers as The Mall at Short Hills in N.J. and Beverly Centers in Los Angeles, said he believes the carnage in stores in communities will only fortify business at malls like his. He feels heartened that Taubman's mall business in South Korea is exceeding sales prior to the pandemic. In China, business is "not quite there but almost there."

Taubman said he thinks many are interested in getting out but "they may come less frequently." He expects spending will be higher for each trip.

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO-Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) - Many Americans are getting their first taste of what pandemic shopping looks like at their local mall.Simon Property Group, the nation's largest mall operator, reopened several dozen shopping centers across Texas, Georgia and roughly ten other states between Friday and Monday.There, a new reality is on display: Play areas and water fountains are off limits. Employees wear masks and shopping in groups is banned. Shoppers can also get their temperature checked for free on the premises.Among other changes: Every other urinal and sink is taped off, and there's ample space between seating in the food court. Simon also has technologies that will make sure occupancy will not exceed one person for every 50 feet (15 meters).But despite all the safety measures, the question remains: Will anyone come?"There are still a lot of people who are scared," said Jon Reily, global head of commerce strategy at Isobar Global, a global digital agency. "The tricky part for malls is finding that sweet spot. Yes, you can come here and yes, you can be safe."So far, the early signs haven't been encouraging.At Simon's Town Center at Cobb, which reopened Monday in Kennesaw, a suburb of Atlanta, many of the stores remained closed. Those still dark and locked by gates included Starbucks, Victoria Secret, Helzberg Diamonds and the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Some of the kiosks selling jewelry, cell phones and T-shirts were open, though others were closed.For sale at one of the kiosks: A black-and-white T-shirt emblazoned with a gas mask and the words "I Survived Coronavirus 2020."Douglas Butler, 28, arrived at Simon's Lenox Square mall in Atlanta around 11 a.m. on Monday. It was much less crowded than normal, and he easily found a parking spot in the normally packed lot.Mall employees were handing out masks at the door, and just about everyone was wearing one while also maintaining distance from other shoppers, he said. Many stores still weren't open, especially the higher-end and designer stores. He bought two new pairs of shoes for his 4-year-old son. He added he might pick up something for himself as well."Since I'm here, I might as well," Butler said. "Everybody has a sale on. If you're open, you have a sale."Meanwhile, a Nebraska mall got off to a subdued start Friday morning with just a few shops welcoming customers and about half a dozen patrons wandering the open-air facility wearing masks.Nebraska Crossing resumed business with new safety measures, including hand sanitizing stations, plexiglass barriers and signs to promote social distancing guidelines. A handful of mall patrons walked through mostly empty pathways between stores, glancing into shop windows."I do think it's a little soon, but it's kind of slow and there aren't a lot of people here, so I'm not too worried," said Jasmine Ramos of Omaha.Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University who has been consulting businesses and governors on reopenings, agrees that it is too soon. There first needs to be a "long-term verifiable significant reduction" in cases and ample virus testing and contact tracing, he said.And shoppers should be required to wear masks, he said."Malls are inherently risky places for transmission of the coronavirus by design," he said. "They are there to have a lot of people congregating among each other and among the staff."Given so much uncertainty, many major national mall operators have held off on announcing reopening plans and are weighing safety protocols while waiting for stay-at-home restrictions to be lifted.Taubman Centers, which operates 26 malls worldwide and is being acquired by Indianapolis-based Simon, said it plans to open three malls - two in Florida and one in Utah- on Wednesday. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based CBL Properties, which owns and manages 108 properties, said it will be announcing its reopening plans on a property-by-property basis.Even before the cornonavirus pandemic, malls were grappling with a shift to online retail as well as shoppers who'd grown bored of department stores and specialty chains like The Gap. That resulted in a number of bankruptcies and liquidations of stores.The coronavirus has brought further peril by derailing consumer spending and scaring off public gatherings.Jan Rogers Kniffen, a consultant to investors in retail companies and a former retail executive, now expects that 500 of the 1,000 malls in the U.S. will either close or be unrecognizable in two years. Before the pandemic, he expected 300 to shutter by 2030.The imminent demise of several key tenants could also leave shoppers with fewer places to spend. J.Crew, saddled by debt, filed for Chapter 11 on Monday, becoming the first major retailer to do so. J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus are also expected to file for Chapter 11.And Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette told analysts Thursday that it would emerge from this crisis as a "smaller company." That's bad news because 60% of U.S. malls are still anchored by department stores, according to research firm Green Street Advisors.Macy's reopened nearly 70 stores Monday, with many just focusing only on curbside pickup. Gennette said he expects less than 20% of the business to come back at first. And shoppers will notice a lot of changes: The chain is banning spa-like services, as well as bra fitting and ear piercing. For clothes that have been tried or returned, workers will take them off the sales floor for 24 hours.Higher-end malls are expected to survive the crisis because owners like Simon, which operates 200 properties in 37 states, have enough money to cover losses. A Simon spokesperson declined to comment.There was already a growing gap between the high- and low-end malls. While vacancies at top malls have remained tight at 2.7 %, the bottom-rung of malls are struggling with an average vacancy rate of 7.9% as of the first three months of 2020, according to Kevin Cody, senior consultant at CoStar Portfolio."It's really a tale of two cities," said Steve Dennis, president and CEO of SageBerry Consulting, a retail consultancy. "(The crisis) really pushes the extremes further apart."William Taubman, chief operating officer at Taubman Centers, which operates such high-end centers as The Mall at Short Hills in N.J. and Beverly Centers in Los Angeles, said he believes the carnage in stores in communities will only fortify business at malls like his. He feels heartened that Taubman's mall business in South Korea is exceeding sales prior to the pandemic. In China, business is "not quite there but almost there."Taubman said he thinks many are interested in getting out but "they may come less frequently." He expects spending will be higher for each trip.

What's shopping in a pandemic like? Drive to your local mall

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota pork processing plant took its first steps toward reopening Monday after being shuttered for over two weeks because of a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 800 employees.

As two departments opened at the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, employees filed through a tent where they were screened for fever and other signs of COVID-19. Some said they felt the measures Smithfield has taken would protect them from another virus outbreak, while others were not confident that infections could be halted in a crowded plant.

Lydia Toby, who works in the ground seasoned pork department, said she was “kind of worried” as she entered the plant before 6 a.m. for her first shift in over two weeks. The company met employees in her department Friday and explained they had installed dividers on the production line and would require everyone to wear masks.

“I think it’s going to be OK,” she said.

In the wake of an executive order from President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fb38a5a53ac1a92039bc0a4b545b19d7">ordering meat plants to remain open,</a>&nbsp;Arkansas-based Tyson Foods was also resuming “limited production” Monday at its pork plant in Logansport, Indiana, where nearly 900 employees tested positive. And the JBS pork plant in Worthington, Minnesota — just an hour east of Smithfield’s South Dakota plant — planned a partial reopening on Wednesday.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday called meatpacking plants — along with nursing homes — “the most dangerous places there are right now.” He called for greater protections for meatpacking workers.

“They designate them as essential workers and then treat them as disposable,” Biden said.

In a teleconference town hall with the League of United Latin American Citizens, Biden also noted that their employees may include workers who are in the country illegally and are afraid to seek medical help.

Virginia-based Smithfield is offering COVID-19 testing to all employees and their family members, according to a text message sent to employees and seen by The Associated Press. The message told employees to report to a local high school to be tested. It wasn’t clear if testing was required before employees could return, and Smithfield didn’t immediately respond to questions.

About 250 employees were told to report to work on Monday, according to the union that represents them. The plant employees about 3,700 workers and produces roughly 5% of the nation’s pork.

Salaheldin Ahmed, who works in a department that has not yet reopened, said he was called in by plant management to look at changes in the plant.

“They fixed a lot of things,” he said, describing how workers would be spread apart where possible.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Friday, more than 4,900 workers at meat and poultry processing facilities have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including 20 who died. Some states didn’t provide data, so the actual count is believed to be higher. The true number of COVID-19 infections is also thought to be far higher than the number of confirmed cases because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

The CDC researchers said plant workers may be at risk for a number of reasons, including difficulties with physical distancing and hygiene, and crowded living and transportation conditions. They suggested enhanced disinfection and that workers get regular screening for the virus, more space from co-workers and training materials in their native languages. Many meatpacking employees are immigrants; a CDC report on the Smithfield outbreak found that employees there spoke about 40 different languages.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents roughly 80% of beef and pork workers and 33% of poultry workers nationwide, has called for stricter measures than the CDC recommendations, including mandating that workers be spaced 6 feet apart on production lines. It has appealed to governors for help enforcing worker safety rules. The union also wants to get rid of waivers that allow some plants to operate at faster speeds.

As plants warily reopen or others operate at diminished capacity with many workers staying home sick or in fear,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6c6711b16d68ebde1b2cd8060f431774">it’s unclear Trump’s order will guarantee an unbroken supply of meat</a>.

Tyson Foods reported record meat sales in the first quarter but warned investors Monday that it faces continued production slowdowns. Company officials said it expected lower productivity “in the short term until local infection rates begin to decrease.”

Zach Medhaug, a maintenance employee at Tyson’s pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa, said he will feel comfortable returning to work when the plant reopens, even as he fears that one of his closest colleagues may soon die from the coronavirus.

Jose Ayala, 44, is in critical condition on a ventilator at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after catching the virus a month ago. Medhaug has been calling Ayala, who is medically paralyzed but may still be able to hear, encouraging him to keep fighting.

Medhaug tested positive himself for the coronavirus on April 20. He said he had mild symptoms and expects to return to work later this week at the plant, which suspended production April 22. Medhaug said Tyson has made key safety changes, such as vowing to enforce rather than just encourage social distancing and providing employees with masks instead of telling them to bring their own.

“That’s a huge step,” he said. “The people returning, I see them having a better chance of not getting it at all.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586983231357.png" alt="Smithfield plant in South Dakota -google image" />
 <figcaption>Smithfield plant in South Dakota -google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota pork processing plant took its first steps toward reopening Monday after being shuttered for over two weeks because of a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 800 employees.As two departments opened at the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, employees filed through a tent where they were screened for fever and other signs of COVID-19. Some said they felt the measures Smithfield has taken would protect them from another virus outbreak, while others were not confident that infections could be halted in a crowded plant.Lydia Toby, who works in the ground seasoned pork department, said she was “kind of worried” as she entered the plant before 6 a.m. for her first shift in over two weeks. The company met employees in her department Friday and explained they had installed dividers on the production line and would require everyone to wear masks.“I think it’s going to be OK,” she said.In the wake of an executive order from President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fb38a5a53ac1a92039bc0a4b545b19d7">ordering meat plants to remain open,</a>&nbsp;Arkansas-based Tyson Foods was also resuming “limited production” Monday at its pork plant in Logansport, Indiana, where nearly 900 employees tested positive. And the JBS pork plant in Worthington, Minnesota — just an hour east of Smithfield’s South Dakota plant — planned a partial reopening on Wednesday.Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday called meatpacking plants — along with nursing homes — “the most dangerous places there are right now.” He called for greater protections for meatpacking workers.“They designate them as essential workers and then treat them as disposable,” Biden said.In a teleconference town hall with the League of United Latin American Citizens, Biden also noted that their employees may include workers who are in the country illegally and are afraid to seek medical help.Virginia-based Smithfield is offering COVID-19 testing to all employees and their family members, according to a text message sent to employees and seen by The Associated Press. The message told employees to report to a local high school to be tested. It wasn’t clear if testing was required before employees could return, and Smithfield didn’t immediately respond to questions.About 250 employees were told to report to work on Monday, according to the union that represents them. The plant employees about 3,700 workers and produces roughly 5% of the nation’s pork.Salaheldin Ahmed, who works in a department that has not yet reopened, said he was called in by plant management to look at changes in the plant.“They fixed a lot of things,” he said, describing how workers would be spread apart where possible.According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Friday, more than 4,900 workers at meat and poultry processing facilities have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including 20 who died. Some states didn’t provide data, so the actual count is believed to be higher. The true number of COVID-19 infections is also thought to be far higher than the number of confirmed cases because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.The CDC researchers said plant workers may be at risk for a number of reasons, including difficulties with physical distancing and hygiene, and crowded living and transportation conditions. They suggested enhanced disinfection and that workers get regular screening for the virus, more space from co-workers and training materials in their native languages. Many meatpacking employees are immigrants; a CDC report on the Smithfield outbreak found that employees there spoke about 40 different languages.The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents roughly 80% of beef and pork workers and 33% of poultry workers nationwide, has called for stricter measures than the CDC recommendations, including mandating that workers be spaced 6 feet apart on production lines. It has appealed to governors for help enforcing worker safety rules. The union also wants to get rid of waivers that allow some plants to operate at faster speeds.As plants warily reopen or others operate at diminished capacity with many workers staying home sick or in fear,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6c6711b16d68ebde1b2cd8060f431774">it’s unclear Trump’s order will guarantee an unbroken supply of meat</a>.Tyson Foods reported record meat sales in the first quarter but warned investors Monday that it faces continued production slowdowns. Company officials said it expected lower productivity “in the short term until local infection rates begin to decrease.”Zach Medhaug, a maintenance employee at Tyson’s pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa, said he will feel comfortable returning to work when the plant reopens, even as he fears that one of his closest colleagues may soon die from the coronavirus.Jose Ayala, 44, is in critical condition on a ventilator at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after catching the virus a month ago. Medhaug has been calling Ayala, who is medically paralyzed but may still be able to hear, encouraging him to keep fighting.Medhaug tested positive himself for the coronavirus on April 20. He said he had mild symptoms and expects to return to work later this week at the plant, which suspended production April 22. Medhaug said Tyson has made key safety changes, such as vowing to enforce rather than just encourage social distancing and providing employees with masks instead of telling them to bring their own.“That’s a huge step,” he said. “The people returning, I see them having a better chance of not getting it at all.”

Meatpackers cautiously reopen plants amid coronavirus fears

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska relaxed some of its social-distancing restrictions Monday in the Omaha area and more than half of the state's counties, but Gov. Pete Ricketts implored people who are still living in more heavily regulated areas to stay put.

Ricketts asked residents in hard-hit areas, such as Grand Island and Dakota City, not to venture away from their regions out of concern that they might spread the coronavirus. Unlike many other states, Ricketts has imposed public safety restrictions in Nebraska on a regional basis, by local public health district. The rules are designed to keep the virus from spreading so fast that it overwhelms the state's hospitals.

Ricketts was asked Monday at a news conference whether he was concerned about people crossing into less restricted areas to dine out, which they're now able to do in the Omaha area. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0118fc41858257cfd21276cea75a4a03" target="_blank">new, lighter rules</a>&nbsp;in 59 of Nebraska's 93 counties allow salons, tattoo parlors and restaurant dining rooms to reopen with limits on the number of people that can be present.

"There are going to be border issues just like there border issues with the states," he said. "But we are asking people to do the right thing and continue to stay home if your public health district's restrictions have not been loosened."

Regions of Nebraska that have seen a recent surge in coronavirus cases are still operating under tougher restrictions. Those rules prohibit restaurants from opening their dining areas and have required salons and tattoo parlors to close. Lincoln will remain under the tougher standards&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0118fc41858257cfd21276cea75a4a03" target="_blank">until Sunday</a>.

The governor faced similar questions from constituents Monday afternoon during his monthly call-in radio show, including one concern that the effort may be self-defeating. Since the number of cases can vary widely among counties within the same public health district, people may be encouraged to travel from closed counties to open counties, undercutting the original goal.

Ricketts said his administration plans to keep watch on the number of cases through May and will consider easing additional restrictions.

His comments came as two more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Nebraska, bringing the state's death total to 78.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the two deaths it reported late Sunday occurred in south-central Nebraska's Dawson County. Also on Sunday, Holt County in north-central Nebraska reported its first confirmed case of the virus.

Nebraska saw its&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraska.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4213f719a45647bc873ffb58783ffef3" target="_blank">number of confirmed cases</a>&nbsp;soar to nearly 6,000 by Monday morning, jumping from 4,838 confirmed cases on Friday. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher than the number of confirmed cases, though, because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected without feeling sick.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough 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, including pneumonia.

The new cases were reported as statewide restrictions in Nebraska are set to be eased starting Monday, when restaurants and businesses can reopen and religious gatherings can resume, though social distancing requirements will remain in place.

Associated Press reporter Margery A. Beck contributed from Omaha

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska relaxed some of its social-distancing restrictions Monday in the Omaha area and more than half of the state's counties, but Gov. Pete Ricketts implored people who are still living in more heavily regulated areas to stay put.Ricketts asked residents in hard-hit areas, such as Grand Island and Dakota City, not to venture away from their regions out of concern that they might spread the coronavirus. Unlike many other states, Ricketts has imposed public safety restrictions in Nebraska on a regional basis, by local public health district. The rules are designed to keep the virus from spreading so fast that it overwhelms the state's hospitals.Ricketts was asked Monday at a news conference whether he was concerned about people crossing into less restricted areas to dine out, which they're now able to do in the Omaha area. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0118fc41858257cfd21276cea75a4a03" target="_blank">new, lighter rules</a>&nbsp;in 59 of Nebraska's 93 counties allow salons, tattoo parlors and restaurant dining rooms to reopen with limits on the number of people that can be present."There are going to be border issues just like there border issues with the states," he said. "But we are asking people to do the right thing and continue to stay home if your public health district's restrictions have not been loosened."Regions of Nebraska that have seen a recent surge in coronavirus cases are still operating under tougher restrictions. Those rules prohibit restaurants from opening their dining areas and have required salons and tattoo parlors to close. Lincoln will remain under the tougher standards&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0118fc41858257cfd21276cea75a4a03" target="_blank">until Sunday</a>.The governor faced similar questions from constituents Monday afternoon during his monthly call-in radio show, including one concern that the effort may be self-defeating. Since the number of cases can vary widely among counties within the same public health district, people may be encouraged to travel from closed counties to open counties, undercutting the original goal.Ricketts said his administration plans to keep watch on the number of cases through May and will consider easing additional restrictions.His comments came as two more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Nebraska, bringing the state's death total to 78.The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the two deaths it reported late Sunday occurred in south-central Nebraska's Dawson County. Also on Sunday, Holt County in north-central Nebraska reported its first confirmed case of the virus.Nebraska saw its&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraska.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4213f719a45647bc873ffb58783ffef3" target="_blank">number of confirmed cases</a>&nbsp;soar to nearly 6,000 by Monday morning, jumping from 4,838 confirmed cases on Friday. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher than the number of confirmed cases, though, because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected without feeling sick.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough 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, including pneumonia.The new cases were reported as statewide restrictions in Nebraska are set to be eased starting Monday, when restaurants and businesses can reopen and religious gatherings can resume, though social distancing requirements will remain in place.___Associated Press reporter Margery A. Beck contributed from Omaha

Gov. Ricketts: Don't visit areas with eased rules

Nebraska Joint Information Center Update (May 4, 2020)

Public Health Command Center Update May 4, 2020

Public Health Command Center Update May 4, 2020<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwcdhd%2Fvideos%2F526884974660740%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>

🎥 Public Health Command Center Update from North Platte (May 4, 2020)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in South Dakota (all times local):

Some meatpackers are returning to work at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls.

The company is opening part of the plant Monday after being closed for more than two weeks.

The meatpacking plant asked about 250 employees to report to work in two departments — ground pork and night cleanup, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers local union.

The coronavirus has infected 853 of the plant's 3,100 workers.

Smithfield has told employees who are sick, those over 60 or who have existing health problems to stay home, according to the union.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

Meanwhile, OSHA is looking into worker complaints that the plant operated under unsafe conditions, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/05/02/union-smithfield-foods-sioux-falls-partially-reopen-monday/3071666001/">Argus Leader</a>&nbsp;reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention toured the facility last month and recommended several changes to reduce crowding, especially in the break and locker rooms and cafeterias.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in South Dakota (all times local):6:50 a.m.Some meatpackers are returning to work at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls.The company is opening part of the plant Monday after being closed for more than two weeks.The meatpacking plant asked about 250 employees to report to work in two departments — ground pork and night cleanup, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers local union.The coronavirus has infected 853 of the plant's 3,100 workers.Smithfield has told employees who are sick, those over 60 or who have existing health problems to stay home, according to the union.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.Meanwhile, OSHA is looking into worker complaints that the plant operated under unsafe conditions, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/05/02/union-smithfield-foods-sioux-falls-partially-reopen-monday/3071666001/">Argus Leader</a>&nbsp;reported.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention toured the facility last month and recommended several changes to reduce crowding, especially in the break and locker rooms and cafeterias.

Some Smithfield employees return to work

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Two additional deaths related to COVID-19 were reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Sunday.

They occurred in the Two Rivers Public Health District, in Dawson County.

In addition, Holt County reported its first case.

Local health departments are reporting deaths and cases in their jurisdictions. In the event of a discrepancy between DHHS dashboard data and deaths or cases reported by local public health officials, data reported by the local health department should be considered the most up to date.

The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 78, according to the DHHS data dashboard. The state case total, as of 5:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time, is 5,659. Nebraska's COVID-19 case totals are updated daily at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;

Governor Pete Ricketts recently announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">TestNebraska&nbsp;</a>, a public-private partnership designed to increase testing capacity and #CrushTheCurve in Nebraska. The Governor is urging all Nebraskans to take the assessment provided on the TestNebraska website to help identify cases of COVID-19 in the state. After taking the assessment participants who fit the criteria will be notified via phone or email that they qualify to be tested for COVID-19. Nebraskans can take the assessment at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">https://www.testnebraska.com/&nbsp;</a>

DHHS supports Governor Ricketts in urging Nebraskans to follow the&nbsp;Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.&nbsp;

Recent studies show that a significant portion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and those who eventually develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html&nbsp;</a>.

Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Public health officials continue to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus.

Here's where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC's website –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645 or toll-free at (833) 998-2275; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CDT, 7 days a week.

DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC's website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

News ReleaseLINCOLN –&nbsp;Two additional deaths related to COVID-19 were reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Sunday.They occurred in the Two Rivers Public Health District, in Dawson County.In addition, Holt County reported its first case.Local health departments are reporting deaths and cases in their jurisdictions. In the event of a discrepancy between DHHS dashboard data and deaths or cases reported by local public health officials, data reported by the local health department should be considered the most up to date.The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 78, according to the DHHS data dashboard. The state case total, as of 5:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time, is 5,659. Nebraska's COVID-19 case totals are updated daily at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;Governor Pete Ricketts recently announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">TestNebraska&nbsp;</a>, a public-private partnership designed to increase testing capacity and #CrushTheCurve in Nebraska. The Governor is urging all Nebraskans to take the assessment provided on the TestNebraska website to help identify cases of COVID-19 in the state. After taking the assessment participants who fit the criteria will be notified via phone or email that they qualify to be tested for COVID-19. Nebraskans can take the assessment at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">https://www.testnebraska.com/&nbsp;</a>DHHS supports Governor Ricketts in urging Nebraskans to follow the&nbsp;Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Stay home.&nbsp; No non-essential errands and no social gatherings.&nbsp; Respect the ten-person limits.</li><li>Socially distance your work.&nbsp; Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.&nbsp;</li><li>Shop alone.&nbsp; Do this only once a week and do not take your family with you.</li><li>Help kids social distance. Play at home, no group sports and no playgrounds.</li><li>Help seniors stay at home.&nbsp; This can be done by shopping for them.&nbsp; Do not visit long-term facilities.&nbsp;</li><li>Exercise daily.&nbsp; Do your best to stay as healthy and safe as you can.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>Recent studies show that a significant portion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and those who eventually develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html&nbsp;</a>.Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Public health officials continue to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus.Here's where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC's website –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645 or toll-free at (833) 998-2275; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CDT, 7 days a week.DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC's website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

DHHS reports two additional COVID-19 related deaths on Sunday

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus outbreak</a>&nbsp;— and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show.

Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable.

The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6a8f85aad99607f313cca6ab1398e04d">the government’s response to the virus was slow</a>&nbsp;and inadequate. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home.

Not classified but marked “for official use only,” the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states.

The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply.

Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report.

China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8.

Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government’s missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world’s medical supplies.

In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact.

“Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.,” Trump wrote without citing specifics. “Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.”

Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9499f7b8ab2ae7097c8588f1ccdddea">some kind of horrible “mistake.”</a>&nbsp;His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab.

Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”

“These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. “And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.”

The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon.

Experts say the virus arose naturally in bats, and make it clear that they believe it wasn’t human-made. Many virologists say the chance that the outbreak was caused by a lab accident is very low, though scientists are still working to determine a point at which it may have jumped from animals to humans.

Beijing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/887c6ae4116951bb9bc7375e3dc8b158">has repeatedly pushed back</a>&nbsp;on U.S. accusations that the outbreak was China’s fault, pointing to many missteps made by American officials in their own fight against the outbreak. China’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/68a9e1b91de4ffc166acd6012d82c2f9">public announcement on Jan. 20</a>&nbsp;that the virus was transmissible from person to person left the U.S. nearly two months to prepare for the pandemic, during which the U.S. government failed to bolster medical supplies and deployed flawed testing kits.

“The U.S. government has ignored the facts, diverted public attention and engaged in buck-passing in an attempt to shirk its responsibility for incompetence in the fight against the epidemic,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586382948325.png" alt="Secretary of State Mike Pompeo greets President Trump during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing last month -White House image" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Mike Pompeo greets President Trump during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing last month -White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus outbreak</a>&nbsp;— and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show.Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable.The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6a8f85aad99607f313cca6ab1398e04d">the government’s response to the virus was slow</a>&nbsp;and inadequate. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home.Not classified but marked “for official use only,” the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states.The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply.Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report.China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8.Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government’s missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world’s medical supplies.In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact.“Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.,” Trump wrote without citing specifics. “Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.”Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9499f7b8ab2ae7097c8588f1ccdddea">some kind of horrible “mistake.”</a>&nbsp;His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab.Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”“These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. “And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.”The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon.Experts say the virus arose naturally in bats, and make it clear that they believe it wasn’t human-made. Many virologists say the chance that the outbreak was caused by a lab accident is very low, though scientists are still working to determine a point at which it may have jumped from animals to humans.Beijing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/887c6ae4116951bb9bc7375e3dc8b158">has repeatedly pushed back</a>&nbsp;on U.S. accusations that the outbreak was China’s fault, pointing to many missteps made by American officials in their own fight against the outbreak. China’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/68a9e1b91de4ffc166acd6012d82c2f9">public announcement on Jan. 20</a>&nbsp;that the virus was transmissible from person to person left the U.S. nearly two months to prepare for the pandemic, during which the U.S. government failed to bolster medical supplies and deployed flawed testing kits.“The U.S. government has ignored the facts, diverted public attention and engaged in buck-passing in an attempt to shirk its responsibility for incompetence in the fight against the epidemic,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday.___

Report: China hid coronavirus' severity to hoard supplies

Unified Command confirms three new cases for COVID-19 in Scotts Bluff County. &nbsp;All three cases are males, one in his 50s and two in their 20s, are close contacts of a previously positive case. The investigation is complete. &nbsp;

Close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored twice daily for fever and respiratory symptoms by public health officials. 

Four have recovered and are out of isolation

10 have recovered and are out of isolation

One case has recovered and is out of isolation

22 have recovered and are out of isolation

All Panhandle residents are encouraged to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected. What does this mean to you? &nbsp;

Do not visit or host people who do not live with you. &nbsp;

Keep at least 6 feet distance from anyone you don’t live with.

Stay home if you are sick or if someone in your home is sick.

Stay in touch with friends and loved ones

Check in on people who may be alone or need help.

Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners. 

Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. &nbsp;Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

By PPHDUnified Command confirms three new cases for COVID-19 in Scotts Bluff County. &nbsp;All three cases are males, one in his 50s and two in their 20s, are close contacts of a previously positive case. The investigation is complete. &nbsp;Close contacts will be quarantined and actively monitored twice daily for fever and respiratory symptoms by public health officials. March 2-May 3, 2020Positive: 53Recovered: 37Box Butte County: 1 caseCheyenne County: 7 casesFour have recovered and are out of isolationKimball County: 10 Cases10 have recovered and are out of isolationMorrill County: 1 CaseOne case has recovered and is out of isolationScotts Bluff County: 34 Cases22 have recovered and are out of isolationAll Panhandle residents are encouraged to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected. What does this mean to you? &nbsp;Stay Home Stay home whenever possible. Avoid gathering in any groups.Do not visit or host people who do not live with you. &nbsp;Stay HealthyKeep at least 6 feet distance from anyone you don’t live with.Wash your handsStay home if you are sick or if someone in your home is sick.Stay ConnectedStay in touch with friends and loved onesCheck in on people who may be alone or need help.Panhandle Public Health District, Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Management, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department are working as a unified command on this evolving situation. Essential updates will be regularly communicated to the public and community partners. For the most up to date information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. &nbsp;Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.org.

Three new cases in Scotts Bluff Co., Panhandle total positive count 53

For millions of people around the world dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, sleep brings no relief.

The horrors of COVID-19, and the surreal and frightening ways it has upended daily life, are infecting dreams and exposing feelings of fear, loss, isolation and grief that transcend culture, language and national boundaries.

Everyone from a college teacher in Pakistan to a mall cashier in Canada to an Episcopalian priest in Florida is confronting the same daytime demon. Each is waking up in a sweat in the dead of night.

Experts say humanity has rarely experienced “collective dreaming” on such a broad scale in recorded history — and certainly never while also being able to share those nightmares in real time.

“It’s that alarming feeling of when you wake up and think, ‘Thank heavens I woke up,’” said Holly Smith, an elementary school librarian in Detroit. “Once it hits your dreams, you think, ‘Great, now I can’t even escape there.’”

The psychological toll is staggering, particularly for health care workers whose dreams show similarities to those of combat veterans and 9/11 responders, said Deirdre Barrett, a Harvard University professor who is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B8S75CN" target="_blank">surveying</a>&nbsp;COVID dreamers worldwide. She has collected 6,000 dream samples from about 2,400 people.

So many people are sharing accounts of dreams online that there’s a Twitter account dedicated to gathering them in a virtual library under the handle “I Dream of COVID.”

“As far as I know, no one has dream samples from the flu pandemic of 1918 — and that would probably be the most comparable thing,” said Barrett, who has studied the dreams of 9/11 survivors and British prisoners of war in World War II. “Now we just all have our smartphones by our bed, so you can just reach over and speak it or type it down. Recording our dreams has never been easier.”

The dreams are also exposing what is bothering us the most about the pandemic. The themes seem universal.

Dreams of a safe place suddenly overtaken by the virus speak to contagion’s terrifying invisibility, says Cathy Caruth, a professor at Cornell University who has studied trauma for 30 years. Pandemic dreams, she says, are reminiscent of the experience of Hiroshima survivors, who worried about invisible radiation exposure, and also of some nightmares described by Vietnam veterans.

“They seem to be in part about things that are hard to grasp, what it means that anybody can be a threat and you can be a threat to everybody,” Caruth said.

Episcopalian priest Mary Alice Mathison dreamed 500 people showed up for a funeral in her church and wouldn’t go home. Other dreams underscore that no one knows how the pandemic will end. In those, the dreamer wakes with a start before learning how it turned out.

Ashley Trevino is still trying to process one terrifying dream. The 24-year-old barista is out of work due to the pandemic and was spooked when officials announced the first COVID-19 death in her central Texas county.

A few days later, she dreamed she and her girlfriend were in line to enter a dark, metal warehouse where they’d be injected with the new coronavirus by government workers wearing Hazmat suits. Fluorescent lights in the parking lot cast an eerie glow as she watched her partner get the shot and gasp for breath. Then she got the shot, too.

“I watched her kind of collapse against the wall and while I was trying to fight the effects of it and not pass out myself, I was like ... ‘Is she dead now?’”

Trevino woke up whimpering. She immediately felt an impulse to share her nightmare with someone — anyone — and tweeted it to the world from her bed.

In Pakistan’s Punjab province, a college literature teacher described dreaming she was one of only 100 people left on the planet who didn’t have COVID-19. The infected population had gained political control and was chasing the uninfected “so the world would become the same for everyone,” said Roha Rafiq, 28.

Rafiq is terrified for her elderly father, who insists on going to prayers every day despite a cough and a stay-at-home order. “I think,” she said in a Twitter direct message, “this anxiety has given me this dream.”

According to Barrett, many people dream they are sick with COVID-19 or of being overcome by what seem to be stand-ins for the virus: swarms of bugs, slithering worms, witches, grasshoppers with fangs. Others dream of being in crowded public places without a mask or proper social distancing.

Still others dream of losing control. In one such dream, the dreamer was held down by infected people who coughed on her. In another, the dreamer came across bands of people shooting at random strangers.

Most are lower-level anxiety dreams, not trauma-induced nightmares. But that changes dramatically for frontline health workers, Barrett says.

“The health care providers are the ones who look like a trauma population. They are having flat-out nightmares that reenact the things they’re experiencing and … they all have the theme that ‘I am responsible for saving this person’s life and I’m not succeeding and this person is about to die,’” she said.

“And when they dream about their child or parent getting it, for the care providers there’s always the next step in the dream where they realize ... ‘I gave it to them.’”

Even the simple, unadorned dreams — far from the drama of the ICU — seem poignant right now. Some people dream of getting a hug, attending a party, getting a haircut, going to the library.

Lauren Nickols, 30, an avid reader, stocked up on library books before Ohio’s stay-at-home order. Now her supply is running low. She recently dreamed her dresser was piled with books. She found the dream reassuring, but a reminder of the mundane things that have been lost.

“I guess it’s a bit of a sense of shared community, but it’s also really sad that we’re all missing things. It really shows you all the things you do without realizing it,” she says. “And now that you can’t, it’s a shock to the system.”

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated PressFor millions of people around the world dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, sleep brings no relief.The horrors of COVID-19, and the surreal and frightening ways it has upended daily life, are infecting dreams and exposing feelings of fear, loss, isolation and grief that transcend culture, language and national boundaries.Everyone from a college teacher in Pakistan to a mall cashier in Canada to an Episcopalian priest in Florida is confronting the same daytime demon. Each is waking up in a sweat in the dead of night.Experts say humanity has rarely experienced “collective dreaming” on such a broad scale in recorded history — and certainly never while also being able to share those nightmares in real time.“It’s that alarming feeling of when you wake up and think, ‘Thank heavens I woke up,’” said Holly Smith, an elementary school librarian in Detroit. “Once it hits your dreams, you think, ‘Great, now I can’t even escape there.’”The psychological toll is staggering, particularly for health care workers whose dreams show similarities to those of combat veterans and 9/11 responders, said Deirdre Barrett, a Harvard University professor who is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B8S75CN" target="_blank">surveying</a>&nbsp;COVID dreamers worldwide. She has collected 6,000 dream samples from about 2,400 people.So many people are sharing accounts of dreams online that there’s a Twitter account dedicated to gathering them in a virtual library under the handle “I Dream of COVID.”“As far as I know, no one has dream samples from the flu pandemic of 1918 — and that would probably be the most comparable thing,” said Barrett, who has studied the dreams of 9/11 survivors and British prisoners of war in World War II. “Now we just all have our smartphones by our bed, so you can just reach over and speak it or type it down. Recording our dreams has never been easier.”The dreams are also exposing what is bothering us the most about the pandemic. The themes seem universal.Dreams of a safe place suddenly overtaken by the virus speak to contagion’s terrifying invisibility, says Cathy Caruth, a professor at Cornell University who has studied trauma for 30 years. Pandemic dreams, she says, are reminiscent of the experience of Hiroshima survivors, who worried about invisible radiation exposure, and also of some nightmares described by Vietnam veterans.“They seem to be in part about things that are hard to grasp, what it means that anybody can be a threat and you can be a threat to everybody,” Caruth said.Episcopalian priest Mary Alice Mathison dreamed 500 people showed up for a funeral in her church and wouldn’t go home. Other dreams underscore that no one knows how the pandemic will end. In those, the dreamer wakes with a start before learning how it turned out.Ashley Trevino is still trying to process one terrifying dream. The 24-year-old barista is out of work due to the pandemic and was spooked when officials announced the first COVID-19 death in her central Texas county.A few days later, she dreamed she and her girlfriend were in line to enter a dark, metal warehouse where they’d be injected with the new coronavirus by government workers wearing Hazmat suits. Fluorescent lights in the parking lot cast an eerie glow as she watched her partner get the shot and gasp for breath. Then she got the shot, too.“I watched her kind of collapse against the wall and while I was trying to fight the effects of it and not pass out myself, I was like ... ‘Is she dead now?’”Trevino woke up whimpering. She immediately felt an impulse to share her nightmare with someone — anyone — and tweeted it to the world from her bed.In Pakistan’s Punjab province, a college literature teacher described dreaming she was one of only 100 people left on the planet who didn’t have COVID-19. The infected population had gained political control and was chasing the uninfected “so the world would become the same for everyone,” said Roha Rafiq, 28.Rafiq is terrified for her elderly father, who insists on going to prayers every day despite a cough and a stay-at-home order. “I think,” she said in a Twitter direct message, “this anxiety has given me this dream.”According to Barrett, many people dream they are sick with COVID-19 or of being overcome by what seem to be stand-ins for the virus: swarms of bugs, slithering worms, witches, grasshoppers with fangs. Others dream of being in crowded public places without a mask or proper social distancing.Still others dream of losing control. In one such dream, the dreamer was held down by infected people who coughed on her. In another, the dreamer came across bands of people shooting at random strangers.Most are lower-level anxiety dreams, not trauma-induced nightmares. But that changes dramatically for frontline health workers, Barrett says.“The health care providers are the ones who look like a trauma population. They are having flat-out nightmares that reenact the things they’re experiencing and … they all have the theme that ‘I am responsible for saving this person’s life and I’m not succeeding and this person is about to die,’” she said.“And when they dream about their child or parent getting it, for the care providers there’s always the next step in the dream where they realize ... ‘I gave it to them.’”Even the simple, unadorned dreams — far from the drama of the ICU — seem poignant right now. Some people dream of getting a hug, attending a party, getting a haircut, going to the library.Lauren Nickols, 30, an avid reader, stocked up on library books before Ohio’s stay-at-home order. Now her supply is running low. She recently dreamed her dresser was piled with books. She found the dream reassuring, but a reminder of the mundane things that have been lost.“I guess it’s a bit of a sense of shared community, but it’s also really sad that we’re all missing things. It really shows you all the things you do without realizing it,” she says. “And now that you can’t, it’s a shock to the system.”

`Infecting our dreams': Pandemic sabotages sleep worldwide

The
West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) has four
new cases of COVID-19 from Lincoln County. Two females,
one in her 30’s and the other in her 20’s, a male under the
age of 18, and a male in his 50’s. All individuals are isolating
at home.

“All
of these cases are still under investigation to determine how the virus was contracted,” said Shannon Vanderheiden of WCDHD.

To
date, we have tested
762 individuals in Lincoln County for Coronavirus (COVID-19).&nbsp;
Of the tested 762,
thirty-three have
been positive. Five are travel-related, six
are community spread, sixteen are due to close contact, and the
remaining six
are
under investigation.&nbsp;Sixteen
of these cases have recovered, fourteen are self-isolating, one is in
the hospital, and two people have passed away. All thirty-three
cases
are within Lincoln County. Stay informed of new cases by visiting
our website at<a href="https://wcdhd.org/">
</a><a href="https://wcdhd.org/">https://wcdhd.org/</a>
(information
will be updated daily at 5:45 PM).

<a></a>
Social and physical
distancing helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Public
health officials would like to remind you that if you have a fever of
over 100.4 or symptoms of respiratory illness, please self-isolate
and contact your healthcare provider for additional guidance.&nbsp;
If you are tested, have been in direct contact of a lab-confirmed
case, or traveled outside of Nebraska in the last two weeks REGISTER
with WCDHD at
<a href="https://consultinglhd.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a67PjRi6skYXMrP">https://consultinglhd.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a67PjRi6skYXMrP</a>

The
West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) has four
new cases of COVID-19 from Lincoln County. Two females,
one in her 30’s and the other in her 20’s, a male under the
age of 18, and a male in his 50’s. All individuals are isolating
at home. 
“All
of these cases are still under investigation to determine how the virus was contracted,” said Shannon Vanderheiden of WCDHD.To
date, we have tested
762 individuals in Lincoln County for Coronavirus (COVID-19).&nbsp;
Of the tested 762,
thirty-three have
been positive. Five are travel-related, six
are community spread, sixteen are due to close contact, and the
remaining six
are
under investigation.&nbsp;Sixteen
of these cases have recovered, fourteen are self-isolating, one is in
the hospital, and two people have passed away. All thirty-three
cases
are within Lincoln County. Stay informed of new cases by visiting
our website at<a href="https://wcdhd.org/">
</a><a href="https://wcdhd.org/">https://wcdhd.org/</a>
(information
will be updated daily at 5:45 PM).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588548435377.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a></a>
Social and physical
distancing helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. 
This
includes:<ol>
 <li>Stay
	home and practice social and physical distancingStay
		HomeAvoid
		gatherings, if you must gather, keep individuals to 10 or less
	
	</li><li>Stay
		Home
		</li><li>Avoid
		gatherings, if you must gather, keep individuals to 10 or less
	</li><li>When
	out stay 6 foot away from others
	</li><li>Cough
	and/or sneeze into your elbow
	</li><li>Wash
	your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds
	</li><li>Do
	not touch your face
	</li><li>Wear
	a community mask - this will help mitigate the spread of the virus
</li>
 </ol>Public
health officials would like to remind you that if you have a fever of
over 100.4 or symptoms of respiratory illness, please self-isolate
and contact your healthcare provider for additional guidance.&nbsp;
If you are tested, have been in direct contact of a lab-confirmed
case, or traveled outside of Nebraska in the last two weeks REGISTER
with WCDHD at
<a href="https://consultinglhd.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a67PjRi6skYXMrP">https://consultinglhd.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a67PjRi6skYXMrP</a>

Four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Lincoln County

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials are struggling to keep up with the flood of unemployment claims that have been filed since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Nebraska Labor Commissioner John Albin said the state has been adding workers and streamlining its processes, but there have still been unacceptable delays that left workers waiting for their checks.

"I apologize if anyone's been out there waiting a long time," Albin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omaha.com/news/state_and_regional/nebraska-official-apologizes-as-jobless-workers-still-awaiting-checks-feel-frustrated-forgotten/article_f5eaf30a-1857-529b-8fcc-782ec4c61d62.html" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>to the Omaha World-Herald for a story published Sunday. "I don't know that it's any comfort but we're not meeting our own standards on this."

Since March 8, the state has received 129,309 new unemployment claims, which is more that the total claims filed during the three previous years combined. The state has processed 96,024 of those claims, but that leaves 33,000 requiring a response.

Albin said the state normally tries to process all new jobless claims within 21 days. During this crisis, the Department of Labor is trying to process 75% of applications within 28 days, but has fallen short of that goal.

Jessica Wagner of Fremont said she's frustrated after waiting more than a month for her unemployment claim to be approved.

"If we cannot count on Nebraska to assist with benefits our employers have paid in on during times of crisis, when can we count on them?" she wrote in a letter to the World-Herald.

The state has increased the number of claims adjusters from 34 to 166 by drafting workers from other departments to help, and has signed a $1.7 million contract with Nelnet in Lincoln to add 100 more to help handle claims.

Nebraska officials also contracted with North End Teleservices in Omaha for $1.3 million to add 36 people to answer phone calls and live chat inquiries, but they have struggled to keep up with the volume of calls.

The governor signed an order last week that should help streamline the process for workers who had multiple employers during the period before they became unemployed. Albin estimated that's 40% of the people filing claims.

The state usually collects information from all those employers before approving a claim, but that has been difficult with so many businesses closed. The governor's order allows unemployment claims to be approved with information only from a person's most recent employer.

"We're hustling like crazy on this," Albin said. "One way or another, we're going to get there."

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials are struggling to keep up with the flood of unemployment claims that have been filed since the coronavirus pandemic began.Nebraska Labor Commissioner John Albin said the state has been adding workers and streamlining its processes, but there have still been unacceptable delays that left workers waiting for their checks."I apologize if anyone's been out there waiting a long time," Albin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omaha.com/news/state_and_regional/nebraska-official-apologizes-as-jobless-workers-still-awaiting-checks-feel-frustrated-forgotten/article_f5eaf30a-1857-529b-8fcc-782ec4c61d62.html" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>to the Omaha World-Herald for a story published Sunday. "I don't know that it's any comfort but we're not meeting our own standards on this."Since March 8, the state has received 129,309 new unemployment claims, which is more that the total claims filed during the three previous years combined. The state has processed 96,024 of those claims, but that leaves 33,000 requiring a response.Albin said the state normally tries to process all new jobless claims within 21 days. During this crisis, the Department of Labor is trying to process 75% of applications within 28 days, but has fallen short of that goal.Jessica Wagner of Fremont said she's frustrated after waiting more than a month for her unemployment claim to be approved."If we cannot count on Nebraska to assist with benefits our employers have paid in on during times of crisis, when can we count on them?" she wrote in a letter to the World-Herald.The state has increased the number of claims adjusters from 34 to 166 by drafting workers from other departments to help, and has signed a $1.7 million contract with Nelnet in Lincoln to add 100 more to help handle claims.Nebraska officials also contracted with North End Teleservices in Omaha for $1.3 million to add 36 people to answer phone calls and live chat inquiries, but they have struggled to keep up with the volume of calls.The governor signed an order last week that should help streamline the process for workers who had multiple employers during the period before they became unemployed. Albin estimated that's 40% of the people filing claims.The state usually collects information from all those employers before approving a claim, but that has been difficult with so many businesses closed. The governor's order allows unemployment claims to be approved with information only from a person's most recent employer."We're hustling like crazy on this," Albin said. "One way or another, we're going to get there."State health officials said the number of confirmed virus cases increased by 488 to 5,326 this weekend, and three additional deaths were reported. Nebraska has now had 76 deaths linked to COVID-19. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher, because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected without feeling sick.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough 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, including pneumonia.

Coronavirus Update