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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589598016909.png" alt="Gov. Ricketts (podium) speaks at this afternoon’s press briefing." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Ricketts (podium) speaks at this afternoon’s press briefing.</figcaption>
 </figure>News ReleaseLINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts highlighted the State’s work to support long-term care (LTC) facilities during the pandemic. &nbsp;He previewed a new tool being developed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to help LTC facilities assess and improve their preparedness planning.&nbsp;Becky Wisell, Interim Deputy Director of Health Licensure and Environmental Health for the Division of Public Health at DHHS, joined the Governor today.&nbsp; She detailed the State’s ongoing efforts to assist LTC facilities in mitigating the spread of the virus.Chris Mehaffey, Scout Executive of the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America, gave an update on the Scouts’ activities to serve Nebraskans with food insecurity.&nbsp; He invited Nebraskans to participate in the “Scouting for Food” drive that is collecting supplies for food banks tomorrow (May 16th).Gov. Ricketts: Test Nebraska·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We continue to encourage people to take the [TestNebraska.com]TestNebraska.com assessment.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a reminder, Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk, and Lexington are testing today.o&nbsp;&nbsp;More mobile testing sites will be announced in the near future.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Again, I want to remind people, scheduling for testing has been filling up quickly.o&nbsp;&nbsp;More testing slots will be opening up, so we encourage people to be patient.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Test Nebraska testing is by appointment only. &nbsp;Don’t just show up to the testing site.o&nbsp;&nbsp;You need to take the assessment at [TestNebraska.com]TestNebraska.com and then work to schedule a time.Gov. Ricketts: Long-Term Care Facilities·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our seniors are one of our most vulnerable populations, and they have been hit especially hard during the pandemic.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have been asking Nebraskans not to visit long-term care facilities at this time.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As we work to get back to a more normal life, we are partnering with long-term care facilities to develop plans to protect their residents.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Similar to meat processing facilities, Shelly Schwedhelm and her team from UNMC are touring LTC facilities to help improve their social mitigation efforts.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The State will be asking every LTC facility to submit a plan to protect their residents and keep their facility running. &nbsp;We are in the process of developing a template to help facilities create their plan. &nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We expect to deliver this template to LTC facilities in the next week or so.Becky Wisell: Long-Term Care Facilities·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Care for residents in LTC facilities is a top priority for DHHS.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ve been working closely with LTC facilities, Local Health Departments, and other partners so that they can continue to provide quality care to residents in their communities.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our role is as a resource to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DHHS has developed a long-term care COVID-19 response planning tool.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is a tool to assist nursing homes and assisted-living facilities in the development of a comprehensive COVID-19 response plan.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tool covers key areas that facilities should consider in their planning, such as:o&nbsp;&nbsp;Rapid identification and management of ill residents.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Visitation policies.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Supplies and resources.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Infection control and disinfection protocols.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Surge capacity for staffing.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tool also includes helpful information such as:o&nbsp;&nbsp;Mental health resources for residents and staff.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Guidance on how to request personal protective equipment (PPE) from the State.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tool can be used to self-assess strengths and weaknesses of current preparedness efforts.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It can also provide guidance for circumstances that may not yet have occurred at every facility.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Every facility is expected to complete a plan. &nbsp;Once the plan is completed, facilities should send an email notification with the facility’s name and license number to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dhhs.healthcarefacilities@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">DHHS.HealthCareFacilities@nebraska.gov</a>.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The State will send out the long-term care COVID-19 response planning tool to LTC facilities in the near future.Chris Mehaffey: Boy Scouts of America Food Drive·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Scouts’ Mid-America Council has put together a “Scouting for Food” drive.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is a time of unprecedented need for food banks.&nbsp; For example, the Food Bank for the Heartland has seen its need go up more than 40%, on average, in recent weeks.&nbsp; Meanwhile, incoming donations have fallen dramatically.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That’s why Scouting for Food is especially important this spring.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On average, we collect more than 300,000 meals each year.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Boy Scouts canvassed communities last week to provide information about the food drive.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In those neighborhoods, we’re requesting that households do the following:o&nbsp;&nbsp;Put food in a plastic sack, knot it at the top, and leave it at the end of your driveway by tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m.§&nbsp;&nbsp;Food should be non-perishable, such as canned goods, macaroni, peanut butter, and jelly.o&nbsp;&nbsp;If you do not want to leave food outside, please visit a participating Hy-Vee or food bank to drop off your donation.§&nbsp;&nbsp;Drop-off locations are listed on our website (<a href="https://mac-bsa.org/scouting-tools/community-service/scouting-for-food/" target="_blank">click here</a>&nbsp;to view).o&nbsp;&nbsp;If you’re unable to take part in tomorrow’s food drive, consider going to Food Bank for the Heartland’s website (<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffoodbankheartland.org%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C64dae991f0154eb8fd2e08d7f913d425%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637251735862104416&amp;sdata=yyiylR4L1TOJ30B8C7Velq2kIyUpyQl6chbl%2FbsjIIM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">foodbankheartland.org</a>)&nbsp;to make a monetary donation or to volunteer to pack meals.&nbsp;Gov. Ricketts: National Guard Flyover·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska Air National Guard plans a flyover salute to healthcare professionals and all Nebraskans responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. &nbsp;Weather caused the postponement of the flyover originally planned for earlier this week, but it has been rescheduled for Monday, May 18th.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraskans are encouraged to view the flyovers from the safety of their homes or workplaces&nbsp;while practicing physical distancing. &nbsp;Anyone working in and living around these facilities should have no problem seeing or hearing the aircraft.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Watch the National Guard’s Facebook page for more information:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNebraskaNationalGuard&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7C64dae991f0154eb8fd2e08d7f913d425%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637251735862104416&amp;sdata=IKwSA5c4F5V7wGiE68AqJRZCc7yKMsdRvUY1DFmtvWk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/NebraskaNationalGuard</a>.Full video of today’s press briefing will be available after 6:30 p.m. by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jibguxil57mbngd/AADySA2xMufYcvqL89VT13Loa?dl=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Gov. Ricketts highlights state's work to promote well being at long-term care facilities