04/14/2020
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2878054158930255&id=142693325799699
We had a Merrick County Response call this morning that included the Central District Health Department. Here is part of that update:
• 211 positive cases as of 4/13/2020, with 3 cases being in Merrick County. There were only 68 last week at this time.
• The National Guard was able to help administer tests last week. In total since the beginning, about 1,000 tests have been administered, with the positive rate being around 22%. That is higher than the average. Yesterday, they reached out again for additional help to bring them back and those details are still being worked out. The goal is that regardless of insurance, people are going to have access to these tests.
• Swabs are in short supply; they are working on requesting more as well as more ventilators.
• They are working on housing availability for individuals who have tested positive or who have been exposed. DHHS has arranged with four different hotels in Grand Island to house people. Those may be open to Merrick County residents as well.
• Anticipate peak in Hall County at end of week 4 and currently on week 3. We wanted a slow curve but on a high curve right now. While Merrick has had a great response so far with few cases, she anticipates it will get here eventually.
• They are working with long term care facilities and nursing homes to ensure safety and encouraging staff to have conversations about “Do not Resuscitate” orders as it applies to COVID-19.
• CHI St. Francis is nearing capacity in its ICU and with its ventilator usage. Ensuring they have enough staff is also a challenge, as higher acuity patients require more staff.
• They have brought in more nurses to assist the health department in making phone calls to those who are infected.
• If you have a positive case, the recommendation is to stay home 7 days from onset of symptoms or 3 days once resolved whichever is longer.
• If you’ve been around someone tested positive, self-quarantine for 14 days. Close contact defined as being within 6 feet of someone for 10 minutes or longer.
• We are currently in “Week 3” and if we follow the trends of other areas, cases will be the highest at “Week 4”, with the curve lasting at least another 4 weeks after that.
• Directed Health Measures are recommended by the Central District Health Department, then approved by their Chief Medical Officer, then approved by the Governor. City and County officials are then required to enforce them.
• They are seeing symptoms be more wide ranging, to include the following: fever of 100.0, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste/smell and other digestive issues (vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach).
• Call anytime with questions you have about COVID-19. During the week, you can call 308-385-5175. On the weekends/afterhours, you can call 308-385-5370.
