New Directed Health Measure changes quarantine time

Governor Pete Ricketts approved a new directed health measure Dec. 3 that reduces quarantine time needed following close contact with COVID-19.

Rickett’s new measure follows a new option offered by the Center for Disease Control. 

These were developed to reduce economic hardship and lessen stress on the public health system. 

Both the CDC and Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department said 14 days is still the best course of action to reduce the spread of COVID-19

Perkins County Health Services CEO Neil Hilton briefed county commissioner about the new directive during their regular meeting Monday. 

Hilton told commissioners that quarantine time can be reduced. 

Without testing for the virus, a person can shorten the quarantine period to 10 days from the last close contact. 

The person in quarantine must be showing no symptoms, must self-monitor through day 14 from contact and wear a face mask through day 14.

Hilton said the new CDC guideline allows a person to test out of quarantine, which wasn’t possible before.  

If the person who had close contact for the virus is showing no symptoms, they can get a test five days after their last exposure.

 If the test comes back negative, the person can discontinue quarantine seven days after the last exposure.

They must continue to self monitor and wear a face mask through the 14-day period.

“We’ve been looking for that,” Hilton said. It makes sense and is a step in the right direction. 

As for the hospital, care facilities and clinics, Hilton said they’ve been fortunate staff-wise. As some people have had to quarantine, there have been others who were coming back from quarantine.

So it’s worked out, he said. 

He mentioned the depth of staff at PCHS has been an advantage as well. 

Local hospitalizations

Hilton said the hospital has not been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.  The most they’ve had at any one time is four, he said.

Their first COVID patient was admitted on July 27. Three were admitted in August, none in September, seven in October, 14 in November and three since Dec. 1.

The youngest patient hospitalized for the virus was 46. A breakdown of the other patients includes five in their 60s; 10 in their 70s; five in their 80s and two in their 90s.

On average, hospital stays run from three to six days. The longest, for two patients, was eight days. 

Hilton said they have drugs on hand to specifically treat COVID patients.

Statewide, COVID-related hospitalizations have dropped off since mid-November when the number passed 1,000 patients and caused Ricketts to implement tight directed health measures. 

Hilton said that’s eased off some and as of Monday, Dec. 7, that number had fallen to 768 patients. 

Vaccines not far off

Hilton said Nebraska has developed its plan on who will be first to receive vaccines when they arrive. 

He said the state anticipates receiving more than 100,000 doses by the end of the year. 

Phase One distribution will be broken into two parts. 

Healthcare personnel with the most potential for exposure will receive the vaccine first in Phase One-a.

These include personnel in hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care, EMS and local health departments. 

Phase One-b will include staff and residents in long term care facilities. 

Others in Phase One-b include those: over 65 years of age; with underlying health conditions; essential infrastructure workforce; school services; and vulnerable populations. 

Hilton said he’s not sure how the vaccine will be allotted across the state but projected all of the Phase One targets will be reached. 

SWNPHD numbers

Myra Stoney, director of SWNPHD, said the district reported 261 new cases of COVID-19 from Dec. 1 to noon Dec. 7. That was down from 303 cases Nov. 23-30. 

A breakout by county this week with numbers from Nov. 23-30 in parentheses includes: Perkins—34 (22); Chase—18 (24); Keith—69 (71); Dundy—10 (7); Frontier—4 (16); Furnas—26 (39); Hayes—3 (6); Hitchcock—19 (21); Red Willow—78 (97).  

This brings the totals for the health district to 2298 cases with 1956 cases recovered.  SWNPHD also received confirmation of six additional deaths due to COVID-19.

Testing

Hilton noted people can use the TestNebraska system to get tested for free. To sign up, people can go to testnebraska.com. 

Test Nebraska is offering drive-thru testing in Imperial every Monday at the county EMS building on West 13th Street from 7-9 a.m.

Testing is also offered in McCook at the Red Willow fairgrounds every Monday from 1-4 p.m. CT and every Wednesday from 8-10 a.m. CT. 

Testing is available every other Wednesday from 8-10 in Ogallala. Go online to find the specific dates and location.

PCHS offers testing weekly but people must be showing symptoms and be referred for testing by a care provider.