Two new Covid cases show up at PCHS

Just when they thought they were clear of COVID-19 cases at Golden Ours Convalescent and Park Ridge assisted living, two more people tested positive. 

Perkins County Health Services CEO Neil Hilton said one employee and one resident tested positive as of Wednesday, Aug. 19. 

The resident has been moved from Golden Ours into  Perkins Co. Hospital and appears to be doing well thus far.

Prior to this case, Hilton said they had a couple weeks of clear tests for residents, with only one testing positive. 

That resident has since deceased. 

Hilton said they set up a special Covid unit in the north wing of Golden Ours to handle infected residents. 

He said they were in the process of decommissioning the unit when the news came of the new cases. 

Despite the new cases, they went ahead and shut down the Covid unit. 

He said it was a “combination of good news versus really frustrating news.”

“It was just strange to be at our spot to be clearing out of the “Covid Unit” business—and have one brand new one (case) surface,” he said.

One case makes it much easier to deal with, he added, versus a large outbreak that would force them to reopen the Covid unit.  

New cases also means a new round of testing for residents and employees. That was conducted Friday through TestNebraska. He said they were still awaiting those results as of Tuesday. 

Cases rising in area

As the average number of cases reported in Nebraska continues to decline, positive cases in the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department region have continued to rise. 

In the seven days ending Aug. 21, SWNPHD has been notified of 25 people in the district that have tested positive for COVID-19.

New cases include the following:

•Perkins – female in her 20s, direct contact;  female in her 90s, direct contact; 3 males 0-19 years old, direct contact; male in his 30s, direct contact.

•Chase—Two males 0-19 years old, direct contact; male in his 50s, direct contact; female in her 20s from direct contact.

Keith—three males 0-19 years old, direct contact; male in his 20s, direct contact; two males in their 30s, direct contact; female in her 40s, female in her 50s.

•Dundy—male 0-19 years old; male in his 20s, direct contact; male in his 50s, travel related; female in her  50s, direct contact.

•Frontier—male in his 40s, travel related

•Furnas—female in her 30s; male in his 80s.

These cases bring the total to 137 confirmed COVID-19 cases.  Many of these cases are related to two ongoing outbreaks, Health Director Myra Stoney said.  Of the total cases, 102 have recovered.