Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The COVID-19 Risk Dial has inched its way into the orange or high spread category for the week of Oct. 12 to 19 for an additional six counties in the Panhandle, including Kimball County. Five counties remain in the yellow zone. Box Butte County had previously been in the orange category.
Panhandle Public Health District reported on Oct. 12 that Kimball County has one new case in the age 19 and under bracket and no new reported cases in adults.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kimball County has had 31 confirmed cases, with 23 recovered and eight active as of Tuesday morning.
Kimball School reported an employee had COVID-19 and according to Superintendent Trevor Anderson, and approximately 12 students have been quarantined. In an email, Anderson explained that the employee has not returned to work and according to PPHD they must be quarantined for 10-14 days. In addition, the students are also quarantined for 14 days.
Anderson said that the district updates their website every Friday and continues to operate, according to its KPS Return Plan.
For COVID testing, the Kimball County Hospital has rapid 15-minute testing available for symptomatic individuals. People are asked to call 235-1951 to schedule a time to be tested. According to Jess Webb, the clinic and emergency preparedness director in Kimball, they are conducting a drive-thru COVID testing. When it is all said and done, Webb said they want to do all the tests in one block of time and then run all the tests at the same time so within two hours individuals will know the results.
A variety of information exists for COVID-19 for this area. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reported that the last 14-day total for Kimball County included 10 cases. Locally, Panhandle Public Health District is a consistent source of information and usually updates its website every other day.
County residents are cautioned to help stop the spread by washing hands, socially distancing and wearing a mask. The PPHD’s website encourages “adults over 65, anyone with underlying health conditions, and other populations at heightened risk from COVID-19 to stay home as much as possible, rely on help for needs outside the home and distance from those working outside of the home.”