Over 7,000 in panhandle vaccinated, risk dial moves up

Health officials in the panhandle continue to update residents on the latest COVID-19 information. 

Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) officials say there have been 118 new COVID-19 cases announced over the past week. Five more COVID-19 related deaths were also confirmed. Health officials say a Deuel County man in his 70s, Kimball County woman in her 90s, Scotts Bluff County man in his 80s and two Sheridan County men in their 70s and 80s have passed away. 

The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the panhandle is now 180. 

On the vaccine front, 7,090 people have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health care facilities in the area will receive a total of 1,500 doses in addition to the number of second doses needed this week. 

All counties in the panhandle continue to work to vaccinate the 65 and older age group. They are focusing on those 75 and older right now before working their way down in age. 

All sign ups for vaccinations will now be handled through the state's registration website vaccinate.ne.gov. If you are 65 and older and already signed up through Panhandle Public Health, you do not need to sign up again, according to health officials. 

The region's risk dial remains in the orange, or high risk, category after moving up this week. The region's assessed risk value for the week of Feb. 8, is 2.5. That's an increase from 2.17 last week. Health officials say the risk moved up due to increases in positivity rate and number of community spread cases over the past week. Community spread means health officials are unable to determine when or where someone contracted the virus. 

At the county level, Sioux County moved down to the moderate risk, or yellow, category for COVID-19 spread. Morrill County conversely moved back into the severe risk, or red, category. All other counties remained in the orange category from last week to this week.