Panhandle health officials urge people to listen to recommendations

Panhandle Health officials are urging residents in the area to take health recommendations and warnings seriously.

Panhandle COVID-19 Unified Command gave a reminder of the current recommendations during a Webinar Tuesday afternoon.

They want people to heed them and take precautions to stay safe, but also to be kind to one another.

"We have a chance to be the neighbors that we'd want and that we know that we are in the Panhandle," Scotts Bluff County Health Director Paulette Schnell said. "But we also have to take this seriously because these are our neighbors and this is our community. It is here now, and so we need to start seeing this as something real."

The Panhandle as recently as Monday morning had no cases. As of Wednesday, there are four confirmed cases, with one being community spread.

The Panhandle is also under a directed health measure until May 11th. Under a directed health measure, the limit of 10 people for a social gathering is enforceable. 

All Panhandle Schools are closed for the rest of the school year.