Panhandle risk dial drops to orange category in latest update

Panhandle Public Health officials continue to update residents on COVID-19 in the region. 

Monday, officials with Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) announced the region's COVID-19 risk dial would move back into the orange or "high risk" category. This is down from the red or "severe risk" category that the dial was in for most of November.

At the county level, Deuel and Grant counties remain in the red category. They have risk values of 3, according to PPHD data, meaning any drop will move them into the orange. All other counties moved into the orange category this week. 

PPHD also confirmed seven more COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the panhandle's total to 104. Officials say a Cheynne County man in his 80s, a Morrill County woman in her 80s, a Sheridan County woman in her 70s and four people from Scotts Bluff County, two men (70s and 90s) and two women (80s and 90s), have passed away. 

“We wish to express our sincerest condolences with the friends and loved ones in the loss of our fellow Panhandle residents. We send you peace and comfort especially during this holiday season,” PPHD director Kim Engel said.

The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in the panhandle this week, health officials said during the briefing. The first to receive it will be healthcare personnel, pharmacies, EMS, outpatient workers, public health, dentists, optometrists, behavioral health workers and long term care facility residents and staff. 

Since Monday, December 14, health officials have confirmed just over 350 new cases of COVID-19 in the area. 

A breakdown by County is as follows: 

Banner - 3 new cases

Box Butte - 36 new cases

Cheyenne - 49 new cases

Dawes - 22 new cases

Deuel - 9 new cases

Garden - 2 new cases

Grant - 2 new cases

Kimball - 43 new cases

Morrill - 15 new cases

Scotts Bluff - 138 new cases

Sheridan - 30 new cases

Sioux - 2 new cases

Under Investigation - 1 case

Health officials in the panhandle are no longer providing information on updated recoveries or active cases in the region.

TOTALS (as of Dec. 21)

Positive cases: 7,300 

Deaths: 104

Cases reported in last 14 days: 575

Active Hospitalizations: 27

Total people tested: 29.261