City council gives $10,100 to GI-based health department
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ANR
The Aurora City Council agreed last week to support the Central District Health Department’s efforts in its on-going coronavirus battle after hearing a detailed report from its executive director, who cautioned that the COVID pandemic is far from over.
Teresa Anderson appeared in person at the June 23 council meeting, speaking for more than 30 minutes on a variety of topics related to the CDHD’s efforts to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
“This is a novel virus we’ve not seen before,” Anderson reported to the council, with some members watching via Zoom. “We can’t predict what it’s going to do and what’s going to happen next with it.”
Anderson said the CDHD staff in Grand Island has been working diligently since the outbreak first reached Nebraska in March, logging 50 straight days without a day off. Staff members have worked lots of overtime hours and temporary employees have been hired to do case investigation, contacting as many as 35 people that may have been in contact with each person who tested positive.
More than $335,000 has been spent on the COVID battle, prompting a request for funding assistance. The Aurora City Council voted unanimously to give $10,100 to the CDHD, the first contribution to the organization since 2018.
“At this point we’re working to control the virus,” Anderson explained. “We know it will be with us for a while, at least until we get a vaccine. The good news is that a vaccine is coming, maybe after the first of the year.”
The challenge at that point, she continued, will be how to administer the vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“We’ll have to make sure we have a way to get that vaccine administered to everybody who needs it,” she said. “I expect it will be the same as with H1N1, targeting those people at high risk first and then filling in with the rest as the vaccine becomes more available. We’re working with other local health departments to come up with a plan to ensure that everybody who needs the vaccine gets it, including all those in the vulnerable population and people at high-risk.”
That priority group will likely include senior citizens, which is one segment of the population that has been a challenge in the coronavirus battle.
“Our worst fears were realized because it got into the long-term care facilities, which created a lot of concern and also contributed to many deaths,” she said.
Anderson had in fact reported last week that all 13 of the COVID-related deaths in Hamilton County were residents of Westfield Quality Care in Aurora. She made it a point to commend the staff at Westfield, as well as other long-term care facilities throughout the district, for making progress in reducing the numbers of staff and residents testing positive.
“Right now we are pretty well under control,” she said. “Before they can open up again they have to test all of their staff and in any are positive they have to test all of the residents. Then if any of the residents are positive it’s going to be very difficult for them to open.”
More testing needed
Testing remains a key piece of the COVID battle throughout the state and nation, and on that note Anderson said there is some good news to share, as well as a concern which could be viewed as an opportunity for some local organization.
“The positive testing rate of the virus, at its peak, was 44 percent,” she said, explaining that at one time approximately 44 people out of 100 tested had the virus. “Today, we’re at about 1 percent positivity, so we’re feeling good about that and feel like we’ve got it tamped down a little bit. The question is, how long can we keep it that way?”
Anderson expressed concern with the district’s recent move into Phase 2 protocol, noting how states like Texas, Arizona and Florida are reporting spikes in the number of new cases after loosening restrictions there. It was announced Monday that Hamilton County will move into Phase 3 effective. July 6.
“We’re getting a lot of feedback on why can’t we go directly to Phase 3,” she said, noting that all but four Nebraska counties went to Phase 3 as of June 22.
She noted that some of the feedback coming directly from Hamilton and Merrick counties is asking “why are we being punished because Hall County has so many cases?”
“The truth is there are a lot of people going back and forth between Aurora and Grand Island and Central City and Grand Island,” she said. We don’t want to go too far too fast and then regret it. We know that when the virus gets in the community it can spread like wildfire and we don’t want to see that happen.”
Anderson also announced that the CDHD is looking for a partner agency or organization to help provide COVID testing, since the Nebraska National Guard staff that initially helped with the TestNebraska program is no longer available.
“We want to have two test sites, one in Aurora and one in Grand Island, but we have to find somebody who will do the testing,” she said. “We’ve tried the hospitals and now I think we’ll try for one of the clinics that might want to take it on.”
Testing assistance involves having someone available to obtain the test specimen, label them and transport the materials to St. Elizabeth’s in Lincoln.
“It’s not a complicated process, but there’s not a lot of money in it,” she said. “We need to find a way for that testing to continue or we’re going to be in a pickle again if we start to see more cases and we don’t have testing available.”
Anderson concluded by advising anyone who is planning an event of any size in the near future to submit a plan ensuring that all the necessary safety precautions are being taken.
Those forms are now available at the CDHD website -- cdhd.ne.gov.
Phase 3 Directed Health Measures
The following lists the Phase III Directed Health Measures, as provided by the Central District Health Department:
Bars, taverns, gentlemen and bottle clubs: Max of eight people in a party. Carry-out/ delivery allowed per EO. Parties must be seated at individual tables unless ordering, using restrooms or playing games. In guidance only: six foot distance between tables. Pool tables, dart boards, shuffle board, arcades and other gaming areas allowed with extra cleaning and disinfection. Individuals playing games must have a seat at a table and congregation of groups around a table is limited to those playing (no more than eight table may be around a game.)
Child care centers: 15 children per room/space infant to 3 year olds. 20 children per room/space 3 year olds. 24 children per room/space 4-5 years olds. 30 school-age (K-12) children per room/space.
Gathering limits: Indoor -- 50 percent of rated occupancy at a time (max of 10,000.) Outdoor -- 75 percent of rated at a time (max of 10,000.) No parades, carnivals, midways, dances, street dances, beer gardens. Dancing at events is permissible if individuals remain at their tables/seats keeping social distancing between groups. Ticketing in groups no larger than eight. Facilities with 500 plus capacity must submit plans prior to opening. If the facility’s plan was already submitted and they are now increasing capacity, plans should be resubmitted and reviewed. In guidance only: six foot distance between groups and recommendations of staff and patrons to use facial coverings.
Gyms/fitness centers/health clubs/health spas: 75 percent of rated occupancy at a time.
Restaurants, bowling alleys (all non-restaurant areas fall under gatherings section): max of eight people in a party. No selfserve buffets/salad bars. Parties must be seated at individual tables unless ordering, using rest rooms or playing games. In guidance only: six foot distance between tables. Pool tables, dart boards, shuffle board, arcades and other gaming areas allowed with extra cleaning and disinfection. Individuals playing games must have a seat at a table and congregation of groups around a table is limited to those playing (no more than eight table may be around a game.)
Salons/barbers/massage therapy/body art: 75 percent of rated occupancy at a time. Masks required for both patron and staff. All facilities allowed to perform services on faces without a mask on patron. Patron must wear mask prior to and immediately after services are complete.
Wedding/funeral receptions: Max of eight people in a party. No self-serve buffets/salad bars. In guidance: limit dances or other social events requiring guests to gather outside of their respective tables.
‘At this point we’re working to control the virus. We know it will be with us for a while, at least until we get a vaccine.’
Teresa Anderson, Central Dist. Health Department
