COVID-19 timeline says we’ve come a long way

    December 2019 was the beginning of something no one could imagine.
    Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) was issuing regular monthly updates concerning a new virus.
    Nebraska public health authorities were carefully monitoring the unfolding coronavirus outbreak caused by the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus 2019 (2019 nCov) that originated in Wuhan, China in early December.
    “We remain vigilant and will begin to increase health alerts to the Nebraska medical community as the situation evolves,” said health officials at the time.
    While some restrictions are easing, the following timeline tracks the onset and continuing effects of COVID-19 locally and in the health district.
January, 2020  
    The first U.S. case appeared in Seattle, Washington on Jan. 21, 2020.
    News reports say the entire country is increasing its vigilance, understanding that in the age of jet travel, no place is immune from this risk.             While ease of transmission is not clear, person-to-person spread has been documented, including infection of health care workers providing care to infected patients.
    The situation is complicated by the arrival of this new threat in the middle of a severe influenza season, said SWNPHD.
    If the 2019-nCoV increases in the United States, practitioners should consider increased reliance on laboratory diagnostics in the hope of identifying a non-2019-nCoV etiology.
    Currently, public health authorities are discounting the 2019-nCoV, they said.
    By Jan. 30, five individuals had been confirmed with the virus nationally, but the immediate risk of infection from this new virus was still believed to be low in Nebraska and across the country.
February 2020
    Nebraska state and local public health authorities continue to monitor the unfolding COVID-19 (previously referred to as 2019-nCoV) epidemic to anticipate its impact on the people of Nebraska and its health care systems.
    “This is an evolving situation with many unanswered questions,” said an SWNPHD report.
March 2020
    Public health authorities in Nebraska continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation.
    “We anticipate the arrival and local transmission of COVID-19 in our state,” said Nebraska health authorities.
    While there may be asymptomatic infection in the general population, the likelihood of a positive COVID-19 test is low, said a state report.
    Chase County begins preparations for COVID-19, although no cases have occurred.
    Chase County Schools (CCS)  closes for two weeks and senior care facilities close their doors to the public as a precaution.
    Hospital CEO Abby Cyboron encourages citizens to call if any virus symptoms exist.
    An Imperial Republican newspaper article questions where all the toilet paper is going. The shelves are empty.
    CCS announces closing through May 1 with students picking up work at school.
    CCS food program offers breakfast and lunch for pickup for area children.
    Imperial Community Center closes to the public but offers noon meals as a curbside service or delivery.
    Other businesses and food establishments in the area are posting limited hours and/or curbside delivery.
April 2020
    CCS teachers begin holding online classes, city parks are closed to groups and community volunteers make dozens of face masks to donate, as reported in The Imperial Republican.
    Basic preventative measures like washing hands, covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue or arm, wearing a mask and social distancing are strongly stressed by federal, state and local health officials.
    Imperial residents begin  “Cruising the Loop” to allow people to get out of the house safely and join together as a community to stay connected.
    Bags of popcorn and food items were provided curbside along the route for cruising participants.
    Area churches are beginning to have online services, and Easter will look much different this year.
    One church offered drive-in services in their parking lot for several weeks as an alternative to online services.
    The Imperial Republican reports COVID-19 tests to become available to high-risk patients.
    Curbside services and drive-though events take center stage as the new normal.
May 2020
    The highly successful “Cruising the Loop”  comes to an end, and 2020 high school graduates celebrate  with a parade of decorated vehicles, driving  around town.
    High school graduates’ names are painted in big letters on the road at intersections.
    Senior care facility residents must “visit” friends and family through a window.
    Smokin’ on Broadway is canceled.
    Some business openings are announced, but with restrictions.
    Memorial Day weekend activities were either cancelled or postponed.
    A man in his 70s is the first COVID case in Chase County.
June 2020
    Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced that the antiviral Remdesivir, manufactured by Gilead, demonstrated clinical benefit in the treatment of COVID infected patients.                 Studies indicate that Remdesivir significantly shortened the time to recovery by four days in hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19 and moderate-severe pneumonia.
    Gilead has escalated the manufacture of Remdesivir.
    The Imperial swimming pool opens late with limited attendance but free admission.
    Since the Imperial Theatre has closed, the city of Imperial provided a free “drive-in” movie at the fairgrounds for several weeks, as reported in the paper.
    There is hardly a single business that hasn’t been affected one way or another by the pandemic, or a single person in the community, as reported in local stories.
    Masks have become a much more common sight in the community.

To read more go to: https://etypeservices.com/Imperial%20RepublicanID359/