COVID vaccines now offered to 50 and older group

Health officials at Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) have announced the focus of vaccination has been  opened to anyone 50 years and older.
Phase 1A and Phase 1B have been completed but those individuals will continue to be eligible with vaccine availability.
The health district also continues to utilize vaccinate.ne.gov as the official waiting list for the nine-county health district which includes Chase County.
“If you do not have computer access, the SWNPHD office is now accepting phone calls to sign up,” said Myra Stoney, SWNPHD health director.
To get on the waiting list, go to the website, call 308-345-4223 or contact the Chase County Community Hospital (CCCH) directly, Stoney said.
Testing for COVID-19 has decreased across the area except for nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Nursing home criteria, county criteria­—different rules
According to SWNPHD, the entire district and Chase County are at level green on its COVID-19 Risk Dial.
Their information is what pertains to county residents in general, said Stoney.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are under different criterion.
“Our facility, and all others like us, are regulated by Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS),” said Eric Haider, CEO for Imperial Manor and Parkview Heights.
Because of CMS regulations, the standard for these facilities is not necessarily in line with county standards set forth by SWNPHD.
In a recent article, it was announced that Imperial Manor and Parkview-Heights were now open to the public but following specific safety protocols.
SWNPHD lists Chase County as green, whereas CMS lists Chase County as red—according to their criteria and in connection with the living facility, Haider said.
“Visitors are still allowed to enter the facility to see residents. They must wear a mask and be tested once a week. That has not changed,” he added.
“But, because we must go by CMS standards, staff must be tested twice a week right now,” he said.
Haider went on to explain that people who come into the facility to work with residents, come in under staff rules even though they are on a different payroll.
 To review, the Imperial Manor assisted living facility is green but Chase County is considered red by CMS, said Haider.
Chase County is green under the guidelines of SWNPHD, said Stoney.
Counties and nursing homes are considered different entities with their own set of rules to follow.
COVID-19 information can be found at swhealth.ne.gov.
“People can follow updates for COVID information on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well,” Stoney said.
SWNPHD still continues to recommend wearing a mask in public, washing hands and surfaces often and avoiding the three Cs—crowded spaces, close contact and confined spaces.