COVID-case numbers continue to climb in region

North Central District Health Department reported Monday, 135 new cases of COVID-19, since the last update released Dec. 3, including 16 in Antelope; 2, Boyd; 18, Brown; 14, Cherry; 24, Holt; 4, Keya Paha; 34, Knox; 15, Pierce and 8, Rock.

The department received notification a Knox County man, in his 90s, died from COVID-19.

NCDHD has expanded its COVID-19 testing capacities to include a 15-minute rapid test, in addition to the gold standard PCR test already offered. The rapid test is only offered to individuals who are currently exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID.

All testing is offered free of charge at the below locations:

O'Neill: Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the north parking lot of the O'Neill Armory. The armory is located at the corner of 4th and Hynes Ave.

Bassett: Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Rock County Fair Grounds.

Pre-registration for testing at http://www.testnebraska.com is highly encouraged but not required.

The last patient will be scheduled 15 minutes before the scheduled end of the clinic.

Valentine: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., hosted by Cherry County Hospital. Testing will be held at the Valentine United Methodist Church, located at 804 E. 5th St. Rapid tests are not available at this location.

As of Dec. 7 at 4 p.m., 3,075 total cases have been recorded in the health district. Currently, 1,165 recoveries and 41 deaths have been reported.

In the past 14 days, 503 total cases have been reported. A reminder that total case numbers are represented first, and of those total cases, the number of recovered persons is represented second and total case-related deaths is represented third.

County counts include:

Antelope: TC: 417, R:154, D: 4

Keya Paha: TC: 28, R: 6

Boyd: TC: 146, R: 49; D: 2

Knox: TC: 657, R: 285, D: 3

Brown: TC 217, R:76, D: 3

Pierce: TC: 545, R: 159,

D: 13

Cherry: TC: 326, R: 107,

D: 5

Rock: TC: 121, R: 78, D: 1

Holt: TC: 618, R: 251, D: 10.