Cities, villages, schools and businesses continue to reel as COVID-19 cases in Seward County continue to mount.
Four Corners Health Department set its latest risk dial to 3.25 – firmly in the “severe” (red) area on Nov. 13. While in that field, local health officials urge the heightened risk population (65 and older or with underlying health conditions) to stay home. Other guidances include no gatherings with non-household members and frequent washing of hands for at least 20 seconds. When outside of the home, local health officials suggest six feet social distancing, wearing a face covering and daily temperature checks.
The risk dial is calculated using overall and weekly positivity rates in the district, trajectory of total case counts, health care system capacity, availability of critical medical equipment, identification of community spread, availability to testing and the ability to trace all contacts of positive cases within 24 hours.
At the Nov. 12 Four Corners Health Department briefing, department executive director Laura McDougall said Seward County accounted for 196 new cases between Nov. 5-11. She said there have only been three confirmed COVID-related deaths in the county, but that number could rise as health officials await death certificates.
McDougall said health officials have begun re-evaluating the current contact-tracing system because, in its current form, it is stressed beyond the abilities of tracers.
As cases continue to spread throughout the community, staffing shortages have hindered services in some cases.
Seward City Administrator Greg Butcher said the city has closed the municipal building and city hall lobbies. He said the city's labor force has been stretched thin, which could mean changes in other city operations. For example, that could mean limited library hours. Butcher stressed patience with city employees during the stressful time. He also said the city has started a contingency plan of dividing workforce hours in water, wastewater, electric and police departments.
“We have to make sure we keep the light on,” he said. “Literally.”
Jim Swanson, representing Utica, said the village is working with local institutions to encourage face coverings and social distancing. Swanson said the Utica clerk's office remains open while requiring social distancing.
Amber Mayo from Ridgewood Rehab and Care Center in Seward said they continue to test staff and patients twice weekly. Testing has confirmed positive cases among staff but no residents have tested positive.
Concordia University interim president the Rev. Dr. Russell Sommerfeld said Concordia's worked to flatten its curve. He thanked Andreea Baker, Susan Briggs and Dave Crum for their work in student health to quarantine those who needed to be. As of Nov. 13, Concordia had just eight active cases of coronavirus among students and none among employees.
In accordance with new directed health measures implemented on Nov. 11, capacity for indoor activities was reduced to 25% while outdoor activities remained at 75%. The school has also implemented on-campus testing, which Sommerfeld said has been helpful as semester finals begin on Nov. 18. The adjusted semester ends Nov. 24.
Seward Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Josh Fields mentioned staffing in his brief update. He said about 7.8% of the district's staff is out because of quarantine or to care for their child who is under quarantine. He said the student population is similar with 8-9% out to quarantine. Most, he said, planned to return to class on Nov. 16.
Milford Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Wingard said staff at Milford is worried. Roughly 16% of students were out as of Nov. 12 to quarantine or because of testing positive. Wingard said 22% of students from middle-to-high school were out of class. Of those, 18 were because of positive cases. Wingard sent an email to parents explaining that while the school couldn't guarantee there wasn't any school spread because there were no documented cases of it, the district felt good about its face covering and social distancing policies.
“We have nervous high school staff and I don't blame them,” Wingard said.
