After consultation with COVID-19 Unified Command, it has been determined that Chadron
Public Schools along with all other schools in the Nebraska Panhandle will be closed for the
next two weeks. This decision will be re-evaluated on Friday, March 27, 2020, with parents
and families updated accordingly and extended as needed.  This is a precautionary measure;
there are currently no cases in the Panhandle. The State of Nebraska has elevated the risk
assessment, and Nebraskans, in general, maybe at the same risk as travelers from other
areas in the nation and other parts of the world. School Superintendents met with Unified
Command tonight and agreed this action would help prevent exposure to our area to flatten
the curve and decrease the spread of disease. 

We ask that students and community members immediately begin engaging in social distancing.
  There will be no practices or school activities during the 14 day period.  Unified Command has
asked that anyone who has traveled to areas with community transmission of COVID-19 to
self-monitor and self-quarantine.  At this time, there are still no confirmed cases of
COVID-19 in the Panhandle.  Additional information will be forthcoming. 

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared that worldwide,
  2. including many states in the U.S, community transmission is occurring.  Some
  3. countries and communities have widespread, sustained transmission.
  4. This weekend it was confirmed the first case of community transmission in Nebraska.
  5. Our neighboring states are beginning to identify community transmission (Iowa) 
  6. Multiple large-scale exposure events have been identified in Omaha, which raises
  7. concerns about additional community transmission regionally and possibly statewide.

In light of these developments, we are modifying our risk assessment and the allocation of
 valuable public health resources. These updates are in reaction to the rapidly evolving
epidemiology of this virus: community transmission changes everything. Nebraskans in
general may soon be at the same risk as travelers from other areas in the nation
and other parts of the world.
Public health recommendations for travelers: A.   All returning travelers have an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19B.   All returning travelers should limit public interactions, practice strict
social-distancing, and self-monitor for symptomsC.   If a returning traveler develops fever or respiratory illness, they need to
IMMEDIATELY self-isolate and report to a provider or call Panhandle Public Health
District’s 24/7 line at 308-262-5764.D.   Returning travelers need to track the publicly reported COVID-19 disease burden
in the areas to which they have travelled through both the local/state public health
departments and public media websites.  Areas with widespread sustained transmission,
please see list below, are at increased risk and of special concern.  Such travelers
should self-quarantine for 14 days and immediately report any symptoms consistent
with COVID-19 infection to their health care provider. Individuals unable to observe
the 14-day self-quarantine should consult with Scotts Bluff County: 308-630-1580,
all other Panhandle counties: 308-262-5764. E.    Health care workers with a travel history from an area with widespread sustained
transmission or other high-risk exposure should consult with a trained medical
professional (e.g. infection preventionist or physician) at their facility and establish
an infection control protocol (e.g., home quarantine, self-monitoring, PPE while at work etc.)
that mitigates the risk of patient and co-worker exposure.
Areas with widespread sustained transmission, are at increased risk and of special
concern.  Such travelers should self-quarantine for 14 days and immediately report
any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection to their health care provider.
Individuals unable to observe the 14-day self-quarantine should consult with Scotts
Bluff County: 308-630-1580, all other Panhandle counties: 308-262-5764. United States: Check here for updates - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.htmlCalifornia state counties

  • Contra Costa
  • Los Angeles
    • Cities of Los Angeles & Anaheim
  • Riverside
  • Sacramento
  • San Bernardino
  • San Francisco
  • San Mateo
  • Santa Clara
  • Sonoma
  • Solano
  • Yolo

Colorado state counties

  • Eagle
  • Gunnison
  • Pitkin 
  • Summit 
  • All ski resorts

Houston, Texas
Iowa

  • Carroll
  • Dallas 
  • Harrison
  • Johnson
  • Pottawattamie

New York state

  • New York City Nassau
  • Suffolk

Reno, Nevada
Washington state counties

  • King
    • City of Seattle
  • Snohomish

Internationally: Check here for updates - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/trav
elers/after-travel-precautions.html

  • China
  • Italy
  • Iran
  • South Korea

  • Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City
  • We thank you for your cooperation, these are unprecedented times and it will take each
    person doing their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Students and families, please
    do not gather at alternate locations. Help keep our communities safe and protect our
    most vulnerable populations!

    Author: 
    BCogdill