Important Information on COVID-19
Where to Find COVID Testing in Southwest Nebraska
Where to Find COVID Vaccine in Southwest Nebraska
COVID-19 Testing Now Available at SWNPHD McCook and Ogallala Locations
Sign up for an appointment at Register My Time - Events
FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS
COVID-19 home test kits are available at our McCook office and at locations across the health district.
To request kits by mail call 308-345-4223.
If you test positive with an at-home COVID test, follow the isolation and quarantine instructions below.
You do not need to notify the health department.
Update: The CDC has a new tool to help you decide what precautions are appropriate for the level of COVID-19 in your county, based on the latest data.
Practice good health habits and monitor public health information for changes in the situation.
Weekly COVID Data for Southwest Nebraska
UNMC Weekly Update on COVID-19 in Nebraska and the U.S.
PDF Printable Isolation Guidance
PDF Printable Quarantine Guidance
PDF Printable Vaccinated Exposure Guidance
Spanish Vaccinated Exposure Guidance
How long to stay home if you are sick or exposed to COVID-19
CDC Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
CDC Guidance for Unvaccinated Individuals
DIY Contact Tracing Instructions
Frequently Asked Questions
DHHS Hotline: 402-552-6645
ALL RETURNING TRAVELERS should limit public interactions,
practice social distancing and self-monitor for symptoms.
Self-Monitoring Log for Tracking Temperatures and Symptoms
Nebraska Traveler Requirements
Essential Errands vs. Essential Travel
Q: I'm having symptoms of COVID-19. Can I be tested?
A: Talk to your medical provider to see if they would like you to be tested. Nebraska is currently increasing testing of people with symptoms; however, because of limited availability of tests and supplies needed to test, testing is currently being prioritized for people who are hospitalized and other high risk individuals plus healthcare workers, first responders, and people who live and work at sites like long-term care facilities, group homes, and daycares.
As testing becomes more available, more people will be able to be tested. In addition to a laboratory test, doctors are also able to make a clinical diagnosis. People who are clinically diagnosed with COVID-19 should remain isolated and notify their household members and other close contacts (closer than 6 feet for approximately 10 minutes or longer) that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should self-quarantine for 14 days.
Q: How do I request a COVID-19 test?
A: If your healthcare provider wants you to be tested, we recommend they use a commercial lab if possible. If they don’t have that option, they can request a test through the Nebraska Public Health Lab.
The following criteria must be met for COVID-19 testing at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL):
- In-patients: Any in-patient (hospitalized) person will be tested.
- Out-patients: Persons in these groups with a clinical or rule-out diagnosis of COVID-19 can be tested at NPHL:
- Healthcare workers
- Public Safety/First Responders (EMS, law enforcement, firefighters)
- Residents and staff at nursing homes
- Residents and staff at group homes, homeless shelters, and daycare facilities
- Individuals over 65 years old and patients with serious underlying conditions
- Anyone who currently has symptoms related to COVID-19.
If your patient does not meet these criteria, please use a private laboratory or make a clinical diagnosis. Please only contact SWNPHD to make special requests during normal business hours, M-F, 8am-4:30pm.
Q: How do I get my test results?
A: Test results are shared with the healthcare provider who requested the test. Your healthcare provider should share the results with you.
Q: I’m having symptoms of COVID-19. Do I need to see my doctor or go to the ER?
A: We want to make sure that our healthcare system has the capacity to handle severe cases of COVID-19. If you are having symptoms that are mild enough that you wouldn’t normally call your doctor, then you can simply stay home and isolate until you’ve recovered.
On the other hand, if you feel sick enough that you would normally see your doctor, please go ahead and call your doctor. Make sure to let your doctor know you are having COVID-19 symptoms before going to the doctor’s office. Similarly, if your symptoms are so severe that you would normally go to the ER or call 911 – especially if you are having trouble breathing – please go to the ER or call 911 immediately.
Q: Do I need to call the Health Department before my doctor will see me?
A: No, your provider can see you for a suspected case of COVID-19 without needing permission or guidance from the Health Department first. Your provider should refer to COVID-19 Health Alert Network (HAN) advisories for guidance on issues such as diagnosis, testing, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Q: Do I need to wear a mask?
A: We now know that a significant portion of people with coronavirus lack symptoms or can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. In light of this new evidence, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings like grocery stores and pharmacies where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. By wearing a mask, you protect the person next to you and when other people wear a mask, they are helping to protect you.
The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Q: I might have been exposed to COVID-19. What do I need to do?
A: If you were in direct contact (closer than 6 feet for approximately 10 minutes or longer) with a person confirmed by a laboratory test or clinical diagnosis to have COVID-19, then you need to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of the last exposure. Direct contact is unlikely to happen in a grocery store or other public space where you can keep 6 feet apart, and the health measures like wearing a mask in public and good handwashing after returning home reduce your risk even further.
If you had indirect (contact of a contact) exposure to a positive case, you are not required to self-quarantine but should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days.
Fill out this survey to get more information from the Health Department about your potential exposure:
In either case, if you start to develop COVID-19 symptoms, then you need to self-isolate until you’ve recovered. You are considered recovered after:
- At least 3 days (72 hours) since you’ve had a fever without the use of fever reducing medications AND improvement in respiratory symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath; AND
- At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Q: Someone in my household has COVID-19. What do I need to do?
A: Anyone who lives with a person confirmed by a laboratory test or clinical diagnosis to have COVID-19 needs to self-quarantine while the sick person is in self-isolation, and then continue quarantine another 7 days after the end of the sick person's isolation.
After the 7 days of quarantine when everyone is well, everyone in the household should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for another 7 days. If no one else develops symptoms of COVID-19, then you are able to interact with others again.
Q: A person with COVID-19 might have exposed people at my office or business? What do we need to do?
A: A suspected case of COVID-19 is anyone who has any two of the following symptoms: fever 100.4 or above, cough, runny nose, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath. Once a person is positive either through a laboratory test or clinical diagnosis, then all the people with direct exposure (closer than 6 feet for approximately 10 minutes or longer) should be sent home to self-quarantine. Everyone else can continue to work but should self-monitor for symptoms.
You should also follow the CDC’s guidance to clean any parts of the facility where the person suspected of having COVID-19 spent time, but you do not have to close the entire facility.
Q: I just returned from out-of-state travel. Do I need to do anything?
A: At this time, people returning from out-of-state travel (except commuters) are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. If you are a healthcare worker, you should contact the person responsible for infection control or employee health at your facility.
Q: What types of gatherings are prohibited?
A: Unless specifically exempted, all gatherings that have an expected presence of more than 10 people, excluding staff, or where 6 feet of social distancing can NOT be maintained are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, schools, gyms, salons, fitness centers, auditoriums, stadiums, arenas, large event conference rooms, meeting halls, theaters, libraries, or any other confined indoor or outdoor spaces. This also includes, but is not limited to, events such as parades, fairs, festivals, concerts and other indoor and outdoor events. Weddings and funerals will be allowed to resume May 4, 2020 on the condition that each household is separated by 6 feet, and does not include receptions.
Q: How should restaurants and bars be operating?
A: Until May 4 all food and beverage sales are restricted to carry-out, drive-thru, and delivery only. This includes indoor and outdoor areas. Lines for carry-out and drive-thrus should still maintain the 6 foot social distance.
After May 4 restaurants will be allowed limited dine-in options. For the full restaurant guidance click here. Bars will not be allowed to open.
Q: What is exempt from the Directed Health Measure?
A: Courts of law; medical providers; public utilities; critical federal, state, county and city operations; congregate living settings; shelters; public transportation; airport travel; necessary shopping at fuel stations; stores or malls; election offices; polling places on an election day; and family residences housing ten or more people.
Additionally continuity of business operations and logistics/distribution centers are also exempt which means that workplaces like office settings, warehouses, construction sites, and factories are exempt. To protect everyone’s health, these places should still abide by the 6 foot social distance recommendation as well as all applicable state and federal guidelines for infection control.
Q: Can churches and other faith communities still gather in person?
A: As of May 4, 2020 Religious services, including weddings or funerals, are allowed but shall be limited to the ceremony or service only. During religious ceremonies and services, party(s) must maintain a minimum of 6 feet of separation and consist of a household unit or individual. Items should not be shared or distributed between different parties. Find full guidelines here.
Drive-in services are also acceptable. The guidelines for holding those services are as follows:
- Individuals must stay in their vehicle, with the windows up. This keeps them in their own personal enclosed space.
- Audio must be broadcast by available technology to maintain closed vehicles.
- NO carpooling. Individuals residing in the same household may attend in the same vehicle. Family members that live in other homes MUST drive their own vehicle.
- Leader(s) of the service are to stay in a stationed area, NOT mingling or weaving through the parked vehicles. Leader(s) must maintain a distance of six (6) feet.
- Offering, if collected, CANNOT be by someone going vehicle to vehicle. It can be a drive through and drop. With anyone that is monitoring the location maintaining six (6) feet away from any vehicle that opens the window to deposit.
- Communion, if practiced, CANNOT be passed from vehicle to vehicle or shared. Each vehicle must have their own items, for their own consumption. Each church must establish how attendees can obtain supplies, in advance, for purposes of communion.
- Building access is limited to no more than ten (10) individuals maintaining six (6) feet separation at any time.
- Noise levels must be maintained as to not disturb surrounding residences/businesses.
- Traffic must not impede the regular flow of public streets. Plans should be in place for managing possible congestion.
Q: Do salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, etc. have to be closed? Can they operate out of their home or their client’s home?
A: The Governor issued a Directed Health Measure on April 9th that orders all of these places closed. They cannot provide these services to the public -- including in their home or their client’s home – until at least May 4th. After May 4th they may provide services as long as employees and customers both wear masks and keep 6 feet between customers.
Q: Can fitness classes be offered?
A: As long as the class can abide by both the 10 person limit and the 6 foot social distancing rule, fitness instructors can hold a class.
Q: What about massage therapists? Can they still operate?
A: The Governor issued a Directed Health Measure on April 9th that requires all “massage therapist services...to cease providing services to the public and are ordered closed” until at least May 4th. After May 4th they may provide services as long as employees and customers both wear masks and keep 6 feet between customers.
Q: Can a laundromat continue to operate?
A: A laundromat can continue to operate if they do not have a gathering space with more than 10 people and if the 6 foot social distancing is maintained by spacing the machines apart.
Q: My business has had to close. What can I do to get by?
A: The following are some of the options if your business has had to close due to this public health crisis:
- Check your insurance for a clause about being shut down by a government entity to see if you can file a claim
- Consider filing for unemployment since restrictions for self-employed individuals have been waived. WIC and SNAP benefits are also options.
- Work with your bank to see if you can access small business loans made possible through stimulus funding.
- Visit sba.gov for information on small business programs for COVID-19.
- Legal Aid of Nebraska has also set up a COVID-19 legal assistance hotline at 1-844-268-5627.
Q: Are elective surgeries prohibited?
A: Elective surgeries have been prohibited by the Governor until May 4th. The healthcare provider can determine on a case-by-case basis if the surgery or procedure is necessary to preserve the patient’s life or physical health. Governor Ricketts announced hospitals can resume elective surgeries on May 4 if hospitals meet certain capacity requirements.
Q: If someone isn’t following the Health Director’s Order, who do we need to tell?
A: You can contact the non-emergency number for the respective police, sheriff or health department, who will provide education, a warning, or a citation depending on the circumstances. Violations of the order may be subject to a Class V Misdemeanor for each offense.
Please keep in mind that courts of law, medical providers, public utilities, critical federal, state, county, and city operations, continuity of business operations, logistics/distribution centers, congregate living settings, shelters, public transportation, airport travel, necessary shopping at fuel stations, stores or malls, election offices, polling places on an election day, and family residences housing ten or more people are exempt from the Health Director’s Order. For exempt organizations and operations, the Health Department can advise them on observing all applicable public health guidelines for infection control.
Q: I can’t find masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment (PPE). What do I do?
A: If you are a healthcare provider or social service agency, you can submit a request for PPE here or contact the Health Department at 308-345-4223 about your PPE needs.
Q: Why hasn’t Nebraska issued a stay-at-home/shelter-in-place order?
A: At this point, the Health Director and Governor have issued Directed Health Measures that limit gatherings to less than 10 people. Gatherings are also required to maintain 6 feet of social distancing. These measures may be sufficient to minimize disease transmission. The Health Director and Governor are frequently communicating about whether the number of cases and other factors necessitate stronger restrictions.