Health Director: Southwest Nebraskans "Are in Complete Denial" of COVID-19 Pandemic
By Jack Williams, Managing Editor and Reporter Nebraska Public Media News
July 22, 2020, 6:01 p.m. ·

The head of a health district in southwest Nebraska says she’s frustrated with the lack of social distancing compliance in the nine county area.
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department Director Myra Stoney says they’ve seen 22 COVID-19 cases over the past week, almost double the number reported over the previous three months.
"I think the people of southwest Nebraska are in complete denial that there is a pandemic," Stoney said.
She says some residents are ignoring social distancing guidelines and aren’t wearing face coverings in public places.
Stoney says her department is doing what it can to educate residents about the dangers of COVID-19, but that doesn’t always work.
"It's been frustrating when people read non-credible sources that they saw on Facebook or wherever they came up with it, and they want to badmouth what we know is working in our community," she said. "It's extremely frustrating."
There have been a total of 49 cases of COVID-19 in the nine county area and one death.
Cases are also trending up statewide, with an average of 210 new cases per day over the past seven days.
COVID-19 Cases in Nebraska
Source: Nebraska DHHS | Last updated: 7/22, 6 p.m. CT