COVID-19 precautions disrupt activities

Monday, March 16, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — Local governments, schools and organizations throughout Southwest Nebraska are closing temporarily to help lessen the possibility of exposure to the coronavirus.

While exposure seems remote here and no confirmed cases of COVID-19 are reported, most of those in charge locally are taking a “better safe than sorry” approach, feeling “over-reaction” is preferable to regret at not having done enough when it was possible.

-- Hillcrest Nursing Home is allowing no visitors.

-- Community Hospital is stopping visitation and postponing activities (see separate story).

-- Brookdale McCook is restricting visitors, according to Colleen Benson. Visitors will have to check in and be screened. Benson asks that families visiting independent living apartments use the individual patio doors. The assisted living front entrance will be locked.

-- The City of McCook has closed the public library and senior center through the end of the week. Seniors can request lunch-time Meals on Wheels by calling (308) 345-1760 to make arrangements for delivery.

-- Heritage Senior Center will remain closed the week of March 16 through the 20th, but we will continue to prepare meals. Please call the center if you would like to have meals delivered or if you would rather drive by and pick up meals. The suggested cost for meals will be $3.25 and we will send an invoice for these meals the first week in April. For pick up or delivery please call 345-1760 by 9:00 am. Pick up meals will be available at the center between 11:00 am and 12:00 am. Please Call Heritage Senior Center with any questions 345-1760.

-- City of McCook Transit will resume services Tuesday, transporting anyone within city limits. Officials are continuing a comprehensive cleaning program of daily disinfection, routine deep cleaning and cleaning between riders. They also ask riders to maintain as much distance between riders as possible, and observe normal precautions such as hand washing, covering mouth and nose if coughing or sneezing, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and staying home if sick.

-- McCook Public Schools has closed through the end of this week; Head Start will not meet. The SWC Music and Arts event in Minden has been canceled. District Speech suspended, a choir fundraiser for Monday and Tuesday postponed, UN track meet canceled and State FFA canceled.

-- St. Patrick’s Catholic Schools had classes today, but will close also through the end of the week.

-- McCook Community College has cancelled classes through Saturday, March 28. Residence halls and food service will remain open during this time for students who are unable to return home

-- The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis has cancelled classes through March 23; its planned spring break is through March 29. The campus will remain open, however, including housing and dining services through the end of spring break.

-- The YMCA in McCook is open for individuals to exercise, but classes have been cancelled. There will be no LiveWires and no unattended children will be allowed.

-- The High Plains Museum in downtown McCook will close through its regular hours on Tuesday, March 24.

-- St. Catherine’s Alter Society has postponed its “Spring Fling” until Sept. 13, but raffle tickets will be drawn during coffee and rolls at the church Sunday, March 29.

All raffle tickets must be turned in to the church by Sunday, March 22.

-- While Gordon Gessleman has postponed his annual ag sale in Culbertson for one week (now set for March 25) because of muddy grounds, not getting lots and lots of people together in one place is what coronavirus specialists recommend to lessen exposure to and spread of the virus. Health officials are strongly recommending “social distancing,” which is the conscious effort to stay at least six feet away from people and to avoid crowded locations.

Local restaurants are adjusting as well, with the Coppermill offering daily delivery specials, and Pizza Hut offering a special online-only contactless delivery option.

Cambridge city officials warned citizens not to flush paper towels or handiwipes in place of rare, hoarded toilet paper, since it will plug up sewer systems.

In the face of the cancelation of March Madness, High Plains Radio converted its bracket contest into a top classic rock band bracket contest, voted by listeners.

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