COVID home test kits flying out clinic doors

    Since Jan. 10, the Chase County Clinic has distributed about 2,000 free, at-home COVID testing kits.
    The kits came via the Health Resource and Service Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health, said Shawn Jaeger, Marketing Coordinator for the Chase County Hospital Foundation.
    “They went pretty hot and heavy for awhile,” he said.
    It’s no surprise as this area is not immune from the rising number of COVID cases. Like much of the state and country, the omicron strain is making its way through southwest Nebraska, too.
    Jaeger said receiving the kits came as part of a program directed to the Chase County Clinics from NRSA.
    An initial shipment of 1,350 arrived on Jan. 10, and nine days later, 1,215 kits had already been distributed, he said.
    Another shipment of 1,350 arrived Jan. 19.
    Late Monday this week, about 125 kits were left, but a Wednesday delivery was expected to bring 300 more, Jaeger said.
    Clinic Administrator Alicia Ridlen, R.N., said the number of kits in their shipments continues to drop from the initial numbers.
    The free test kits are available at the clinics in both Imperial and Wauneta.
    Numbers of people taking the test at home who test positive but do not come into the clinic for further confirmation will not be in the weekly case numbers reported by the SW Nebraska Public Health Department, Jaeger noted.
    When medical professionals at a clinic get a positive test, those numbers are reported to the health department.
    The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services also announced a Hospital Decompression Program intended to help open up more hospital beds and also distribute free, at-home COVID-19 testing for Nebraskans.
    DHHS is finalizing a contract with healthcare solutions company eMed to provide 200,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits to Nebraskans. DHHS will work with local health departments to distribute kits throughout the state for pick-up.
N95 masks
    According to the DHHS, every American is entitled to three, free N95 masks from the federal government.
    Hy-Vee stores in the eastern part of the state began distributing masks Jan. 25.
    DHHS officials said masks will be shipped to local pharmacies and grocery stores that will then distribute them to the public.
    However, a check with both grocery stores in Imperial and Adams Drug found none of the businesses have received any information on the N95 masks, and have no information if and when they will have them.
    Information from the Nebraska News Service was also used to compile this story.