OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — On Tuesday, the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) 51 more cases of COVID-19 and one more death related to the virus.
With the new cases, the total since the pandemic began is now at 63,474.
With an additional death, the number of people who have died due to the virus is now at 653. The death was of a man in his 50s.
Other information from the department:
- We can confirm 54,187 county residents have recovered from COVID-19.
- According to the most recent local hospital report received late yesterday, medical and surgical beds were at 73% occupancy with 412 beds available and adult ICU beds are occupied at a 70% rate with 100 beds available. There were 92 individuals hospitalized who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, with 43 of them receiving adult ICU level care. There are also 12 more persons of interest (generally waiting for test results). Fifteen individuals who were confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 were on ventilators.
- While the vaccine clinics managed by the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) are full for this week, there are appointments available in the second week of March. If you are 65 or older, please visit www.douglascountyhealth.com to schedule a future appointment. Those who lack Internet access should feel free to ask a friend or loved one for assistance. Another option is to call DCHD’s info line at (402) 444-3400.
- Teachers should reach out to the point of contact in their district for information on setting an appointment. Generally, that person is in the human resources department. Teachers should not register directly through the Health Department as individuals are being prioritized for vaccination by their district. The current focus is on K-12 education.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department also made a report today:
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) today announced that two more residents have died from COVID-19. The deaths were a woman in her 50s who was hospitalized and a man in his 70s in a long-term care facility. The total number of deaths in Lancaster County is now 219. On behalf of the City, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird expresses condolences to their families and friends.
LLCHD reports 40 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lancaster County today, bringing the community total to 27,932.
Visit lincoln.ne.gov/COVID19dashboard to access a dashboard that summarizes Lancaster County COVID-19 data. LLCHD also released the following information today:
Recoveries: 12,998
Weekly positivity rate:
- February 14 through 20: 24.1 percent
- February 21 through 23: not available
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 positive patients: 35 with 25 from Lancaster County and 10 from other communities (none on ventilators).
Vaccine doses administered: 70,926
An online COVID-19 vaccine registration form for Lancaster County residents is available at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov. Those who do not have online access or who need assistance may call LLCHD’s COVID-19 hotline at 402-441-8006 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays to register.
The vaccine is not yet available for the general public. As vaccine doses become available, those who are registered will be given an appointment to be vaccinated. Appointments for vaccinations are dependent on vaccine supply and are not related to the order in which people register. The registration is open to all County residents, but those who are in Phase1B – those age 65 and older and those with underlying medical conditions – are encouraged to register.
The COVID-19 Risk Dial is at mid-yellow, indicating a moderate risk of the virus spreading. Recommendations include:
- Cautious expansion of interactions with others – outdoor activities preferred
- Continue wearing a mask and distance yourself when around others from outside of your household.
- Attend businesses, gatherings and events only with modifications (i.e. physical distancing, face masks, and capacity limits)
- Follow CDC Travel Guidelines
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, repeated shaking with chills, repeated muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. Those who experience any of these symptoms or who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to are urged to be tested immediately. The testing process begins with a free online risk assessment available at BryanHealth.com, CHIHealth.com or TestNebraska.com.
Drive-through testing is available from:
- CHI Health St. Elizabeth: Autumn Ridge Family Medicine, 5000 North 26th St. and Southwest Family Health, 1240 Aries Drive. Call either site to schedule an appointment: Autumn Ridge, 402-435-5300 and South West Family, 402-420-1300.
- Test Nebraska: Gateway Mall, 6100 “O” St., north parking lot of the former Sears store. Tests are conducted from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 402-207-9377
Testing is also available without an appointment at the three Bryan Urgent Care locations, 7501 S. 27th St., 5901 N. 27th St. and 4333 S. 86th St. To check wait times, call 402-481-6343.
For more information, visit COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov or call the Health Department hotline at 402-441-8006.
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