LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — This afternoon, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and other officials provided an update on the city and county’s coronavirus response.
The mayor kicked things off by urging people to continue taking precautions necessary to help stop the spread. She also wanted to remind people that sports teams, regardless of age, are prohibited from practicing through May 31. Private workouts, such as those carried out at a batting cage, are permitted she said.
After Stothert, Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour gave an update.
Pour said there are now 1,205 cases in Douglas County, compared to 689 last Friday, and said 69% of the positive results are minorities, primarily from the Hispanic community. She also said people aged 25-39 make up the largest group of positives. Seventeen coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in the county to date.
Of the 1,205 cases, Pour said 392 of them were connected to area packing plants and 84 have been connected to six long-term care facilities.
Stothert also gave an update on garbage collection, saying 5,000 collections were missed Wednesday in West Omaha. Officials say it is coronavirus related and staff will be focusing on garbage specifically, holding off on recycling, in an attempt to catch up.
The 3 News Now team is provided live updates via Twitter:
Mayor Jean Stothert’s message to Omaha: Don’t stop now
— Phil Bergman (@PhilBergmanTV) May 7, 2020
Mayor Stothert says the governor had prohibited sports teams all ages from practices through May 31 and there are no special exceptions made.
— Phil Bergman (@PhilBergmanTV) May 7, 2020
Includes public and private fields.
The mayor added people can be at places like batting cages for private workouts if open.
— Phil Bergman (@PhilBergmanTV) May 7, 2020
I could see this being a loophole teams/clubs may try to expose over next few weeks.
Dr. Adi Pour:
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
69% of Douglas Co. cases are among minority population
That stat was 26% a month ago.
Dr. Adi Pour:
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
17 deaths in Douglas County
Ages 46-90
Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour says there are 1205 cases of #Covid_19 in county, compared to 689 Friday. They’ve done 8,994 tests (13.4% positive)
— Phil Bergman (@PhilBergmanTV) May 7, 2020
69% of positive are minorities, the majority Hispanic.
Those aged 25-39 make up the largest group of positives
There are 9 meat packing plants in Douglas County
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
392 of the county’s 1205 cases are connected to those plants.
There are 9 meat packing plants in Douglas County
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
392 of the county’s 1205 cases are connected to those plants.
There are six long term care facilities in Douglas County with cases, 84 cases are connected to them
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
Election commissioner Brian Kruse says 139k Douglas Co. residents have requested ballot.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 7, 2020
To put that in perspective, 15k requested a ballot in 2018, and 12k requested a ballot in 2016.
That's an insane increase.
Turnout has already exceeded those elections. Over 85k already requested a ballot, more than the total votes in the 2016 or 2018 primary elections.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 7, 2020
Omaha firefighters can voluntarily get COVID-19 testing and antibody testing at union hall.
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
339 of 650 firefighters have gotten antibody test there.
223 of 650 have done nasal swab there.
Garbage collection in Omaha:
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
5,000 missed collections yesterday in West O. City officials say it is COVID-19 related.
They’ll dedicate staffing to garbage pickup so recycling will be held off a bit.
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) May 7, 2020
You can watch the briefing below: