Douglas Co. reports increase in COVID-related deaths/cases

NEBRASKA

DOUGLAS COUNTY

On Tuesday, the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) reported an uptick of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

On Monday, the department reported 237 cases. Today, it reported 342 additional cases for a total of 54,377 to date.

The department also reported an uptick in COVID-related deaths. Yesterday, no additional death certificates were reported but today, 13 additional deaths were.

The cases include “seven men ranging in age from their 60s into their 80s and six women ranging in age from their 60s into their 90s.” The death total now stands at 502.

Recoveries are now at 35,970 among Douglas County residents.

Other information released by the DCHD:

• According to the most recent local hospital report received today, medical and surgical beds were at 79% occupancy with 322 beds available and adult ICU beds are occupied at a 70% rate with 99 beds available.
• There were 274 individuals hospitalized who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, with 77 of them receiving adult ICU level care.
• There are also 24 more persons of interest (generally waiting for test results).
• Thirty-nine individuals who were confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 were on ventilators.

See also: Local medical experts warn of possible post-holiday COVID-19 surge

LINCOLN-LANCASTER

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) today announced that three more residents have died from COVID-19. The deaths included two women who were hospitalized, one in her 40s and one in her 90s, and a man in his 70s in a long-term care facility. On behalf of the City, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird expresses condolences to their family and friends.

LLCHD reports 187 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lancaster County today, bringing the community total to 23,426. The total number of deaths in Lancaster County is now 161.

Visit COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov to access a dashboard that summarizes Lancaster County COVID-19 data. LLCHD also released the following information today:

Recoveries: up from 7,177 to 7,322

Weekly positivity rate:

• December 27 through January 2: 33.7 percent
• January 3 through 5: 36 percent

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 positive patients: 100 with 65 from Lancaster County (three on ventilators) and 35 from other communities (three on ventilators).

NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Director Scott R. Frakes announced that eight staff members with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) are positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). The staff members are employed at the following locations: Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (2), Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (2), Nebraska State Penitentiary (1), Lincoln Correctional Center (1), Community Corrections Center – Lincoln (1) and Cornhusker State Industries (1). All staff members are self-isolating at home.

Notification will be provided to those who live and work in those locations as to the positive cases. In addition, anyone who may have had close contact with the staff members will be directed to self-quarantine until cleared by a medical provider.

This brings the total number of NDCS staff members diagnosed with COVID-19 to 480. Four hundred and eleven of those individuals have recovered from COVID-19.

IOWA

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