Nebraska’s COVID surge hits record high in Douglas County
The Douglas County Health Department reported 1,547 new positive COVID-19 cases Thursday. That total sets a record for Douglas County since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020, topping the previous mark of 1,188 new cases, set on Dec. 31, 2021.That brings the total of positive cases to 109,450 since the pandemic began.The health department reported that 7,251 tests were administered on Wednesday, including people who may have received multiple tests in one day. Douglas County had a 21% positivity rate on Wednesday.The current case rate based on the 7-day total of cases is 1,100 per 100,000. Douglas County Health Department’s spokesperson says the threshold for a high transmission rate is 100 per 100,000. Four additional deaths were attributed to COVID-19-in Douglas County — a man in his 50s, a man in his 60s, a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 70s. None were vaccinated. Nebraska state senators Wednesday called on Gov. Pete Ricketts to step up and increase testing capacity.Sen. John McCollister says Nebraska knows how to do this after ramping up testing earlier in the pandemic — and running a vaccine rollout.Sen. Adam Morfeld said there’s plenty of federal funding that could go toward improving the testing infrastructure.”So really, this is in the governor’s court. They have the federal funds and the ability to execute on this. They need to dedicate the time and resources to do it,” Morfeld said.Nomi Health also announced its three Omaha locations will be closed Thursday due to subzero wind chills in the forecast.The sites at Oak View Mall, and the Metropolitan Community College campuses in South Omaha and Fort Omaha were expected to resume testing on Friday.The Health Department also says if you test positive for COVID-19, you should isolate for five days. You may return to your routine after the 5-day quarantine if you have no symptoms, but you’re advised to wear a mask for an additional five daysThose exposed to COVID-19 who are not vaccinated should follow the same routine: quarantine for five days, and wear a mask for an additional five days. The CDC says this also would apply to those who are six months or more removed from their last mRNA vaccine and have not yet received a booster shot.If you are exposed to COVID-19 and have a booster shot you do not need to quarantine, but you should wear a mask for ten days after exposure, according to the CDC.Vaccine clinics are available Thursday at Bryan High School and Omaha North Magnet High School.
OMAHA, Neb. —
The Douglas County Health Department reported 1,547 new positive COVID-19 cases Thursday.
That total sets a record for Douglas County since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020, topping the previous mark of 1,188 new cases, set on Dec. 31, 2021.
That brings the total of positive cases to 109,450 since the pandemic began.
The health department reported that 7,251 tests were administered on Wednesday, including people who may have received multiple tests in one day. Douglas County had a 21% positivity rate on Wednesday.
The current case rate based on the 7-day total of cases is 1,100 per 100,000. Douglas County Health Department’s spokesperson says the threshold for a high transmission rate is 100 per 100,000.
Four additional deaths were attributed to COVID-19-in Douglas County — a man in his 50s, a man in his 60s, a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 70s. None were vaccinated.
Nebraska state senators Wednesday called on Gov. Pete Ricketts to step up and increase testing capacity.
Sen. John McCollister says Nebraska knows how to do this after ramping up testing earlier in the pandemic — and running a vaccine rollout.
Sen. Adam Morfeld said there’s plenty of federal funding that could go toward improving the testing infrastructure.
“So really, this is in the governor’s court. They have the federal funds and the ability to execute on this. They need to dedicate the time and resources to do it,” Morfeld said.
Nomi Health also announced its three Omaha locations will be closed Thursday due to subzero wind chills in the forecast.
The sites at Oak View Mall, and the Metropolitan Community College campuses in South Omaha and Fort Omaha were expected to resume testing on Friday.
The Health Department also says if you test positive for COVID-19, you should isolate for five days. You may return to your routine after the 5-day quarantine if you have no symptoms, but you’re advised to wear a mask for an additional five days
Those exposed to COVID-19 who are not vaccinated should follow the same routine: quarantine for five days, and wear a mask for an additional five days. The CDC says this also would apply to those who are six months or more removed from their last mRNA vaccine and have not yet received a booster shot.
If you are exposed to COVID-19 and have a booster shot you do not need to quarantine, but you should wear a mask for ten days after exposure, according to the CDC.
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