Monday Oct. 31 COVID-19 update: Sarpy/Cass records 2 deaths

(WOWT) – Below are today’s updates from data reports on new cases and other COVID-19 stats reported by health officials across Nebraska and western Iowa.

Keep scrolling to find a vaccination clinic near you.

Sarpy/Cass data snapshot

DEATHS: The latest update to the Sarpy/Cass Health Department COVID-19 dashboard shows health district has recorded an additional two COVID-19 deaths in the past week. The pandemic death toll for Sarpy/Cass is now 361 people.

The dashboard does not specify in which county those deaths have occurred, nor does it provide any information about their age ranges or pre-existing conditions.

CASES: As of Monday, the dashboard reported that were 188 active cases of COVID-19 in Sarpy County, up from 159 cases indicated on the dashboard about a week ago; and 26 in Cass County, three more than last week. To date, Sarpy/Cass has confirmed 56,029 cases of COVID-19 in Sarpy County, which is 89 more than reported last week; and 6,804 in Cass County, an increase of 11 cases since last week.

Of the health district’s current active cases, most are in their 30s or 50s, with 34 cases and 33 cases reported in those age ranges, respectively. There are also 27 active cases among youth ages 14 and younger, one more than indicated last week; 17 of those active pediatric cases — one more than reported about a week ago — are among children ages 4 or younger, the age group most recently approved for COVID-19 vaccination.

POSITIVITY RATE: The health department reported a test positivity rate of 10.9% as of Saturday, down from the adjusted rate of 11.4% recorded a week prior. A month ago, it was 11%; about two months ago, it was 21.7%. About a year ago, it was 10.1%.

The lab ran 79 tests in the week ending Saturday, compared to 98 tests in the week prior.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: The Sarpy/Cass Health Department’s hospital data is provided by Douglas County, according to its dashboard. That information is available in the Douglas County update below.

VACCINATIONS: The health department again reported increases in vaccination rates among residents this week compared to last week, with 68.2% vaccinated in Sarpy County, and 63.8% in Cass County.

Douglas County update

The Douglas County Health Department reports COVID-19 data twice weekly, issuing updated stats on Mondays and Thursdays.

DEATHS: The local COVID-19 pandemic death toll remains at 1,201 people.

“A woman in her 50s and three people, two women and one man all over 85, have died. All of them were vaccinated,” the DCHD release states.

CASES: DCHD also reported Monday that 176 new COVID-19 cases had been confirmed since Thursday’s report. About a year ago, DCHD was reporting that 302 cases had been confirmed over the previous weekend.

The most recent case numbers caused no change in the seven-day average since Thursday; it remains at 55 cases. The DCHD dashboard indicated the rolling seven-day average per 100,000 people had increased from 57.6 cases a week ago to 67.6 cases as of Sunday.

The latest recent cases bring the local pandemic total to 171,175 cases. The Douglas County COVID-19 dashboard also indicates that the last recorded number of reinfections for a rotating seven days ending was 82 cases as of Saturday, up from 53 reported Oct. 15.

POSITIVITY RATE: The DCHD COVID-19 dashboard indicates the local positivity rate increased to 10.6% as of Saturday, up from 9.1% reported the week prior. That’s from 431 positive tests, down from 356 recorded a week prior.

About a month ago, positivity was 10.3%; about two months ago, it was 17.3%. About a year ago, it was 7.1%.

The DCHD dashboard on Monday indicated the community level remained “low.”

HOSPITALIZATIONS: As of Sunday, area hospitals were caring for 101 adult COVID-19 patients, up from 97 reported Thursday. Of those patients, three were in pediatrics, 12 adults were in ICUs, and nine patients were on ventilators.

Additionally, 10 patients were awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test; eight of them are pediatric patients.

About a year ago, DCHD was reporting 203 area COVID-19 hospitalizations.

HOSPITAL CAPACITY: Area hospital capacity fluctuates according to staffing levels. As of Wednesday, hospitals were 89% full with 210 beds available, up from 176 reported Monday. Area ICUs were 94% full with 17 beds available, down from 31 reported Monday. Pediatric ICUs were 86% full with nine beds available — three more than reported Monday. About a year ago, local hospitals were 91% full with 122 beds available, and ICUs were 93% full with 19 beds available.

VACCINATIONS: The county’s COVID-19 dashboard indicated some increases in some vaccination data since last week.

To date, 8,029 pediatric doses — for ages 6 months to 4 years — have been administered in the county, resulting in 7.5% of Douglas County children in that age group being fully vaccinated.

Vaccination numbers among other age groups showed nearly no change from recent reports. To date, 68.1% of all Douglas County residents are vaccinated. Of youth ages 5-11, 41.7% are vaccinated; and 69.9% of county youth ages 12-17 are fully vaccinated.

VACCINATIONS

Retail pharmacies

Douglas County

Below is a list of the Douglas County COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for this week, including child vaccination clinics at area schools. All clinics are open to the public for any approved shot in the vaccination series as indicated below. Those planning to get a booster shot should bring their vaccination card.

FRIDAY

9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Douglas County Health Department, located at 1111 S. 41st. St. – Primary series for ages 6 months & older; boosters for ages 5-11, and Pfizer bivalent boosters for ages 12 and older

SATURDAY

10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Omaha North High Magnet School, located at 4410 N. 36th St. – Pfizer bivalent boosters for ages 5 and older (& flu shots)

SATURDAY NOV. 12

10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Omaha South High School, located at 4519 S. 24th St. – Pfizer bivalent boosters for ages 5 and older (& flu shots)

About Text Nebraska

The Douglas County Health Department is encouraging residents who test positive for COVID-19 to cooperate with Text Nebraska in order to help prevent further spread of the virus.

If you are age 19 or older, have recently tested positive for COVID-19, and provided a cell number when registering for your test, you will likely receive a text message from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services phone number 1-844-774-7604 that prompts you to take a survey. Adding that number to your phone’s directory will assure that your phone or provider doesn’t mark it as a spam call.

“It is not spam and is safe to respond,” DCHD said in a Thursday news release, noting that the survey is completely digital and doesn’t require you to speak with anyone.

“Text Nebraska is the next step in contact tracing, and this is where you can help,” Health Director Dr. Lindsay Huse said in the release. “Your response is needed as the number of cases makes it impossible for our staff to keep up with the demand.”

Did you take an at-home test?

Report home test results

Douglas County Health Department on Monday urged residents to report the results of their home COVID-19 tests to them online at douglascountyhealth.com.

“Look for the blue box labeled ‘Report A COVID-19 Home Test,’ then follow the instructions,” the health department requests.

In-home appointments

DCHD is helping those homebound to get vaccinated, scheduling in-home appointments for all three adult vaccination varieties, for any shot in the series.

To arrange this, call the DCHD information helpline at 402-444-3400.

OneWorld child vaccination clinics

OneWorld offers COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for ages 5 and older at the following clinics:

In south Omaha at the Livestock Building, located at 4920 S. 30th St.
In Bellevue, at 2207 Georgia Ave.
In northwest Omaha, at 4229 N. 90th St.
In Plattsmouth, at 122 S. Sixth St.

Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis; or you can call 402-734-4110 to make an appointment.

Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital offers COVID-19 vaccinations for its patients via Children’s Connect Health Portal.

“Families of non-Children’s patients can schedule by calling 402-955-SHOT,” according to the hospital’s website.

Nebraska Medicine

Nebraska Medicine is offering COVID-19 vaccinations at clinics in several retail pharmacies and health centers around the Omaha-metro.

NebMed will provide vaccinations by appointment at:

Eagle Run Health Center, located at 132nd Street and West Maple Road
Fontenelle Health Center, located at 50th Street and Ames Avenue
Girls Inc. Health Center, located at 45th Street and West Maple Road
Old Market Health Center, located at 13th and Leavenworth streets
Village Pointe Health Center, located at 175th and Burke streets

For those looking for walk-in appointments, Pfizer vaccinations will be available at these outpatient pharmacies:

Bellevue Health Center, located at 25th Street and Highway 370, will offer vaccinations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays
Durham Outpatient Center, located at 45th and Emile streets, will offer vaccinations from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays; and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the weekends

Novavax vaccinations are available at these outpatient pharmacies:

Lauritzen Outpatient Center, located at 40th and Leavenworth streets, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
UNL Health Center, located at 550 N. 19th St. in Lincoln, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-noon

Pfizer vaccinations for children ages 6-12 are available at Lauritzen Outpatient Center, located at 40th and Leavenworth streets, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

Around Omaha

SOUTH OMAHA: Testing and vaccinations are available at OneWorld, located at 4920 S. 30th St. Call 402-734-4110 to make an appointment for vaccinating anyone age 12 and older.

CHARLES DREW HEALTH CENTER: Call 402-451-3553 to schedule an appointment.

CHURCH CLINIC: Metropolitan Community Church of Omaha will host a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. No ID is required, but a parent or guardian must be present at the clinic with teens ages 12-18.

MCC FORT OMAHA: Vaccinations also will be distributed Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha campus, located at 5300 N. 30th St. Appointments will be made through the county’s vaccination registry.

TOTAL WELLNESS: DCHD has been working with Total Wellness, located at 9320 H Court, to establish a vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

VETERANS: Any eligible veterans can obtain COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters at the Omaha VA Medical Center’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics’ walk-in hours from 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m. weekdays. Appointments can also be scheduled online.

Sarpy/Cass health district

The Sarpy/Cass Health Department has lists scheduled vaccination clinics for all COVID-19 vaccine doses, including pediatric and infant doses, in its health district, noting that most are by appointment.

The health department offers the first and second doses of Pfizer and Modern vaccines, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) single doses, and booster doses of all three vaccines.

To make an appointment, call 833-998-2275 or 531-249-1873.

The health department offers immunization clinics at Midlands Medical Building One, located at 11109 S 84th St, Suite 1820, in Papillion, NE 68046

4-7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month
9 a.m.-noon on the second, third, and fourth Thursdays of the month

Pottawattamie County

The Pottawattamie County Public Health Department no longer hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinics, instead urging residents to receive their shots at area pharmacies.

Free take-home test kits are available at:

Pottawattamie County Public Health Department office, located at 600 S. Fourth St., Suite 100, in Council Bluffs
All Care Health Center, located at 902 S. Sixth St. in Council Bluffs
Super Saver Pharmacy, located at 1411 N Broadway in Council Bluffs
CHI Health Clinics
Methodist Health Clinics
Avoca Journal-Herald Newspaper
City Halls in Carson, Carter Lake, Macedonia, Oakland, Treynor, Underwood, and Walnut

Three Rivers health district

Three Rivers Public Health Department has walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics at:

Children ages 6 months to 4 years: From 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Three Rivers office at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave. in Fremont.
Ages 5 and older: From 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays at the Three Rivers office at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave. in Fremont.
In Wahoo: The Three Rivers clinic in Lake Wanahoo, located at 1320 E. 31st St., is open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.

Off-line help

METHODIST HEALTH INFORMATION: The vaccine is available at most Methodist Physicians Clinic locations. Appointments for the vaccine are recommended and can be made by calling 402-354-CARE.

NEBRASKA VACCINE HOTLINE: Nebraskans can call 531-249-1873 or toll-free at 833-998-2275 for more information on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination process and to get assistance with signing up for a vaccination appointment.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HELPLINE: Local COVID-19 information, in Spanish and English, is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, except for holidays. Call 402-444-3400 for assistance.

IOWA VACCINE HOTLINE: Iowans who need help to find a vaccine appointment can call 211 for assistance or 1-800-244-7431. Older or home-bound Iowans can contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-328-2540 or 1-800-432-9209. For multilingual assistance, call 1-877-558-2609.

NATIONAL HOTLINE: To check vaccine availability in your community, call the national COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-232-0233.

Resource links

Where to get a test: Douglas County

Vaccine sign-up: Douglas County | Sarpy/Cass | Three Rivers | Nebraska

Vaccinations at hospitals: Nebraska Medicine | Methodist Health System | Children’s Hospital

Vaccine information: Douglas County | Douglas County clinics | Nebraska || Iowa | Pottawattamie County | Mills County | Fremont County

COVID-19 risk dials: Douglas County | Lincoln-Lancaster County

WOWT.com quick search: COVID-19 | Coronavirus | Vaccine