FREMONT – Although the Three Rivers Public Health Department has not received any new reports of lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection in Dodge, Washington or Saunders county, the virus continues to spread throughout the adjacent areas in Nebraska and Iowa. It remains extremely important to commit to social distancing, despite the holiday weekend.
The Douglas County Health Department received confirmation of 13 new cases of COVID-19 infection on Thursday, April 9th. That county now has over two hundred infections. Six COVID-19 patients in Douglas county have died, including the death reported last night.
“DCHD sadly can confirm a woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions has died from complications related to COVID-19. It is the sixth such death in Douglas County,” the health department said in a release.
Burt and Polk Counties each reported their first confirmed cases on Thursday. 38 of Nebraska’s 93 counties now have confirmed infections. As of noon on Friday, the state has 635 cases. 15 people in the state have died as a result of the virus. Less than 10,000 tests have been completed due to an ongoing shortage of test kits.
The Department of Health & Human Services will issue a new case total today at 6PM – the number of cases is expected to continue to rise.
Stay home and forego any unnecessary errands or excursions. Work from home whenever possible. Do not host non-household members for meals, events or playtime. Keep six feet of space between yourself and others at all times. When out in public, wear a cloth face covering. Wash your face covering as frequently as possible.
State-Issued DHM Provisions (Apply Statewide)
- Police enforceable, 10-person limit on public gatherings.
- Prohibits medical and dental elective surgeries and procedures.
- Requires schools (public, private, and parochial) to operate without students through May 31, 2020.
- Cancels all school-related extracurricular activities through May 31, 2020.
- Requires restaurants and bars to close their dining areas and move to takeout, delivery, and/or curbside service only.
- Requires individuals to home quarantine for at least 14 days if:
- They have tested positive for COVID-19.
- They have a fever of 100.4° F or above.
- They have experienced sudden onset of a cough and/or shortness of breath.
- They reside or have resided with individuals who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 or have the above symptoms.
- NOTE: The quarantine requirement excludes those individuals with seasonal allergies, COPD, or other diagnoses that may produce respiratory symptoms. Additionally, the directive doesn’t apply to patients who have an alternative non-COVID-19 diagnosis from a healthcare provider. These patients should follow the treatment and guidance provided by their healthcare provider for such conditions.
- Some individuals in home quarantine may not experience the onset of symptoms until the latter half of their 14-day quarantine period. In this case, the length of their quarantine may exceed 14 days. Individuals should remain in quarantine until 7 days have passed since onset of symptoms, symptoms have improved, and they have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- NOTE: See the DHM for additional direction on household members living with those in quarantine.
- The DHM’s limitation on public gatherings does not apply to:
- Retail or grocery stores where people should maintain six feet of distance from one another.
- Child care centers that may be operated at a school per the Governor’s executive order regarding childcare, which you can access by clicking here.
- Other locations detailed in the DHM.
Read the latest statewide DHM by clicking here.
