FREMONT – Ninety four tests were completed at a mass COVID-19 testing event on Tuesday; of those, 25 positive results were confirmed.
The Three Rivers Public Health Department (3RPHD) worked with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Nebraska’s National Guard to conduct a mass testing event on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. The event was held at Fremont Middle School in Fremont. 3RPHD worked in collaboration with local partners (hospitals, food production facilities, long-term care facilities, and emergency management, etc.) to identify potential candidates for testing. Additionally, close contacts of previously confirmed cases were also invited for testing. In total, 94 individuals were tested.
From the testing event, 25 new lab-confirmed cases were identified:
- Ten pediatric cases in Dodge County
- Eleven adults in Dodge County
- One pediatric case in Saunders County
- One adult in Saunders County
- Two adults in Douglas County
Of these cases, 90% of those identified as positive were close contacts of previously lab-confirmed cases. This reinforces the importance of self-quarantine for close contacts of confirmed cases. It is essential that individuals social distance while at home, and stay home if they are sick.
Contact tracing has been completed on all positive individuals, and those identified to have a risk of exposure have been asked to self-quarantine.
The additional lab-confirmed cases bring the 3RPHD district’s total to 71 COVID-19 cases:
- Dodge County: 40 cases
- Saunders County: 9 cases
- Washington County: 22 cases
As of the last update at 5:45PM on Thursday evening, the State of Nebraska has over 2,000 cases of COVID-19 infection – nearly double the number of lab-confirmed cases when compared to this time last week. As testing expands, this number will continue to rise.
Nebraskans are urged to continue to follow the Governor’s Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy:
- Stay home. No non-essential errands and no social gatherings. Respect the ten-person limit.
- Socially distance your work. Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.
- Shop alone and only shop once a week. Do not take family with you.
- Help kids follow social distancing. Play at home. No group sports. And no playgrounds.
- Help seniors stay at home by shopping for them. Do not visit long-term care facilities.
- Exercise daily at home or with an appropriately socially-distanced activity.
