Three Rivers Public Health Department (3RPHD) gave an update Wednesday afternoon on total lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases within the district. Parentheses indicate changes.
- Dodge County: 859 cases (+4) | 438 cases recovered
- Saunders County: 183 cases (+6) | 30 cases recovered
- Washington County: 142 cases (+1) | 53 cases recovered
Total 3RPHD Case Count: 1184 cases (+11)| 521 cases recovered
The 3RPHD has seen a total of 145 new cases over the last 14 days, Dodge County accounting for 72 of those new cases.
Hospital Capacity
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Omaha Metropolitan Health Care Coalition (OMHCC) which consists of Dodge, Saunders, Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy county hospitals reported 254 (-46) medical beds available, and 113 (+10) patients were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of the 454 (+22) ventilators available to area hospitals, 122 (+9)were in use, including 17 (+3) for confirmed or suspect COVID-19 patients.
Three Rivers COVID-19 Risk Dial
The COVID-19 Community Risk Dials for the Three Rivers Public Health Department (3RPHD) jurisdiction of Dodge, Washington, and Saunders counties has been updated for the week.
Three Rivers Jurisdiction:
2.13 due to an increase in COVID-19 inpatients
2.00 Previous Week
Dodge County:
2.25 due to an increase in COVID-19 inpatients, had less testing
2.00 Previous Week
Washington County:
1.75 due to an increase in COVID-19 inpatients and an increase in cases
1.50 Previous Week
Saunders County:
1.75 due to an increase in COVID-19 inpatients, had increased testing
1.75 Previous Week
The main factors considered in the risk dials each week include:
- The increase in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past three weeks.
- The increase in the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests.
- The capacity of the district and local healthcare system including the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and the ventilators being utilized by COVID-19 (suspect and confirmed patients).
- The presence of community clusters and or community spread.
- The availability of testing in the district and local communities.
- The availability of 3RPHD to trace all identified contacts of positive cases in 48 hours.
“This week for the overall health department jurisdiction we have seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 inpatients within our healthcare region, an increase in positive cases that are not related to schools reopening and an increase in the number of cases with unknown exposures,” said Terra Uhing, Executive Director of Three Rivers Public Health Department. “Unfortunately, we have had individuals that are getting tested for COVID-19 and are not staying home until they get results—this is leading to others being exposed and having to quarantine”.
Exposure/Symptoms
You can spread COVID-19 even if you don’t feel that sick. You can pass the disease to someone else before you have symptoms, and even if you never develop any symptoms at all. When people who have contracted the infection come in contact with high-risk people, there can be deadly consequences. As a reminder, exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes. If you have been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, then you need to quarantine at home for two weeks.
“We have started to report our recovered cases within our health district—you can find this information on our data dashboard. As more information becomes available it will be updated”, said Three Rivers Public Health Executive Director, Terra Uhing.
We encourage all Nebraskans to get tested for COVID-19 and to do so immediately if they have symptoms. This can be done through Test Nebraska at www.testnebraska.com.
For questions or more information about COVID-19, please call Three Rivers at 402-727-5396, email info@3rphd.org or visit www.threeriverspublichealth.org
