Three Rivers Public Health Department (3RPHD) gave an update Friday afternoon on total lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases within the district. Parentheses indicate changes. Recovered cases by county are current as of Wednesday, overall recoveries are current according to the 3RPHD website.
- Dodge County: 870 cases (+11) | 438 cases recovered
- Saunders County: 188 cases (+5) | 30 cases recovered
- Washington County: 152 cases (+10) | 53 cases recovered
Total 3RPHD Case Count: 1,210 cases (+26)| 553 cases recovered
Hospital Capacity
As of Friday afternoon, the Omaha Metropolitan Health Care Coalition (OMHCC) which consists of Dodge, Saunders, Washington, Douglas and Sarpy county hospitals reported 228 (-26) medical beds available and 104 (-9) patients were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of the 453 (-1) ventilators available to area hospitals, 134 (+12) were in use, including 12 (-5) 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 was updated on Wednesday, August 19, 2020.
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 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
