Wednesday Dec. 23 COVID-19 update: Douglas County reports 417 new cases, 15 deaths

Here is a summary of new cases and other COVID-19 stats reported today by health officials...
Here is a summary of new cases and other COVID-19 stats reported today by health officials across Nebraska & Iowa.(Source: AP Graphics)
Published: Dec. 23, 2020 at 11:13 AM CST
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

(WOWT) - Here is a summary of new cases and other COVID-19 stats reported today by health officials across Nebraska & Iowa.

Douglas County

The Douglas County Health Department reported 417 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The average number of cases reported over the last 7 days is about 360.

The total number of cases since the pandemic began is now 50,338.

Nine men ranging in age from their early 50s to 90, and six women ranging from 60s to over 80 have passed away. The total number of lives lost since the start of the pandemic in March is now 455.

As of their most recent report, medical and surgical beds were at 76 percent occupancy, with 376 beds available. ICU beds are occupied at a 67 percent rate with 111 beds available.

A total of 28,098 residents have recovered since the start of the pandemic.

On Sunday, DCHD reported the seven-day positivity rate at 29.1%, up from 28.5% the week prior.

NDCS staff members test positive

Nine staff members with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services have tested positive for COVID-19.

The staff members are currently isolating at home and are employed by these locations: Omaha Correctional Center (2), Nebraska State Penitentiary (2), Lincoln Correctional Center (2), Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (1), Community Corrections Center-Lincoln (1) and the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility (1).

This brings the total number of NDCS staff members diagnosed with COVID-19 to 448.

Lincoln reports three more COVID-19 deaths

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said Wednesday that three more residents there had died from COVID-19, bringing the community death toll to 144.

Two women in their 90s living in long-term care facilities and a woman in her 80s who had been hospitalized were the most recent victims.

LLCHD also said it had confirmed 166 new positive cases, bringing the community total to 21,461 since the start of the pandemic. The seven-day positivity rate, reported Saturday, is 25.3%.

Additionally, 47 more recoveries were reported, bringing that total to 6,354.

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird reminded residents that the state’s new DHMs would not override those put in place by the city, which remain in effect until Jan. 15.

An Omaha couple had a small gathering in their home. No one felt sick, but someone was. See how they're left with the lingering effects of COVID-19 and why they want to share their story.

Posted by Nebraska Medicine on Wednesday, December 23, 2020

CHI Health Infectious Diseases experts, Dr. Quimby and Dr. Vivekenandan, talk to us about how safe the COVID-19 vaccine...

Posted by CHI Health on Wednesday, December 23, 2020

REFERENCE NOTE -- 6 News pulls data from Nebraska and Iowa COVID-19 dashboards at 6 p.m. daily. All other reports in this post come from official news releases from area health departments and other authorities as stated.

Resource links

COVID-19 dashboards: Douglas County | Sarpy County | Three Rivers Health District | Lancaster County | Nebraska | Iowa | Worldwide

Vaccine information: Douglas County | Nebraska | Iowa

School dashboards: Omaha Public Schools | Millard Public Schools | Bellevue Public Schools | Westside Community Schools | Gretna Public Schools | Elkhorn Public Schools | Lincoln Public Schools | UNL | Midland University

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

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

Copyright 2020 WOWT. All rights reserved.