Wednesday Aug. 18 COVID-19 update: 69 cases linked to two school camps

(WOWT) - Below are today’s vaccination updates as well as data reports on new cases and other COVID-19 stats reported by health officials across Nebraska and Iowa.

Keep scrolling to find helpful links and other information, including phone numbers to call for help getting signed up for your vaccine.

DCHD investigating camp outbreaks

The Douglas County Health Department said Wednesday it is investigating two COVID-19 outbreaks at local summer camps.

According to DCHD’s release, a day camp for first- through fifth-graders has resulted in 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases; nine of them have been confirmed as delta variant cases. Additionally, an overnight camp for sixth- through 12th-graders has resulted in 20 positive cases, with three of them confirmed to be delta variant cases.

The positive cases were among attendees, staff, and households, the release states.

“We are seeing more spread among our youth with the delta variant,” Douglas County Health Director Dr. Lindsay Huse said in the release.

Masks were optional at the day camp, and most did not wear facemasks, the release states. The DCHD investigation also includes genomic sequencing and epidemiological investigation data.

“These outbreaks show that spread among children is occurring in our community. Please encourage your children to be safe and wear a mask as they return to school, especially those who are unable to be vaccinated,” the release states.

DCHD officials said the health department was not yet releasing COVID-19 case data for Douglas County schools, since school is just getting started, but would in the future.

Douglas County cases update

DCHD said Wednesday it had confirmed an additional 162 positive cases of COVID-19 since Tuesday, bringing the local total to 75,893 cases.

The local COVID-19 death toll stands at 743.

The rolling seven-day average is down slightly to 147 cases, but still up from last week.

Hospitalizations have doubled since the start of the month. As of Wednesday’s report, local hospitals were 82% full, with 259 beds available. Adult ICU beds were 78% full with 72 beds available. Hospitals are caring for 148 COVID-19 patients; two of them are pediatric patients. Among current COVID-19 hospitalizations, 49 patients are in ICUs, and 17 are on ventilators. An additional three patients are being monitored for COVID-19 symptoms.

DCHD announced last week, after the U.S. Census data was released, that its data would use the 2019 Vintage Census Population Estimate when calculating percentages, resulting in some declines in local age group vaccination percentages on the health department’s COVID-19 dashboard. It will be consistent with the CDC’s data tracker, however.

Nebraska update

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday updated its online COVID-19 data tally.

DHHS reported 17 more COVID-19 deaths since the previous week, for a statewide death toll of 2,302 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The state health department also confirmed 2,676 positive cases, for a total of 235,075 cases since the start of the pandemic. Among those, 165 were variants: 159 were delta variant cases; one was the beta variant; the remaining five cases were not about to be accounted for by comparing this week’s tallies with last week’s.

The state reports that 35,986 COVID-19 tests have been conducted this past week, for a total of 3,243,153 COVID-19 tests administered since the start of the pandemic. Positive tests increased the positivity rate by 0.4% to 8.6%.

There were also 60 more COVID-19 hospitalizations reported in the past week, for a total of 277 active COVID-19 hospitalizations occurring in the state.

The state also added footnotes to explain data sourcing on cases, deaths, and hospitalizations:

“State and Federal law restricts the release of COVID-related data depending on the source from which it was collected, and whether or not the identity of the individuals involved can be ascertained. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is a covered entity subject to federal restrictions under HIPAA. Some state law restrictions on release of data related to communicable diseases, including COVID data, were temporarily suspended during the state of Nebraska emergency declaration, which allowed the state to release more information during that time period.

To be included in the statewide COVID death total, DHHS considers a death as a confirmed COVID-related death only when the following criteria are met: 1) COVID is listed as the underlying cause of death on the death certificate and 2) the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test is positive. Only when both of these criteria are met, DHHS reports it as a COVID death. Death information is compiled from several sources. A death may be reported locally by health care providers, hospitals, medical examiners/coroners, local health departments, or others before they are reported and included in the statewide count.

The breakthrough numbers only represent a subset of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Nebraska. The DHHS does not have access to individual patient identifiers for all COVID-19 hospitalizations. Additionally, DHHS does not have all vaccination data due to missing data from some federal entities that do not report to the state.

The DHHS identifies persons to be “fully-vaccinated” if they had either completed a 2-dose course of mRNA vaccine [Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna], or if they had received a single dose of Janssen [Johnson & Johnson] vac­cine 14+ days prior. The DHHS identifies persons to be “not fully-vaccinated” if they had received only the first dose of mRNA vaccine [Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna], or if they had received a single dose of Janssen [Johnson & Johnson] vac­cine fewer than 14 days ago.​”

Lincoln-Lancaster County update

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department on Wednesday reported 102 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the local total to 33.866 cases since the start of the pandemic.

The local death toll remains 254.

LLCHD raised its risk dial to orange on Tuesday, where it remains.

There are currently 80 hospitalizations in the Lincoln-Lancaster County area; two of those patients are on ventilators.

As of Wednesday, 69.4% of Lincoln-area residents ages 16 and older are considered fully vaccinated.

Bryan Health update

Bryan Health on Wednesday said its personnel is caring for 61 COVID-19 patients, 14 of them on ventilators.

Another 13 patients are awaiting test results.

The health system said it is not caring for any pediatric COVID-19 patients, but noted that “transfer options throughout the region remain extremely limited.”

According to the news release, Bryan Health is treating 16 pediatric patients — two more than it reported Tuesday when the health system said it had two more pediatric beds available.

Vaccination clinics

Nebraska DHHS

Federal Retail Pharmacy Program: Pharmacies in and near the Omaha-metro area currently participating in the program include:

• Medicine Man Pharmacy, 15615 Pacific St. Suite 8, Omaha NE 668118
• Think Aksarben Pharmacy LLC, 7100 W. Center Road, Omaha NE 68106
• ViaRx, 825 N. 90th St., Omaha NE 68114
• Walmart, 3010 E. 23rd St., Fremont NE 68025

Retail pharmacy vaccine sign-ups: Baker’s | CVS | Hy-Vee | Kohll’s | Kubat | Sam’s Club | Walmart

Douglas County

Douglas County COVID-19 vaccination clinics are scheduled at several local schools and events this week:

WEDNESDAY

• 2-5 p.m. at Progressive Protein, located at 5102 S. 26th St.

THURSDAY

• 2-5 p.m. at Hayden House on UNO’s Dodge Campus, located at 6533 University Dr. South

FRIDAY

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hayden House on UNO’s Dodge Campus, located at 6533 University Dr. South

SATURDAY

• 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Farmers Market in the Old Market
• Noon-3 p.m. at Benson Health at Lake Street Apartments, located at 2400 N. 34th Ave.
• 1-3 p.m. at Hayden House on UNO’s Dodge Campus, located at 6533 University Dr. South

SUNDAY

• 1-5 p.m. at Simple Foundation – Miguel Keith Park and Memorial, located at 30th and W streets
• 5:30-8:30 p.m. at UNO’s Tal Anderson Field, located at 2425 S. 67th St.

Nebraska Medicine

Nebraska Medicine is offering COVID-19 vaccinations at clinics in several retail pharmacies and health centers around the Omaha-metro.

NebMed will provide Pfizer vaccinations by appointment at:

• Eagle Run Health Center, located at 132nd Street and West Maple Road
• Fontenelle Health Center, located at 50th Street and Ames Avenue
• Girls Inc. Health Center, located at 45th Street and West Maple Road
• Old Market Health Center, located at 13th and Leavenworth streets
• Village Pointe Health Center, located at 175th and Burke streets

For those looking for walk-in appointments, single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccinations will be available at these pharmacies:

• Outpatient Pharmacy at Bellevue Health Center, located at 25th Street and Highway 370, will offer J&J vaccinations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
• Outpatient Pharmacy at Durham Outpatient Center, located at 45th and Emile streets, will offer J&J vaccinations from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays; and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the weekends.

Children’s Hospital

• Tuesday and Thursday appointments available at the Mission Village location, 16909 Q St. Call 402-955-7575 or 402-955-SHOT (7468) for available times.
• Thursday and Friday appointments available at the Dundee location, 4825 Dodge St. Call 402-955-7676 or 402-955-SHOT (7468) for available times.

Around Omaha

SOUTH OMAHA: Testing and vaccinations available at OneWorld, located at 4920 S. 30th St. Call 402-734-4110 to make an appointment for vaccinating anyone age 12 and older.

CHARLES DREW HEALTH CENTER: Call 402-451-3553 to schedule an appointment.

CHURCH CLINIC: Metropolitan Community Chuch of Omaha will host a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. No ID is required, but a parent or guardian must be present at the clinic with teens ages 12-18.

MCC FORT OMAHA: Vaccinations also will be distributed Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha campus, located at 5300 N. 30th St. Appointments will be made through the county’s vaccination registry.

TOTAL WELLNESS: DCHD has been working with Total Wellness, located at 9320 H Court, to establish a vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

VETERANS: Any eligible veterans can go to the Omaha VA Medical Center’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics’ walk-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the new Ambulatory Care Center.

Three Rivers health district

• In Dodge County, the Three Rivers Fremont location is open for walk-ins from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday.
• In Saunders County, the Three Rivers clinic in Lake Wanahoo is open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.
• In Washington County, the clinic at First Lutheran Church in Blair is open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

Off-line help

CHI HEALTH VACCINE INFORMATION: The info line is available at 402-717-1255 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily in August.

NEBRASKA VACCINE HOTLINE: Gov. Pete Ricketts has asked Nebraskans to call 402-552-6645 or toll-free at 833-998-2275 for more information on the Nebraska COVID-19 vaccination process.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HELPLINE: Local COVID-19 information, in Spanish and English, is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, except for holidays. Call 402-444-3400 for assistance.

IOWA VACCINE HOTLINE: Older or home-bound Iowans looking for help scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination appointment can call 1-866-468-7887 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; or contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-328-2540 or 1-800-432-9209.

Resource links

Where to get a test: Douglas County

Vaccine sign-up: Douglas County | Sarpy/Cass | Three Rivers | Nebraska

Vaccinations at hospitals: Nebraska Medicine | Methodist Hospital | Children’s Hospital

Retail pharmacy vaccine sign-ups: Hy-Vee | Walmart | Sam’s Club | Baker’s | Kohll’s | CVS | Kubat

Vaccine dashboard: Nebraska | Iowa

Vaccine information: Douglas County | Douglas County clinics | Nebraska || Iowa | Pottawattamie County | Mills County | Fremont County

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

School info: 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: Lincoln-Lancaster County

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