Thursday Aug. 19 COVID-19 update: Sarpy/Cass issues alert on community spread; Douglas County preps for vaccine boosters

(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.

Nebraska prison system reports outbreak

(AP) - Nebraska officials are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak at a state correctional facility as virus cases surge statewide.

After 33 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln, officials paused all visits and volunteer activities. They also asked county jails to delay sending new inmates if they can.

Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes said the increase in cases in the prison system follows an increase in the community.

On Wednesday, the state reported 2,676 new COVID-19 cases in the past week. The current case numbers are more than 10 times higher than what the state reported in June.

Iowa governor lashes back at Biden over action on masks

(AP) - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lashed out Thursday at President Biden after he ordered his education secretary to explore possible legal action against states including Iowa that have blocked school mask mandates and other public health measures meant to protect students against COVID-19.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a letter to Reynolds that her ban on mask mandates in schools is needlessly placing students, families, and educators at risk.

Reynolds said she will fight the federal government in court if need be, saying Iowa has led in the effort to keep children in school.

Iowa’s virus spread is accelerating with a seven-day rolling average of 813 new cases, the highest level since early February.

DCHD preparing for third doses

The Douglas County Health Department is planning to administer COVID-19 vaccination boosters starting next Friday at its regular clinic held each week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1111 S. 41st St.

The immunocompromised — such as those fighting cancer, living with diabetes or HIV/AIDS, or who have had an organ transplant, for example — are able to get their third dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations starting next week. DCHD encourages those unsure whether they qualify as immunocompromised to consult their doctor before getting the booster.

Sarpy/Cass update

The Sarpy/Cass Health Department on Thursday noted that the health district is experiencing “high levels” of COVID-19 community spread.

According to the update, Sarpy County is seeing “high” transmission, with more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people; Cass County is at “substantial” transmission, with 50-100 new cases reported per 100,000 people.

SCHD encourages COVID-19 vaccinations and urges people to avoid crowds and wear masks indoors.

Douglas County cases update

DCHD said Thursday it had confirmed an additional 183 positive cases of COVID-19 since Wednesday, bringing the local total to 76,076 cases.

The local COVID-19 death toll stands at 743.

The rolling seven-day average increased to 150 cases on Thursday — the highest average since April 14.

Hospitalizations are the highest they’ve been since April, when they peaked at 136 patients. As of Thursday’s report, local hospitals were 84% full, with 232 beds available. Adult ICU beds were 80% full with 68 beds available. Hospitals are caring for 150 COVID-19 patients; two of them are pediatric patients. Among current COVID-19 hospitalizations, 54 patients — five more than Wednesday — are in ICUs, 19 of them on ventilators. An additional patient is 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.

Restrictions return in some parts of Kansas as cases rise

(AP) - Officials in some Kansas communities are battling a rise in COVID-19 cases by mandating masks for kids, issuing emergency orders and requiring vaccines.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 605.14 new cases per day on Aug. 3 to 797.14 new cases per day on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

In the Wichita area, hospital status was changed to critical Wednesday, as about 150 COVID-19 patients fill beds there.

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:

THURSDAY

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

FRIDAY

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

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

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