Friday Dec. 17 COVID-19 update: Douglas County hospitalizations holding above 300 as capacity declines

(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 western Iowa.

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

Public schools dashboard updates

Omaha Public Schools reported Friday that it had 227 active COVID-19 cases, compared to 234 reported a week ago. Of the current cases, 189 are among students, compared to 196 student cases reported last week. The district again reported 38 active cases among staff, same as last week.

Elkhorn Public Schools reported Friday that it had 56 active COVID-19 cases, compared to 53 reported a week ago. A handful of schools were reporting five or more active cases: Elkhorn South High School was still reporting seven cases, the most of any school in the district. Manchester and Westridge elementary schools were reporting six cases each.

Millard Public Schools on Friday reported 136 active cases in the district, compared to 174 cases reported a week ago. One high school has more than 20 cases, with two schools in the district reporting 10 or more cases:

• Millard North High School has 24 cases, compared to 21 cases last week and 11 two weeks ago.
• Millard South High School still has 11 cases, compared to 17 cases two weeks ago.
• Kiewit Middle School also has 11 cases.

A few schools were reporting five or more cases.

• Neihardt Elementary has nine cases
• Wheeler Elementary has seven cases
• Hitchcock Elementary and Andersen Middle School each have six cases

Papillion La Vista Community Schools had 41 active cases as of Monday: 35 are among students, and six are staff cases. That’s up from the total of 46 cases reported a week ago, with 40 cases among students and six cases reported among staff. The highest total reported by the district this year was 94 cases — 82 among students and 12 among staff — on Week 3 of the school year.

Gretna Public Schools on Friday reported it had 30 active cases, compared to 36 reported a week ago. The district was also reporting 391 recovered cases, compared to 355 reported as recovered a week ago.

Council Bluffs Public Schools on Friday reported 45 active COVID-19 cases: 37 among students and still eight among staff. A week ago, the district had 67 cases: 59 among students and eight among staff.

Bellevue Public Schools on Friday reported it had 51 active cases during the week ending Thursday, compared to 56 cases reported the previous week. Of those cases, 44 were among students, and seven were among staff.

A handful of schools in the district were reporting five or more cases: Fort Crook Elementary has eight student cases and one staff case; Bellevue West High School has seven student cases; and Betz Elementary reported four student cases and one staff case.

The district has reported 769 cases to date during this school year: 653 among students, and 116 among staff.

Westside Community Schools on Friday was reporting 14 active cases, compared to 23 last week: 12 among students and still four among staff. The school has reported 409 cases to date during this school: 338 among students, and 71 among staff.

Underlying conditions in Douglas County

The Douglas County Health Department’s data dashboard reports stats on underlying conditions present in local COVID-19 deaths.

As of Friday, that data showed that of the 889 COVID-19 deaths reported by the health department, 10.5% had no underlying conditions.

Most present in those who have died in Douglas County were cardiovascular factors (43.4%), with renal (28.1%), respiratory (26.2%), and neurological factors (24.4%) as well as diabetes (20.4%) present in a significant number of local COVID-19 deaths.

Present factors but accounting for lower percentages were obesity (7%), cancer (6.2%), stroke (6%), liver (2.3%), and immune system complications (1.6%).

Douglas County update

The Douglas County Health Department on Friday reported two COVID-19 deaths: an unvaccinated woman in her 50s and an unvaccinated man in his 50s bring the death toll to 889.

Also on Friday, DHCD confirmed 256 cases of COVID-19, noting that Wednesday’s testing was impacted by the severe weather. The health department has confirmed 98,497 cases to date. A year ago, the health department reported 360 cases and 15 deaths, bringing the local death toll at that time to 423.

The latest case numbers nudged the seven-day average down to 266 cases from 276. A week ago, the average was 306 cases; a month ago, it was 222. It hasn’t been below 100 cases since Aug. 3.

Local hospital capacity stats are updated daily according to staffing levels. DCHD said that as of Thursday afternoon, local hospitals collectively were 92% full with 108 beds available, compared to 101 beds Wednesday, 125 Tuesday, 152 Monday, and 178 on Sunday. ICUs on Thursday were at 96% occupancy, with 12 beds available, compared to 12 beds available on Wednesday and 26 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, pediatric ICUs were 91% full and also had 12 beds available, down from 14 available a day earlier.

Among those under hospital care as of Thursday afternoon were 324 COVID-19 patients, down from 343 a day earlier. The current total includes five pediatric patients, down from eight a day earlier. Of the COVID-19 patients, 84 were in county ICUs, down from 100; 37 of them on ventilators, the DCHD report states.

Additionally, eight adult patients and one pediatric patient are awaiting COVID-19 test results.

A week ago, local hospitals were caring for 332 COVID-19 patients; a month ago, there were 186 COVID-19 patients. There haven’t been fewer than 100 COVID-19 patients in local hospitals since Aug. 9.

“Our hospitals are under incredible pressure right now,” Health Director Dr. Lindsay Huse said in Friday’s news release. “We need everyone to do what they can to help keep people out of our hospitals. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to do that.”

As of Friday, 62.4% of all Douglas County residents were fully vaccinated, according to the local COVID-19 dashboard. The latest age group eligible for vaccinations was continuing to increase its vaccination rate, with 17.2% of children ages 5-11 fully vaccinated and 27.6% having received at least one dose.

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
• 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

Below is a list of the Douglas County COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for this week, including child vaccination clinics at area schools. All clinics are open to the public for any approved shot in the vaccination series as indicated below. Those planning to get a booster shot should bring their vaccination card.

FRIDAY

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Douglas County Health Department, located at 1111 S. 41st. St. – All vaccines available.

SATURDAY

• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Girls Inc., located at 2811 N. 45th St. – All vaccines available.

MONDAY

• 5-7 p.m. at Beveridge Magnet Middle School, located at 1616 S. 120th St. – Pfizer for ages 5+
• 5-7 p.m. at McMillan Magnet Middle School, located at Redick Ave. – Pfizer for ages 5+

TUESDAY

• Noon-4 p.m. at the Douglas County Health Department, located at 1111 S. 41st. St. – All vaccines available.

WEDNESDAY

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Heart Ministry Center, located at 2222 Binney St. – Pfizer for ages 5+
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Bryan Middle School, located at 8210 S. 42nd St. – Pfizer for ages 5+
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Benson High Magnet School, located at 5120 Maple St. – Pfizer for ages 5+

THURSDAY

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Douglas County Health Department, located at 1111 S. 41st. St. – All vaccines available.

MONDAY DEC. 27

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Burke High School, located at 12200 Burke St. – Pfizer for ages 5+
• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Omaha North High Magnet School, located at 4410 N. 36th St. – All vaccines available.
• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Omaha South High Magnet School, located at 4519 S. 24th St. – Pfizer for ages 5+
• 4-7 p.m. at Bennington High School, located at 16610 Bennington Road – Pfizer for ages 5+

TUESDAY DEC. 28

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Morton Magnet Middle School, located at 12200 Burke St. – Pfizer for ages 5+
• Noon-4 p.m. at the Douglas County Health Department, located at 1111 S. 41st. St. – All vaccines available.

WEDNESDAY DEC. 29

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Alfonza W. David Middle School, located at 8050 N. 129th St. – Pfizer for ages 5+
• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Norris Middle School, located at 2235 S. 46th St. – Pfizer for ages 5+

THURSDAY DEC. 30

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Douglas County Health Department, located at 1111 S. 41st. St. – All vaccines available.

In-home appointments

DCHD is helping those homebound to get vaccinated, scheduling in-home appointments for all three adult vaccination varieties, for any shot in the series.

To arrange this, call the DCHD information helpline at 402-444-3400.

DCHD booster plan

All Douglas County Health Department pop-up clinics will offer only Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccinations, but once Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters are authorized, the health department plans to have all three available at its in-house and drive-through clinics.

Booster shots are recommended for people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and are:

• ages 65 and older
• anyone age 18 and older who lives in a long-term care setting
• anyone age 18 and older who has underlying medical conditions
• anyone age 18 and older who lives or works in a high-risk setting

The CDC is recommending booster doses be administered six months after receiving your second dose, and has authorized brand crossover for booster shots. Anyone with questions is advised to contact their healthcare provider for further guidance.

Boosters are also recommended for those who received the J&J vaccine at least two months ago, according to the health department.

Those with questions about boosters, particularly those with questions about underlying medical conditions or being in a high-risk setting, are advised to contact their healthcare providers or call the DCHD Information Line at 402-444-3400.

Underlying medical conditions that qualify for boosters include: cancer; chronic kidney disease; chronic lung diseases like COPD, moderate to severe asthma, interstitial lung disease, damaged or scarred lung tissue, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, etc.; certain neurological conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc.; diabetes; Down syndrome; certain heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, hypertension; HIV/AIDS or others in immunocompromised states; liver disease like cirrhosis, liver scarring, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, etc.; those who are overweight or obese; pregnant and recently pregnant people who are 42 or more days past the end of their pregnancy; certain hemoglobin disorders like sickle cell disease, thalassemia, etc.; current or former smokers; recipients of organ, blood stem cell, or bone marrow transplants; cerebrovascular disease like stroke, etc.; and substance use disorders including alcohol, opioid, cocaine use disorders, etc.

Those “high-risk” occupations qualifying for boosters include: first-responders such as healthcare workers, firefighters, police, and congregate care staff; education staff such as teachers, support staff, daycare workers; food and agricultural workers; manufacturing workers; corrections workers; U.S. Postal workers; public transit workers; grocery store workers; and residents of homeless shelters or correctional facilities.

OneWorld child vaccination clinics

OneWorld is offering pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations, for children ages 5-11, at the following clinics:

• Livestock Building, located at 4920 S. 30th St. in south Omaha
• In Bellevue, at 2207 Georgia Ave.
• In northwest Omaha at 4229 N. 90th St.
• In Plattsmouth at 122 S. Sixth St.

OneWorld will also offer children’s COVID-19 vaccinations at school health centers:

• Bryan High School, located at 4700 Giles Road
• Indian Hill Elementary, located at 3121 U St.
• Liberty Elementary, located at 2021 St. Mary’s Ave.
• Spring Lake Elementary, located at 4215 S. 20th St.

Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis; or you can call 402-734-4110 to make an appointment.

Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital is planning to offer dedicated COVID-19 vaccination clinics for about a month, starting by Thursday, Nov. 11 — or sooner, if they are supplied the doses before that.

• 5-7 p.m. Thursdays at West Village Pointe and Spring Valley offices
• 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays at West Village Pointe and Spring Valley offices

After Saturday, Dec. 11, pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations will be available by appointment at any Children’s Hospital location.

• 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.

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.

Around Omaha

SOUTH OMAHA: Testing and vaccinations are 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 obtain COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters at the Omaha VA Medical Center’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics’ walk-in hours from 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m. weekdays. Appointments can also be scheduled online.

Sarpy/Cass health district

The Sarpy/Cass Health Department offers COVID-19 vaccinations at its offices, located at 701 Olson Drive in Papillion:

• Tuesdays: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 1-6 p.m.

The health department offers the first and second doses of Pfizer and Modern vaccines, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) single doses, and booster doses of all three vaccines.

Sarpy/Cass vaccination clinics

The Sarpy/Cass Health Department has scheduled vaccination clinics for all COVID-19 vaccine doses, including pediatric doses:

Appointments are recommended but not required. For scheduling assistance, call 833-998-2275 or 531-249-1873.

Three Rivers health district

Three Rivers Public Health Department is giving out boosters to those in certain risk categories who have had Pfizer vaccinations. It is also working with area businesses and schools to provide plan more COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

3RPHD is planning the following vaccination clinics next week at the Three Rivers Clinic, located at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave. in Fremont:

• 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17
• 8 a.m-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21
• 8 a.m-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22
• 8 a.m-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28

The health department is also planning a clinic from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 2 at United Methodist Church in Blair.

Three regular pediatric vaccination clinics have been set up for children ages 5-11:

• Wahoo: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month at 1320 E. 31st St.
• Fremont: 3-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and noon-3:30 p.m. Fridays at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave.

The health department has the necessary forms posted on their website, for minors and adults, for those who would like to fill them out ahead of their visit.

3RPHD’s regular clinics will continue:

• In Dodge County, the Three Rivers clinic at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave. in Fremont, is open for walk-ins from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; and noon to 3:30 p.m. Friday.
• In Saunders County, the Three Rivers clinic in Lake Wanahoo, located at 1320 E. 31st St., is open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.

Those who are home-bound or require special accommodations but need a COVID-19 test or vaccine can contact the health district at 402-704-2245 to make arrangements.

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: Nebraskans can call 531-249-1873 or toll-free at 833-998-2275 for more information on the state’s 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 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 | Bryan Health | Nebraska | Iowa | Worldwide

School info: Omaha Public Schools | Millard Public Schools | Bellevue Public Schools | Westside Community Schools | Papillion-La Vista Community Schools | Gretna Public Schools | Elkhorn Public Schools | Council Bluffs Community Schools | Lincoln Public Schools | UNL | UNO | Midland University

COVID-19 risk dials: Lincoln-Lancaster County

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