Thursday Feb. 2 COVID-19 update: Wastewater data indicates increasing cases in Douglas County

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

Keep scrolling to find a vaccination clinic near you.

Nebraska data snapshot

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provides COVID-19 data updates generally each week via its Respiratory Illness Dashboard, found on the Nebraska Public Health Atlas. That dashboard does not include data on COVID-19 hospitalizations or deaths, hospital capacity, or vaccinations.

DEATHS: The CDC data tracker reported 14 COVID-19 deaths in Nebraska for the week ending Jan. 25.

The state had reported 4,746 COVID-19 deaths as of Jan. 25, with a death rate of 245 deaths per 100,000 people.

CASES: The CDC data tracker reported 800 COVID-19 cases in Nebraska in the week ending Jan. 25; and a weekly case rate of 41.4 cases per 100,000 people.

The state has recorded 559,717 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.

POSITIVITY: Testing numbers across the state was about the same this week compared to last week. The week ending Saturday showed 9,530 tests conducted — about 40 fewer than the previous week. In the same time period, positivity rates fell from 9.1% to 8.4% — about 2.5% higher than the same time in 2021, but about half what it was this time last year.

About a month ago, it was 10%; two months ago, it was 14.3%. The highest recorded positivity rates during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic have been 23.2% at the end of April 2020 and 23.4% in mid-January 2022.

VACCINATIONS: CDC data indicates that 66.1% of Nebraskans have completed a primary COVID vaccination series.

Update on local flu & RSV trends

Influenza numbers, also available on the state DHHS dashboard, continued to decline in the past week, as did the number of tests conducted. The positivity rate as of Saturday, Jan. 14, was 7.4% among 3,616 tests, down from an adjusted 12.3% among 4,553 tests the week prior. That trend was the opposite a year ago, when more than 8,000 tests showed a 4.8% positivity rate.

RSV positivity fell from an adjusted 5.9% to 3.4% in the past week among a decreasing number of tests. Last week, 2,446 tests were conducted compared to 3,006 tests conducted the week before.

Pottawattamie County data snapshot

The Iowa Department of Public Health website recently removed its COVID-19 data tracking. The CDC data tracker states that it is updated on Thursdays.

DEATHS: The CDC website indicates an additional local COVID-19 death in the past week, bringing the pandemic death toll is now 349 people. The health department does not provide any demographic information or vaccination status for COVID-19 deaths.

The website also shows the pandemic death toll for all of Iowa is 10,538 people, an increase of 30 people in the past week.

CASES & POSITIVITY: The CDC data indicates 25 cases were reported in the past week ending Wednesday. CDC data showed that transmission is low in Pottawattamie County; but no positivity rate data has been updated since mid-January 2022.

The website also shows that the average per 100,000 people in the county is 26.8 cases, down from 32.3 cases reported a couple weeks ago.

No CDC wastewater surveillance data is available for Pottawattamie County. The only western Iowa county with such data is Woodbury County in northwest Iowa, which shows a sewershed level of 1,303 (or 44.2% current virus levels).

HOSPITALIZATIONS: The CDC data as of Monday shows two patients with COVID-19 were admitted in the past week. The data also shows 1% of hospitalized patients have COVID-19, down from 2.2% about two weeks ago; and 0.5% of ICU patients have COVID-19, down from 4% a couple weeks ago.

VACCINATIONS: Vaccination data available from the CDC has remained stagnant, showing 60.7% of the county’s population have received their primary vaccination series.

Douglas County update

The Douglas County Health Department reports COVID-19 data twice weekly, issuing updated stats on Mondays and Thursdays.

DEATHS: The local health department reported three COVID-19 deaths on Thursday.

“A man and two women, all of them over 75 years of age, have died and all had been vaccinated,” the DCHD report states.

Douglas County’s COVID-19 death toll now stands at 1,274 people. A year ago, the local death toll had just surpassed 1,000.

CASES: DCHD also reported Thursday that 113 new COVID-19 cases had been confirmed since Monday’s report.

The most recent case numbers lowered the seven-day average from 36 cases to 34, the lowest it’s been since April. The DCHD dashboard indicated the rolling seven-day average per 100,000 people was at 41.7 cases as of Wednesday, down from 44.5 cases reported earlier this week. About a year ago, DCHD was reporting 830.2 cases per 100,000 people — a comparatively high level but on its way down from the pandemic record-high of 2,023.4 cases.

The latest recent cases bring the local pandemic total to 179,628 cases. The Douglas County COVID-19 dashboard also indicates that the number of reinfections for a rotating seven days ending Saturday, Jan. 28 was 71 cases, up from 52 reported a week prior.

A year ago, DCHD was reporting about 1,250 new cases.

POSITIVITY RATE: The DCHD dashboard on Monday indicated the community level remained at “low.”

The DCHD COVID-19 dashboard indicates the local positivity rate fell from 10.3% to 9.9% as of Saturday, compared to 11% two weeks ago. That percentage comes from a total of 3,348 tests processed, up from 2,290 a week ago and significantly fewer than the more than 9,000 tests performed in mid-December.

About a month ago, positivity was 13%; about two months ago, it was 12.6%. About a year ago, it was 7.9%.

On Thursday, CDC wastewater data was indicating Douglas County had a sewershed level of 921 (or a current virus level of 71%, based on population) as of Sunday, with the data trending upward since Jan. 12 after it had been declining in the weeks prior. That compares to 917 (or a current virus level of 45.4%) on a static trend for Dodge County; 1,411 (or a 7.6% virus level) on a downward trend reported in Saunders County; and 916 (or 84.25% virus level) on an upward trend in Platte County.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: As of Wednesday, area hospitals were caring for 93 COVID-19 patients, down from 100 reported Monday. Of the current patients, four were in pediatrics, 10 patients were in ICUs, and six patients were on ventilators.

Additionally, six adult patients were awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test.

A year ago, DCHD was reporting 415 area COVID-19 hospitalizations.

HOSPITAL CAPACITY: Area hospital capacity fluctuates according to staffing levels. As of Wednesday, hospitals were 87% full with 231 beds available, down from 277 reported Monday. Area ICUs were 77% full with 65 beds available, up from 33 reported Monday. Pediatric ICUs were 80% full with nine beds available, four more than Monday’s report.

A year ago, local hospitals were 89% full with 158 beds available; ICUs were 84% full with 48 beds available; and pediatric ICUs were 80% full with 26 beds available.

VACCINATIONS: The data on the DCHD dashboard showed mostly stagnant vaccination data. To date, 11,288 pediatric doses — for ages 6 months to 4 years — have been administered in the county, resulting in 11.4% of Douglas County children in that age group being fully vaccinated.

Vaccination numbers among other age groups mostly remained static: 69% of all Douglas County residents are vaccinated with 62% of eligible residents, ages 12 and older, receiving their booster or additional doses. Of youth ages 5-11, 42.8% are vaccinated; and 70.6% of county youth ages 12-17 are fully vaccinated.

VACCINATIONS

Retail pharmacies

Vaccine sign-ups: Baker’s | CVS | Hy-Vee | Kohll’s | Kubat | Medicine Man Pharmacy | Sam’s Club | ViaRx | Walmart

Douglas County

Douglas County Health Department has a list of all available COVID-19 vaccination clinics on its website. All clinics are open to the public for any approved shot in the vaccination series as indicated. Those planning to get a booster shot should bring their vaccination card.

FRIDAYS

9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Douglas County Health Department, located at 1111 S. 41st St. – Primary & bivalent doses for ages 6 months and older; flu vaccinations also available

About Text Nebraska

The Douglas County Health Department is encouraging residents who test positive for COVID-19 to cooperate with Text Nebraska in order to help prevent further spread of the virus.

If you are age 19 or older, have recently tested positive for COVID-19, and provided a cell number when registering for your test, you will likely receive a text message from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services phone number 1-844-774-7604 that prompts you to take a survey. Adding that number to your phone’s directory will assure that your phone or provider doesn’t mark it as a spam call.

“It is not spam and is safe to respond,” DCHD said in a Thursday news release, noting that the survey is completely digital and doesn’t require you to speak with anyone.

“Text Nebraska is the next step in contact tracing, and this is where you can help,” Health Director Dr. Lindsay Huse said in the release. “Your response is needed as the number of cases makes it impossible for our staff to keep up with the demand.”

Did you take an at-home test?

Self-report your at-home test result

Fill out the Douglas County Health Department form to assist with virus activity data and contact tracing.

Report home test results

Douglas County Health Department on Monday urged residents to report the results of their home COVID-19 tests to them online at douglascountyhealth.com.

“Look for the blue box labeled ‘Report A COVID-19 Home Test,’ then follow the instructions,” the health department requests.

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.

OneWorld child vaccination clinics

OneWorld offers COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for ages 5 and older at the following clinics:

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

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

Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital offers COVID-19 vaccinations for its patients via Children’s Connect Health Portal.

“Families of non-Children’s patients can schedule by calling 402-955-SHOT,” according to the hospital’s website.

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 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, Pfizer vaccinations will be available at these outpatient pharmacies:

• Bellevue Health Center, located at 25th Street and Highway 370, will offer vaccinations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays
• Durham Outpatient Center, located at 45th and Emile streets, will offer vaccinations from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays; and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the weekends

Novavax vaccinations are available at these outpatient pharmacies:

• Lauritzen Outpatient Center, located at 40th and Leavenworth streets, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
• UNL Health Center, located at 550 N. 19th St. in Lincoln, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-noon

Pfizer vaccinations for children ages 6-12 are available at Lauritzen Outpatient Center, located at 40th and Leavenworth streets, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

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 Church of Omaha hosts walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics periodically on Saturdays. No ID is required, but a parent or guardian must be present at the clinic with teens ages 12-18. The church also distributes at-home test kits.

MCC FORT OMAHA: Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha campus is 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 regular vaccination clinics on 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 by appointment only. Appointments can be scheduled online.

Sarpy/Cass health district

The Sarpy/Cass Health Department offers the first and second doses of Pfizer and Modern vaccines, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) single doses, pediatric and infant doses, and booster doses of all three vaccines.

To make an appointment, call 833-998-2275 or 531-249-1873.

The health department offers immunization clinics at Midlands Medical Building One, located at 11109 S 84th St, Suite 1820, in Papillion, NE 68046

• 4-7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month
• 9 a.m.-noon on the second, third, and fourth Thursdays of the month

Pottawattamie County

The Pottawattamie County Public Health Department no longer hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinics, instead urging residents to receive their shots at area pharmacies.

Free take-home test kits are available at:

• Pottawattamie County Public Health Department office, located at 600 S. Fourth St., Suite 100, in Council Bluffs
• All Care Health Center, located at 902 S. Sixth St. in Council Bluffs
• Super Saver Pharmacy, located at 1411 N Broadway in Council Bluffs
• CHI Health Clinics
• Methodist Health Clinics
• Avoca Journal-Herald Newspaper
• City Halls in Carson, Carter Lake, Macedonia, Oakland, Treynor, Underwood, and Walnut

Three Rivers health district

Three Rivers Public Health Department provides COVID-19 vaccinations during its regular walk-in clinic hours. While the health department does have access to Pfizer and Moderna doses, it’s recommended that you call ahead to make sure they have a current stock of the vaccine formula you’re looking for.

The health department suggests you print and fill out paperwork ahead of your arrival.

Vaccinations are offered during the following Fremont clinic hours at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave.:

• 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays
• 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-6:30 p.m. Thursdays
• 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays

The Three Rivers clinic, located at 1320 E. 31st St. across from Lake Wanahoo, is open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.

Off-line help

METHODIST HEALTH INFORMATION: The vaccine is available at most Methodist Physicians Clinic locations. Appointments for the vaccine are recommended and can be made by calling 402-354-CARE.

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 and to get assistance with signing up for a vaccination appointment.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HELPLINE: Local COVID-19 information, in Spanish and English, is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, except for holidays. Call 402-444-3400 for assistance.

IOWA VACCINE HOTLINE: Iowans who need help to find a vaccine appointment can call 211 for assistance or 1-800-244-7431. Older or home-bound Iowans can contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-328-2540 or 1-800-432-9209. For multilingual assistance, call 1-877-558-2609.

NATIONAL HOTLINE: To check vaccine availability in your community, call the national COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-232-0233.

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 Health System | 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

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

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

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