COVID-19 update for Lincoln and Lancaster County
Officials on Thursday released an update on the status of COVID-19 in Lincoln and Lancaster County.
Officials on Thursday released an update on the status of COVID-19 in Lincoln and Lancaster County.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) announced 13 new lab-confirmed cases, bringing the community total to 1,276.
The number of deaths in the community remains at nine.
Reported recoveries grew slightly from 195 to 203. The overall positivity rate for Lancaster County dropped slightly from 7.5% Wednesday to 7.4% Thursday. The state rate is 13.2% and the national rate is 13.1%.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients increased from 34 on Wednesday to 41 Thursday. Of those, 22 are Lancaster County residents (four on ventilators), and 19 from outside the County (four on ventilators). This increase of seven hospitalized is a result from three fewer Lancaster residents and 10 more out-of-county residents.
The clusters of cases at local meatpacking plants, including Smithfield Foods locations in Crete and Lincoln, Smart Chicken in Waverly, and Universal Cold Storage in Lincoln all remained unchanged, with no new cases being reported.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, repeated shaking with chills, repeated muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell.
If you have symptoms, you’re encouraged to get tested. Begin the process with a free online risk assessment available at BryanHealth.com and CHIHealth.com. Testing is by appointment only. Bryan Health offers drive-through testing at LifePointe, 7501 S. 27th Street. CHI Health St. Elizabeth offers drive-through testing site at North Star High School, 5801 N. 33rd Street.
Test Nebraska is conducting tests at the Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th Street. Begin the process with a free online risk assessment at TestNebraska.com. The schedule will be announced every week.
The COVID-19 Risk Dial is at “Orange,” indicating a high risk of the virus spreading. Residents are advised to follow these recommendations to protect themselves and others:
- Stay home if possible.
- Stay at least six feet away from others.
- Wear face coverings.
- Wash hands frequently.
- Those at risk of complications from COVID-19 should continue to stay away from others.
