OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — In its daily email reporting COVID-19 and hospital numbers, the Douglas County Health Department said on Friday that 135 new positive COVID-19 tests were received since midnight the previous day. That's up slightly from Thursday when 98 new positive tests were reported.
The health department received five COVID-19-related death certificates since midnight the previous day. Three men died, including two men in their 60s, one of whom was vaccinated. A vaccinated man over 85 also died. Two women died, including an unvaccinated woman in her 70s and a vaccinated woman over 85. The number of COVID-19-related deaths in Douglas County during the pandemic is now 1,055.
The Omaha Metropolitan Healthcare Coalition — which encompasses Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, Dodge, and Washington counties in Nebraska, plus hospitals in Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley, Iowa — releases updated COVID-19 case counts and a hospital occupancy report to the Douglas County Health Department on a near-daily basis. The overall numbers include both COVID-19 patients and hospitalized patients for all other illnesses and injuries unless otherwise noted.
According to the most recent local hospital update received by DCHD late Thursday:
- There were 257 individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19 including 248 adults and nine pediatric cases.
- Forty-two of the adults were receiving ICU-level care.
- Twenty individuals who were confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 were on ventilators.
- Medical and surgical beds were at 90% occupancy with 145 staffed beds available.
- Adult ICU beds were occupied at a 93% rate with 21 staffed beds available.
- Pediatric ICU beds were at 89% capacity with 14 beds available.
- There were seven additional adult COVID-19 persons of interest (generally waiting for test results including six adults and one potential pediatric case).
The number of positive cases since March of 2020 now totals 141,328.
DCHD says it wants the public to be aware that people who are at risk of severe disease due to COVID-19 now have several options for early treatment, including two new pills. With new COVID-19 case numbers decreasing and mask requirements being lifted, it will be even more important for high-risk people to be tested early if they have symptoms. These pills must be taken within five days of symptom onset and require a prescription from a health care provider. The pills are currently available only at certain pharmacies. As supplies increase more, more locations will be added.
DCHD will provide the following clinics where you can choose to be vaccinated in the coming days.
Saturday
St. John AME Church, 2402 N. 22nd St. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Pfizer 5-plus and Moderna.
Girls Inc., 2811 N. 45th St. Noon- 3 p.m. All vaccines.
Sunday
Plaza de la Raza, 24th & N. St. Noon- 2 p.m. Pfizer 5-plus.
Download our apps today for all of our latest coverage.
Get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox.