Lancaster County COVID-19 Update for August 24

Published on August 24, 2020

City of Lincoln
Mayor's Office

2020 Media Releases


Media Contact:
Patricia Lopez, RN, MSN, Health Director, 402-441-8093
Tim Timmons, RN, Communicable Disease Supervisor, 402-441-8056

Today's update does not include all reported cases. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department are currently working through technical difficulties with lab reporting data. Additional data will be included with future updates as the data reporting issue is resolved.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) announced that six lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Lancaster County today, bringing the community total to 3,641. The number of deaths in the community remains at 19.

Visit COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov to access a dashboard that summarizes Lancaster County COVID-19 data. LLCHD also released the following information today:

Recoveries: up from 1,697 to 1,726

Overall positivity rate:

  • Lancaster County - remains at 6.7 percent
  • State - remains at 9.4 percent
  • National - remains at 9 percent

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 positive patients: 17 with five from Lancaster County and 12 from other communities (one on ventilator).

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, please get tested. Testing is now open to all Lancaster County residents by appointment only.

The testing process begins with a free online risk assessment available at BryanHealth.comCHIHealth.com or TestNebraska.com. Drive through test sites include:

  • Bryan Health: LifePointe, 7501 S. 27th St.
  • CHI Health St. Elizabeth: Gateway Mall, 6100 "O" St., northwest corner of the mall.
  • Test Nebraska: Gateway Mall, northwest corner of the mall. Test Nebraska appointment times are from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 6 p.m. today through Saturday.

The COVID-19 Risk Dial is at "Yellow," indicating a moderate risk of the virus spreading. Residents are advised to follow these recommendations to protect themselves and others:

  • Limit activities outside the home.
  • Stay at least six feet from others when outside the home.
  • Wear face masks and wash hands frequently.
  • Attend gatherings and events only with modifications such as physical distancing, face masks, etc.
  • Follow CDC Travel Guidelines available at cdc.gov.
  • Those at risk of complications from COVID-19 should continue to minimize close contact with others.

For more information, visit COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov or call the Health Department hotline at 402-441-8006.

 

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