New Local Covid Cases Added

Lincoln, NE (November 18, 2020) The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department reported 196 new cases of Covid 19 today.  They bring the total, since the beginning of the pandemic, to 13,450.

According to State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services figures, Lancaster County recorded 3,247 cases in the 14 days prior to today.  With today’s new cases, the 15 day average stands at 230 new cases per day.

The County’s death toll remains at 63 after the deaths of two women yesterday.

There are numerous online resources available to the public:

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 4,711 to 4,748

Previous updates included positivity rates of all test results since March 15.  The update will now provide the current and previous week’s positivity rates.

Weekly positivity rate:

  • November 8 through 14 – 29.2 percent
  • November 15 through 17 – 29.8 percent

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 positive patients: 143 with 49 from Lancaster County (two on ventilators) and 94 from other communities (14 on ventilators).

The COVID-19 Risk Dial is now in the red position.  The red dial position indicates a severe risk of the virus spreading. Residents are advised to follow these recommendations to protect themselves and others:

  • Stay at home unless traveling for work, school, food or medical care or to check on others who may need assistance.
  • Work from home if possible.
  • Wear a face mask when interacting with anyone outside of your household.
  • Stay at least six feet away from anyone outside of your household.
  • Avoid gatherings.
  • Only visit businesses and participate in activities where public health guidelines are observed.  The guidelines include mask wearing, physical distancing and capacity limits.
  • Follow travel guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov.

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.com, CHIHealth.com or TestNebraska.com.  Drive through test sites include:

  • Bryan Health: Former Graham Tire Store, northeast corner of 19th and “O” streets.
  • Test Nebraska: Gateway Mall, 6100 “O” St., northwest corner of the mall.  Test Nebraska’s hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
  • CHI Health St. Elizabeth: Autumn Ridge Family Medicine, 5000 North 26th St. and Southwest Family Health, 1240 Aries Drive.  Call either site to schedule an appointment: Autumn Ridge at 402-435-5300 and South West Family at 402-420-1300.

LLCHD reminds the public that a flu vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk of getting influenza.  The flu vaccine is easily accessible, and the public is encouraged to contact health care providers or find a community flu immunization location in November.

LLCHD will provide free flu immunizations to anyone age 6 months and older. For more information, call 402-441-8065 or visit lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: vaccine).

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