Furnas County adds two more COVID cases; district now at 15

    Furnas County, which includes the towns of Cambridge and Arapahoe, recorded two more cases of COVID-19 the past week, and leads the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) in number of cases with six.
    As of Wednesday morning, the SWNPHD had 15 positive cases, up by the two in Furnas County, compared to last Wednesday’s 13 cases.
    Chase, Perkins, Dundy and Hayes counties went another week without a confirmed case, according to SWNPHD staff.
    Of the 15 total cases, 13 have recovered.
    As testing ramps up statewide, number of positive cases is also increasing.
    Since last Wednesday, the state passed the 10,000 mark in positive case numbers with 10,846. Of that total, there have been 132 deaths, up from last Wednesday’s 103, or a 0.9% death rate from positive cases.
    Douglas County, which includes Omaha, remains at the top of the list of counties with most cases, adding 915 more since last Wednesday.
    Douglas now has 2,583 positive tests, followed by Dakota County in northeast Nebraska with 1,475 and Hall County (Grand Island) with 1,435.
    Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts reiterated at his press conference Friday that, while cases are increasing, he watches one factor—hospital capacity.
    According to the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services, Nebraska is at 44% of hospital bed availability, 38% of ICU bed availability and 78% of ventilators are being used.
    On Tuesday, Ricketts said Nebraska has a 60-90 day supply of PPE.
    He said the state’s overall positive coronavirus cases is not what he looks at when considering easing restrictions.
    “It’s about the effect on the hospital system,” he said.
    “No one said anything about positive tests being a factor. It was the stress on the healthcare system.”
    He believes the key to keeping the coronavirus at bay is avoiding large groups. He reminded Nebraskans the 10-person group rule remains in effect through May, even though some loosening of guidelines is occurring such as in churches.
    Church services are underway, with six-foot distancing between families required. Eating establishments also reopened this month for in-house dining, and can  accommodate more than 10 people as long as customers are spaced six feet apart and the restaurant has just 50% of capacity in the restaurant at one time.
Six rules to stay healthy
    Governor Ricketts continues to urge Nebraskans to follow his Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy:
    Stay home.  No non-essential errands and no social gatherings. Respect the 10-person limits.
    Socially distance at work.  Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.
    Shop alone. Do this only once a week and only one member of the family should shop.
    Help kids social distance. Play at home, no group sports and no playgrounds.
    Help seniors stay at home.  This can be done by shopping for them. Do not visit long-term facilities.
    Exercise daily.  Try to stay as healthy and safe as you can.