Getting ready to hear from Mayor Stothert and Dr. Adi Pour.
This comes on the same day the health department announced the county has a 84% hospital bed occupancy rate...the highest the county has has since the pandemic started.
This comes on the same day the health department announced the county has a 84% hospital bed occupancy rate...the highest the county has has since the pandemic started.
Dr. Adi Pour says the positivity rate is 11.6%, compared to just 7% last week.
Pour says over 100 young children (1-4 y/o) have tested positive....said the number is likely much higher since most parents haven't had their kids tested.
Pour says the most cases they had last week was kids 20-24 year olds, the next was 25-29 year olds.
Pour says hospitals are getting more white, western Douglas County residents into their COVID wards.
That's a change from many people of color, which was the case earlier.
That's a change from many people of color, which was the case earlier.
Dr. Pour says the amount of med/surge beds is the lowest she's noticed since she's started tracking it.
She's also concerned about ICU beds, with just 62 beds available...82% full.
She says the ventilator situation is fine. "We have plenty of ventilators at this time."
She's reporting 5 new deaths today, 122 total.
She's now talking about clusters...when people get COVID from a large group of people.
She says 63% of the community is NOT coming from these. That makes it hard, nearly impossible to contact trace.
41% of those testing positive in clusters, came from long term care facilities
She says 63% of the community is NOT coming from these. That makes it hard, nearly impossible to contact trace.
41% of those testing positive in clusters, came from long term care facilities
Now on to the mayor (we'll get back to Dr. Pour for questions).
Mayor Stothert says she is approaching the 2021 budget like any other year.
Mayor Stothert says she is approaching the 2021 budget like any other year.
Douglas County has $166 million from the CARES Act. As of today, there's still no agreement b/w the city and county.
She wants an answer by the end of July.
She wants an answer by the end of July.
She is also looking to get some money from the state, who has over $1 billion.
Gov. Ricketts wants her to submit losses to FEMA first. She says that'll take a long time to get money from the feds.
Gov. Ricketts wants her to submit losses to FEMA first. She says that'll take a long time to get money from the feds.
Stothert says she originally thought the county would move to phase 4 (just guidelines, no laws) by August 1...now she thinks it'll happen by the end of August.
Stothert says she does not have the authority to issue a mask mandate, she says it's on Dr. Adi Pour.
(We'll be asking Pour about this soon)
(We'll be asking Pour about this soon)
Stothert says she gets complaints about schools opening, she makes the point that she has authority over school districts.
This is on the superintendents and school boards. (So complain to them)
This is on the superintendents and school boards. (So complain to them)
Stothert does say, "if it at all possible" kids need to get back to school.
"But I think we all have concerns about it."
"But I think we all have concerns about it."
Stothert says since March 1st, 23 of 902 police officers have tested positive for COVID-19.
34 Omaha Fire Fighters have tested positive. (unsure how many employees).
They had to take one rig (engine 56) out of service today b/c at least employee tested positive.
34 Omaha Fire Fighters have tested positive. (unsure how many employees).
They had to take one rig (engine 56) out of service today b/c at least employee tested positive.
114 lifeguards were hired for the 5 pools that opened. 93 have been tested, some parents refused for their kids to be tested.
Zero, so far, have tested positive.
Zero, so far, have tested positive.
Dr. Pour says a mask mandate is a tool in the toolbox.
Says she has a huge concern b/c she doesn't like mandates BUT says it's been perceived well in Lincoln.
Says it feels like everybody is in it together.
Says she has a huge concern b/c she doesn't like mandates BUT says it's been perceived well in Lincoln.
Says it feels like everybody is in it together.
Dr. Pour says a mask mandate could be coming. Working through legal issues now.
Pour says a mandate would put us in the right direction. Sounds like she could only issue for it Omaha, the other Douglas Co. cities would have to do it on their own.
Pour says attorneys are looking at the city code, to give her authority to go past the state of Nebraska DHM.
"It is not as clear as if I can put a DHM in place." Dr. Gary Anthone has said he won't give approval for that.
"It is not as clear as if I can put a DHM in place." Dr. Gary Anthone has said he won't give approval for that.
She said a mandate could be coming sometime next week. Pour says "I think it is time right now."
She she would have to be prepared to take on the governor on any possible legal action to a mask mandate.
Stothert says she respects Dr. Pour and understands where she is coming from. She wants everyone wearing them in public.
But, she says Neb. is one 7 states that didn't have a shelter in place order, and the numbers are relatively low.
cont....
But, she says Neb. is one 7 states that didn't have a shelter in place order, and the numbers are relatively low.
cont....
She says she has concerns that police would have to issue citations and eventually these people would be prosecuted.
She says police are busy already.
She says police are busy already.
Stothert hopes we don't have to get to a mandate, but at the end of the day, she has to listen to the experts.
The Lincoln mayor has told Stothert that she's trying to avoid citations.
Says she isn't sure what Omaha's would look like.
Says she isn't sure what Omaha's would look like.
Stothert says Gov. Ricketts told her that he wants to see the data, statewide, to issue an order.
He says the data isn't there yet.
He says the data isn't there yet.
Stothert is still waiting on the county and the state for CARES Act money.
She says she is not sure what the roadblock for the county is, and why they are refusing to give the city money, yet.
She says she is not sure what the roadblock for the county is, and why they are refusing to give the city money, yet.
Dr. Pour back up, she says roadblocks to a mask mandate, concerns outside Omaha. Saying legal is working on that now.
In regards to the 84% hospital capacity, Pour says she unsure what it's like in normal times.
She does say the goal during the pandemic has been keeping about 30% of beds available. It's currently at 16%.
Pour says the data is also likely behind.
She does say the goal during the pandemic has been keeping about 30% of beds available. It's currently at 16%.
Pour says the data is also likely behind.
Dr. Pour is worried about closing down restaurants and bars.
She thinks a mandate would actually help keep them open.
She thinks a mandate would actually help keep them open.
We are seeing a shortage in testing equipment in Nebraska.
Test Nebraska secured many tests and they are doing okay. But private labs and other testing entities are especially having problems.
Test Nebraska secured many tests and they are doing okay. But private labs and other testing entities are especially having problems.
In other non-Covid news...The mayor has hired Keith Station as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion manager.
This is a new position the mayor budgeted for 2021. He's actually starting in September.
This is a new position the mayor budgeted for 2021. He's actually starting in September.
FEC Environmental, the city's new trash contractor, is taking over for Waste Management in late November. As opposed to January 2021.
New carts will be coming to your household in the coming weeks and months.
New carts will be coming to your household in the coming weeks and months.
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