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Nebraska Joint Information Center Update

RELEASE DATE: Jun 02, 2020

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Nebraska Joint Information Center Update

COVID-19 Case Updates

Nebraska         Department of Health and Human Services Dashboard
14,345 positive tests — 92,073 negative tests  —  178 deaths 

Leading Counties (Cities)

Hospital Beds

Douglas (Omaha)  

4,331

Staffed Beds

3,922

Dakota (South Sioux City)

1,665

Percent of Beds Available

46%

Hall (Grand Island)

1,515

Percent of ICU Available

49%

Lancaster (Lincoln)

1,222

Percent of Vents Available

76%

Dawson (Lexington)

839

21 counties report no cases

11 counties have only 1 case

 

210 Active Hospitalizations

830 Cumulative Hospitalizations

6,161 Known Recoveries

 

Source: DHHS Dashboard

Sarpy (Bellevue, Papillion)

650

Colfax (Schuyler)

619

Platte (Columbus)

586

Saline (Crete)

504

Dodge (Fremont)

478

Madison (Norfolk, Madison)

318

Adams (Hastings)

272

United States         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

                              1,802,470 cases  —  105,157 deaths

Globally                 World Health Organization Situation Report

                                6,194,533 cases  — 342,029 deaths

                              Johns Hopkins University of Medicine COVID-19 Dashboard

                              6,325,303 cases  —  377,460 deaths                            

State of Nebraska Updates

Gov. Pete Ricketts’ Office https://governor.nebraska.gov

NEW Gov. Ricketts announced that the state was making $20 million in CARES Act funding available for childcare, and introduced Stephanie Beasley from Children and Family Services to discuss the details. Beasley noted that 16 percent of childcare facilities in Nebraska had closed due to the pandemic, and many that stayed open, stayed open with fewer children. She said the agency was making $3,500 grants available to family daycare facilities, and $5,500 grants available to childcare facilities, provided they had been open for at least 30 days upon application. She also said that those facilities that will be re-opening within 30 days are also available.  Some of the funds will also be directed to after school and summer projects.

Test Nebraska

Sites collecting samples this week include: Omaha, Lincoln, Alliance, Bellevue, Broken Bow, Burwell, Chadron, Columbus, Fremont, Norfolk, O’Neill, St Paul, Scottsbluff, Sidney, Valentine and York.

Nebraska Attorney General’s Office

https://ago.nebraska.gov/news/attorney-general-warning-regarding-covid-19-scams

Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NCDHH)   https://ncdhh.nebraska.gov/

Nebraska Department of Corrections https://corrections.nebraska.gov/ndcs-coronavirus-health-update.

Nebraska Department of Economic Development     https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/nded-covid19/

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy    http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/onWeb/COVID

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) COVID-19 Information | DHHS News Releases

NEW Online Recovery Resources Available During the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life around the globe, including in-person recovery and counseling services. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and wellbeing, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. For those in recovery from a serious mental illness or a substance use disorder, the need for help during this pandemic can be magnified.

“It’s important to recognize your emotions and own your feelings, work to find the positive even when facing adversity or loss, reach out and try to connect with others and create healthy routines to take care of yourself,” said Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. “Recognizing your feelings, finding the routines that lift you up, and connecting with others can all help you on your path to recovery.”

There are a number of practical online tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency, as recovery is an individual journey. A quick Google search will uncover online tools and apps for relaxation, mindfulness, videos of individuals in recovery, art that connects with your feelings and moods, support, and information about wellness and illness.

A great resource to start with is the Network of Care website. https://portal.networkofcare.org/Sites/Nebraska?state=nebraska In addition to a directory of services available in your area, this site offers a library of more than 30,000 high-quality articles, fact sheets and interactive tools written by leading experts and organizations in their fields. The Learning Center section includes consumer-friendly content and tools focused on health promotion, education, early intervention and prevention.

For those in recovery from a substance use disorder, social support is crucial since social isolation can be a risk factor for relapse. Although face-to-face interaction is a key feature of recovery support, virtual meetings can be an important resource during this pandemic. For those with internet access, sites such as https://www.shatterproof.org/blog/how-find-virtual-recovery-meeting can help you find online support. Other sober-living websites include Reach Out Recovery https://reachoutrecovery.com/stress-relief-advice-for-covid-19-from-the-experts/ and Recovery 2.0 https://r20.com/

If you are experiencing a crisis, there are also a number of hotlines that stand ready with immediate help. They include:

  • The Nebraska Family Helpline - 1-888-866-8660

  • SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Hotline -1-800-985-5990

  • The Nebraska Rural Response Hotline - 1-800-464-0258

  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255

Nebraska Department of Insurance     https://doi.nebraska.gov/coronavirus-covid-19-information.

Nebraska Department of Labor     NEworks.nebraska.gov and dol.nebraska.gov

NEW The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) announced that new unemployment insurance benefit payments were stable for the week ending May 23. There were 5,794 new regular unemployment insurance claims filed during the week ending May 23. This is a decrease of 0.72 percent from the previous week, when 5,836 initial claims were filed

NEW 13 Weeks of Additional Unemployment Benefits Now Available – Nebraska workers who have exhausted their state unemployment insurance benefits can apply for an extension of benefits through the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program (PEUC). PEUC provides up to 13 weeks of additional assistance for people who exhausted their 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits on or after July 6, 2019. The benefit is available for weeks ending Saturdays from April 4 to Dec. 26, 2020. 

File Weekly Claims at NEworks.nebraska.gov to Automatically Be Considered for Extension

  • If you have an active claim in NEworks, continue to file weekly claims for each week that you are unemployed or your hours are reduced. 

  • If it has been at least two weeks since you have filed a weekly claim, reopen your claim, then file weekly claims. 

  • If your claim has expired, file a new claim, then file weekly claims.

  • There is not a special PEUC application.

  • Benefits will be paid retroactively to the first week a person became eligible to receive those benefits.

  • Both unemployed workers and those working reduced hours can apply for this benefit.

CARES Act: PEUC is the third program of the federal CARES Act implemented by the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL).  Labor is also issuing payments for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), the additional $600 per week benefit; and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which provides unemployment benefits for the self-employed, independent contractors, and others not traditionally eligible. For weeks ending April 4 through July 25, workers receiving either PEUC or PUA will automatically be paid an additional $600 each week through the FPUC program.

Unemployment Insurance Waivers Extended: The waivers of the requirements to search for work and serve an unpaid waiting week have been extended through August 1. Employer charging for benefits paid due to COVID-19 has also been waived through August 1.

More information and FAQs about the CARES Act programs can be found at dol.nebraska.gov/covid19.

Previous NDOL press releases are online at dol.nebraska.gov/PressRelease

Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles      DMV news releases

Gov. Ricketts’ executive order 20-05 extends the expiration date of all valid driver’s licenses, CDLs, state IDs, titles, and registrations due to expire on or after March 1. All credentials will remain valid until 30 days after the order has been lifted.

Nebraska Department of Natural Resources   https://dnr.nebraska.gov/.

To support National Flood Insurance Program policyholders amid the COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA is extending its 30-day grace period for policy renewals up to 120 days. This is effective for National Flood Insurance Program policies with an expiration date between February 13 – June 15, 2020. Visit the FEMA website https://nfipservices.floodsmart.gov/ FEMA also has some guidance on flood insurance claims during this time.  It allows for the claims to be adjusted remotely without an adjustor visiting the property. Please call for more information, 402-471-2363.

Nebraska Department of Revenue https://revenue.nebraska.gov/

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Nebraska Department of Revenue provides guidance, direction, or pertinent public information such items may be found here. The most current information will be posted to the department’s website under “Featured Information”. Taxpayer Assistance is also available online and by phone, and contact information may be found here.

            Lottery   https://nelottery.com/homeapp/article/4220/display

The Nebraska Lottery mobile app has been updated with a Ticket Scanner feature. Players can check their Scratch and Lotto tickets for prizes and save a trip to a retailer. Visit nelottery.com/mobileapp for more information. Nebraska Lottery players with prizes up to $19,999 are encouraged to claim by mail. Instructions for claiming prizes by mail can be found at https://nelottery.com/homeapp/article/4220/display .

Nebraska Department of Transportation        

NEW Traffic on State Highways Continues to Rebound

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) announced that traffic volumes continued to rebound positively in all six categories that are being tracked to gage the impact COVID-19 on statewide traffic volumes. Statewide traffic volumes were down 17 percent between May 24 and May 30 compared to the 2016-18 average. This marks 11 weeks of passenger vehicle traffic volumes being significantly below average while truck traffic continues to remain at near normal levels. 

The Traffic Count Dashboard will be updated weekly and can be viewed using the following link: https://gis.ne.gov/portal/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4473552a18f34645ad0dede3ae1105ce

Percent Difference in Weekly Traffic Volume

compared to 2016-18 average

 

 

Rural Highways

I-80 West of Lincoln

Omaha Streets & Hwys

Lincoln Streets & Hwys

I-80 Lincoln to Iowa,

I-180,

 I-680, I-480

Remaining Small Urban Streets & Hwys

Statewide Total

March 1-7

4

-9

3

4

3

-1

2

March 8-14

-4

-4

-5

-3

-6

-5

-4

March 15-21

-17

-10

-26

-20

-25

-17

-19

March 22-28

-24

-36

-28

-32

-41

-22

-29

March 29-April 4

-22

-28

-33

-30

-40

-28

-28

April 5-11

-20

-32

-32

-31

-41

-29

-28

April 12-18

-29

-38

-39

-37

-44

-34

-35

April 19-25

-14

-26

-27

-27

-36

-27

-23

April 26-May 2

-13

-22

-25

-24

-33

-26

-21

May 3-9

-18

-24

-25

-24

-33

-26

-22

May 10-16

-15

-19

-24

-22

-30

-25

-20

May 17-23

-8

-11

-20

-17

-26

-19

-14

May 24-30

-11

-9

-24

-20

-30

-21

-17

 

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency     https://nema.nebraska.gov/news

NEW The SEOC will remain partially activated for civil unrest until 5 p.m. Tuesday. The SEOC will continue its virtual activation in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

NEW The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will open more camping opportunities in state park areas starting June 4, when all previous temporary restrictions on recreational vehicle and tent camping will be removed. Designated beaches and swimming areas also will open June 4. Read more at: http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2020/05/game-and-parks-to-restore-all-camping-and-swim-beaches-beginning-june-4/ and http://outdoornebraska.gov/healthinfo/.

Nebraska Military Department

The Nebraska National Guard has 332 Airmen and Soldiers currently on duty for COVID-19 response efforts. A total of 643 have served in state response efforts to date, providing mobile testing, distributing personal protective equipment and assisting food banks.

More than 400 National Guardsmen were activated May 31, to assist Nebraska State Patrol, Omaha Police and Lincoln Police to ensure the safety of peaceful demonstrators and protect residents and property after curfews were put in place by Lincoln and Omaha mayors.

The Nebraska National Guard will be updating this album with photos throughout the COVID-19 response.

Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office

To obtain a PDF copy of the Nebraska State Fire Marshal Office’s electronic burn permit, contact Assistant State Fire Marshal Doug Hohbein by email at doug.hohbein@nebraska.gov. The issuance and use of electronic burn permits will terminate 30 days after the COVID-19 declared State of Emergency has been withdrawn.

Nebraska State Patrol

Nebraska State Troopers continue to assist the state’s COVID-19 response by providing on-site security at several testing locations throughout the state Troopers have also taken on the task of transporting test samples collected at various testing locations to the state testing lob at St. Elizabeth’s Regional Medical Center as part of the Test Nebraska initiative. Troopers and Investigators also remain focused on the mission of keeping Nebraska safe. If anyone needs assistance on the road or sees an impaired or dangerous driver, they can call *55 or 800-525-5555 to reach the NSP Highway Helpline.

Office of the Chief Information Officer   https://cio.nebraska.gov/news/pressreleases/index.html

Public Service Commission

https://psc.nebraska.gov/administration/nebraska-public-service-commission-covid-19-information-guidance

State Treasurer’s Office https://treasurer.nebraska.gov/          402-471-8497 or 877-572-9688

State Partner Updates

American Red Cross   Sign up to donate plasma        RedCrossBlood.org/plasma4covid.

The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, hospital demand for blood products has grown by 30%. At the same time, blood drives continue to be canceled as many businesses and community organizations remain closed. Donors are needed to make and keep scheduled appointments to help meet the current need. Healthy individuals are asked to make an appointment to donate in the weeks and months ahead by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Nebraska Food Security Task Force — To donate visit:

Food Bank for the Heartland https://donate.foodbankheartland.org

Food Bank of Lincoln https://www.lincolnfoodbank.org/donate/.

Nebraska Impact and its COVID-19 Relief Fund is raising funds to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in Nebraska. To donate, visit https://neimpact.org/.

Natural Resources Districts (NRDs):

NRD recreation areas across Nebraska are open, but may have closures and limitations on facilities. Call the local NRD to ask about camping, bathrooms, water access, etc. Find a list of NRD recreation areas at www.nrdnet.org/recreation.

  • Nebraska Family Helpline: 1-888-866-8660

  • Rural Response Hotline (for Farmers and Ranchers): 1-888-464-0258

 University of Nebraska Medical Center | Nebraska Medicine https://www.unmc.edu/coronavirus/media.html

Federal Partners

Federal Emergency Management Agency    www.fema.gov     Rumor Control     How to Help

Center for Disease Control and Prevention     Guidance on daily life and coping

Federal Bureau of Prisons       https://www.bop.gov/coronavirus/index.jsp

Internal Revenue Service        https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments

National Institutes of Health    https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)   COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)/Center for Disease Control   https://faq.coronavirus.gov/

U.S. Department of Treasury Resources for Financial Relief      Assistance for Small Businesses.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Coronavirus Veteran FAQ

U.S. Food and Drug Administration   Food Safety and COVID_19    FDA COVID-19 webpage

U.S. Small Business Administration www.SBA.gov/Coronavirus

Other Resources

Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 map with world case information      Johns Hopkins Resource Center.

Mayo Clinic information about COVID-19       COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool      website

World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Pandemic information    Public Advice