Three cases of Novel Coronavirus reported over the weekend in Nebraska.
Now Health Department officials say a person from North East Nebraska’s Knox County is headed to the Biocontainment Unit at UNMC, and a Douglas County woman is recovering at home. Iowa has 13 confirmed cases, including one from Pottawattamie County.
22 Iowans are among those quarantined on a cruise ship docked in Northern California where 21 passengers are testing positive for the Coronavirus. 18 of the Iowans will be flown back to the state and quarantined at their homes.
Police, fire, rescue, medical personnel, are at higher risk of exposure. Blair Police Chief Joe Lager says training for Coronavirus and other diseases is ongoing for our first responders. (Hear part of Chief Lager's conversation with Connie below in the noon news highlight.)
Chief Lager was at the Blair City Council meeting last night as a new police officer ,Jacob Flynn, was sworn in. Also at that meeting, an emergency backwash pump and force main bid was awarded to Otter Creek Mechanical for just under $331,000, a new rescue squad bid awarded to Fire Fox Rescue Equipment for just over $268,000 – much of that amount already raised, and approval of purchase of a new Park Department utility truck from Dillons for just under $33,000.
During the Washington County Board of Supervisor’s meeting yesterday afternoon, the Washington County Emergency Management Director, Dan Douglas, updated the board on the latest with the Novel Coronavirus, including that area first responders had received training on handling those they come in contact with that may be carrying the virus. Hand washing is the primary defense.
- Reported by Connie Green
For more coverage of the Coronavirus and local community response, including news from Connie Green and guest host interviews with Kelly Johnson, click here.
More information on the Coronavirus can be found on the CDC website.