The number of COVID-19 patients in Nebraska hospitals is approaching its highest point, as the state’s slow-burning pandemic reaches older, more vulnerable adults.
The increase comes in metro Omaha and Lincoln hospitals, following the return of college students to campus, Labor Day gatherings and Nebraska’s loosening of public health restrictions.
Both Omaha and Lincoln implemented indoor mask mandates that officials have credited with helping slow the virus spread. But Douglas and Lancaster Counties have seen a recent jump in cases, with Lancaster County increasing despite maintaining stricter health rules than the rest of Nebraska.
Overall, 231 Nebraskans with COVID-19 were hospitalized at the peak this week — a figure surpassed only on May 27 with 232 COVID-19 patients hospitalized.
And people are dying — 26 reported in the last week, according to data from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The state put the death toll at 468 people through Friday.
Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of the infectious diseases division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said intensive care units don’t have a lot of capacity to handle a further surge in cases.
“This comes at a bad time,” Rupp said.
After hospitals had to cancel elective procedures earlier in the pandemic, hospitals now are busy with regular cases and surgeries in addition to caring for COVID-19 patients, Rupp said.
The state’s hospital data shows ventilators are in large supply, but just 192 ICU beds are available. Rupp said the pressure point could come with the availability of highly-skilled and trained ICU staff.
Gov. Pete Ricketts has held out hospitalizations as the state’s primary health data indicator in the pandemic. But it’s unclear how high hospitalizations would need to go before the governor would change approaches.
When asked Friday about hospitalizations, Taylor Gage, a spokesman for Ricketts, said: “We’re always evaluating our approach.” Gage said the state’s chief medical officer communicates daily with hospitals “to ensure we maintain hospital capacity.”
The patient numbers in hospitals have steadily climbed since early July, when Nebraska hospitals had fewer than 100 COVID-19 patients. The daily count was 162 at the beginning of September.
Overall, that translates to about 195 new hospitalized patients since Sept. 5, according to a World-Herald analysis of state pandemic data. Some 80% of those are 55 or older; three are 19 or younger.
Metro Omaha’s daily count, which includes hospitals in a six-county area, has grown by 28 patients since early September. Lancaster County’s daily count is up 31 in that time, and more than half the current patients live outside the county.
On Friday, a Lancaster County public health official called the local increase alarming.
As Lancaster County sees cases rise among middle-aged and older adults, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the community “cannot afford to let down our guard.”
Gaylor Baird called on people to recommit to keeping physical distance, wearing masks and washing their hands to beat the virus.
“The rise in community spread puts our entire community at risk,” she said, “and our entire community needs to be part of the solution.”
Lincoln’s Bryan Health has seen its COVID-19 patients increase from 18 one week ago to 42 on Friday.
Bob Ravenscroft, Bryan Health’s vice president for advancement, said the health system has a plan for a surge in coronavirus patients, but is not at the point of deploying it.
“We’re doing all right,” Ravenscroft said at a Thursday briefing. “But, yes, there are a lot of ill patients in here COVID-related.”
This week, Dr. Cliff Robertson, CEO of CHI Health, reported that CHI Health’s coronavirus patient count had grown to 68, just two more than a week ago. COVID-19 patients in ICUs had declined by four in the last week, he said.
Dr. Bob Rauner, president of Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, said the outbreaks around the state don’t stem only from Labor Day gatherings. They involve all kinds of social and sporting events, he said, and also go beyond Lincoln and Omaha into smaller communities around the state.
Douglas County’s average daily count of new cases rose to 109 this week, up from 89 a week ago. The positivity rate on COVID-19 tests rose to 10% so far this week, after dropping to 7.3% last week.
The state’s daily average of new cases rose to 401, up from 364 last week.
As cases keep spreading, Rauner said, they have potential to overwhelm hospital capacity in the next couple of weeks.
Our best staff images of September 2020
Pence arrives

Vice President Mike Pence arrives at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Thursday, October 01, 2020. The vice president spoke at PVS Structures, a metal fabricator, in Carter Lake, Iowa as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign event.
Football Sunset

The sun sets over the David City Aquinas vs. Oakland-Craig football game at Oakland City Park in Oakland, Neb., on Friday, September 25, 2020. Oakland-Craig won the game 28-12.
Jump

Union Omaha's Elma N'For dribbles the ball against Richmond Kickers' defense.
Meal Time

Caleb Nissen, 19 months, eats dinner with his parents, Michael and Jessica Nissen, of Oakland, before the start of the David City Aquinas vs. Oakland-Craig football game at Oakland City Park in Oakland, Neb., on Friday, September 25, 2020. Oakland-Craig won the game 28-12.
Campaign

Charlene Ligon, chairwoman of the Sarpy County Democratic Party, introduces Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff at an event in Papillion on Saturday.
Spider Web

Paisley Gaver, 5, decorates her grandma’s yard for Halloween with stretchy spider webs in South Omaha on Friday, September 18, 2020.
Union Omaha New England

New England Revolution II's keeper Joseph Rice makes a save over the head of Union Omaha's Elma N'For.
Monarch

Some monarchs fly 3,000 miles to reach Mexico, where the insects overwinter.
Library

Debbie Cooley, of Omaha, visits the Omaha Public Library's Milton R. Abrahams branch on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020.
Millard South Bellevue West

Bellevue West's Ryan Rogers, right, hits Millard South's Taekwon Johnson, as he Johnson was trying to return a kick to start the second half.
Twirl

Millard North won the game 46-41 with a touchdown on the final play of the game. A Millard North baton twirler performs before the start of the Lincoln East vs. Millard North football game at Millard South High School in Omaha on Thursday, September 17, 2020.
Balance

Lincoln East's Austin Schneider (8) gets away from Millard North's Isaiah McMorris (8) in the Lincoln East vs. Millard North football game at Millard South High School in Omaha on Thursday, September 17, 2020. Millard North won the game 46-41 with a touchdown on the final play of the game.
Grand Jury

James Scurlock II has a tattoo that says, "Truth be told" on his arm as he answers questions about the charges filed against Jake Gardner in the killing of Scurlock's son, also named James.
Grand jury reaction

Protesters hug and celebrate the indictment of Jake Gardner on Tuesday at the corner of 50th Street and Underwood Avenue.
Focus

Elkhorn North's Hunter Richardson (1) looks to pass the ball in the Plattsmouth vs. Elkhorn North football game at Elkhorn High School on Friday, September 11, 2020. This is Elkhorn North's first home game in history. Plattsmouth won the game 34-7.
Sept. 11

A person runs with their dog near a display of American flags on Friday at Memorial Park in Omaha. The 2,977 flags represent the lives lost in the Sept 11 attacks 19 years ago.
Sept 11 Taps

John Herrmann, with the American Legion Honor and VFW honor detail plays Taps, during a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony before the start of the Millard South and Millard West game.
Elkhorn-Waverly high school football

Elkhorn's Aiden Young dodges a tackle from Waverly 's Evan Canoyer.
Flu Shots

Reed Elias, 15, of Omaha, holds on to Molly, his family’s 8-month-old miniature schnauzer, while getting a shot from Kristy Gohr, a certified medical assistant, during a drive-thru flu shot clinic at a Methodist Physicians Clinic in Omaha on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020.
September Images 1

The sun sets behind the Waverly stands during the Omaha Skutt vs. Waverly football game at Waverly High School in Waverly on Friday, September 4, 2020. Waverly won the game 17-7.
September Images 2

A Corona Extra display is seen wearing a mask at Wine, Beer and Spirits, 3435 Oak View Drive in Omaha on Tuesday, September 01, 2020.
September Images 3

Stalks of corn are browning near Winslow, Neb., on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.
September Images 4

Brothers-in-law Mark Policky, of Seward, and Kevin McGrath, of Lincoln, tailgate by themselves outside Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, September 5, 2020. The Huskers were originally set to open the football season against Purdue at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. "This is kind of our protest against the Big Ten today," McGrath said. "We can't let the Huskers down," Policky added.
September Images 5

The parking to the east of Memorial Stadium has no tailgaters in Lincoln on Saturday, September 5, 2020. The Huskers were originally set to open the football season against Purdue at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
September Images 6

A pedestrian walks in downtown Lincoln on Saturday, September 5, 2020. The Huskers were originally set to open the football season against Purdue at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
September Images 7

People stand out on 42nd Street near Pacific Street to watch as Omaha police officers escort the body of Lincoln police officer Mario Herrera back to Lincoln after he died on Monday, September 07, 2020. Herrera was shot Aug. 26 while trying to serve a warrant.
September Images 8

Lincoln police officer Mario Herrera is escorted on Monday near 42nd and Grover in Omaha. Herrera passed away early Monday after being shot on duty August 26th.
September Images 9

Kristin Pehoviack and Audrey Lash feed sea lions at the new Owen Sea Lion Shores exhibit at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo.
September Images 10

Visitors get an up close view of a sea lion at the new Owen Sea Lion Shores exhibit at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo.
September Images 11

Elkhorn warms up as the sun starts to set before their game against Omaha Roncalli.
September Images 12

Todd Shannon, a parent of an Omaha Public Schools student speaks at a protest calling for the return of fall sports in the district.
September Images 13

A crosswalk sign is seen through a rain covered glass wall of a bus shelter on Farnam Street near 34th Strreet on Tuesday, September 08, 2020.
September Images 14

Omaha Roncalli's Quincy Evans stretches but can't pull down this third down pass in the third quarter in front of Elkhorn's Zach Leinen.
September Images 15

People watch the Omaha Skutt vs. Waverly football game from a hill outside the stadium at Waverly High School in Waverly on Friday, September 4, 2020.
September Images 16

Waverly takes the field for the Omaha Skutt vs. Waverly football game at Waverly High School in Waverly on Friday, September 4, 2020.
September Images 17

Millard South's Ryan Holdsworth (3) and Gage Stenger (12) celebrate a touchdown against Elkhorn South.
jeff.robb@owh.com, 402-444-1128