OMAHA, Nebraska (WOWT) – The Douglas County Health Department said Friday that 100 positive cases of COVID-19 – most of which are the UK variant – have been tracked to an Omaha daycare to the northwest; and that a possible second outbreak linked to “an event” is being investigated.
DCHD said more than half of Rosewood Academy’s nursery and preschool staff and attendees had been affected by the outbreak of variant B.1.1.7 and that contact tracking investigations confirmed that the outbreak originated. in daycare.
Justin Frederick, supervisor of communicable disease epidemiology in Douglas County, said officials were working to determine if another possible cluster of positive cases was related to the UK variant confirmed in daycare. Since the investigation is still ongoing, he could not specify anything more about the second potential outbreak other than to say that the environment was “an event.”
The health department said the outbreak is of particular concern because the UK variant is spreading more easily and because it appears children are more likely to get it, noting that several cases of the outbreak have been confirmed in the UK. Douglas County.
“It is crucial that daycare providers get vaccinated,” said health director Dr Adi Pour. “Childcare providers are eligible for the vaccine and can easily make an appointment on the DCHD website.”
Frederick said the outbreak is not exclusive to Rosewood; it can happen at any type of school.
On Friday, DCDC repeatedly stressed the need to continue with these preventive measures. Government and health officials have stood out throughout the pandemic and urged everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine when they are eligible.
“We really need to stress the importance of vaccinating child care workers. This is not the time to lower our guard,” DCHD spokesman Phill Rooney said.
He said the number of positive cases in the community is similar to the levels the area saw last summer, which he said underscores the importance of focusing on prevention.
“We really need to get those people into those positions that are so important to mark them as vaccines. The British variant is definitely here and is making their presence known,” he said.
DCHD reminds everyone, especially those working with children, to keep up to date with the basics of COVID-19 prevention: wash your hands, wear masks “as long as you are close to strangers and, in this case, in nurseries “The health department also stressed that” quarantine and isolation procedures must be followed. “
“You just have to keep the mask on; wash your hands. And if he is sick, stay home and the vaccine is the first chance, ”said Rooney.
One of the three locations of the Rosewood Academy in Omaha, the location near 158th and Fort streets, was reportedly “temporarily closed” on Google Maps on Friday afternoon.
Frederick said Rosewood Academy could open as early as Monday, if they want, after completing the ten-day quarantine period. He said the daycare has been cooperative with the health department’s investigation and that both entities worked together to notify those who were or could be infected.
Rosewood Academy issued a statement Friday afternoon and noted that the outbreak had only been contained at the Northwest Omaha location, which had been closed since March 18. Even earlier, the daycare had gone “beyond the requirements of public health experts and sent children home if they had a fever above 99 degrees,” contrary to the 100.4-degree recommendation, according to the statement.
“The health and safety of children, families and staff is the top priority of Rosewood Academy daycare and preschool. The spread of the UK variant at Rosewood Academy aligns with wherever it is present: it spreads more easily and children are more susceptible to it. Prevention procedures and protocols are the same as other variants of the virus, through thorough detection processes, hand washing, and cleaning procedures with staff members, children, and families.
Prior to closing our Northwest location on March 18, Rosewood Academy went beyond the requirements of public health experts and sent children home if they had a fever above 99 degrees, instead of 100, 4 requirements. One difficulty with the highly transmissible variant of the UK is that children are usually asymptomatic during daily temperature detection procedures.
For more than a year navigating the pandemic, due to strict procedures and vigilant practices, the three Rosewood Academy Childcare and Preschool locations remained open without interruption until the UK variant caused many of the infections by COVID-19 affecting staff members and children in our northwest location. The outbreak has been limited to one site.
Rosewood Academy Childcare and Preschool continues to work closely and proactively with the Douglas County Department of Health and families. Families and staff receive ongoing instructions and communications about quarantine requirements before returning to Rosewood Academy and Preschool. Staff members are expected to continue to report symptoms of COVID and to meet the quarantine requirements set forth by the Douglas County Department of Health after any positive test results, which has always been the procedure since arrival. of the virus. Rosewood Academy Childcare and Preschool will continue to work closely and cooperate with the Douglas County Department of Health to monitor this situation and encourage families and staff to get the vaccine as quickly as they can. “
Rooney said it is not yet known exactly how the UK variant came to Douglas County, but that is often how this happens.
“There’s a saying we have with the health department: that the next outbreak or the next pandemic is just a plane ride away,” he said. “People are moving around the world, all over the country, and that’s great, but there are some things we need to be aware of.”
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Clarification: An earlier version of this story indicated that all Rosewood Academy-related cases had been confirmed as the UK variant, when some of the cases cannot be confirmed as such, according to a DCHD spokesman.
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