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MICHELLE: MAYOR JEAN STOTHERT CALLS THIS A RAPIDLY CHANGING SITUATION THAT REQUIRES ACTION, FLEXIBILITY, AND ACCURATE INFORMATION. SO TODAY, THE MAYOR AND OTHER CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS LAID OUT A PLAN ON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF OMAHA GETS A COMMUNITY SPREAD COVID-19 OUTBREAK. MAYOR STOTHERT: RIGHT NOW, O SPREAD IN OMAHA IS VERY LOW. WE HAVE VERY FEW PATIENTS ACTUALLY DIAGNOSED, SO THERE IS NO REASON TO PANIC AT THIS TIME. MICHELLE: BUT WITH THE POTENTIAL OF AN OUTBREAK, MAYOR JEAN STOTHERT SAYS UNDER HER EXECUTIVE ORDER, CITY GOVERNMENT COULD STILL OPERATE. MAYOR STOTHERT: WE DO HAVE NETWORK CAPACITY ACROSS THE CITY SO THAT ALL CITY EMPLOYEES COULD WORK FROM HOME, IF NECESSARY. MICHELLE: FIRST RESPONDERS CAN’T STAY AT HOME, HOWEVER. POLICE CHIEF, TODD SCHMADERER, HAS SUSPENDED TRAVEL AND OUTSIDE TRAINING. AND OFFICERS ON PATROL CAN WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR. CHIEF SCHMADER: 911 IS PREPARED TO GIVE THOSE WARNINGS OUT TO US. THEY MAY PUT MASKS ON, GLOVES ON, TAKE A LITTLE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS. IT’S CASE-BY-CASE AS WE WATCH THE PROGRESSION AND SEE WHERE IT GOES. MICHELLE: FIREFIGHTERS HAVE ALREADY COME INTO CONTACT WITH CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS, TRANSPORTING CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS FROM EPPLEY TO UNMC’S BIOCONTAINMENT UNIT, AND MOVING A 36-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM METHODIST HOSPITAL LAST WEEK. FIRE CHIEF, DAN OLSEN, SAYS DOCTORS TESTED ONE FIREFIGHTER BUT RESULTS CAME BACK NEGATIVE -- ONE FIREFIGHTER, BUT RESULTS CAME BACK NEGATIVE. CHIEF OLSEN: KEEP IN MIND, WEAR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT EVERY DAY IN THE FIELD VER -- SO WE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE THAT ARE FIREFIGHTERS ARE USED TO DONNING THE EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE HAD IT IN OUR CACHET OF EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE STOCKPILES OF THAT MICHELLE: THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IT’S CURRENTLY WORKING WITH 500 PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT EXPOSURE. 298 ARE SELF-QUARANTINED, AND ALMOST 400 PEOPLE HAVE CALLED THE HOTLINE IN THE PAST THREE DAYS. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS NEW HEALTH SCARE, THE MAYOR SAYS OMAHA IS READY. MAYOR STOTHERT: ITS DYNAMIC IS CHANGING AS WE LEARN MORE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS. SOME OF THESE PLANS CAN CHANGE. MICHELLE: ALSO, THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HEALTH CENTER IS NOT ALLOWING ANY VISITORS, BECAUSE OF VULNERABLE ELDERLY PATIENTS THAT STAY THERE. WORKERS ARE CONDUCTING VISITOR SCREENINGS AT THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, WHICH IS IN THE SAME BUILDING. THE MAYOR AND HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO ACTUAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT WOULD CONSTITU

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Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and city officials are preparing for a possible spread of the coronavirus causing COVID-19.According to Stothert, officials are diligently working to develop and update plans to protect citizens and employees of city and county agencies. Stothert said the situation is rapidly changing, requiring flexibility and accurate information. Carol Allensworth of the Douglas County Health Department said the department is leading unified command to coordinate a response.According to Allensworth, as of 9 a.m., there are approximately 121,000 cases of COVID-19. Allensworth added that there have been over 4,300 deaths globally. In the United States, Allensworth said there are 1,039 cases of COVID-19 and that there are 25 deaths so far. There are currently four cases in Douglas County, according to Allensworth. The latest case, a woman in her forties, traveled to California and Nevada. Allensworth said those who have been in close contact with the woman are in self-quarantine. Officials are investigating to figure out if others have been in contact with her. The Douglas County Health Department's hotline has taken 385 calls since Monday, Allensworth said. Stothert explained that she signed an executive order to provide plans and make sure services are not interrupted. "Our directors have identified critical personnel to maintain city departments," Stothert said. According to Stothert, the city of Omaha is prepared for the city to continue to work. "We do have network capacity so all city workers could work from home," Stothert said.Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer reiterated that the public should wash their hands and remain calm.According to Schmaderer, the Omaha Police Department is taking measures to protect its workforce. All travel and outside training has been suspended, Schmaderer said. Omaha Fire Chief Dan Olsen said the Omaha Fire Department is working with the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska Medicine.Olsen said the fire department has not changed its response protocol at this time. The fire department will evaluate this if COVID-19 becomes more widespread.