This article is no longer being updated. Visit omahadailyrecord.com/covid19 for the latest information.

###

The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area has 10 known cases of the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization officially declared a pandemic.

Nine of those cases are in Douglas County, including the latest announced Wednesday evening, and one is in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. All of the cases are believed to be linked to travel. Douglas County has a list of suspected community exposures.

The Douglas County Health Department is asking anyone who visited an Advanced Auto Parts store at 17140 Evans Plaza on Monday, March 2, from noon to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, March 3, from 1 to 9 p.m.; or Thursday, March 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to monitor themselves for a fever, coughing or trouble breathing. If you develop symptoms, contact a health care provider and inform them of the possible exposure.

“The best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to wash your hands often, avoid sick people, don’t touch your face and stay home if you are sick,“ said health department director Adi Pour. “Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or use your sleeve if you cough or sneeze.“

The Douglas County Health Department announced five new cases Wednesday evening. All five are family members of a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

On Wednesday, the NCAA announced all March Madness basketball games – including the first- and second-round games planned in Omaha – will be limited to essential staff and limited family attendance. 

“While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States," NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. "This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes.

The Nebraska School Activities Association also announced the state boys basketball tournament would be played in a mostly empty arena. Omaha Public Schools, which is currently on spring break, is continuing to monitor the situation along with other area schools.

“Omaha is still open for business,” Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said at a Wednesday news conference. “We want to use the least restrictive methods to keep people safe.”

The Omaha Police Department announced Wednesday it is suspending travel, outside training and volunteer programs. The Omaha Fire Department has not changed its protocol but did have a firefighter test negative for COVID-19.

Visitor screenings have been implemented at the Douglas County Youth Center.  The Douglas County Health Center announced it will no longer allow visitors. Children's Hospital & Medical Center has started screening visitors, and CHI Health Omaha is restricting visits to its neonatal intensive care units.

Stothert ordered city departments to begin contingency planning for a COVID-19 pandemic last Friday.

The 10 cases reported in the metro area are:

• A 36-year-old woman who is in critical condition at the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit at the Nebraska Medical Center.

• The 36-year-old’s father and brother, who are recovering at home.

• A woman in her 40s who recently traveled to California and Nevada. She is recovering at home.

• Five family member of the woman who traveled to California and Nevada.

• A woman in her 40s to 60s who worked at a Panera Bread in Council Bluffs who had traveled to California. She has been self-quarantining and is in stable condition.

Additionally, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine have been monitoring passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, and seven remain under quarantine.

A fifth COVID-19 presumptive case in Nebraska also was reported Tuesday evening by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The 16-year-old, who lives in Knox County, began experiencing symptoms last Thursday and was transferred to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit. His condition is serious.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Thus far, the metro area has not reported a case of the virus spreading in the community, but the disease’s generally mild, flu-like symptoms mean some cases may go unreported.

 “The presence of one case in our community suggests the possibility there are others that are yet to be diagnosed,” according to Nebraska Medicine.

Community events are beginning to be cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, including:

• Creighton baseball’s weekend series against Central Connecticut State.

• Nonprofit Association of the Midlands' Mobilize conference planned for March 26.

• Legal Aid of Nebraska’s walk-in self-help centers in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island and Scottsbluff.

• All activities at Cloisters on the Platte in Sarpy County.Douglas County health officials said they have interacted with 350 community members who were or are being actively monitored or self-quarantining.

While the NCAA decided to limit attendance at college athletic competitions, Berkshire Hathaway told a city official it plans to make a decision on its May shareholders meeting in the coming weeks.

Stothert said the financial impacts of major events – which also include the upcoming Olympic swim trials – could be huge.

“It could change the way that Omaha does business for a long, long time,” Stothert said.

Area residents are urged to practice healthy habits, such as regular and proper hand washing, and to prepare to remain in their homes for an extended period of time – similar to preparing for a snowstorm. Stores in the local area and nationally have experienced shortages of items like hand sanitizer, paper products and cleaning supplies.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have reported cases, according to the CDC on Wednesday, with 938 confirmed cases and 29 deaths.

“The virus is very real,” Ricketts said Monday. “This is not something that’s been made up. We need people to take it very seriously.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 are thought to develop within 2 to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever over 100.4 degrees, coughing and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Call before going to an emergency room or a medical clinic.

Most people with COVID-19 experience a mild illness and will recover on their own by drinking plenty of fluids, resting and taking pain and fever reducing medication, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. There is no vaccine or antiviral medicine for the illness.

"If you have not been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you are not considered to be at risk of getting the disease," said Pour with the Douglas County Health Department. “Close contacts are defined as people who were within 6 feet of a confirmed case for a prolonged period of time or living with, visiting, caring for, sharing a waiting room with or having someone infected with COVID-19 cough on you.”

Health officials recommend:

• Practicing good hand hygiene, including frequent hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds and proper use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Avoiding touching your face, including eyes, nose and mouth.

• Ensuring you have necessary medications and supplies at home.

• Staying home if you’re sick and avoiding close or prolonged contact with sick people.

• Using a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and then discarding the tissue directly into the trash.

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects, surfaces and workplaces.

A study released Wednesday said the new virus can survive on some surfaces for up to three days.

The father of the 36-year-old who was the first person diagnosed with COVID-19 in Nebraska – other than those brought here by federal officials – told the Omaha World-Herald that his family has been subjected to accusations that they had knowingly spread the virus.

He told the newspaper a family doctor had told them a few days earlier that his daughter likely had picked up a cold while traveling in the United Kingdom.

“We had absolutely no idea,” he told the World-Herald. “It definitely didn’t pop into my mind that she had coronavirus.”

Find more information, and the latest developments, from public health experts here:

• Nebraska Department Health and Human Services

• Douglas County Health Department

• University of Nebraska Medical Center

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• World Health Organization

Additionally, Douglas County is offering a COVID-19 hotline at 402-444-3400. Health department officials answer questions weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The United Way’s 211 service will also take calls when the health department’s hotline is closed.

The Daily Record is posting additional COVID-19 coverage at omahadailyrecord.com/covid19.

The Associated Press has its COVID-19 coverage available at apnews.com/VirusOutbreak.

This report contains material from The Associated Press.