OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska has so far avoided the resurgence of new coronavirus cases that have plagued other states around the country, but is still seeing new confirmed cases - and deaths - every day.
The state's virus tracking site shows Nebraska recorded 133 new confirmed cases of the virus on Wednesday, bringing the state's total to 19,310. It also shows that since the outbreak began, 276 people in the state have died from COVID-19.
Of Nebraska's positive cases, more than 13,800 have recovered, the state's site said.
State figures also show hospitals' ability to handle the cases reported so far remaining steady, with 40% of Nebraska's hospital beds, 48% of its intensive care beds and 79% of its ventilators still available Thursday.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. climbed to a new high of more than 50,000 per day on Thursday, with the infection curve rising in 40 out of 50 states, according to John Hopkins University. The surge has been blamed in part on Americans not wearing masks or following other social distancing rules as states lifted their lockdowns over the past few weeks.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.