LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's total of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 81, the state said.
The Nebraska Health and Human Services Department also said in a news release Thursday night that 1,584 tests had come back negative. That number included results from state and commercial labs.
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, including pneumonia, or death.
Earlier Thursday, officials reported that Nebraska's initial claims for unemployment benefits skyrocketed with the rest of the nation's amid the coronavirus pandemic. The claims rose to nearly 16,000 last week from a little less than 800 the week before, according to a federal report.
Nebraska's number shattered the previous state record of 4,003 in a single week, state Labor Commissioner John Albin said. The hardest-hit workers were generally in the food service, health care, hospitality and retail industries, Albin said.
In other news, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced that officials still plan to hold the state's May 12 primary election as scheduled.