LINCOLN, Nebraska (KOLN) – Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and health officials updated the community on the city’s efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in a briefing Tuesday.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Department of Health has announced some significant changes to local targeted health measures;
- The requirement for businesses to be able to occupy only 75% and maintain a distance of six meters between employers and groups is now a guideline.
- The limit for participation in activities and sports for young people has been removed. These changes also apply to gatherings, youth activities and sports, food establishments, bars, cosmetology units, body art facilities and massage therapy.
- Private businesses, such as offices or recreation rooms, with fully vaccinated people will no longer be required to wear face coverings. The mask mandate in public places remains.
The COVID-19 risk quadrant has moved down and now has a low-moderate (yellow) risk.
LLCHD announced that 51 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Lancaster County, bringing the total community to 30,544. The total number of deaths in the community remains at 232.
Variant cases: Two additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Lancaster County – one is B.1.1.7, also known as the UK variant. The other is B.1.351, also known as the South African variant. Variants have been identified by special tests at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, and LLCHD is currently investigating.
In total, 33 cases of COVID-19 variants were identified in Lancaster County:
B.1.427 / B.1.429 – California variants, 6 cases
B.1.1.7 – British version, 25 cases
B.1.351 – South Africa variant, 2 cases
Variants can spread more easily and quickly and can lead to more cases of COVID-19. Residents are urged to continue preventive action to control the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in the community, which includes the administration of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to you.
Recoveries: 27,503
Weekly positivity rate:
April 11-17: 6.2 percent
April 18-20: no data
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 positive patients: 44 with 28 in Lancaster County (one per ventilator) and 16 in other communities (two per ventilator).
Risk call: low yellowish, moderate risk of spreading COVID-19
Vaccinations administered:
Initiated vaccinations (first doses): 156,362
Completed vaccinations (second dose and J&J vaccine): 107,394
This week’s large-scale clinics (subject to change):
- Wednesday, April 21, Gateway Mall – first drive-thru clinical dose at former Sears store garages
- Friday, April 23, Pinnacle Bank Arena – first and second dose
- Saturday, April 24, Pinnacle Bank Arena – the first doses
Registration: Residents over the age of 16 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and appointments are available for this week. Residents can complete the registration process quickly and easily and then schedule an appointment to get vaccinated at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov. Residents who are already in the registration system will be contacted to make an appointment.
The Department of Health works with local higher education institutions and high schools to enroll students 16 and older for vaccinations. Vaccinations are available at public clinics and pharmacies and additional clinics are expected to be offered at local schools starting this week.
Those who do not have online access or who need assistance with registration or scheduling can call the LLCHD COVID-19 hotline at 402-441-8006 between 8:00 and 16:30 during the week.
Testing: The process begins with a free online risk assessment available at BryanHealth.com, CHIHealth.com or TestNebraska.com.
Drive-through testing is available from:
CHI Health St. Elizabeth: Autumn Ridge Family Medicine, 5000 North 26th St. and Southwest Family Health, 1240 Aries Drive. Call any of the sites to schedule an appointment: Autumn Ridge, 402-435-5300 and South West Family, 402-420-1300.
Test Nebraska: Gateway Mall, 6100 “O” St., north parking lot of the former Sears store. The tests take place from 8 in the morning until noon and from 1 to 6 pm from Monday to Saturday. For more information, call 402-207-9377
Testing is also available without appointment at the three Bryan Urgent Care locations, 7501 S. 27th St., 5901 N. 27th St. and 4333 S. 86th St. To check the waiting time, call 402-481-6343.
For more information, visit COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov or call the Department of Health hotline at 402-441-8006.
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