There’s encouraging news concerning COVID-19 according to Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez. After peaking near 5,000 the week ending January 15, the number of local COVID-19 cases has dropped more than 80% to 809 last week.
The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized locally has dropped 47% since February 1. “For the first time since the omicron surge started in late December, our cases have dropped below a thousand a week,” Lopez says. “And, for the first time since November, our hospitals have reported fewer than 100 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 for several days in a row. These are strong signs that our community is coming through this surge and COVID-19 is moving closer to a level that is more manageable.”
Lopez says the COVID-19 Risk Dial has moved from red to elevated orange. This indicates that the risk of the virus spreading and the impact on the community is high. It’s the first time the dial has been in orange since January 4.
She says they are seeing similar trends in data from the Lincoln Public Schools as well as from ongoing wastewater testing by Lincoln Transportation and Utilities.
The local positivity rate is holding at around 16% and Lopez says they would like to see the rate drop below 10%, indicating reduced transmission of the virus. Seventeen Lancaster County residents have died from COVID-19 so far in February, including one death reported Tuesday.
About 66% of all Lancaster County residents are fully vaccinated. Just over 32% of children ages 5 through 11 are now fully vaccinated. More than 60% percent of residents ages 12 and up have now received a booster or third dose.
The local Directed Health Measure is in effect through February 25.