The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) announced Tuesday that the COVID-19 Risk Dial will remain in low yellow for a second week. Any position in yellow indicates that the department believes the risk of the virus spreading in the community is moderate.
Cases increased slightly over the last week ending Jan. 24, from 152 to 157. The seven-day rolling average of hospitalizations decreased from 35 to 31 Tuesday. Wastewater surveillance, however, showed a drastic increase in the virus particles compared to the previous week. No COVID-related deaths were reported.
The first local case of omicron variant XBB.1.5 was recently identified, but Pat Lopez, LLCHD Health Director, says the newer variant is not spreading as quickly as anticipated. Early studies show updated bivalent boosters offer some protection against it, particularly from severe illness.