The Lincoln – Lancaster County Health Department reports another death from COVID-19, a man in his 50’s who was hospitalized. The number of deaths is now at 231.
There are 39 new lab confirmed cases of the virus Friday bringing the total number of cases to 30,401. Recoveries are at 27,253. The positivity rate from April 11th through the 16th is at 6%. The rate last week was 7.1%.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 positive patients are 32 with 18 from Lancaster County (two on ventilators) and 14 from other communities (three on ventilators).
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department has confirmed the first local case of COVID-19 variant B.1.351 also known as the South Africa variant. The case is a young adult who recently traveled to another state where the variant has been reported. The variant was identified through special testing at the Nebraska Public Health Lab, and LLCHD is currently investigating. This is the first confirmed case of B.1.351 in Nebraska. The B.1.351 variant has been spreading throughout the United States but has been identified less frequently than other variants.
Additional cases of other variants have also been confirmed. A total of 28 cases of COVID-19 variants have now been identified in Lancaster County:
- B.1.427/B.1.429 – California variants, 6 cases
- B.1.1.7 – U.K. variant, 21 cases
- B.1.351 – South Africa variant, 1 case
Variants can spread more easily and quickly and they can lead to more cases of COVID-19. Residents are urged to continue preventive actions to control the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in the community, which include getting the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it’s available to you.
Vaccinations administered:
- Initiated vaccinations (first doses): 149,060
- Completed vaccinations (second doses and J&J vaccine): 104,463
Residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. All residents age 16 and older can register for vaccinations at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov.
The health department is working with higher education institutions and local high schools to register students 16 and older for vaccinations. Public clinics and pharmacies remain options, and additional clinics are expected to be offered at local schools beginning next week.
A first-dose drive-through clinic is scheduled for Saturday, April 17 at 6100 “O” Street, in the drive-through garages at the north parking lot of the former Sears store at Gateway Mall. LLCHD continues to notify residents to schedule appointments for this clinic.
Registration: Lancaster County residents can complete the quick and simple registration process now at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov.
Those who do not have online access or who need assistance may call LLCHD’s COVID-19 hotline at 402-441-8006 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays to register. Those who are registered will be contacted to schedule an appointment as vaccine becomes available. Appointments for vaccinations are dependent on vaccine supply and are not related to the order in which people register.
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 either site 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. Tests are conducted from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 402-207-9377
Testing is also available without an appointment at the three Bryan Urgent Care locations, 7501 S. 27th St., 5901 N. 27th St. and 4333 S. 86th St. To check wait times, call 402-481-6343.