The Lincoln – Lancaster County Health Department reports 551 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday. Two additional COVID-19 variant cases have been confirmed in Lancaster County – one is B.1.1.7 also known as the U.K. variant. The other is B.1.351 also known as the South Africa variant. The variants were identified through special testing at the Nebraska Public Health Lab, and LLCHD is currently investigating.
A total of 33 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, 25 cases
- B.1.351 – South Africa variant, 2 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.
The number of deaths remains at 232. Recoveries are at 27,503. There is no data available this week regarding the positivity rate.
Hospitalizations are at 44 with 28 from Lancaster County (one on a ventilator) and 16 from other communities (two on ventilators).
Vaccinations administered:
- Initiated vaccinations (first doses): 156,362
- Completed vaccinations (second doses and J&J vaccine): 107,394
This week’s large-scale clinics (subject to change):
- Wednesday, April 21, Gateway Mall – first dose drive-thru clinic at the garages of the former Sears store
- Friday, April 23, Pinnacle Bank Arena – first and second doses
- Saturday, April 24, Pinnacle Bank Arena – first doses
Registration: Residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine, and appointments are available for this week. Residents can complete the quick and simple registration process 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 schedule an appointment.
The health department is working with higher education institutions and local high schools to register students age 16 and older for vaccinations. Vaccinations are available at public clinics and pharmacies, and additional clinics are expected to be offered at local schools beginning this week.
Those who do not have online access or who need assistance with registration or scheduling may call LLCHD’s COVID-19 hotline at 402-441-8006 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
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.