Nebraska virus numbers improving but cases remain high

OMAHA, Neb. – The latest virus numbers in Nebraska show some improvement, but health officials say virus cases remain high and it’s not yet clear how Thanksgiving gatherings and travel will affect the numbers.

Dr. James Lawler with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Global Center for Health Security said the state is seeing a real decrease in new virus cases and hospitalizations, but it’s no time to let up on mask wearing and other measures to limit the spread of the virus.

“There’s a good chance, without more concerted effort, that we stand a chance to go back up,” he said to the Omaha World-Herald.

Nebraska had the fifth-highest rate of infection in the nation on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. But the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 2,271.43 new cases per day on Nov. 23 to 1,909.71 new cases per day on Monday.

Nebraska reported 1,293 new cases and 31 deaths Monday to give the state 141,127 cases and 1,236 deaths since the pandemic began.

The number of people hospitalized with the virus did increase Monday to 810 from the previous day’s 768, but the total remained well below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20.