- Media Contact:
- Scott Holmes, Health Department, 402-441-8000
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) today unveiled the COVID-19 Risk Dial, a new feature at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov. The color-coded dial depicts the phase of the pandemic in Lincoln and Lancaster County and provides specific guidance for residents to protect themselves and others and prevent the spread of the virus.
"This dial provides us with a valuable compass for the long journey ahead," said Mayor Gaylor Baird. "It allows us to deliver on our commitment to provide residents with guidance based on our available data, consistent with our values and best judgment, and consistent with our understanding of local conditions. We ask all Lincoln community members and businesses use this as a comprehensive, data-based tool that will support your continued efforts to be thoughtful, measured, and compassionate as we navigate these challenging times together."
The COVID-19 Risk Dial was developed by a team from LLCHD, Lincoln Fire and Rescue and City Communications. Scott Holmes, Manager of the Environmental Public Health Division at LLCHD, said the goal of the dial is to provide a simple tool to help residents know what actions and behaviors they can take to protect their own health and the health of others. The dial will be updated every Friday using local data to determine the risk. The main factors to be considered include the following:
- The increase or decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases
- The increase or decrease in the percent of tests that are positive
- The availability of testing
- The ability of the Health Department to conduct investigations and contact tracing
- The number of people hospitalized from COVID-19
- The capacity of the local health care system
- The availability of personal protective equipment and critical medical equipment.
"Many of us check the long-range forecast to plan for what kind of weather to expect," Holmes said. "The COVID-19 Risk Dial can help residents know how level of risk of COVID-19 spread in the community and the precautions you can take to protect your health in the coming week."
The COVID-19 Risk Dial show the level of risk using four colors to represent the phases described in the Federal Guidance on Reopening America, Johns Hopkins University guidance for Governors on reopening States, and guidance documents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For each risk color, specific recommendations are provided for physical distancing, face covering, hand washing, illness monitoring and disinfection, both for outside the home and at home. Specific guidance is included for people at risk for complications due to COVID-19.
More information on COVID-19 and the City's response is available at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov. The website includes information on how those with symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested in Lincoln.