Lincoln Has One More Death From COVID-19

Published on April 16, 2021

Lab-confirmed cases reported today: 39
Total number of cases: 30,401

Variant cases: The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) 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.

Deaths reported today: 1, a man in his 50s who was hospitalized
Total number of deaths: 231

Recoveries: 27,253

Weekly positivity rate:

  • April 3 through 10: 7.1 percent
  • April 11 through 16: 6 percent

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 positive patients: 32 with 18 from Lancaster County (two on ventilators) and 14 from other communities (three on ventilators).

Risk Dial: mid-yellow, moderate risk of COVID-19 spread

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.

This week’s large-scale clinics:

  • Monday, April 12, Center for People in Need – nearly 1,300 first doses administered
  • Thursday, April 15, Pinnacle Bank Arena – nearly 7,950 first and second doses administered
  • Friday, April 16, Pinnacle Bank Arena – first doses

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.

MEDIA NOTE: Media will be notified regarding coverage of vaccinations. DO NOT go to any venue without making arrangements with the Health Department.

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.

For more information, visit COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov or call the Health Department hotline at 402-441-8006.

 

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