LINCOLN - A rise in coronavirus cases in the Lincoln area may require a return to tougher restrictions, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said Tuesday. The mayor said the surge threatens public health and the reopening of schools and businesses.

Officials point to the following trends: » For the week ending Saturday, 230 new cases were reported, the highest weekly total since the week ending May 23.

» About 57% of the new cases in the past two weeks have been among people in their 20s, an age group that makes up only 18.5% of Lancaster County.

» The weekly positive rate has increased from 3.1% at the end of June to about 7.5% last week.

» On Tuesday, 21 virus patients were hospitalized, up from nine on July 3. That includes 11 Lancaster County residents and 10 from elsewhere. Three of those people are on ventilators.

With 44 new cases Tuesday, Lancaster County stands at 2,226 total cases. Thirteen people have died.

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