NEBRASKA- New cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations because of the virus continued to fall in Nebraska last week, marking the second week of declining cases in the state.

But those numbers are dropping slowly. In some parts of the state, both new cases and transmission levels are still so high — and vaccination rates are so low — that new surges are possible.

Nebraska posted 3,980 new cases in the week, down 12% from the previous week and 25% from a month ago, according to a World-Herald analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The continued decline is a sign that the delta variant may have peaked in Nebraska.

As of October 18th, the state has reported a pandemic total of 276,817 COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s infectious diseases division, said declining case counts are exactly what health officials want to see, although he would prefer to see a steeper decline.

“We could speed that up by having higher vaccination rates,” he said. “But it’s way too early for us to declare the game won and the pandemic over.”

It’s still possible to see a resurgence in cases, Rupp said. It’s also possible to see a new variant of the coronavirus emerge that could cause a new wave.

What health officials are worried about is a variant that can evade current defenses.

“Then, unfortunately, we’re kind of back to square one,” he said.

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