LINCOLN- The number of Covid cases in Nebraska ticks up for the third week in a row. Many have begun to point to the low levels of boosters received in the state.

Only 9.9% of people 18 and over in the United States have received the latest booster, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nebraska’s figure is 9.6%

“That’s a very discouraging and disappointing statistic,” said Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of the infectious diseases division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “I would hope that the population would take advantage of this newest bivalent booster to try to do everything they can to keep themselves healthy and protected as we go into the respiratory virus season.”

When it comes to the latest COVID booster, Nebraska’s vaccination rate among adults ranks 32nd highest among the states.

Nebraska posted 1,783 new virus cases last week, up from 1,383 the previous week and the third straight weekly rise.
Nebraska added 12 new COVID deaths last week, bringing the toll for the pandemic to 4,562 confirmed or probable deaths. The state has seen 535,000 positive COVID tests.

Nebraska hospitalizations due to COVID were relatively flat last week, with a daily average of 137 hospital beds occupied by COVID patients. A combination of COVID, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nationally have recently strained pediatric hospital bed capacity.

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