Covid-19 cases recorded by the Lincoln Health Department since early December (click to enlarge).
Due to recent data showing an increase in positive Covid-19 test results, the Board of Health voted on April 13 to “strongly recommend” that people wear masks in public indoor spaces until early May until officials see how the infection rate from the new BA-2 variant evolves over the next few weeks after spring vacation.
Like everywhere else in the country, Lincoln saw a surge in cases from the omicron variant during late December and January — almost 45 cases a week from December 23 to January 27 — but then the numbers quickly dropped again. There were an average of four cases a week in the following six weeks and an average of almost eight per week in the five weeks after that. (March 17 to April 14).
Public health nurse Tricia McGean noted that numbers only reflect PCR tests and not positive results from rapid tests that many people use at home, so the recent figures may be undercounts. “However, the uptick in cases was predicted and expected,” she said.
“There’s no rhyme or reason to the cases as far as age is concerned,” McGean said. “Most have mild to moderate symptoms but I am aware of a couple of brief hospital stays.” However, she added that she only touches base with the cases initially and doesn’t follow them through the infectious period, so some others may end up in the hospital. As has been the case for some time, the biggest means of spread is among household members.
Every household is eligible to receive four at-home test kits for Covid-19 free of charge. Order the kits at www.covidtests.gov or by calling 800-232-0233 (arrival in 1-2 weeks).