Speaking of Nebraska: Lincoln Doctor Optimistic About Nebraska’s Pandemic Trends

Nebraska’s COVID-19 statistics are continuing to trend downward, and that’s welcome news for Lincoln doctor Bob Rauner.

Statewide cases are down 71% since the last days of January, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations are following. In the last two weeks, they’ve dropped by nearly 200 beds, according to the state’s dashboard.

“That really is an optimistic sign. Hopefully (with) enough immunity too, that even though our vaccination rates could be a little better, that this will continue,” said Rauner, a family physician and the president of Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln.

He and other medical experts envision Nebraska following a similar trajectory to what’s happened out east, where COVID cases have fallen off sharply and the hospitalizations and deaths slowly follow. “Fingers crossed that that’s where we’ll hit in a few more weeks,” he said.

Both Lincoln and Omaha extended mask mandates this week. Dr. Rauner said the need for further extensions may not be necessary if pandemic trends continue down. He compares the need to wear a mask during the pandemic to wearing a rain coat.