CRETE, NE — A southeast Nebraska health district once considered a hot spot for the coronavirus continues to announce encouraging statistics.

Public Health Solutions District Health Department covers Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Saline and Thayer counties. Health Director Kim Showalter says 427 residents were tested for COVID-19 over the last week and only five tests returned positive.  That’s a positive rate of 1.2 percent.  By comparison, 11.2 percent of Nebraska tests and 10.3 percent of national tests have returned positive since the start of the pandemic.

The health district struggled with the virus in April and May. 286 positive tests were reported in the first 13 days of May.  Only 37 new cases have been reported in the last three weeks.

Of the five new cases, four are Saline County residents and one lives in Gage County.