Public Health Solutions reports increases in positive virus test percentages

BEATRICE – Public Health Solutions Health District officials anticipate moving to vaccinating Phase One-B priority groups in the next one to two weeks. 

A registration link on the district’s website for vaccinations now includes persons 65 and older. That registration will be available until a statewide web registration system begins operating.

PHS officials say four of five counties in the district saw increases in coronavirus positivity rates the past week.   Increases were seen in Gage, Saline, Jefferson and Fillmore Counties.  The one exception was Thayer County, which saw a nearly eight percent decline in positivity rate. Gage, Saline and Jefferson Counties saw a marginal increase in their rates. Fillmore County’s positivity rate jumped about ten percent.

Total positive cases in the district numbered 151 the past week…..compared with 137 for the week prior.

Officials said sixteen persons were hospitalized the past week with Covid-like illness.  A report of one Covid-related death during the week, is awaiting confirmation.