4 New COVID-19 Variants Found In Nebraska Are More Transmissible, Considered 'Worrisome'

Health officials in Nebraska have identified four new variants of COVID-19, causing renewed concern among health experts.

The four new variants are offshoots of the highly contagious Delta variant and are believed to be between 10% and 15% more transmissible than the original Delta strain, said Susan Puckett, a community health nurse at Two Rivers.

The variants, identified in the Two Rivers Public Health District, are believed to be behind the recent uptick in cases in the area. However, Puckett noted that it is still unclear how the variants, which she called “worrisome,” would affect public health.

“It is too early to tell whether this poses a greater risk to public health than the first delta strain,” she said at Friday’s weekly public press conference, according to Kearney Hub.

Puckett, however, added that these variants replicate quickly and then mutate. She urged Two Rivers residents to get vaccinated, adding that it is “the best solution” in stopping the spread of COVID-19. The Two Rivers district includes Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney and Phelps counties.

The Two Rivers Public Health Department recorded 420 new cases of COVID-19 between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2. At least 31 infections occurred at long-term care and residential facilities. One out of every 8 COVID-19 tests (12.5%) conducted over the past week came back positive, according to the district’s weekly report.

Only 1 out of 29 ICU beds across the district are available. At least 20% of all medical and surgical beds are occupied by patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

The district’s risk dial also remains in the red “pandemic” zone. This means the Two Rivers district currently has high COVID-19 cases, hospitalization rates and low ICU bed availability. The “pandemic” zone also means the district is seeing a rapid spread of new infections in specific clusters.

As of Nov. 2, only 47% of the Two Rivers district’s total population and 58% of the area’s adult population were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The district also administered over 6,000 booster doses.

Statewide, Nebraska has reported a total of 289,282 COVID-19 infections and 2,784 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, according to an analysis by The New York Times.