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Jan. 5, 2022Omaha, Neb. |  By: AP

Nebraska virus cases surge as omicron continues to spread

covid19

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of new virus cases is surging in Nebraska as the highly contagious omicron variant spreads more widely in the state.

Nebraska health officials reported 8,575 new cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. That's 47% more than the 5,826 cases reported the previous week and the highest weekly total since early December 2020.

That raises additional concerns about hospital capacity. Nebraska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone says the omicron variant now accounts for 30% to 50% of positive test samples that are being genetically sequenced in the state.