Positive trends in the spread of COVID-19 have allowed the Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department to slightly improve its risk dial, with the risk of spread currently defined as moderate in Lincoln.
The dial is updated each Friday, and the change was announced by Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird during an afternoon news conference.
The risk dial remains in the moderate category, but the dial inched closer to the low-risk area.
There were 14 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Lincoln on Friday, bringing the Lancaster County total to 1,443. The number of confirmed deaths in the community is unchanged at 10.
This week, 89 new cases have been identified, down from 146 new cases last week and the high of 299 the week of May 9.
The percentage of tests returning positive is at 4.2%, the lowest weekly level in two months.
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“The reason for the dial change is that our indicators continue to improve,†Gaylor Baird said.Â
Local hospital capacity remains strong. The number of COVID-19 patients in Lincoln hospitals has dropped from 41 patients June 3 to 26 patients Friday.
Lincoln has seen 330 recoveries. That number is expected to grow in the coming weeks, because it takes about 28 days to establish a full recovery after a positive coronavirus test.
Interim local Health Department Director Pat Lopez also announced that there have been enhancements made to the county COVID-19 dashboard, which is available at .
Data has been added for cluster cases, which are those based on shared characteristics, primarily time and place. The dashboard shows that 45% of all local cases are part of a confirmed cluster of five or more cases.
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