With COVID-19 hospitalizations creeping up in the state, Gov. Pete Ricketts on Monday urged Nebraskans to step forward now and get vaccinated.
"Please, folks, sign up to get the vaccine," the governor said during a news briefing. "This is the way we work our way through the pandemic."
The vaccine is "safe and effective," Ricketts said.
Seventy-five percent of Nebraska seniors, those who are considered at most risk of death or hospitalization as a result of contracting the virus, have been vaccinated, the governor said.
While hospitalizations are increasing for the first time in 18 weeks, Ricketts said, the 132 COVID-19 patients hospitalized now represent less than 3% of hospital capacity in the state.
Ricketts hailed the increasing supply of vaccine flowing into the state monthly, with 27,600 doses from Johnson & Johnson, 25,740 from Pfizer and 19,200 from Moderna arriving now.
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Asked about the increase in reported cases, the governor said COVID-19 variants that are more transmissible probably are part of the cause.
Ricketts received his first vaccination Saturday and said he had no side effects other than a sore arm for a day.
Jake Immink of Fairbury was on a ventilator for more than 120 days, first at Bryan West Campus in Lincoln and then at the Nebraska Medical Center. While he recovered from the worst of the COVID-19 symptoms after the virus struck him around Halloween, he was left with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, or lung scarring.
During the news briefing, the governor turned the spotlight on efforts to increase vaccinations in the Hispanic community and to make Nebraskans more aware of the rental and utility financial assistance that is available for lower-income people with federal CARES Act funding distributed by the state.
Some $200 million has been allocated to the state's emergency rental assistance program to assist with rental and utility costs for families with limited income, beginning at $46,000 for a single person and rising incrementally according to the size of the family.
"We have much more (money) available to help people and that's our goal," said Shannon Harner, executive director of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority.
On other matters, Ricketts said "we need voter ID in Nebraska (to) help ensure our election integrity."
The governor's statement came in response to a question about his defense of election law changes in Georgia that have resulted in widespread criticism and economic backlash, including Major League Baseball's decision to move this year's All-Star Game from Atlanta.
Ricketts said changes in Georgia's election laws have been subjected to "a lot of misinformation," including statements by President Joe Biden, when some of those changes actually expanded voter access.
Legislation to amend the state constitution to require photo identification for voters in Nebraska is pending in the Legislature.
The governor defended his recent decision to deny credentialed access to his news briefings to an Omaha news website called NOISE Omaha, the North Omaha Information Support Everyone.
"They're an advocacy organization, not a news organization," Ricketts said. "News outlets don't put their thumbs on the scale."
Top Journal Star photos for March
Secret Jungle at the Lincoln Children's Zoo is now open.
Tonnie, a female 10-month-old black-headed spider monkey, explores her enclosure in the Lincoln Children's Zoo Secret Jungle.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos from March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Elkhorn’s Dane Petersen (41) feels the weight of Beatrice’s Jace Pethoud (11) as he, Elliott Jurgens (5) and Kaden Glynn defend against him in the second half on Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021, during the Class B state final at Pinnacle Bank Arena. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/12/2021 - Millard North's Saint Thomas celebrates after scoring a three-point-shot right before Millard West called a timeout in the second quarter during a class A semifinal, Friday, March 12, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Top photos for March
Auburn players, including Cam Binder (2) and Bret Baltensperger (40) give the Pierce team a wave after winning a Class C-1 boys state tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos for March
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts delivers opening remarks in opposition of medical marijuana legislation during a public press conference at the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Kenneth Ferriera
Top photos for March
Milford's Seth Stutzman (top) rises over Omaha Concordia's Justin Otten for a rebound in the third quarter in a Class C-1 boys state tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Kenneth Ferriera
Top photos for March
Nebraska's Eleanor Dale (left) follows the ball after heading it over Michigan's Alia Martin in the first overtime period on Sunday, March 07, 2021, at Barbara Hibner Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Kenneth Ferriera
Top photos for March
Local artist Connie Clark practices painting at her at her easel in her artist workspace situated in the corner of the apartment she lives in on Monday, March 01, 2021.Â
Kenneth Ferriera
Top photos from March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Falls City Sacred Heart’s Jacob Froeschl (12) and his teammates celebrate their win over Parkview Christian on Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021, during the Class D-2 state final at Pinnacle Bank Arena. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Auburn players rest on the sideline while waiting for their gold medals after winning the C-1 state championship, Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Top photos from March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/12/2021 - Nebraska's Lexi Sun (11) and Lauren Stivrins (26) led the Huskers to a come-from-behind win over Ohio State on Friday, Mar. 12, 2021, at the Devaney Sports Center. Sun had 17 kills and Stivrins had 18 kills as Nebraska came from two sets down to win against the Buckeyes. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER
Top photos for March
Lincoln, NE - 3/9/2021 - (L - R) Millard North parents Tonya Sandoval, mother of basketball player Tyler Sandoval, and Jessica Haynes, mother of basketball player Hunter Sallis, pick up cutouts of the team's players and coaches before a boys state tournament quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos for March
Lincoln, NE - 3/11/2021 - Two E-4B aircraft prepare to take off on Thursday, March 11, 2021, at Lincoln Airport GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos for March
Lincoln, NE - 3/12/2021 - Elkhorn's Colton Uhing (20) reacts to teammate Dane Petersen (41) dunk as Norris's Cade Rice (15) watches in a Class B boys state tournament semifinal game on Friday, March 12, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos for March
Lincoln, NE - 3/15/2021 - Debris sits outside Southwood Village Apartments at South 27th Street and Nebraska 2 after Lincoln Fire and Rescue responded to a fire on Monday, March 15, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos from March
Nebraska's Lexi Sun (11) and Lauren Stivrins (26) led the Huskers to a come-from-behind win over Ohio State on March 12 at the Devaney Sports Center.Â
Francis Gardler, Journal Star file photo
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/05/2021 - Pius X’s Charlee Hagedorn (34), Alexis Markowski (partially hidden), Adison Markowski (32) Miriam Miller (12) and Jill Aschoff (right) celebrate at the buzzer as they defeated Omaha Central 47-38 on Friday, Mar. 5, 2021, during the Class A state semifinals at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Alexis Markowski scored 30 points and grabbed 27 rebounds in the win. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - Weeping Water's Jamison Twomey (2) collapses on the floor after a resulting dogpile after the class D1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - North Bend celebrates on the court after defeating Hastings St. Cecilia to win the class C1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - Hastings St. Cecilia's Katharine Hamburger (center) comforts teammates Erin Sheehy (left) and Bailey Kissinger after as they wait for the runner up trophy after losing the class C1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - North Bend's Cierra Kluthe raises the net after her team became the the class C1 state champions on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - Weeping Water celebrates on the court after defeating Pleasanton by a single score by Weeping Water's Grace Cave in the final minute of the fourth quarter during the class D1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/07/2021 - Nebraska and Michigan players take a moment to kneel before the start of the match on Sunday, March 07, 2021, at Barbara Hibner Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/11/2021 - GICC's Brayton Johnson (15) and Isaac Herbek (right) react after a dunk by Gil Jengmer (not pictured) in the third quarter during a C-2 state semifinal, Thursday, March 11, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Top photos for March
LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Auburn's Ryan Dixon ties a string of net around his gold medal after Auburn won the C-1 state championship, Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LJSdon
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