White House COVID-19 Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx made a stop in Lincoln on Friday. At the State Capitol, Dr. Birx spoke on battling the virus in rural areas compared to more populated communities or larger cities throughout the country. She said Nebraska is now in the “yellow” zone and lower numbers means the state is “heading in the right direction”. There is also a reduction in hot spot areas that includes Lancaster and Douglas Counties.
There is still a concern that rural areas may go under reported. She says those areas may not be testing at the same rate and people may not be going to the doctor as often.
Dr. Birx stated that Nebraska and other areas of the Midwest were saved from the first big wave of cases that hit large metropolitan areas. Nebraska’s largest city, Omaha was impacted most severely by Phase 2. That caused problems at packing houses and other areas with larger populations like prisons and care facilities. Phase 3, Birx explained, is community spread and is basically impacting younger people. Dr. Birx said the good news is that Omaha may have seen a peak in cases.
Dr. Birx will also make stops in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.