The Nebraska Public Health Lab says the Omicron variant now makes up more than 3-4ths of new positive COVID-19 tests in Nebraska.
According to the state lab’s sequencing on Monday 77% of the COVID cases in the state are Omicron with officials expecting the number to approach 90% in the coming weeks.
Dr Mark Rupp of Nebraska Medicine in Omaha told Nebraska Public Media Omicron is dominating the numbers because it’s twice as transmissible as the Delta variant.
On the positive side, Dr Rupp says Omicron is less severe than Delta and about 40% less likely to lead to hospitalization.