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DHHS: Nebraska wastewater sampling indicates COVID-19 variants ahead of verified cases

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DHHS: Nebraska wastewater sampling indicates COVID-19 variants ahead of verified cases


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Wastewater evaluation knowledge from communities throughout the state helps consultants in Nebraska get a clearer image of the evolution of COVID-19 variants these final 14 months.

The Nebraska Division of Well being and Human Providers launched a report Wednesday summarizing greater than a 12 months of wastewater sampling to find out COVID-19 ranges throughout the state.

DHHS, the College of Nebraska-Lincoln, the UNMC Faculty of Public Well being, and wastewater utilities throughout the state have been working collectively to observe COVID-19 ranges in feces at wastewater crops in communities throughout Nebraska since March 2021. The hope is that by analyzing the patterns — figuring out detectability, prevalence, and transmissibility — the information may help determine developments that may assist inform public well being responses to turn into extra proactive reasonably than reactive. The knowledge may additionally assist officers perceive how the variants are affected — if in any respect — by present vaccination ranges.

“Wastewater surveillance is an rising public well being instrument,” the DHHS informational website states. “There may be proof that the amount of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is correlated with infections within the wastewater sewershed space.”

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Whereas noting that researchers are nonetheless evaluating the worth and effectiveness of the sampling as a public well being assist, recommending the knowledge be used as supplemental knowledge alongside different types of pattern monitoring, the examine makes a case for wastewater sampling as an equalizer in COVID-19 knowledge assortment.

“Wastewater surveillance doesn’t rely on individuals getting access to healthcare, these in search of healthcare when sick, or availability of COVID-19 testing,” the location states.

Early warnings?

Sampling occurred at two wastewater crops in Douglas County, two in Lancaster, and at one in every of Platte, Madison, Corridor, Adams, Buffalo, Lincoln, Scotts Bluff, and Dawes counties.

Evaluating wastewater evaluation in opposition to reported case knowledge in every of the Douglas County crops throughout the peak of the omicron wave in early 2022 confirmed indicators have been current within the wastewater about two weeks forward of case experiences. In Lancaster County, these peak indicator ranges appeared about three weeks forward of peak case experiences.

Within the Grand Island space, charts within the report present Corridor County’s wastewater confirmed a small spike in late February into mid-March that by no means manifested in verified case numbers — a phenomenon that additionally appears to have occurred at about the identical time in Scotts Bluff County as effectively. Conversely, case charges within the Chadron space indicated a small spike in late February that didn’t appear to register as dramatically within the wastewater knowledge.

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Variant waves charted

DHHS organized the information into charts displaying the emergence, prevalence, and recession of recognized COVID-19 variants. The visuals make it straightforward to determine the pace of omicron and the endurance of delta.

The info exhibits the delta variant shifting into Nebraska communities beginning in early Could 2021, and accounting for almost all of circumstances by mid-July that 12 months. It stays because the dominant pressure, accounting for nearly each case, from the tip of July 2021 till January 2022, when the omicron variant begins to take over. In line with the information, omicron was first detected in early December 2021 and was the dominant variant by New 12 months’s, with BA.2 detected in late January.

The state’s chart exhibits delta’s endurance, with the variant taking about six weeks to go from detection-level to majority standing, the place it remained for 5 months. Comparatively, omicron took a few month to span the identical ranges, whereas BA.2 appear on monitor to comply with an identical path in about two months.

It additionally exhibits indicators of variants that by no means took maintain. For instance: Gamma variant circumstances tripled from Could 22, 2021, to June 5, 2021, and accounted for six% extra circumstances than delta in early June 2021 however was quickly overshadowed by delta variant circumstances.

Preliminary knowledge dated Could 7 exhibits a small proportion of circumstances recognized as BA.4 variant — at almost the identical ranges because the preliminary appearances of earlier COVID-19 variants.

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Copyright 2022 WOWT. All rights reserved.



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Nebraska

Snow showers will stick around until early Sunday afternoon

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Snow showers will stick around until early Sunday afternoon


NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – It’s really going to feel like winter as we go through the next week with highs falling through the 30s to mainly in the 20s. There will be lots of cloud cover this week, and we will be on the western fringe of a snow system that will give light to moderate amounts of snow and ice to the Central Midwest. For us, some could pick up 2-3″ of snow as it stays breezy from Saturday through Sunday.

A very chilly Saturday to start the weekend.(Maxuser | Justin Craft)

Saturday we kept mostly cloudy skies with snow showers/freezing rain; it was breezy with highs in the lower 20s. Sunday snow showers taper off late morning/ early afternoon, then we keep the mostly cloudy skies; colder with highs near 16. We’re under a winter weather advisory until 6:00 pm Sunday.

About another inch or two of snow through Sunday morning across Greater Nebraska.
About another inch or two of snow through Sunday morning across Greater Nebraska.(Maxuser | Justin Craft)

Monday we will have partly cloudy skies with highs near 30. Tuesday brings mostly cloudy skies with highs in the low 20s. Wednesday we will have sunny skies; warmer with highs in the mid-30s.

Thursday look for partly cloudy skies, it will be breezy with highs in the upper 30s. Friday sunny skies and highs near 34. Next Saturday partly cloudy skies and highs near 43.

Seasonably average temperatures coming up across Greater Nebraska.
Seasonably average temperatures coming up across Greater Nebraska.(Maxuser | Justin Craft)

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Isaiah Neyor makes surprising transfer portal decision after initially signing with Louisville

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Isaiah Neyor makes surprising transfer portal decision after initially signing with Louisville


Nebraska wide receiver Isaiah Neyor has withdrawn from the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned. He previously signed with Louisville before withdrawing the documents.

Neyor signed with Louisville on Wednesday, but the papers were withdrawn shortly thereafter, On3 previously reported. It’s unclear if he will return to Nebraska or enter the NFL Draft, Nakos reported. However, a source told On3 the expectation is he will end up staying in the draft.

Neyor’s documents at Louisville were processed Jan. 1 at 7:23 p.m. ET, Nakos previously reported. They were then withdrawn at 7:58 p.m. ET that night.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire

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The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and X account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Neyor started his college football career at Wyoming, playing three years with the Cowboys before entering the portal. He totaled 44 receptions for 878 yards and 22 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore before committing to Texas, where he missed the 2022 season due to injury and appeared in just one game in 2023.

After that season, Neyor again hit the transfer portal and committed to Nebraska. This past year, he hauled in 34 receptions for 455 yards and five touchdowns. He officially re-entered the portal Dec. 27, three days after announcing his plans to declare for the draft via social media.

“To my family, your love and support have been my anchor and I am beyond grateful,” Neyor wrote in his NFL Draft announcement. “Most importantly I thank God for giving me the strength, guidance, and favor to walk this path. With that being said, I am proud to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.”

Isaiah Neyor played high school football at Arlington (TX) Lamar, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 2,740 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

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After entering the portal, Neyor came in as the No. 277 overall player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. He was also the No. 54-ranked wide receiver to hit the open market this cycle and visited Louisville one day after his signed documents were withdrawn.





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What newbies to Nebraska should know about driving in the snow

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What newbies to Nebraska should know about driving in the snow


LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – With possible snow looming this weekend, the Nebraska State Patrol plans to have a lot of troopers on the roads.

On Friday, the patrol was “just kind of waiting for it to happen,” Trooper Madison Reynoldson said.

Having never driven in the snow, a Channel 8 reporter asked what drivers should prepare for to manage getting around.

Because the snow is so much later in the season than what most Nebraskans are used to, the state patrol is reminding everyone to double-check road conditions.

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Reynoldson said you can check the 511 website to plan your route before you drive.

“If the weather is really bad, the first thing to do is make sure it is safe to drive outside; there’s times when it might be better just to stay home,” she said. “But you can always check 511 online, you can check the roadways that you’ll be traveling on, and it actually shows pictures and the conditions that those roads are in at that time.”

Some of the biggest pieces of advice the patrol wants to remind you about are to leave plenty of stopping distance between yourself and others, do not drive distractedly, and pay close attention to other drivers.

Keeping a close eye on your surroundings can be vital if you begin to slide.

Reynoldson also shared what essential items you should keep in your car to prepare for times like this.

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“I would definitely keep gloves, coats, hats, extra water, food, for sure phone chargers,” she said. “That is one thing we see is that people that get stranded, their phone dies, and that is really our only communication with them.”

An ice scraper is also essential.

Channel 8 got to ride along with Reynoldson, who said the best thing to remember is to stay calm, accelerate slowly and think twice before getting on the roads.

The state patrol is available if you get stuck.

“If you get stranded or need help on the roadway, you can call *55, and that’ll get hold of the Nebraska State Patrol dispatchers, and they’ll send a trooper your way to help,” Reynoldson said.

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On our Now Local News App, we asked what advice you have for Channel 8 reporters who are new to snow.

Winona said timing and controlling your speed are everything when it comes to driving in the snow.

“I am going to keep it real with you, it can definitely be scary,” she said. “I would advise you to leave early, take your time, and leave plenty of room for other drivers.”

Christopher shared the same advice.

“Go slow,” he said. “It took me a little bit of time to get used to driving here. Just like I said, go slow, assume there’s going to be ice on the road if there is snow on the roads. Potentially there is going to be ice hidden underneath so take it easy.”

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