More than Three-Fourths of COVID Cases in Nebraska are Omicron
By Aaron Bonderson 
, Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Jan. 3, 2022, 4 p.m. ·
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The omicron variant now makes up more than three-fourths of COVID-19 positive tests in Nebraska.
The Nebraska Public Health Lab reported 77% of COVID-19 cases are omicron in the state, according to its sequencing on Monday. Leaders at the lab anticipate that number approaches 90% in the coming weeks.
Dr. Mark Rupp with Nebraska Medicine in Omaha said omicron is generally less severe than delta but still more transmissible.
“Because it’s so explosively transmissible, we’re going to see a large influx in the number of cases and because of just the sheer numbers,” Rupp said. “We will probably see more people in the hospital than what we’ve been seeing with delta.”
Omicron is twice as transmissible as the delta variant, but about 40% less likely to lead to hospitalization, Rupp said.
To curb the omicron spread over the next few weeks, Dr. Rupp recommends wearing a mask and keeping distance indoors.