OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - More than 250,000 people have signed up for a coronavirus vaccination on Nebraska's official registration website, but state officials said Wednesday they want more and urged residents to add their names.

State officials asked residents to sign up online or through a toll-free hotline as local health districts prepare to move into their next vaccination phase in the next few weeks.

The state is currently working to vaccinate residents who are at least 65 years and older, but the next phase will focus on people ages 50 to 64 and those with certain underlying health conditions.

Lori Snyder, chief information officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said registering on the state's website,&nbsp;<a href="https://vaccinate.ne.gov/en-US/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>, will allow residents to get their shot faster than if they signed up on a local public health department's website. Residents without internet access can register by calling 833-998-2275.

"You can literally be in and out of a clinic in, like, 17 to 20 minutes," she said at a news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts. "Not every clinic is like that, but we have achieved those kinds of timeframes when people registered ahead of time."

Snyder said the number of residents signed up so far "is great, but we also want to make sure we don't miss anyone."

She said the local public health websites that initially offered signups didn't request all the information needed to track patients, and without that information, residents who visit a clinic to get a shot will have to take extra time to provide it. The local registration websites are now being folded into the state-run vaccination site.

Snyder said those without internet or phone access should work with a friend, relative or neighbor to enroll.

Nebraska has fully vaccinated 12.6% of of the 1.48 million residents who are at least 16 years old, according to the state's online tracking portal. Ricketts has said he expects vaccines will be offered to the general public by late April or early May.

The state has received 575,310 vaccination doses through its own program plus another 125,835 through the federal retail pharmacy program, which offers vaccinations through Walmart and other pharmacies.

Nebraska had 131 people who were hospitalized with the virus as of Tuesday evening, which is down sharply from the record highs of nearly 1,000 in mid-November, according to the state's online tracking portal. The state has confirmed 203,587 virus cases and 2,120 deaths since the pandemic began. The vast majority of those who have died were older than 65 years old.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615242157526.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - More than 250,000 people have signed up for a coronavirus vaccination on Nebraska's official registration website, but state officials said Wednesday they want more and urged residents to add their names.State officials asked residents to sign up online or through a toll-free hotline as local health districts prepare to move into their next vaccination phase in the next few weeks.The state is currently working to vaccinate residents who are at least 65 years and older, but the next phase will focus on people ages 50 to 64 and those with certain underlying health conditions.Lori Snyder, chief information officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said registering on the state's website,&nbsp;<a href="https://vaccinate.ne.gov/en-US/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>, will allow residents to get their shot faster than if they signed up on a local public health department's website. Residents without internet access can register by calling 833-998-2275."You can literally be in and out of a clinic in, like, 17 to 20 minutes," she said at a news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts. "Not every clinic is like that, but we have achieved those kinds of timeframes when people registered ahead of time."Snyder said the number of residents signed up so far "is great, but we also want to make sure we don't miss anyone."She said the local public health websites that initially offered signups didn't request all the information needed to track patients, and without that information, residents who visit a clinic to get a shot will have to take extra time to provide it. The local registration websites are now being folded into the state-run vaccination site.Snyder said those without internet or phone access should work with a friend, relative or neighbor to enroll.Nebraska has fully vaccinated 12.6% of of the 1.48 million residents who are at least 16 years old, according to the state's online tracking portal. Ricketts has said he expects vaccines will be offered to the general public by late April or early May.The state has received 575,310 vaccination doses through its own program plus another 125,835 through the federal retail pharmacy program, which offers vaccinations through Walmart and other pharmacies.Nebraska had 131 people who were hospitalized with the virus as of Tuesday evening, which is down sharply from the record highs of nearly 1,000 in mid-November, according to the state's online tracking portal. The state has confirmed 203,587 virus cases and 2,120 deaths since the pandemic began. The vast majority of those who have died were older than 65 years old.

250K register on Nebraska vaccine site, officials want more

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says the state will join a handful of others that have lifted mask-wearing mandates to limit spread of the coronavirus. 

Also being lifted are requirements for bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms, where employees must wear masks and customers not seated in small groups have to keep 6 feet apart. 

Gordon cites Wyoming’s declining number of COVID-19 cases and its success in distributing vaccines as reasons to lift the restrictions.

 The statewide order in place since December was set to expire next week.

 States including Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota and Texas also have lifted mask mandates.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says the state will join a handful of others that have lifted mask-wearing mandates to limit spread of the coronavirus. The changes take effect March 16. Also being lifted are requirements for bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms, where employees must wear masks and customers not seated in small groups have to keep 6 feet apart. Gordon cites Wyoming’s declining number of COVID-19 cases and its success in distributing vaccines as reasons to lift the restrictions. The statewide order in place since December was set to expire next week. States including Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota and Texas also have lifted mask mandates.

Governor: Wyoming to lift statewide mask mandate next week

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials continue to identify more cases of different variants of the coronavirus in the state.

The state said Monday that five cases of the variant first identified in the United Kingdom and 14 cases of a variant first identified in California have now been confirmed in Nebraska. Both of those variants of the virus are believed to be more easily transmitted than the original coronavirus but less is known about the California variant.

State officials said they expect to receive 82,430 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines this week but no additional doses of the new Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine as that company works to ramp up production. That may lead to a small drop in the number of people vaccinated in the state this week after officials vaccinated 90,461 people across Nebraska last week.

The state says 519,857 doses of the vaccines have now been administered, and 12% of the state's population has received their required shots.

There have now been 203,279 cases of the virus and 2,113 deaths in the state since the pandemic began a year ago.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska remains low, but it has risen over the past two weeks from 244.71 new cases per day on Feb. 21 to 311.14 new cases per day on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612437418456.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>From the Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials continue to identify more cases of different variants of the coronavirus in the state.The state said Monday that five cases of the variant first identified in the United Kingdom and 14 cases of a variant first identified in California have now been confirmed in Nebraska. Both of those variants of the virus are believed to be more easily transmitted than the original coronavirus but less is known about the California variant.State officials said they expect to receive 82,430 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines this week but no additional doses of the new Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine as that company works to ramp up production. That may lead to a small drop in the number of people vaccinated in the state this week after officials vaccinated 90,461 people across Nebraska last week.The state says 519,857 doses of the vaccines have now been administered, and 12% of the state's population has received their required shots.There have now been 203,279 cases of the virus and 2,113 deaths in the state since the pandemic began a year ago.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska remains low, but it has risen over the past two weeks from 244.71 new cases per day on Feb. 21 to 311.14 new cases per day on Sunday.

Nebraska confirms more cases of virus variants in the state

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials may start using mobile sites to help expand the number of places where residents can get coronavirus vaccines as the number of available doses increases, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday.

His comments came as the number of new vaccinations administered continues to trend upward, with dips on weekends.

"Certainly, that may be one thing we do," Ricketts said at a coronavirus news conference.

Health officials vaccinated a new one-day high of 20,949 people on Thursday. Statewide, 12% of Nebraska residents who are at least 16 years old have been fully vaccinated, according to the state's online tracking portal.

Nebraska hospitals that are working through the state's vaccination program have received 502,470 doses so far. The state has also received 109,735 through the federal government's retail pharmacy program, which distributes vaccines to local pharmacies.

Ricketts said the state has seen success with mass vaccination sites, such as the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department's location at Pinnacle Bank Arena in downtown Lincoln.

Nebraska officials are still giving top priority for vaccinations to residents who are at least 65 years old, a group that accounts for a large majority of the state's coronavirus deaths.

In the next vaccination phase, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-health-pete-ricketts-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-b51b8ff5956e8027bf45afd43590587b" target="_blank">could begin later this month</a>, state officials have ordered public health departments to give 90% of their doses to residents between 50 and 59. The remaining 10% of doses will go to people with underlying health conditions, as chosen by doctors and public health officials within each local health district.

Officials with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have said they expect to see an increase in vaccinations as drugmakers Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson continue to ramp up production of federally approved vaccines.

Ricketts said state officials are sharing the lists of people who are eligible and registered to get vaccinated with local health districts, so they know who can get a dose.

Nebraska had 142 people hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Monday morning, down from the record high of nearly 1,000 in mid-November, according to the state's tracking portal. The state has confirmed 203,027 virus cases and 2,113 deaths since the pandemic began.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615242157526.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials may start using mobile sites to help expand the number of places where residents can get coronavirus vaccines as the number of available doses increases, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday.His comments came as the number of new vaccinations administered continues to trend upward, with dips on weekends."Certainly, that may be one thing we do," Ricketts said at a coronavirus news conference.Health officials vaccinated a new one-day high of 20,949 people on Thursday. Statewide, 12% of Nebraska residents who are at least 16 years old have been fully vaccinated, according to the state's online tracking portal.Nebraska hospitals that are working through the state's vaccination program have received 502,470 doses so far. The state has also received 109,735 through the federal government's retail pharmacy program, which distributes vaccines to local pharmacies.Ricketts said the state has seen success with mass vaccination sites, such as the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department's location at Pinnacle Bank Arena in downtown Lincoln.Nebraska officials are still giving top priority for vaccinations to residents who are at least 65 years old, a group that accounts for a large majority of the state's coronavirus deaths.In the next vaccination phase, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-health-pete-ricketts-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-b51b8ff5956e8027bf45afd43590587b" target="_blank">could begin later this month</a>, state officials have ordered public health departments to give 90% of their doses to residents between 50 and 59. The remaining 10% of doses will go to people with underlying health conditions, as chosen by doctors and public health officials within each local health district.Officials with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have said they expect to see an increase in vaccinations as drugmakers Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson continue to ramp up production of federally approved vaccines.Ricketts said state officials are sharing the lists of people who are eligible and registered to get vaccinated with local health districts, so they know who can get a dose.Nebraska had 142 people hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Monday morning, down from the record high of nearly 1,000 in mid-November, according to the state's tracking portal. The state has confirmed 203,027 virus cases and 2,113 deaths since the pandemic began.

Nebraska may add vaccination sites to accommodate ramp-up

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California has cleared a path for fans to hit the stands at opening-day baseball games and return to Disneyland nearly a year after coronavirus restrictions shuttered major entertainment spots.

The state on Friday relaxed guidelines for reopening outdoor venues as a fall and winter surge seemed to be ending, with COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths plummeting and vaccination rates rising.

New public health rules would allow live concerts at stadiums and sports arenas to reopen with limited attendance April 1. Amusement parks also will be permitted to reopen in counties that have fallen from the state’s purple tier — the most restrictive — to the red tier.

In all cases, park capacities will be limited, and COVID-19 safety rules such as mask-wearing requirements will apply.

The move followed a week of milestones, with California ramping up vaccinations for the poorest neighborhoods, counties reopening more businesses and Gov. Gavin Newsom passing a measure aimed at encouraging schools that have restricted students to online learning to reopen classrooms this month.

“Steady opening is consistent with the data. As cases decline, we want to return to work and school,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, clinical professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California. “Outdoor activities in particular have always been low risk. Opening these sites makes sense.”

The reopening can’t come too soon for Kenny King Jr., a resident of Pleasant Hill in the San Francisco Bay Area who became an annual Disneyland passholder a decade ago. He typically takes his family to the Southern California park five times a year, but the last visit was just over a year ago for his birthday.

King, 38, said he’s excited to return with his 8-year-old daughter, who had just started enjoying rides such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain, and to take his 2-year-old son, who was mesmerized by the lights and sounds when he visited last year.

“That’s something that we just made our family thing — Disney trips,” King said. “We’ll sit there at the house sometimes and we’ll be like ‘man, I just miss Disneyland.’ ”

Also applauding were the thousands of workers who were laid off by Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm and other big locations. Ten thousand lost their jobs alone at Disneyland and its related attractions in Orange County, not to mention the knock-on effect to nearby restaurants and hotels.

Andrea Zinder, president of the local United Food and Commercial Workers Union that represents Disney workers, said employees are “excited to go back to work and provide Californians with a bit more magic in their lives.”

Most of the major theme parks are in Southern California, which is still in the purple category. However, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties were expecting to reopen within the next few weeks as their COVID-19 numbers fall.

Only 16 of 58 counties currently are in the red tier, and two small counties are in the orange tier. None are yet in the yellow tier, the lowest and least restrictive.

Theme parks in the red tier will be limited to 15% capacity.

Outdoor sports will be limited to 100 people in the purple tier but will increase up to 67% in the yellow tier.

The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics all announced they will have fans in the stands for opening day April 1. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants both start their seasons on the road and said they would announce their plans later.

Teams and event organizers can only sell tickets regionally in the purple tier. In the other tiers, teams and organizers can sell tickets to anyone living in California. No concessions will be allowed in the purple tier, while in others, concession sales will only be available at seats.

Richard Haick of San Pablo, California, already bought ticket vouchers for the Oakland A’s return and hopes to take his 10-year-old son to a game soon. His son plays Little League baseball and is very excited to attend games.

“It’s nice to have, even in a reduced capacity, some sense of normal,” said Haick, a 45-year-old photographer.

The quicker pace of reopening is tied to a new plan to vaccinate California’s most vulnerable residents. Once 2 million people across 400 ZIP codes in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods receive at least one vaccine dose, it will be easier for counties to exit the state’s most restrictive tier. Once 4 million people in those neighborhoods are vaccinated, counties will be able to open up even more.

It all puts California in a drastically different position than a year ago, when Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed the statewide stay-at-home order that restricted travel, shuttered businesses and forced millions of people onto unemployment. California still has among the most severe restrictions of any state and continues to discourage out-of-state visitors.

The state is pinning its hopes of a full reopening on inoculating enough of its 40 million residents to halt widespread COVID-19 infections.

More than 10 million doses had been given only three months since the first shot was given, the Department of Public Health said.

Just over 3 million people have been fully vaccinated, or about 10% of the population 16 and older.

There are hopeful signs. This week, the seven-day average rate of positive results from tests dropped this week to 2.2%, a record low.

Although pressure has been building to reopen the economy, health officials said the changes in guidelines were a cautious and measured rather than a wholesale approach.

“We will .... keep our foot on the brake, not the gas, our eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and navigate based on data and science,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595202434504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California has cleared a path for fans to hit the stands at opening-day baseball games and return to Disneyland nearly a year after coronavirus restrictions shuttered major entertainment spots.The state on Friday relaxed guidelines for reopening outdoor venues as a fall and winter surge seemed to be ending, with COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths plummeting and vaccination rates rising.New public health rules would allow live concerts at stadiums and sports arenas to reopen with limited attendance April 1. Amusement parks also will be permitted to reopen in counties that have fallen from the state’s purple tier — the most restrictive — to the red tier.In all cases, park capacities will be limited, and COVID-19 safety rules such as mask-wearing requirements will apply.The move followed a week of milestones, with California ramping up vaccinations for the poorest neighborhoods, counties reopening more businesses and Gov. Gavin Newsom passing a measure aimed at encouraging schools that have restricted students to online learning to reopen classrooms this month.“Steady opening is consistent with the data. As cases decline, we want to return to work and school,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, clinical professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California. “Outdoor activities in particular have always been low risk. Opening these sites makes sense.”The reopening can’t come too soon for Kenny King Jr., a resident of Pleasant Hill in the San Francisco Bay Area who became an annual Disneyland passholder a decade ago. He typically takes his family to the Southern California park five times a year, but the last visit was just over a year ago for his birthday.King, 38, said he’s excited to return with his 8-year-old daughter, who had just started enjoying rides such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain, and to take his 2-year-old son, who was mesmerized by the lights and sounds when he visited last year.“That’s something that we just made our family thing — Disney trips,” King said. “We’ll sit there at the house sometimes and we’ll be like ‘man, I just miss Disneyland.’ ”Also applauding were the thousands of workers who were laid off by Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm and other big locations. Ten thousand lost their jobs alone at Disneyland and its related attractions in Orange County, not to mention the knock-on effect to nearby restaurants and hotels.Andrea Zinder, president of the local United Food and Commercial Workers Union that represents Disney workers, said employees are “excited to go back to work and provide Californians with a bit more magic in their lives.”Most of the major theme parks are in Southern California, which is still in the purple category. However, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties were expecting to reopen within the next few weeks as their COVID-19 numbers fall.Only 16 of 58 counties currently are in the red tier, and two small counties are in the orange tier. None are yet in the yellow tier, the lowest and least restrictive.Theme parks in the red tier will be limited to 15% capacity.Outdoor sports will be limited to 100 people in the purple tier but will increase up to 67% in the yellow tier.The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics all announced they will have fans in the stands for opening day April 1. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants both start their seasons on the road and said they would announce their plans later.Teams and event organizers can only sell tickets regionally in the purple tier. In the other tiers, teams and organizers can sell tickets to anyone living in California. No concessions will be allowed in the purple tier, while in others, concession sales will only be available at seats.Richard Haick of San Pablo, California, already bought ticket vouchers for the Oakland A’s return and hopes to take his 10-year-old son to a game soon. His son plays Little League baseball and is very excited to attend games.“It’s nice to have, even in a reduced capacity, some sense of normal,” said Haick, a 45-year-old photographer.The quicker pace of reopening is tied to a new plan to vaccinate California’s most vulnerable residents. Once 2 million people across 400 ZIP codes in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods receive at least one vaccine dose, it will be easier for counties to exit the state’s most restrictive tier. Once 4 million people in those neighborhoods are vaccinated, counties will be able to open up even more.It all puts California in a drastically different position than a year ago, when Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed the statewide stay-at-home order that restricted travel, shuttered businesses and forced millions of people onto unemployment. California still has among the most severe restrictions of any state and continues to discourage out-of-state visitors.The state is pinning its hopes of a full reopening on inoculating enough of its 40 million residents to halt widespread COVID-19 infections.More than 10 million doses had been given only three months since the first shot was given, the Department of Public Health said.Just over 3 million people have been fully vaccinated, or about 10% of the population 16 and older.There are hopeful signs. This week, the seven-day average rate of positive results from tests dropped this week to 2.2%, a record low.Although pressure has been building to reopen the economy, health officials said the changes in guidelines were a cautious and measured rather than a wholesale approach.“We will .... keep our foot on the brake, not the gas, our eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and navigate based on data and science,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency.

California OKs reopening of ball parks, Disneyland

By CARLA K. JOHNSON, MIKE STOBBE and ZEKE MILLER

(AP)-More than 27 million Americans fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will have to keep waiting for guidance from federal health officials for what they should and shouldn’t do.

The Biden administration said Friday it’s focused on getting the guidance right and accommodating emerging science, but the delays add to the uncertainty around bringing about an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the pandemic</a>&nbsp;as the nation’s virus fatigue grows.

“These are complex issues and the science is rapidly evolving,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday. “We are making sure and taking time to get this right and we will be releasing this guidance soon.”

Such guidance would address a flood of questions coming in from people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19: Do I still have to wear a mask? Can I go to a bar now? Can I finally see my grandchildren?

The need has slowly grown since January, when the first Americans began to complete the two-dose series of COVID-19 vaccines then available.

In Washington state, Raul Espinoza Gomez has 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and an appointment Saturday for his second dose of coronavirus vaccine.

By Easter, the 77-year-old’s immune system will be ready to protect him from the virus. But how the family celebrates will depend on government advice, said Melissa Espinoza, 47, of Carnation, Washington, who plans to drive Gomez, her father-in-law, to get his second shot.

“We didn’t gather together as a big family at Christmas,” she said. “We go by what the state and federal guidelines recommend. We’ve had family members adversely affected by COVID. We know the risks are severe.”

Worried about persistently high case loads and deaths, the Biden administration has condemned efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/states-ease-virus-restrictions-despite-warnings-3599a9631d08de3945f5c95f000e5611">to relax states’ virus restrictions</a>&nbsp;and pleaded with the public for several months more patience.

The caution has drawn critics, who point to the administration’s own warnings that “fatigue is winning” as evidence that they need to be more optimistic about the path ahead to secure the cooperation of those who are yet to be vaccinated.

“I think it’s going to be overly proscriptive and conservative and that’s the wrong message,” former FDA Commissioner Stuart Gottlieb told CNBC Wednesday of the forthcoming CDC guidance. “If we continue to be very proscriptive and not give people a realistic vision for what a better future is going to look like, they’re going to start to ignore the public health guidance.”

Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the Division of Health Policy and Public Health, encouraged the CDC to be clearer about when and how it plans to produce guidelines for the vaccinated.

“Making the decision to go by the science is also making the decision that you’re going to have to make a decision, which is really difficult when the science isn’t settled,” he told the AP. “They’re drinking from a firehose of science, and sometimes, it gets messy.”

More than 54 million Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine, and slightly more than half — nearly 28 million — have gotten the recommended two doses. The single-dose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-johnson-1-shot-dose-cleared-f13611719ad8d1655ed7b354af75a9a9">Johnson &amp; Johnson shot</a>&nbsp;soon will add a couple million more Americans with questions about what new freedoms they can safely enjoy.

“I do hope I get to see my great-grandchildren more,” said Rolando Solar, 92, who received his second dose in Miami Wednesday. “But I know things will not go back to normal and, for an old man like me, this is as good as it will be.”

Tami Katz-Freiman, 65, of Miami, got her second dose three weeks ago, and plans to watch the Miami Film Festival virtually Sunday at the home of unvaccinated friends. All will wear masks.

“We didn’t have to discuss it with each other, because it’s very clear to me that when there is a doubt and you don’t have a CDC straightforward rule you better be on the safe side and take care for yourself,” Katz-Freiman said.

Three weeks ago, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people do not have to go into quarantine if they have contact with someone with a confirmed infection (for 90 days after the final shot). But the agency said nothing beyond that, noted Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University.

“That (quarantine guidance) seems to imply to me that your chance of contracting COVID-19 and being a carrier to others is pretty low,” said Wen, who previously ran Baltimore’s health department.

“(But) we need to focus on what is most relevant to people’s lives, and my patients are not coming in and asking me: ‘If I’m vaccinated, do I still need to quarantine if I’m exposed?’” she continued.

“I’d say the most common question I get is ‘Can I visit my grandchildren?’” Wen said.

Experts say it’s understandable that the CDC has been cautious when many scientific questions remain, including how long vaccine-induced immunity lasts, and whether vaccinated people are still able to transmit the virus to others. The answers are important when advising someone what kind of risk they face in different settings, and how much of a risk they are to others.

“The vaccines at their best, in the clinical trials, were 95% effective, I didn’t say 100%. And that’s why we have to keep wearing masks most of the time,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

But CDC has needed to come out with something more for vaccinated people than sticking with the same old mask wearing, social distancing guidance, he added.

“People are so eager to do something and they want to see some tangible benefit from the vaccines. Americans are impatient. They want to get on with it,” Schaffner said.

Indeed, “there is a real cost to putting off this guidance,” as people turn to their own doctors for advice, or just make their own assumptions and decisions, Wen said.

Waiting too long can diminish the agency’s relevance on this kind of matter, said Wen, who believes CDC should have had some kind of guidance in place for vaccinated people back in January.

Clearly, vaccinated people should have been encouraged to go get cancer screenings, dental care, or other needed medical appointments. CDC officials also could have said that it’s OK for small groups of fully vaccinated people — maybe two or three couples, for example — to gather together for a dinner or other small gathering, she said.

Regarding small gatherings among people who have been fully vaccinated, “the relative risk is so low that you would not have to wear a mask, that you could have a good social gathering within the home,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s leading infectious diseases doctor, during a recent White House briefing.

Some experts discussed the possibility that movie theaters or cruise ships or certain other businesses might open up to vaccinated people, and ask for proof of vaccination status. Israel’s government has begun issuing a “green pass” vaccination certificate to anyone who has received two doses of COVID vaccine through an accredited vaccination service.

“I don’t know if in this country we would tolerate the federal government issue some kind of pass, the way they did in Israel,” Wen said. But businesses might want such passes and they would be an incentive that might help the overall rate of vaccination, Wen said.

The only incentive Espinoza’s family needed for vaccination was seeing her and her husband hospitalized with COVID-19 this winter. Still recovering, she uses oxygen at home.

Vaccination of the family elders means one step closer to returning to traditions they love: Church on Palm Sunday and, a week later, an Easter egg hunt for the kids and a meal featuring slow-cooked barbacoa, a Mexican beef dish.

“I hope people will stay home and stay safe as much as possible until we can all get vaccinated and eradicate this disease,” Espinoza said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608071469793.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CARLA K. JOHNSON, MIKE STOBBE and ZEKE MILLER(AP)-More than 27 million Americans fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will have to keep waiting for guidance from federal health officials for what they should and shouldn’t do.The Biden administration said Friday it’s focused on getting the guidance right and accommodating emerging science, but the delays add to the uncertainty around bringing about an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the pandemic</a>&nbsp;as the nation’s virus fatigue grows.“These are complex issues and the science is rapidly evolving,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday. “We are making sure and taking time to get this right and we will be releasing this guidance soon.”Such guidance would address a flood of questions coming in from people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19: Do I still have to wear a mask? Can I go to a bar now? Can I finally see my grandchildren?The need has slowly grown since January, when the first Americans began to complete the two-dose series of COVID-19 vaccines then available.In Washington state, Raul Espinoza Gomez has 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and an appointment Saturday for his second dose of coronavirus vaccine.By Easter, the 77-year-old’s immune system will be ready to protect him from the virus. But how the family celebrates will depend on government advice, said Melissa Espinoza, 47, of Carnation, Washington, who plans to drive Gomez, her father-in-law, to get his second shot.“We didn’t gather together as a big family at Christmas,” she said. “We go by what the state and federal guidelines recommend. We’ve had family members adversely affected by COVID. We know the risks are severe.”Worried about persistently high case loads and deaths, the Biden administration has condemned efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/states-ease-virus-restrictions-despite-warnings-3599a9631d08de3945f5c95f000e5611">to relax states’ virus restrictions</a>&nbsp;and pleaded with the public for several months more patience.The caution has drawn critics, who point to the administration’s own warnings that “fatigue is winning” as evidence that they need to be more optimistic about the path ahead to secure the cooperation of those who are yet to be vaccinated.“I think it’s going to be overly proscriptive and conservative and that’s the wrong message,” former FDA Commissioner Stuart Gottlieb told CNBC Wednesday of the forthcoming CDC guidance. “If we continue to be very proscriptive and not give people a realistic vision for what a better future is going to look like, they’re going to start to ignore the public health guidance.”Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the Division of Health Policy and Public Health, encouraged the CDC to be clearer about when and how it plans to produce guidelines for the vaccinated.“Making the decision to go by the science is also making the decision that you’re going to have to make a decision, which is really difficult when the science isn’t settled,” he told the AP. “They’re drinking from a firehose of science, and sometimes, it gets messy.”More than 54 million Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine, and slightly more than half — nearly 28 million — have gotten the recommended two doses. The single-dose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-johnson-1-shot-dose-cleared-f13611719ad8d1655ed7b354af75a9a9">Johnson &amp; Johnson shot</a>&nbsp;soon will add a couple million more Americans with questions about what new freedoms they can safely enjoy.“I do hope I get to see my great-grandchildren more,” said Rolando Solar, 92, who received his second dose in Miami Wednesday. “But I know things will not go back to normal and, for an old man like me, this is as good as it will be.”Tami Katz-Freiman, 65, of Miami, got her second dose three weeks ago, and plans to watch the Miami Film Festival virtually Sunday at the home of unvaccinated friends. All will wear masks.“We didn’t have to discuss it with each other, because it’s very clear to me that when there is a doubt and you don’t have a CDC straightforward rule you better be on the safe side and take care for yourself,” Katz-Freiman said.Three weeks ago, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people do not have to go into quarantine if they have contact with someone with a confirmed infection (for 90 days after the final shot). But the agency said nothing beyond that, noted Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University.“That (quarantine guidance) seems to imply to me that your chance of contracting COVID-19 and being a carrier to others is pretty low,” said Wen, who previously ran Baltimore’s health department.“(But) we need to focus on what is most relevant to people’s lives, and my patients are not coming in and asking me: ‘If I’m vaccinated, do I still need to quarantine if I’m exposed?’” she continued.“I’d say the most common question I get is ‘Can I visit my grandchildren?’” Wen said.Experts say it’s understandable that the CDC has been cautious when many scientific questions remain, including how long vaccine-induced immunity lasts, and whether vaccinated people are still able to transmit the virus to others. The answers are important when advising someone what kind of risk they face in different settings, and how much of a risk they are to others.“The vaccines at their best, in the clinical trials, were 95% effective, I didn’t say 100%. And that’s why we have to keep wearing masks most of the time,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.But CDC has needed to come out with something more for vaccinated people than sticking with the same old mask wearing, social distancing guidance, he added.“People are so eager to do something and they want to see some tangible benefit from the vaccines. Americans are impatient. They want to get on with it,” Schaffner said.Indeed, “there is a real cost to putting off this guidance,” as people turn to their own doctors for advice, or just make their own assumptions and decisions, Wen said.Waiting too long can diminish the agency’s relevance on this kind of matter, said Wen, who believes CDC should have had some kind of guidance in place for vaccinated people back in January.Clearly, vaccinated people should have been encouraged to go get cancer screenings, dental care, or other needed medical appointments. CDC officials also could have said that it’s OK for small groups of fully vaccinated people — maybe two or three couples, for example — to gather together for a dinner or other small gathering, she said.Regarding small gatherings among people who have been fully vaccinated, “the relative risk is so low that you would not have to wear a mask, that you could have a good social gathering within the home,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s leading infectious diseases doctor, during a recent White House briefing.Some experts discussed the possibility that movie theaters or cruise ships or certain other businesses might open up to vaccinated people, and ask for proof of vaccination status. Israel’s government has begun issuing a “green pass” vaccination certificate to anyone who has received two doses of COVID vaccine through an accredited vaccination service.“I don’t know if in this country we would tolerate the federal government issue some kind of pass, the way they did in Israel,” Wen said. But businesses might want such passes and they would be an incentive that might help the overall rate of vaccination, Wen said.The only incentive Espinoza’s family needed for vaccination was seeing her and her husband hospitalized with COVID-19 this winter. Still recovering, she uses oxygen at home.Vaccination of the family elders means one step closer to returning to traditions they love: Church on Palm Sunday and, a week later, an Easter egg hunt for the kids and a meal featuring slow-cooked barbacoa, a Mexican beef dish.“I hope people will stay home and stay safe as much as possible until we can all get vaccinated and eradicate this disease,” Espinoza said.

Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 still wait for advice

NEW YORK (AP) — When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines?

It depends on the child’s age, but some teenagers could be rolling up their sleeves before too long.

The Pfizer vaccine already is cleared for use starting at age 16. That means some high schoolers could get in line for those shots whenever they become eligible in their area, either because of a medical condition or once availability opens up.

Pfizer and Moderna both have completed enrollment for studies of children ages 12 and older, and expect to release the data over the summer. If regulators clear the results, younger teens likewise could start getting vaccinated once supply allows. The Moderna vaccine is currently cleared for people 18 and older.

Researchers started with older children because they tend to respond to vaccines most similarly to adults. Testing even younger groups is more complex, because they may require a different dose or have differing responses.

“Children are not just small adults,” said pediatrician Dr. James Campbell of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “The younger you get, the higher the odds are that things could be different.”

Children develop serious illness or die from COVID-19 at much lower rates than adults, but can still spread the virus.

“There’s no question: we do want to immunize children,” said Drexel University pediatrics professor Dr. Sarah Long.

Pfizer and Moderna expect to start studies in children 11 and younger later this year.

“It’s unlikely we could get community protection without immunizing children,” Long added. “This is the lynchpin to getting everything back to some kind of normalcy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614863461419.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARION RENAULT-Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines?It depends on the child’s age, but some teenagers could be rolling up their sleeves before too long.The Pfizer vaccine already is cleared for use starting at age 16. That means some high schoolers could get in line for those shots whenever they become eligible in their area, either because of a medical condition or once availability opens up.Pfizer and Moderna both have completed enrollment for studies of children ages 12 and older, and expect to release the data over the summer. If regulators clear the results, younger teens likewise could start getting vaccinated once supply allows. The Moderna vaccine is currently cleared for people 18 and older.Researchers started with older children because they tend to respond to vaccines most similarly to adults. Testing even younger groups is more complex, because they may require a different dose or have differing responses.“Children are not just small adults,” said pediatrician Dr. James Campbell of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “The younger you get, the higher the odds are that things could be different.”Children develop serious illness or die from COVID-19 at much lower rates than adults, but can still spread the virus.“There’s no question: we do want to immunize children,” said Drexel University pediatrics professor Dr. Sarah Long.Pfizer and Moderna expect to start studies in children 11 and younger later this year.“It’s unlikely we could get community protection without immunizing children,” Long added. “This is the lynchpin to getting everything back to some kind of normalcy.”

When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines?

Governor Pete Ricketts hosted a press conference to discuss the State’s coronavirus vaccination plan.&nbsp; Currently, the State is in Phase 1B of the plan, with at least 90% of vaccinations going to Nebraskans age 65 and older.&nbsp; In Phase 2A of the plan, Nebraskans age 50-64 will be eligible for vaccination.&nbsp; Additionally, Gov. Ricketts announced that in Phase 2A, local health departments will partner with area healthcare providers to prioritize Nebraskans with certain underlying health conditions.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Incident Commander Angie Ling reported on the State’s vaccine allocations.&nbsp; She also provided details about how Phase 2A of the State’s vaccination plan will proceed.&nbsp;

Video from this morning’s press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Farv02463s8yhvoa%2FGov.%2520Press%2520Conf%25203.03.2021.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cc585dcf74c2b4fa3659208d8de8d480a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637504045691940606%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=x3NGaW%2BJC6Y6Y7qfPsUIcZq%2B4M0fNRegTJv0BxHopbw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614861633301.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Gov. Ricketts OfficeGovernor Pete Ricketts hosted a press conference to discuss the State’s coronavirus vaccination plan.&nbsp; Currently, the State is in Phase 1B of the plan, with at least 90% of vaccinations going to Nebraskans age 65 and older.&nbsp; In Phase 2A of the plan, Nebraskans age 50-64 will be eligible for vaccination.&nbsp; Additionally, Gov. Ricketts announced that in Phase 2A, local health departments will partner with area healthcare providers to prioritize Nebraskans with certain underlying health conditions.Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Incident Commander Angie Ling reported on the State’s vaccine allocations.&nbsp; She also provided details about how Phase 2A of the State’s vaccination plan will proceed.&nbsp;Gov. Ricketts: Coronavirus Vaccination<ul>
 <li>We’ve now administered over 447,000 vaccinations.</li><li>We’re currently vaccinating Nebraskans in Phase 1B, prioritizing at least 90% of vaccines for those 65 and older.</li><li>As we move to Phase 2A, Nebraskans age 50-64 will receive at least 90% of vaccines.&nbsp;This aligns with our data, which clearly indicates that age is the biggest factor in determining risk of mortality from coronavirus.</li><li>This aligns with our data, which clearly indicates that age is the biggest factor in determining risk of mortality from coronavirus.</li><li>In Phase 2A, local health departments will also work with health providers in their area to prioritize Nebraskans whose underlying health conditions increase their risk from the virus.</li><li>Be sure to sign up at&nbsp;<a href="https://vaccinate.ne.gov/en-US/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>&nbsp;so that you can receive the vaccine as soon as you’re eligible.</li>
 </ul>Angie Ling: Coronavirus Vaccination<ul>
 <li>For this week, our allocations coming in will be 23,400 primary doses of Pfizer and 19,000 first doses of Moderna.&nbsp;</li><li>We’ve also received 15,500 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.&nbsp; This vaccine only requires one dose.We’ll have a gap of a few weeks before receiving our next allocation of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in late March.</li><li>We’ll have a gap of a few weeks before receiving our next allocation of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in late March.</li><li>We are aware that medical conditions can increase a patient’s risk of poor outcome from COVID-19.</li><li>When we move into Phase 2A, we will ensure that up to 10% of the weekly allocation is allotted for Nebraskans with high-risk medical conditions, regardless of age.The decision of who receives those doses will be made by the medical community.&nbsp; The State will not be determining who is eligible based on medical conditions.The medical community will identify the appropriate individuals and work with local health departments to schedule their vaccinations.</li><li>The decision of who receives those doses will be made by the medical community.&nbsp; The State will not be determining who is eligible based on medical conditions.</li><li>The medical community will identify the appropriate individuals and work with local health departments to schedule their vaccinations.</li><li>At minimum, 90% of doses in Phase 2A will go to Nebraskans age 50-64.</li><li>Nebraska continues to move through Phase 1B, vaccinating persons 65 and older along with identified critical infrastructure groups.&nbsp; We look forward to expanding the groups eligible for vaccination in the next few weeks.</li><li>It is imperative for everyone who wants to be vaccinated to sign up through the state’s vaccination system at&nbsp;<a href="https://vaccinate.ne.gov/en-US/" target="_blank">vaccinate.ne.gov</a>.</li><li>You can also call our toll-free number, 833-998-2275, for assistance signing up or with any questions.</li>
 </ul>Video from this morning’s press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Farv02463s8yhvoa%2FGov.%2520Press%2520Conf%25203.03.2021.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cc585dcf74c2b4fa3659208d8de8d480a%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637504045691940606%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=x3NGaW%2BJC6Y6Y7qfPsUIcZq%2B4M0fNRegTJv0BxHopbw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Gov. Ricketts, DHHS outline next phase of vaccination plan

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials will keep their focus on vaccinating older residents during the next phase of the state's coronavirus response, which could begin in some regions by the end of the month, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday.

Ricketts said the state has directed local health districts to give 90% of their available doses to residents between the ages of 50 and 64 during the upcoming vaccination phase. The remaining 10% will be set aside for people of all ages with existing health conditions. He said doctors working with local public health directors will determine who qualifies.

"Those people are the next high category of being at risk," Ricketts said at a coronavirus news conference.

Nebraska public health officials are now focused on vaccinating residents who are at least 65 years old, a demographic that accounts for the large majority of the state's coronavirus deaths. Of the 2,091 people who have died in Nebraska so far, 1738 were at least 65 years old. An additional 229 were between the ages of 55 and 64.

Ricketts has defended the decision to focus on age despite pressure from some younger residents who worry that their health conditions put them at greater risk if they catch the virus.

The state's initial vaccination phase concentrated on getting health care workers vaccinated to prevent staffing shortages at Nebraska hospitals and long-term care facilities. As of Tuesday, health providers had provided full vaccinations to 10.3% of Nebraska residents who are at least 16 years old.

Nebraska's vaccination phases are tracked by public health region, with rural sections generally finishing ahead of the more populated Omaha and Lincoln areas.

Angie Ling, the coronavirus incident commander for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said the state expects to get an additional 58,000 initial vaccine doses this week.

The shots arriving include vaccines from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna, plus a shipment of the new, one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. Ling said Johnson &amp; Johnson won't be able to deliver additional doses for another few weeks.

For the next vaccination phase, Ling said the state won't play any role in determining which health conditions are eligible.

"The medical community will identify the appropriate patients and work with the (local) health departments to get them scheduled," she said.

State officials reported 150 patients hospitalized in Nebraska because of the virus as of Tuesday evening. The number has declined sharply since record highs in mid-November, when nearly 1,000 people were hospitalized.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609194384601.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials will keep their focus on vaccinating older residents during the next phase of the state's coronavirus response, which could begin in some regions by the end of the month, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday.Ricketts said the state has directed local health districts to give 90% of their available doses to residents between the ages of 50 and 64 during the upcoming vaccination phase. The remaining 10% will be set aside for people of all ages with existing health conditions. He said doctors working with local public health directors will determine who qualifies."Those people are the next high category of being at risk," Ricketts said at a coronavirus news conference.Nebraska public health officials are now focused on vaccinating residents who are at least 65 years old, a demographic that accounts for the large majority of the state's coronavirus deaths. Of the 2,091 people who have died in Nebraska so far, 1738 were at least 65 years old. An additional 229 were between the ages of 55 and 64.Ricketts has defended the decision to focus on age despite pressure from some younger residents who worry that their health conditions put them at greater risk if they catch the virus.The state's initial vaccination phase concentrated on getting health care workers vaccinated to prevent staffing shortages at Nebraska hospitals and long-term care facilities. As of Tuesday, health providers had provided full vaccinations to 10.3% of Nebraska residents who are at least 16 years old.Nebraska's vaccination phases are tracked by public health region, with rural sections generally finishing ahead of the more populated Omaha and Lincoln areas.Angie Ling, the coronavirus incident commander for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said the state expects to get an additional 58,000 initial vaccine doses this week.The shots arriving include vaccines from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna, plus a shipment of the new, one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. Ling said Johnson &amp; Johnson won't be able to deliver additional doses for another few weeks.For the next vaccination phase, Ling said the state won't play any role in determining which health conditions are eligible."The medical community will identify the appropriate patients and work with the (local) health departments to get them scheduled," she said.State officials reported 150 patients hospitalized in Nebraska because of the virus as of Tuesday evening. The number has declined sharply since record highs in mid-November, when nearly 1,000 people were hospitalized.

Nebraska to keep focus on older people in next vaccine phase

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials administered nearly 87,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines last week as the state worked to distribute more shots.

The number of doses of the vaccines administered jumped to 86,737 last week from the previous week's total of 52,731.

State health officials said 436,474 doses of the vaccines have now been administered, and 10% of Nebraska's population has now been fully vaccinated.

The state said 201,346 cases of the virus and 2,084 deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported in Nebraska since the beginning of the pandemic.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, from 500.29 new cases per day on Feb. 15 to 271.57 new cases per day on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613693226012.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials administered nearly 87,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines last week as the state worked to distribute more shots.The number of doses of the vaccines administered jumped to 86,737 last week from the previous week's total of 52,731.State health officials said 436,474 doses of the vaccines have now been administered, and 10% of Nebraska's population has now been fully vaccinated.The state said 201,346 cases of the virus and 2,084 deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported in Nebraska since the beginning of the pandemic.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, from 500.29 new cases per day on Feb. 15 to 271.57 new cases per day on Monday.

Nebraska administered nearly 87,000 vaccine doses last week

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The coronavirus pandemic has caused many Nebraska businesses to shutter, and is forcing others to pause plans for future growth. Nebraska lawmakers are considering proposed updates to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/incentives/microenterprise" target="_blank">Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit Act</a>, originally passed in 2005. Johnathan Hladik, policy director at the Center for Rural Affairs, said boosting the credit will help Main Street mom-and-pop businesses recover. "Every Nebraska community has felt the consequence; every rural community has felt the consequence," Hladik observed. "And the Microenterprise Tax Credit can help these businesses recover by encouraging and facilitating strategic new investments." <a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB366.pdf" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 366</a>&nbsp;would increase the maximum lifetime credit from $10,000 to $20,000, which Hladik said is necessary to keep up with rising costs. The measure also would allow family members to use the credit so long as the businesses and ownership are completely separate, and would extend the program through 2024. <a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB74.pdf" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 74</a>, a measure calling for ending the tax credit and moving resources to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-12,154" target="_blank">Business Innovation Act</a>, was indefinitely postponed by the Revenue Committee. Microbusinesses make up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfra.org/blog/small-business-matters-nebraska" target="_blank">more than 85%</a>&nbsp;of all businesses in Nebraska. Andrea McClintic, executive director of the Dawson County Area Economic Development Council, said the tax credit is currently the only option available for small, family-owned businesses that communities depend on. "Your dentist, and the convenience store, the grocery store, the flower shop; all of those microbusinesses would be able to utilize these funds that don't qualify for the majority of other state or federal programs," McClintic explained. Legislative Bill 366 also would require more detailed reporting and greater transparency to help lawmakers decide if the program is a good investment. Hladik noted many lawmakers don't realize the program's impact on job creation in the state. He pointed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/reports/audit/micro_2018.pdf" target="_blank">2018 Audit</a>&nbsp;which found that the cost per job created through the Microenterprise Tax Credit was between $2,000 and $10,000. "And that is a tremendous return on investment," Hladik contended. "We've seen programs through the Nebraska Advantage Act, the state's primary business incentive tool, cost about $300,000 per job."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614686166021.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Eric GalatasLINCOLN, Neb. -- The coronavirus pandemic has caused many Nebraska businesses to shutter, and is forcing others to pause plans for future growth. Nebraska lawmakers are considering proposed updates to the state's&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/incentives/microenterprise" target="_blank">Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit Act</a>, originally passed in 2005. Johnathan Hladik, policy director at the Center for Rural Affairs, said boosting the credit will help Main Street mom-and-pop businesses recover. "Every Nebraska community has felt the consequence; every rural community has felt the consequence," Hladik observed. "And the Microenterprise Tax Credit can help these businesses recover by encouraging and facilitating strategic new investments." <a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB366.pdf" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 366</a>&nbsp;would increase the maximum lifetime credit from $10,000 to $20,000, which Hladik said is necessary to keep up with rising costs. The measure also would allow family members to use the credit so long as the businesses and ownership are completely separate, and would extend the program through 2024. <a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB74.pdf" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 74</a>, a measure calling for ending the tax credit and moving resources to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-12,154" target="_blank">Business Innovation Act</a>, was indefinitely postponed by the Revenue Committee. Microbusinesses make up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfra.org/blog/small-business-matters-nebraska" target="_blank">more than 85%</a>&nbsp;of all businesses in Nebraska. Andrea McClintic, executive director of the Dawson County Area Economic Development Council, said the tax credit is currently the only option available for small, family-owned businesses that communities depend on. "Your dentist, and the convenience store, the grocery store, the flower shop; all of those microbusinesses would be able to utilize these funds that don't qualify for the majority of other state or federal programs," McClintic explained. Legislative Bill 366 also would require more detailed reporting and greater transparency to help lawmakers decide if the program is a good investment. Hladik noted many lawmakers don't realize the program's impact on job creation in the state. He pointed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/reports/audit/micro_2018.pdf" target="_blank">2018 Audit</a>&nbsp;which found that the cost per job created through the Microenterprise Tax Credit was between $2,000 and $10,000. "And that is a tremendous return on investment," Hladik contended. "We've seen programs through the Nebraska Advantage Act, the state's primary business incentive tool, cost about $300,000 per job."

Nebraska's COVID economic recovery linked to Microenterprise Tax Credit

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska could get its first doses of drug-maker Johnson &amp; Johnson's new coronavirus vaccine as early as this week, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday.

Ricketts said the state has been allowed to order up 15,000 doses, but state officials don't yet know how much they'll get.

The announcement came days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-johnson-1-shot-dose-cleared-f13611719ad8d1655ed7b354af75a9a9" target="_blank">approved the vaccine,</a>&nbsp;clearing the way for a third shot that's shown to be effective. Unlike the vaccines from manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna, which require two doses to provide full immunity, the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine can be delivered in one shot.

Ricketts said the state also expects to get 18,720 Pfizer doses and 17,000 Moderna doses this week. He said he was told on a recent call between governors and the White House that the Johnson &amp; Johnson supplies may be inconsistent for the first few weeks of the rollout.

"We may be allowed to order 15,000 this week, but may not be able to get that many in weeks two and three," he said a coronavirus news conference.

Ricketts said residents who go to a clinic to get vaccinated will only be able to choose the vaccine that's available on site, at least for now. He said the newly approved Johnson &amp; Johnson won't change the state's plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-pete-ricketts-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-2668c4173fcc9185dcdfe42b4a1badae" target="_blank">focus almost entirely on residents who are at least 65 years old,</a>&nbsp;the demographic that has been most likely to die from the virus in Nebraska.

But he said the greater flexibility of the one-dose vaccine could be helpful in rural areas or with certain groups that are harder to reach for a follow-up shot.

Nebraska has confirmed 200,946 virus cases and 2,082 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the state's online tracking portal. Roughly 83% of those who have died were 65 or older.

The number of new, known cases and the number of people hospitalized with the virus continue to trend downward since the record highs set in mid-November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602590971875.png" alt="Vaccine photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson" />
 <figcaption>Vaccine photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska could get its first doses of drug-maker Johnson &amp; Johnson's new coronavirus vaccine as early as this week, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday.Ricketts said the state has been allowed to order up 15,000 doses, but state officials don't yet know how much they'll get.The announcement came days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-johnson-1-shot-dose-cleared-f13611719ad8d1655ed7b354af75a9a9" target="_blank">approved the vaccine,</a>&nbsp;clearing the way for a third shot that's shown to be effective. Unlike the vaccines from manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna, which require two doses to provide full immunity, the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine can be delivered in one shot.Ricketts said the state also expects to get 18,720 Pfizer doses and 17,000 Moderna doses this week. He said he was told on a recent call between governors and the White House that the Johnson &amp; Johnson supplies may be inconsistent for the first few weeks of the rollout."We may be allowed to order 15,000 this week, but may not be able to get that many in weeks two and three," he said a coronavirus news conference.Ricketts said residents who go to a clinic to get vaccinated will only be able to choose the vaccine that's available on site, at least for now. He said the newly approved Johnson &amp; Johnson won't change the state's plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-pete-ricketts-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-2668c4173fcc9185dcdfe42b4a1badae" target="_blank">focus almost entirely on residents who are at least 65 years old,</a>&nbsp;the demographic that has been most likely to die from the virus in Nebraska.But he said the greater flexibility of the one-dose vaccine could be helpful in rural areas or with certain groups that are harder to reach for a follow-up shot.Nebraska has confirmed 200,946 virus cases and 2,082 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the state's online tracking portal. Roughly 83% of those who have died were 65 or older.The number of new, known cases and the number of people hospitalized with the virus continue to trend downward since the record highs set in mid-November.

Ricketts: Nebraska could receive new J&J vaccine this week

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just five weeks ago, Los Angeles County was conducting more than 350,000 weekly coronavirus tests, including at a massive drive-thru site at Dodger Stadium, as health workers raced to contain the worst COVID-19 hotspot in the U.S.

Now, county officials say testing has nearly collapsed. More than 180 government-supported sites are operating at only a third of their capacity.

“It’s shocking how quickly we’ve gone from moving at 100 miles an hour to about 25,” said Dr. Clemens Hong, who leads the county’s testing operation.

After a year of struggling to boost testing, communities across the country are seeing plummeting demand, shuttering testing sites or even trying to return supplies.

The drop in screening comes at a significant moment in the outbreak: Experts are cautiously optimistic that COVID-19 is receding after killing more than 500,000 people in the U.S. but concerned that emerging variants could prolong the epidemic.

“Everyone is hopeful for rapid, widespread vaccinations, but I don’t think we’re at a point where we can drop our guard just yet,” said Hong. “We just don’t have enough people who are immune to rule out another surge.”

U.S. testing hit a peak on Jan. 15, when the country was averaging more than 2 million tests per day. Since then, the average number of daily tests has fallen more than 28%. The drop mirrors declines across all major virus measures since January, including new cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Officials say those encouraging trends, together with harsh winter weather, the end of the holiday travel season, pandemic fatigue and a growing focus on vaccinations are sapping interest in testing.

“When you combine all those together you see this decrease,” said Dr. Richard Pescatore of the health department in Delaware, where daily testing has fallen more than 40% since the January peak. “People just aren’t going to go out to testing sites.”

But testing remains important for tracking and containing the outbreak.

L.A. County is opening more testing options near public transportation, schools and offices to make it more convenient. And officials in Santa Clara County are urging residents to “continue getting tested regularly,” highlighting new mobile testing buses and pop-up sites.

President Joe Biden has promised to revamp the nation’s testing system by investing billions more in supplies and government coordination. But with demand falling fast, the country may soon have a glut of unused supplies. The U.S. will be able to conduct nearly 1 billion monthly tests by June, according to projections from researchers at Arizona State University. That’s more than 25 times the country’s current rate of about 40 million tests reported per month.

With more than 150 million new vaccine doses due for delivery by late March, testing is likely to fall further as local governments shift staff and resources to giving shots.

“You have to pick your battles here,” said Dr. Jeffrey Engel of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. “Everyone would agree that if you have one public health nurse, you’re going to use that person for vaccination, not testing.”

Some experts say the country must double down on testing to avoid flare-ups from coronavirus variants that have taken hold in the U.K., South Africa and other places.

“We need to use testing to continue the downward trend,” said Dr. Jonathan Quick of the Rockefeller Foundation, which has been advising Biden officials. “We need to have it there to catch surges from the variants.”

Last week, Minnesota began urging families to get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year as more students return to the classroom.

“To protect this progress, we need to use all the tools at our disposal,” said Dan Huff, an assistant state health commissioner.

But some of the most vocal testing proponents are less worried about the declines in screening. From a public health viewpoint, testing is effective if it helps to quickly find the infected, trace their contacts and isolate them to stop the spread. In most parts of the U.S., that never happened.

Over the holiday season, many Americans still had to wait days to receive test results, rendering them largely useless. That’s led to testing fatigue and dwindling interest, said Dr. Michael Mina of Harvard University.

“It doesn’t exactly give you a lot of gratifying, immediate feedback,” Mina said. “So people’s willingness or interest in getting tested starts to go down.”

Still, U.S. test manufacturers continue ramping up production, with another 110 million rapid and home-based tests expected to hit the market next month.

Government officials long assumed this growing arsenal of cheap, 15-minute tests would be used to regularly screen millions of students and teachers as in-person classes resume. But recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention don’t emphasize testing, describing it as an “additional layer” of protection, behind basic measures like masking and social distancing.

Even without strong federal backing, educational leaders say testing programs will be important for marshaling public confidence needed to fully reopen schools, including in the fall when cases are expected to rise again.

“Schools have asked themselves, justifiably, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze to set up a big testing effort?’” said Mike Magee, CEO of Chiefs for Change, a nonprofit that advises districts in more than 25 states. “Our message to the school systems we work with is: ‘Yes, you need to stand up comprehensive testing because you’re going to need it.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591208066312.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Just five weeks ago, Los Angeles County was conducting more than 350,000 weekly coronavirus tests, including at a massive drive-thru site at Dodger Stadium, as health workers raced to contain the worst COVID-19 hotspot in the U.S.Now, county officials say testing has nearly collapsed. More than 180 government-supported sites are operating at only a third of their capacity.“It’s shocking how quickly we’ve gone from moving at 100 miles an hour to about 25,” said Dr. Clemens Hong, who leads the county’s testing operation.After a year of struggling to boost testing, communities across the country are seeing plummeting demand, shuttering testing sites or even trying to return supplies.The drop in screening comes at a significant moment in the outbreak: Experts are cautiously optimistic that COVID-19 is receding after killing more than 500,000 people in the U.S. but concerned that emerging variants could prolong the epidemic.“Everyone is hopeful for rapid, widespread vaccinations, but I don’t think we’re at a point where we can drop our guard just yet,” said Hong. “We just don’t have enough people who are immune to rule out another surge.”U.S. testing hit a peak on Jan. 15, when the country was averaging more than 2 million tests per day. Since then, the average number of daily tests has fallen more than 28%. The drop mirrors declines across all major virus measures since January, including new cases, hospitalizations and deaths.Officials say those encouraging trends, together with harsh winter weather, the end of the holiday travel season, pandemic fatigue and a growing focus on vaccinations are sapping interest in testing.“When you combine all those together you see this decrease,” said Dr. Richard Pescatore of the health department in Delaware, where daily testing has fallen more than 40% since the January peak. “People just aren’t going to go out to testing sites.”But testing remains important for tracking and containing the outbreak.L.A. County is opening more testing options near public transportation, schools and offices to make it more convenient. And officials in Santa Clara County are urging residents to “continue getting tested regularly,” highlighting new mobile testing buses and pop-up sites.President Joe Biden has promised to revamp the nation’s testing system by investing billions more in supplies and government coordination. But with demand falling fast, the country may soon have a glut of unused supplies. The U.S. will be able to conduct nearly 1 billion monthly tests by June, according to projections from researchers at Arizona State University. That’s more than 25 times the country’s current rate of about 40 million tests reported per month.With more than 150 million new vaccine doses due for delivery by late March, testing is likely to fall further as local governments shift staff and resources to giving shots.“You have to pick your battles here,” said Dr. Jeffrey Engel of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. “Everyone would agree that if you have one public health nurse, you’re going to use that person for vaccination, not testing.”Some experts say the country must double down on testing to avoid flare-ups from coronavirus variants that have taken hold in the U.K., South Africa and other places.“We need to use testing to continue the downward trend,” said Dr. Jonathan Quick of the Rockefeller Foundation, which has been advising Biden officials. “We need to have it there to catch surges from the variants.”Last week, Minnesota began urging families to get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year as more students return to the classroom.“To protect this progress, we need to use all the tools at our disposal,” said Dan Huff, an assistant state health commissioner.But some of the most vocal testing proponents are less worried about the declines in screening. From a public health viewpoint, testing is effective if it helps to quickly find the infected, trace their contacts and isolate them to stop the spread. In most parts of the U.S., that never happened.Over the holiday season, many Americans still had to wait days to receive test results, rendering them largely useless. That’s led to testing fatigue and dwindling interest, said Dr. Michael Mina of Harvard University.“It doesn’t exactly give you a lot of gratifying, immediate feedback,” Mina said. “So people’s willingness or interest in getting tested starts to go down.”Still, U.S. test manufacturers continue ramping up production, with another 110 million rapid and home-based tests expected to hit the market next month.Government officials long assumed this growing arsenal of cheap, 15-minute tests would be used to regularly screen millions of students and teachers as in-person classes resume. But recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention don’t emphasize testing, describing it as an “additional layer” of protection, behind basic measures like masking and social distancing.Even without strong federal backing, educational leaders say testing programs will be important for marshaling public confidence needed to fully reopen schools, including in the fall when cases are expected to rise again.“Schools have asked themselves, justifiably, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze to set up a big testing effort?’” said Mike Magee, CEO of Chiefs for Change, a nonprofit that advises districts in more than 25 states. “Our message to the school systems we work with is: ‘Yes, you need to stand up comprehensive testing because you’re going to need it.’”___

Plunging demand for COVID-19 tests may leave US exposed

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — With the floodgates set to open on another round of unemployment aid, states are being hammered with a new wave of fraud as they scramble to update security systems and block scammers who already have siphoned billions of dollars from pandemic-related jobless programs.

The fraud is fleecing taxpayers, delaying legitimate payments and turning thousands of Americans into unwitting identity theft victims. Many states have failed to adequately safeguard their systems, and a review by The Associated Press finds that some will not even publicly acknowledge the extent of the problem.

The massive sham springs from prior identity theft from banks, credit rating agencies, health care systems and retailers. Fraud perpetrators, sometimes in China, Nigeria or Russia, buy stolen personal identifying information on the dark web and use it to flood state unemployment systems with bogus claims.

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating unemployment fraud by “transnational criminal organizations, sophisticated domestic actors, and individuals across the United States,” said Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the department’s criminal division.

The Labor Department inspector general’s office estimates that more than $63 billion has been paid out improperly through fraud or errors — roughly 10% of the total amount paid under coronavirus pandemic-related unemployment programs since March.

“We’re all learning that there is an epidemic of fraud,” said U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House’s powerful Ways and Means Committee. Brady said the $63 billion estimate “is larger than the entire budget of the Department of Homeland Security.”

“These are frightening levels of fraud,” he said.

California has been the biggest target, with an estimated $11 billion in fraudulent payments and an additional $19 billion in suspect accounts. Colorado has paid out nearly as much to scammers — an estimated $6.5 billion — as it has to people who filed legitimate unemployment claims.

Other estimates, according to AP reporting across the states, range from several hundred thousand dollars in smaller states such as Alaska and Wyoming to hundreds of millions in more populous states such as Massachusetts and Ohio.

The nationwide fraud has fed on twin vulnerabilities: a flood of jobless benefit applications since the pandemic began that has overwhelmed state unemployment agencies and antiquated benefit systems that are easy prey for crafty and persistent criminals.

In Ohio, weekly first-time unemployment claims have ranged from 17,000 to more than 40,000 during the pandemic. But since late last month, those claims have topped more than 140,000 some weeks, with many of them believed to be fraudulent. The state has paid at least $330 million in fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefit claims.

Trying to catch so many bogus claims delays payouts to Ohioans who are legitimately in need of help. In the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington, Cynthia Sbertoli was receiving $228 a week after she was laid off in March from her job with a nonprofit that runs high school student exchange programs.

Her benefits were put on hold in January after she informed the state that someone had tried to use her identity in a scam to claim benefits. She thought the problem was resolved but has yet to see a renewal of her benefit checks, which she and her husband use to help pay for a son’s vision and auditory therapy.

“It’s just not a good way to take care of people,” said Sbertoli, 49.

In Indiana, Kentucky and Maryland, officials have said that for certain weeks in the new year at least two-thirds of the claims they received were classified as suspicious due to problems verifying identities. It’s not the first brush with serious fraud for Maryland. In July, officials said they’d discovered a massive criminal enterprise that had stolen more than $500 million in unemployment benefits.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561209733269.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — With the floodgates set to open on another round of unemployment aid, states are being hammered with a new wave of fraud as they scramble to update security systems and block scammers who already have siphoned billions of dollars from pandemic-related jobless programs.The fraud is fleecing taxpayers, delaying legitimate payments and turning thousands of Americans into unwitting identity theft victims. Many states have failed to adequately safeguard their systems, and a review by The Associated Press finds that some will not even publicly acknowledge the extent of the problem.The massive sham springs from prior identity theft from banks, credit rating agencies, health care systems and retailers. Fraud perpetrators, sometimes in China, Nigeria or Russia, buy stolen personal identifying information on the dark web and use it to flood state unemployment systems with bogus claims.The U.S. Justice Department is investigating unemployment fraud by “transnational criminal organizations, sophisticated domestic actors, and individuals across the United States,” said Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the department’s criminal division.The Labor Department inspector general’s office estimates that more than $63 billion has been paid out improperly through fraud or errors — roughly 10% of the total amount paid under coronavirus pandemic-related unemployment programs since March.“We’re all learning that there is an epidemic of fraud,” said U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House’s powerful Ways and Means Committee. Brady said the $63 billion estimate “is larger than the entire budget of the Department of Homeland Security.”“These are frightening levels of fraud,” he said.California has been the biggest target, with an estimated $11 billion in fraudulent payments and an additional $19 billion in suspect accounts. Colorado has paid out nearly as much to scammers — an estimated $6.5 billion — as it has to people who filed legitimate unemployment claims.Other estimates, according to AP reporting across the states, range from several hundred thousand dollars in smaller states such as Alaska and Wyoming to hundreds of millions in more populous states such as Massachusetts and Ohio.The nationwide fraud has fed on twin vulnerabilities: a flood of jobless benefit applications since the pandemic began that has overwhelmed state unemployment agencies and antiquated benefit systems that are easy prey for crafty and persistent criminals.In Ohio, weekly first-time unemployment claims have ranged from 17,000 to more than 40,000 during the pandemic. But since late last month, those claims have topped more than 140,000 some weeks, with many of them believed to be fraudulent. The state has paid at least $330 million in fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefit claims.Trying to catch so many bogus claims delays payouts to Ohioans who are legitimately in need of help. In the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington, Cynthia Sbertoli was receiving $228 a week after she was laid off in March from her job with a nonprofit that runs high school student exchange programs.Her benefits were put on hold in January after she informed the state that someone had tried to use her identity in a scam to claim benefits. She thought the problem was resolved but has yet to see a renewal of her benefit checks, which she and her husband use to help pay for a son’s vision and auditory therapy.“It’s just not a good way to take care of people,” said Sbertoli, 49.In Indiana, Kentucky and Maryland, officials have said that for certain weeks in the new year at least two-thirds of the claims they received were classified as suspicious due to problems verifying identities. It’s not the first brush with serious fraud for Maryland. In July, officials said they’d discovered a massive criminal enterprise that had stolen more than $500 million in unemployment benefits.Among states that have been hardest hit are those participating in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program adopted by Congress last year. It has been a lifeline for out-of-work freelancers and gig workers who normally don’t qualify for unemployment insurance, but it’s also been a boon for criminals who use stolen identities to make claims. Nearly 800,000 of the 1.4 million claims Ohio has received through this program have been tagged for potential fraud.Scams have been so widespread that the U.S. Department of Justice is setting aside money to hire more prosecutors. In New York alone, the Department of Labor says it has referred “hundreds of thousands of fraud cases” to federal prosecutors. The state says it has blocked $5.5 billion in fraudulent claims, while New Jersey says it’s prevented $2.5 billion from flowing into the hands of criminals.Despite those efforts, a government watchdog agency says not enough states are taking the necessary steps to prevent fraud.In its memo this past week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General said that by the end of last year, 22 of the 54 state and territorial workforce agencies were still not following its repeated recommendation to join a data exchange run by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies.That system is designed to check Social Security numbers used in claims to see if they are being used in multiple states, or are linked to dead people or other scam methods. The office said it had found $5.4 billion in fraudulent payments from March through October.The biggest chunk of that, $3.5 billion, came through claims that used the same Social Security numbers in multiple states. One number was used on claims in 40 states. Twenty-nine of the states paid those claims, totaling more than $220,000.“The Department needs to take immediate action and increase its efforts to ensure (states) implement effective controls to mitigate fraud in these high risk areas,” the inspector general warned Labor officials.The people whose identities are used to claim improper benefits often don’t find out until they receive their tax statements.Andrew Heidtke received a letter in September from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development notifying him that unemployment claims he never applied for were being processed.“I had no idea what was happening,” said Heidtke, who works as an administrative assistant for an engineering lobbying organization. “I kind of just thought it was spam at first.”Another victim was 99-year-old Harry Hollingsworth of Strongsville, Ohio. The retired elevator car factory worker received a form in late January showing he had received $3,156 in benefits. Hollingsworth died recently, and his son, Jim Hollingsworth, said the bogus claim created a big hassle.“It looks like the state, they dropped the ball on this completely,” he said.In its own survey of state governments, the AP found that many are not publicly disclosing the level of fraud. Some officials expressed concern that providing any information, no matter how general, could provide criminals an opening to exploit their systems further.President Joe Biden’s administration is pledging to cut down on unemployment fraud even as it tries to extend benefits through September. As part of previous legislation, the administration is sending states $200 million to fight it.That would be welcome in Virginia, where House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, a Republican, said the Legislature’s watchdog agency should investigate how the state allowed $40 million in bogus payments through prison inmate-related scams.“How many desperate people, laid off through no fault of their own, could have been helped with that money?” he asked. “It’s maddening.”____Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.___Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee; Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia; Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin; and Casey Smith in Indianapolis contributed.

Coronavirus Update