LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska reported its smallest number of new virus cases since early November on Saturday as the state prepares for the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine to arrive.
The state said 811 new virus cases were reported Saturday to give the state a total of 147,688 cases since the pandemic began. That marked the first time since Nov. 2 that the daily tally of new cases was below 1,000.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,772.14 new cases per day on Nov. 28 to 1,507.43 new cases per day on Saturday.
Nebraska said 711 people were hospitalized with the virus on Saturday, which was down from 759 the day before. That figure remains well below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20.
There have also been 1,365 deaths in the state linked to the virus.
Also Saturday, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said 11 more prison staffers had tested positive for the virus. Ten of those ill staffers work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution and one works at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.
A total of 402 Corrections Department employees have now been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of those, 286 have recovered.