OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A growing number of younger people are being hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska as more contagious variants of the virus spread in the state. 

Nebraska health officials said the average age of hospital patients declined to 51 in March from 61 in January. 

Officials said the age is also shifting lower because a significant number of older people have been vaccinated. 

The number of people hospitalized is also growing and it hit 161 Wednesday as the state reported more cases of the virus. 

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska nearly doubled over the past two weeks to 491.29 new cases per day on Tuesday.

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 </figure>From the Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A growing number of younger people are being hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska as more contagious variants of the virus spread in the state. Nebraska health officials said the average age of hospital patients declined to 51 in March from 61 in January. Officials said the age is also shifting lower because a significant number of older people have been vaccinated. The number of people hospitalized is also growing and it hit 161 Wednesday as the state reported more cases of the virus. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska nearly doubled over the past two weeks to 491.29 new cases per day on Tuesday.

More younger people hospitalized with virus in Nebraska