Douglas County is seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases, although variants of the virus continue to spread in the community as more residents become fully vaccinated.

“It’s actually a very good story,” Dr. Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department, said Monday afternoon in a news conference at the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center. “We are seeing our cases decrease.”

The seven-day rolling average as of Monday was 16 cases, Pour said. The goal is to get that rate into the single digits, but the rate has dropped significantly in recent weeks.

“That really brings us back to where we were about one year ago,” Pour said.

About mid-March, variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 began spreading, especially one first discovered in the United Kingdom. Those variants have been seen more in the area’s younger population, with a spike in cases among people in their 20s.

“These variants have a higher transmissibility,” Pour said.

As of earlier this week, 60% of Douglas County residents had been tested for COVID-19 and 12% have tested positive. The metro area had 445 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at one time last November, and that number has been holding steady below 100 for several days. As of Sunday night, only nine people were on ventilators — the lowest number since last April. “We have made great progress,” Pour said.

Despite the positive trends, Pour did note that people are still dying of COVID-19 in the Omaha area, and “every death is a tragedy.” Pour offered her condolences to families who have lost someone during the pandemic.

Douglas County has issued 700 death certificates for coronavirus-linked deaths, including 11 in April. Last April, there were 14 coronavirus deaths.

As of Monday, about 46% of Douglas county residents eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine are fully vaccinated. Pour said the highest rate of vaccination is in Elkhorn and Bennington, and areas of South Omaha where young residents are concentrated are seeing the lowest rates.

Pour said the vaccine is available and supply of the vaccine isn’t a concern in Omaha. Walk-in clinics and by-appointment shots are both available.

Pour said that she expects to hit the milestone of having half the city’s population vaccinated sometime in the next week.

Statewide, as of Sunday, about 44.7% of residents 16 years or older have completed vaccination, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

For those who are skeptical, Pour said she encourages residents to talk to their physician about the vaccine. She said that people can make decisions appropriate for their circumstances, and she said she understands why there are questions. But she said those who want the vaccination and are eligible should be able to receive it.

“There should not be any barriers for anybody who wants to get vaccinated,” Pour said.

Currently, there are three different vaccine shots — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — approved for use in adults. The Pfizer vaccine is cleared for teens age 16 and older, and Pour said that she expects it will soon be authorized for children age 12 to 15 sometime soon.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert praised the staff of the Douglas County Health Department for the “tremendous job” they have done through the pandemic.

“They have done it the right way,” Stothert said. “Dr. Pour, you and your team have saved lives, so thank you.”

The City of Omaha does plan to allow its mask mandate to expire May 25, although that does not mean that masks will no longer be recommended after that time. The Omaha City Council could pass an emergency ordinance to extend the mandate if it becomes necessary.

“Between now and the end of May, we anticipate continued progress toward the goals our medical experts would like to see: a declining positivity rate and number of confirmed cases, plus an increasing percentage of Douglas County residents fully vaccinated,” Stothert said. “By nearing or reaching those goals, it is reasonable to let the mask ordinance expire.”

Pour said that she was supportive of the council’s decision to allow the mandate to expire.

“With the vaccine response in this community, we should be able to rely on personal responsibility,” Pour said.

So far, there have been 2,800 applications for utility and rental assistance, totaling about $7 million, Stothert said.

The City of Omaha expects to receive about $118 million dollars from the American Rescue Plan, and community input will be sought when more information is available.

For information on vaccination and to register with the state, go to finishstrong.ne.gov.

For vaccine information and clinic information in Douglas County, visit douglascountyhealth.com.

In Sarpy and Cass counties, find more information at sarpycasshealthdepartment.org.