Lincoln’s health department gets national award for COVID-19 response

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department got a national award for its COVID-19 response, officials said Thursday.

The department received the 2023 Model Practice Award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

City officials said the award recognizes local health departments that respond to a critical public health need.

The department was recognized for its COVID-19 dashboard, which was used to relay information to Lancaster County residents during the pandemic.

“The dashboard takes the public health data we receive and turns it into a transparent and tangible tool that puts real-time information and the ability to track our local situation at people’s fingertips,” Health Director Pat Lopez said in a press release. “This data-driven approach kept residents well informed and showed the impact of COVID-19 on the community and if there was heightened risk.”

Since its launch in 2020, city officials said there have been nearly 15 million visits to the COVID-19 dashboard.