LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — On Friday, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts held a press conference with public health leaders saying a Directed Health Measure, which will place limits on crowd sizes and quotas on hospital capacity, will go into place on Wednesday, October 21.
Pete Ricketts announced new restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus amid a surge of new cases and hospitalizations in Nebraska.
The governor outlined four steps that will go into effect Wednesday: Hospitals must provide 10% of their bed and intensive care unit space for incoming COVID-19 patients.
Indoor gatherings, currently allowed up to 75% percent capacity, must drop to 50% capacity.
People at bars and restaurants must remain seated and with no more than eight to a table. And, wedding and funeral receptions must limit table sizes to no more than eight people.
The new DHM will last October 21 through November 30.
Ricketts said a statewide mask mandate is not in the works for now.
Watch below or on our Facebook page.
3 News Now Reporter Ruta Ulcinaite and anchor Jennifer Griswold provided live updates via Twitter:
RICKETTS ON COVID: Two weeks ago when I first broke that things don’t look good for Nebraska in the fall, Gov. Ricketts’ office wouldn’t comment. Today he will be providing an update on COVID and his plans to slow the spread. Watch on https://t.co/3H0RytuZIy or follow this thread
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Gov says all the steps he's taken has been to preserve hospital capacity. Says there is an increased number of hospitalizations.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
"I know everybody is tired of the pandemic, tired of wearing masks, avoiding large crowds," the governor says. "But we still have the virus." Says he will introduce new DHM's today.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Gov. Ricketts announcing new measures to slow spread of COVID #Nebraska
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) October 16, 2020
1) Starting 10/21, changes for hospitals. If they want to continue providing elective surgeries they must have a 10% cushion for staffed ICU beds & hospital beds. Can't transfer patients to get that.
2) indoor gatherings will be limited to 50% capacity. Outdoor limited to 10,000@3NewsNowOmaha
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) October 16, 2020
3) bars and restaurants: no standing room, must be seated unless placing order. Limited to tables of 8 people
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) October 16, 2020
4) weddings and funerals: limit size. 8 people per table for weddings, split groups if needed
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) October 16, 2020
These new DHM's mean those wanting to go to bars for Huskers game will have to remain seated at tables.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
CARES ACT MONEY – Gov. Ricketts announced assisting hospitals in staffing. $40 million in CARES Act funding will go to hospitals to boost staffing.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Ricketts says it pains him to put these DHM's into place but that "we have to look down the road" to save our hospital systems from being overwhelmed and to make sure everyone can still get care when they need it.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Dr. Lawler with UNMC is now up. Says we have entered a dangerous phase and says Nebraska's rural communities are in trouble. Says rates in some rural communities is higher than New York's during their peak months ago.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Lawler now going into what we know about the virus. We know more now than we did months ago. Says the virus is silent. Many young people never have symptoms. Transmitted person to person by droplets.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Dr. Lawler suggests people listen to public health experts and not "your friend on Twitter" when it comes to info about masks and other pandemic facts. https://t.co/o5yfaS6Sr7
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) October 16, 2020
State Chief Medical Officer Gary J. Anthone now up. "We knew hospitalizations were going to increase," he said. Says he's here to talk about plan on how to help hospitals with staffing. We're doing okay for beds but we need more nurses, staff.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
NE received $1.25 billion in CARES Act to help in Coronavirus relief efforts. Gov. has now approved $40 million for hospitals. Will help increase staff, beds, supplies. Will be distributed in the form of grants.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Money can be used to help increase traveling nurses, staff, provide hazard pay to existing staff, screeners at hospitals.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Health Director Gina Uhing of the Elkhorn Logan Health Public Health Department is now up. "What can be done to keep schools, businesses open?" She says higher case count (due to more testing) doesn't create those closures, gatherings do. Sleepovers, parties, ect.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
She puts responsibility on business owners, coaches, parents to help contain spread. Avoid 3 C's - crowded places, close contact, confined spaces.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Q: "Is there anything that's being done to speed up test turn around time?"
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Ricketts: Yes. We are getting caught up. More staff added. Looking at different ways to improve process.
Q: "Would you consider a state-wide mask mandate?"
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Ricketts: We're going to be doing this for a while. Vaccine won't be available for still a few months. Everyone needs to learn rules on masks. Says he will not be mandating though.
Governor Ricketts on NO MASK MANDATE
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) October 16, 2020
- "we don't want to build a resistance to them."
- He notes, "we're going to be doing this for the forseeable future" & says not expecting a vaccine until end of year/earlier next year. He wants people to learn rules, wear masks, not mandate
Q: "How long will new DHM be in place? Additional steps?"
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Ricketts: Expiration date is at least a month. November 30th. Will continue to reevaluate after that. If additional steps need to be taken state will take them.
Q: "What's the difference mandating capacity in buildings but not mandating masks?"
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Ricketts: 8 people at table helps restaurant association track cases need be. On masks still saying it's on the individual to wear masks.
Clarifying: mask mandates are still in place for Omaha and Lincoln https://t.co/xnfTQh5OK9
— Jennifer Griswold (@griswoldkmtv) October 16, 2020
Q: "Was it a mistake to loosen up too DHM's too quickly?"
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Ricketts: No one can predict anything on this virus. Looking at data now and making steps to help save hospitals is what's important now.
Q: "How many hospitals right now will not be able to make that 10% cushion?"
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Dr. Anthone: Some hospitals in CHI system. Can transfer within systems but can't transfer patients that need to come into another hospital system.
Q: "How many of state hospitals eligible for funding?"
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) October 16, 2020
Dr. Anthone: Narrowed it down to hospitals with over 40 beds. 21 hospitals statewide.
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