Nebraska Decreasing from Orange to Yellow Directed Health Measures Threshold

Nebraska Decreasing from Orange to Yellow Directed Health Measures Threshold

Public Service Announcement

Governor Ricketts laid out the threshold for change in the Directed Health Measures (DHMs) which are tied to the percentage of staffed hospital beds in Nebraska filled by coronavirus patients. On December 12, 2020 at 12:01am, Nebraska moved from the orange level, which is 20-24.99% coronavirus hospitalization rate, to the yellow level, which is 15-19.99%.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, protecting Nebraska’s hospitals has been the ‘north star’ guiding our strategic response to the coronavirus,” said Gov. Ricketts.  “Coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased from where they were three weeks ago.  As a result, we’re updating the State’s DHMs in keeping with our pandemic plan.  The virus is still present in our communities, and we all need to continue using the tools we have to slow its spread.  I especially urge Nebraskans to be mindful of at-risk loved ones when making plans to celebrate the holidays.  Let’s all take personal responsibility to stay healthy and keep Nebraska headed in the right direction.”

As a result of the lower threshold, the DHMs loosened in the below manner:

• The maximum capacity for indoor gatherings went from 25% to 50%.
• Fan attendance at extracurricular activities—both school and club—is no longer limited to household members of participants; however, it is limited to 50% the rated occupancy.
• Parties at restaurants and bars remain limited to groups of 8 or less.  Individuals must still be seated unless ordering food, using the restroom, or playing games.  Six feet of separation between groups returns to a guidance.
• Masks are recommended, rather than required, for establishments such as childcare centers, salons, barber shops, massage therapists, and body art studios.
• Elective surgeries may resume in the event a hospital keeps 10% of its capacity available to treat coronavirus patients.

Roger Wiese, the Executive Director of North Central District Health Department, commented on the current state of COVID-19, “In our Health District we continue to see vast community spread, from all types of gatherings and close contacts. To protect the availability of our local and statewide health care system, I ask all community members to embrace personal responsibility with respects to staying home and isolating when ill, keeping appropriate social distance from others outside your household, and wearing face barrier when close contact is difficult to avoid. I also ask local organizations, businesses, and municipalities to implement these practices and enact policies and/or ordinances to best protect the stressed health care system and our neighbors.”