Gov. Ricketts Rejects Call To Resume Normal Activities Amid COVID-19

LINCOLN- Governor Pete Ricketts is rejecting a call from two state lawmakers to resume normal school and business activities in Nebraska right away.

He says doing so could lead to a surge in new cases that might overwhelm the state’s hospitals. Ricketts says he will stick with the state’s current plan, which includes statewide school closures and restrictions on businesses and social gatherings until at least April 30. His remarks at his daily coronavirus press briefing came in response to a question about a newspaper column by state Sens. Steve Halloran and Steve Erdman.

State health officials say another COVID-19 death has been reported in Nebraska, bringing the state’s total to 18. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reported Monday that the state’s 18th virus-caused death is that of a man in his 90s with underlying health conditions living in Washington County.

The department says the state stands at 871 confirmed coronavirus cases, while nearly 10,500 people have tested negative.