State Leaders Release Plans For COVID-19 School Closings

LINCOLN- On Friday, Governor Pete Ricketts along with education leaders hosted a press conference announcing the guidance they will use for school closures. Ricketts shared his plan for metro schools…

Omaha Public Schools says it will close its schools next week, but will provide students with work-at-home packets and online instruction for the week. The district’s more than 53,000 students were off this week for the regularly-scheduled spring break. Several other Omaha-area schools announced closure plans Friday and all of next week, including Bellevue Public Schools, Elkhorn Public Schools, Millard Public Schools and Papillion La Vista Community Schools. For schools outside the metro and around the rural part of the state, Ricketts said it will be a case to case basis…

Ricketts what they are trying to accomplish by closing schools…

Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt addressed the issue of school staff not being able to work if schools close…

Health Officials say people who are concerned they may have COVID-19 should self-isolate and call ahead to their primary care provider to be screened over the phone. The provider can evaluate and determine if testing is necessary. Flu activity is also still high in Nebraska. Flu tests should be considered as a first test option before considering a COVID-19 test.