Lincoln’s top public official still didn’t clarify when or if restrictions will be relaxed when the current directed health measure expires on May 6.
“This has been a rapidly evolving situation from day one and so we are evaluating on an hour by hour basis where things stand and what new steps we ought to be taking,” Leirion Gaylor Baird, Lincoln’s Mayor says.
Pat Lopez, interim director for the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department says the deadline could be extended.
“I think that’s a fair statement to say that, but I’m not gonna say that’s what’s gonna happen.”
Officials are looking at five factors including: testing capacity, number of daily cases, positivity rate, strength of health care system and public health capacity.
“We’d like to see a 14-day period with flat or declining numbers of new cases which would indicate a lower risk associated with loosening some of the more significant restrictions.”
Questions swirled recently on who has the ultimate jurisdiction when implementing a directed health measure or changing them.
When asked, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird responded:
“The power really resides with the virus because the virus is really driving that bus and helping to determine how we respond….I think what’s important to remember is that no matter the level of government or the jurisdiction, we all are trying to do our best to protect the health and safety of our residents.”
While it still remains unclear, both Governor Pete Ricketts and Baird say they’re collaborating with each other.
Some Lincoln residents commute to Smithfield Foods in Crete where the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
In parts of the country, packing plants are closing.
The latest on that list is Smithfield Foods in Crete.
“It just happened so fast; this decision was just made in the last few hours or maybe even in the last two hours, Lopez said.”
The most recent data shows 47 cases are linked to the plant.
A KLIN source with knowledge of the situation confirms production will be shut down for two weeks.