Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is threatening to reimpose the same social-distancing restrictions that forced some businesses to close this spring if the record number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continues to rise, but he’s still opposed to a statewide mask mandate.
Ricketts says he’s concerned that the sharp increase in cases over the last month will soon overwhelm the state’s hospitals, a chaotic situation that would almost certainly lead to more deaths. His dire warning came as Nebraska reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row Wednesday and Thursday along with the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 remains at record levels in the state.
The number of COVID-19 cases at Lincoln Public schools almost doubled since last week.
Last week the tally stood at 82 cases, this week 95 students and 56 staff tested positive. More than 230 staff members are in isolation and in quarantine. Last week that number was 166.
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, they reported 175 positive cases in the last week with 19 announced on Wednesday. UNL has less than two weeks remaining in their fall semester.
Ricketts has scheduled COVID-19 updates Friday, Monday and Tuesday. Follow with KLIN News for the latest updates.