Gov. Ricketts is holding his first news conference of the week. He starts it by using and touting some hand sanitizer made in Nebraska through ethanol products provided by farmers here.
Ricketts runs through the social distancing guidelines again:
* Stay away from sick people
* Wash your hands regularly
* If you're sick, stay home and call your health care provider
While it was great for people to get outside on Sunday, Ricketts says people should still observe the 6-foot distancing and not congregate in groups of more than 10 outdoors.
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Ricketts says snowbirds who come home, people traveling into the state for Easter, or others coming into the state should quarantine themselves for 14 days.
Ricketts thanks President Trump for starting the 10-person guidelines a few weeks ago, says that rule has really made a difference in flattening the curve here. Nebraska will extend the rules to April 30, in line federal guidelines issued by Trump on Sunday.
Earlier today, Ricketts signed the disaster declaration request, which will go to FEMA and Trump.
"What that will do is allow us to not only tap into individual assistance" like counseling, he says, but also funding for public services like hazard mitigation.
Labor Commissioner John Albin is up to talk about the CARES Act. Albin is Nebraska's point of contact for the USDOL's 6 programs:
-Short-time compensation
-pandemic unemployment assistance (self-employed can receive benefits)
-reimburse 50% trust fund for nonprofit/govt workers
Albin cntd
-$600 payment on top of unemployment claims, no added application needed
-waive waiting week requirement, so people can get paid sooner
-Extra 13 weeks unemployment (39 instead of 26 weeks)
Ricketts says the state is analyzing the 900-page CARES Act to figure out what they need to do to execute it here in Nebraska.
Meanwhile, he wants to start #TakeOutTuesday to support local restaurants.
Eclectic menu at the governor's office lately:
--Lee's Chicken
--Honest Abe's
--Poke bowls
Take Out Tuesdays will continue through April, Ricketts says.
R.J. Vega of Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine is talking about what his restaurant at 48th and Pioneers is doing amid #COVID19.
Disclaimer: I've seen @gagetaylor dining with his family at Copal.
Copal has implemented delivery, which it hasn't done before, has posted videos online about its offerings amid the pandemic.
It's been a learning curve, mistakes have been made, Vega says, but customers have been understanding.
Margaritas to go have been a hit, he adds.
"We're all in this together," Vega says. "We all know people who have had a reduction in hours or a reduction in income."
Nebraskans should support one another through efforts like Take Out Tuesday, because "We're all in this together."
Ricketts says the sealed drinks to go has maybe been the most popular thing he's ever done.
I got a margarita in a go cup from Stur 22 last Friday and let me tell you, it was incredible.
Gov. says social media posts saying students will have to repeat their grade next year is an early April Fool's joke and not true. Don't believe it, he says. That's not true.
Nebraska can expect the peak of coronavirus to hit in late April here, Ricketts says.
"April is going to be a tough month," he adds. People need to stay home as much as possible to keep people safe and keep the health care system from being overwhelmed.
Don Walton asks if Nebraska has been able to get the medical equipment needed: beds, ventilators, PPE.
An inventory is being worked up, Ricketts says. Hospitals have been encouraged to try and get some on their own, but the state is pursuing it, too.
Self-employed workers will be eligible to receive between $174 and $440, and then the additional $600 on top of that, Albin says. That is through the summer.
State Medical Director Dr. Gary Anthone says 2,500+ tests have be done in Nebraska. About 5% have been positive. "That's been a very steady percentage over the last 2-3 weeks," he says.
As results come in, positives may go up, but rate may start to go down.
Nebraska has also received word we could get some of the rapid tests soon, Anthone says.
"I think we're doing well. We had quite a few people tested this weekend and we're awaiting those results," he says.
Hospitals are at about 50% capacity right now. Only about 20 people infected with COVID-19 are hospitalized. There is some room at this time to handle surge, Anthone says.
The hand sanitizer made from Nebraska ethanol and produced by inmates of the Dept. of Corrections isn't going to be sold; it's being used by state agencies, Ricketts says.
Ricketts says we don't need more restrictions on public gatherings right now; rather the state needs to ensure it's enforcing the restrictions that are currently in place.
Last Q: If schools come back this year, can parents keep their kids home?
Ricketts says parents should ask local schools about their plans, but it doesn't sound like schools are coming back.
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