Thread by @omaha_scanner

Nebraska Governor @GovRicketts to hold his daily press conference today, April 3rd, at 2:00 p.m. regarding the #COVID19 pandemic. Follow this thread for live tweet coverage.
#Coronaha | #NECOVID19

@GovRicketts Link: netnebraska.org/basic-page/tel…

@GovRicketts The Governor will be joined by:
Dr. James Lawler UNMC Department of Internal Medicine Director
Tony Goins Director of Economic Development
Leon Milobar Small Business Admin

@GovRicketts Ricketts: As always, reminder to people to practice social distancing and follow DHM's (directed health measures).

@GovRicketts Ricketts: 12/19 public health districts have DHMs now. Wash your hands. Keep physical distancing of 6 feet. If you are sick, (flu like symptoms) stay home.

@GovRicketts Ricketts: Google has come out with statistics regarding movement of Nebraskans during this time. Retail and rec down 34%. In Douglas County they are down. In Nebraska, grocery and pharmacy are 41% down. Parks is up 9%.

@GovRicketts Cont: Transit stations down 18%. Work place is down 24%. Residential is up 8% (staying home more).

@GovRicketts Ricketts: Last 5 days new case numbers: 25, 37, 38, 36 today at noon 33 new cases. Over 50% testing increase.

@GovRicketts Ricketts: Indicators show we are changing behavior but we can do more.

@GovRicketts Dr. James Lawler, UNMC: We are here to offer expertise. This is an unprecedented event in our lives. We are still very early in this event. We will learn more. We will see more cases and more deaths. It is important that we recognize this.

@GovRicketts Lawler: Increasing test capacity. We need to examine the data and learn more. Preserving the healthcare system to be able to provide effective healthcare. In New York, healthcare system is overwhelmed. We are trying to avoid that here. This is virus is here to stay.

@GovRicketts Cont: We can't return to normal until a vaccine. We need to keep it low enough to preserve the healthcare system. These are anxious times. We are doing our best to manage it.

@GovRicketts Lawler: There have been a number of different pieces that have gone into the social distancing measures. Closing schools. Schools are the most densely concentrated areas. Home isolation of people who are ill.

@GovRicketts Cont: Quarantine of close contacts. Eliminating large gatherings, social distancing at work, take out only. This all helps limit the transfer of the respiratory infection.

@GovRicketts Cont: This limits the virus from transferring around. All the plans have holes but when we layer it all together, the holes disappear.

@GovRicketts Ricketts: If we want to see football in fall. Stay home (John Cook)
If Seniors want an August graduation, stay home now.

@GovRicketts Tony Goins, Director of Economic Development: Public measures are making day to day operations for companies difficult. We recognize the greater good. Must protect lives of Nebraskans and then livelihoods.

@GovRicketts Goins: We will win this war on this virus. Practical steps: 1. Contact vendors about payment arrangements. 2. Bank loan deferments. 3. Rent deferments. Commercial properties encouraged to defer payments.

@GovRicketts Goins: CARES Act designed to sustain us through the pandemic: 1. Payroll tax deferent between now and January 2021. 2. Employee retention credit.

@GovRicketts Goins: Small business, self employees, non profits: Loan may be forgiven, used to pay for payroll, benefits, retirement, etc.

@GovRicketts Goins: Questions about programs: opportunity.nebraska.gov

@GovRicketts Leon Milobar, Small Business Admin: More loans today in four hours vs a year. Also including ag producers as of this morning.

@GovRicketts Milobar: Check out more at SBA.gov for more information.

@GovRicketts Ricketts: Drive up churches. Yes, can have more than 10 people as long as people stay in their cars. No sharing stuff between cars. That would defeat the purpose.

@GovRicketts Ricketts: State of NE applies to CMS for 1135 waiver. Waives regulations from CMS. Nebraska has received thee 1135 waiver. Surgeon General asks that wee pay attention to our mental health.

@GovRicketts Cont: If you do need help, call the suicide prevention line (will post later). Please take care of your mental health.

@GovRicketts Ricketts: Looking for house wrap for gowns for healthcare workers. @gagetaylor Can we get that email address please? Thanks!

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Ricketts: Target is a company that is stepping up to do the right thing. April 5th will limit customer number. Putting down tape to keep customers 6 feet apart. Putting Plexiglas up at check out. Issuing PPE to their employees.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q and A. Only tweeting ones we hear.
Q: What to do if lost insurance because of COVID19. Cobra is expensive.
A: CARES Act will be addressing that specifically. Waiting on guidance from government. COVID19 is free.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: What is the state doing for child custody. Parents ignoring plan.
A: Will have to get back on that. Don't have answer at this moment. You need to follow the plan.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: What is the doing to state revenue?
A: We don't have a good sense. Will release March numbers on April 15th.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: Until vaccine, new normal?
A: At some point, we will see loosening of measures. Now deferred to Dr. Lawler: New normal depends on where the disease is and how the interventions are impacting that. We will learn a lot more about the information we have.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q (Ricketts): Why haven't we reported on recoveries?
A: Deferring to Dr. Anthone.
Anthone: 279 positive cases in the state. Most are self isolation/home. Some are hospitalized. Majority have covered. We just haven't kept track of exact number.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Cont: We have had some deaths. 85-90% will recover at home, on their own. More tracking numbers will come out next week.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Back to Ricketts Q: Wonder why someone in corrections can't wear ankle bracelet to finish out sentence.
A: These are inmates who need to serve out terms.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: Why doesn't Ricketts support release of inmates?
A: You aren't sent to prison for first offense. These are multiple offenders. They need to serve sentence. Doesn't sense Nebraskans want them released.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: 12/19 have DHM. Misdemeanor to violate but some places don't have it.
A: We can't police everyone at every minute of the day. We still need people to follow it. Most people follow it.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Ricketts: The DHM's we have are similar compared to what some states have for their Stay At Home Orders. Our DHM's are stricter than some states stay at home orders.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: JBS Plant in GI and number of positive cases.
A: They are taking steps such as plexiglas in break rooms to separate people. Taking steps on production line. Fogging production plant.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: What do models say? When do we peak?
A: Working with UNMC. Healthdata.gov is a model. Lots of models available. Still in process of looking at data.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: Given people being laid off, losing healthcare? Should we move up Medicaid expansion?
A: It would cause the October date to be pushed back to December or 2021. We would need to rewrite all the systems and get permission from Medicaid. CARES Act addresses this issue.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: Why can't you offer just basic medicaid?
A: We would need to ask for permission from CMS. That process is 4 months long. That could be shorter. We don't have a system to enroll. We have to create a system. We would have to rewrite the software.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Q: deferred to Dr. Lawler, why 10 people limit?
A: No exact science with this one. Try to minimize the social impact.

@GovRicketts @gagetaylor Presser is over. These will happen M-F 2PM next week.

WASH. THOSE. HANDS. NOW.