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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Gov. Pete Ricketts announced on Friday that the state was moving from the “blue” phase to the “green” phase of its response plan to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the state of Nebraska is issuing new Directed Health Measures (DHMs) beginning at 12:01 am on Saturday, January 30, 2021. The new DHMs change some of the restrictions put in place to help manage the coronavirus pandemic. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Department of Health has reminded residents that changes to the state-led health measure do not impact the current DHM for Lincoln and Lancaster County.
Nebraska’s pandemic response plan ties DHM restrictions to the percentage of staffed hospital beds in Nebraska occupied by coronavirus patients. The percentage is less than 10% (7-day moving average), which is the threshold for the state to move to the “green” phase of its pandemic plan.
The transition from the “blue” phase to the “green” phase involves the following DHM change:
- Maximum capacity for indoor gatherings, including extracurricular activities for young people, is increased from 75% to 100%.
- Organizers of gatherings of 500 or more people (1,000 or more in Douglas County) must still submit a reopening plan to their local health department – and receive approval – before holding their events. Apart from this requirement, there are no restrictions on gatherings / locations in the “green” phase of the state plan. However, advice is still in place and recommended.
The new DHMs have updated the quarantine requirements.
- Nebraskans who have been fully vaccinated (received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine) do not have to self-quarantine after close contact. Instead, they will be in the “self-monitoring” category, which involves wearing a mask for 14 days from the date of exposure and monitoring for symptoms.
- Nebraskans who have recovered from coronavirus in the past three months do not need to quarantine after close contact, although they are encouraged to watch for symptoms.
The new EHDs also change the definition of “close contact” to clarify that exposures begin 48 hours before symptoms appear or test positive.
The revised DHMs are posted on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website. To view them, go to dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus.gov and click on the “Managed health measures” link.
Decree 21-02 remains in force. It gives public bodies the possibility of meeting virtually by videoconference or teleconference until April 30, 2021. The full text of the decree is available by clicking here.
A table comparing the color-coded phases of the state’s pandemic response plan is available by clicking here.
Copyright 2021 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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