New DHM ordered Wednesday
New Directed Health Measures changed in Nebraska, Wednesday, setting stricter guidelines to try and ensure people’s health and lessen the spread of COVID-19. These new measures are scheduled to remain in effect until at least Nov. 30.
Governor Pete Ricketts announced the changes Monday. The following day, Ricketts and First Lady Susanne Shore were put into quarantine for 14 days due to meeting up with a person that tested positive for COVID-19 Monday. The two currently aren’t showing any symptoms, and they will get tested when appropriate.
As for the changes of the DHM, six feet distance is required in gyms and fitness centers, health spas, restaurants, bar, gentlemen and bottle clubs, weddings, funerals, indoor gatherings, and churches and places of worship.
Masks are required at salons, barbershops, massage therapy, bowling alleys, pool halls, body art establishments, and any other indoor businesses where staff and customers are within six feet of each other for 15 minutes or more.
Fan attendance for indoor extracurricular activities, both clubs and school sponsored events, are limited to household members of participants.
Restaurants, bars, etc. will be able to remain open for dine-in services. Customers are required to be seated unless they are placing an order, using the restroom, or playing games. Six feet of separation will remain between tables and bar seating, but 100% occupancy is allowed. Eight people is the maximum allowed at a table, if the group is larger, the group will be split. Unless eating or drinking, patrons are required to wear a mask.
Churches and places of worship won’t have a limit to occupancy but requires that people remain six feet distance. Weddings and funeral receptions should follow the maximum of eight people to a group, and dancing at weddings is allowed if individuals remain at their tables and keep social distancing between groups.
Indoor gatherings will be 25% occupancy, while outdoor gatherings will remain at 100%. Indoor carnivals and dances are prohibited. Groups will remain smaller than eight people, and six feet will be required between groups. Gyms, fitness centers, health clubs, or any other location similar requires six feet separation.
Salons, barber shops, massage therapy service, and tattoo parlors or body art facilities require six feet of separation and masks to be worn by both the workers and the customers. The exception to this is all services performed on the face, which patrons can remove their mask for but must wear mask any other time.