Lancaster County is left out of various modifications of ongoing state health measures aimed at reopening certain businesses.
Governor Pete Ricketts announced Friday that he will modify several current statewide health measures to allow for limited activities at barbershops, restaurants, daycares, and more beginning May 4th for several counties.
“Lancaster County’s DHM does not expire until May 6th. They were on a different timeline than Douglas county,” said Ricketts.
Ricketts made the statement despite the fact that counties affected in the governor’s measures will include those whose original DHMs were set to expire April 30th, May 11th, and in the case of Four Corners Health Department, May 6th.
At her own briefing Friday, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said that before easing directed health measures here, she’s looking for data showing decreasing cases in the county.
“What we are seeing now locally, however, are increasing numbers,” said Gaylor Baird.
To emphasize her point, the mayor 44% of total cases in Lincoln were logged in the past week.
She says her administration continues to talk with local and state officials on the best course of action come May.
Businesses set to reopen in counties affected by the May 4th health measure will still have to adhere to certain guidelines, such as keeping a six-foot distance between tables for restaurants and requiring employees and patrons of barbershops to wear masks, until May 31st.
The only state measure that would affect Lancaster County would be one allowing for church services to have groups of people larger than 10, with restrictions.
Lancaster County Interim Health Director pat Lopez said she wasn’t sure if the county would follow the directive.