Governor Pete Ricketts said Friday there will be no lockdowns or mandates now that six cases of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant have been identified in Nebraska.
“In Nebraska, we have learned how to balance living a more normal life while protecting our healthcare system. Coronavirus will be with us forever. That’s why we’ll continue that balance while also urging everyone to get vaccinated.”
Ricketts says Nebraska has maintained one of the lowest coronavirus death rates and protected hospital capacity all without lockdowns, without mask mandates and without vaccine mandates. “We aren’t going to follow the Biden Administration or Dr. Fauci’s draconian policies.”
State and local health officials confirmed the six cases on Friday. They say one person returned from Nigeria on November 23rd and symptoms appeared the next day. Health officials say the five others were likely exposed through household contact with the first case.
Only one of the six has been vaccinated, but none of them were hospitalized as of Friday.