The fourth death related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The person was a Buffalo County resident in his 90s .
Community transmission was identified in Adams and Buffalo Counties. Community transmission is when people have COVID-19 but public health officials are unable to identify how or where they became infected. State Directed Health Measures (DHMs) were issued tonight for the following 11 counties: Adams, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster, Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps counties.
This morning’s state case total is 177.
Lincoln’s total remains at 8.
Governor Pete Rickett’s will provide his daily update at 2.
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird will provide her daily update at 3:30.
Both updates can be heard on 1400 KLIN.
Governor Pete Ricketts announced a new executive order to give healthcare facilities greater flexibility to respond to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
The purpose of the order is to enable healthcare facilities to expand capacity as the need arises. Among other changes, the Governor’s order accomplishes the following:
Waives time limits for how long Critical Access Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers may keep patients.
Waives the time limit on complex nursing interventions in assisted living facilities.
Modifies the training and testing requirements for nurse aides, medication aides, and dining assistants to allow individuals with sufficient training and appropriate supervision to serve temporarily in these capacities.
Defers requirements for the renewal and implementation dates of facility licenses and extends the licenses so that they do not need to be renewed during this emergency.
Waives the Certificate of Need Act to allow hospitals to add or convert any beds into long-term care beds or rehabilitation beds in appropriate locations to care for COVID-19 patients who no longer require acute care support.
Waives the licensed bed limit if additional unlicensed beds are available or could be added for use in treating COVID-19 cases or to meet the needs of non-COVID-19 patients.
Directs the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish guidance for payment of Medicaid services via telehealth.