BEATRICE - The head of the Beatrice Unified Command system says now is not the time to get complacent, over the COVID-19.

Beatrice Fire Chief Brian Daake urges people not to relax social distancing efforts. Command officials are continuing to monitor the pandemic, and Public Health Solutions Monday said the five-county district health department is actively monitoring 50 individuals.... about half of those, are Gage County residents.

Saline County reported its first case, on Tuesday. Gage County has recorded more confirmed cases due to an outbreak associated with an assisted living facility within the county.

PHS Health Director Kim Showalter told the Beatrice Unified Command “We are seeing individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases that were completely asymptomatic or had very mild symptoms and would have assumed they had a seasonal cold or mild flu.”

That's a sign that there are likely other individuals in the community who don’t know they have COVID-19.

Two additional COVID-19 related deaths were reported Tuesday, bringing the state's COVID-19 death toll to 20, according to the Nebraska Department of Human Services. The Douglas County Public Health Department reported its seventh death, that of a man in his 60s with underlying health conditions. The Loup Basin Public Health Department announced its second death, that of a Custer County man in his 80s with underlying health conditions.

The state’s coronavirus case total is now at 901.

Infectious disease experts project that the COVID-19 outbreak will be at or near its peak in Nebraska by the end of April.

Governor Pete Ricketts is urging Nebraskans to avoid non-essential errands and to limit social gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus.

A Directed Health Measure orders certain businesses where six feet of social distance cannot be maintained to close through April 30, and prohibits organized group sports through May 31.

Ricketts earlier urged Nebraskans to abide by six guidelines...

Stay home. No non-essential errands and no social gatherings. Respect the ten-person limit.
Socially distance your work. Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.
Shop alone and only shop once a week. Do not take family with you.
Help kids follow social distancing. Play at home. No group sports. And no playgrounds.
Help seniors stay at home by shopping for them. Do not visit long-term care facilities.
Exercise daily at home or with an appropriately social-distanced activity