BEATRICE – Gage County Board members Wednesday approved a Covid-19 policy as the area sees increased virus numbers. That follows action Tuesday by a Beatrice Health Board that mandated mask use in all indoor public spaces within the city. All supervisors were wearing masks during their meeting and the board room was limited to no more than 15 persons.

Gage County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann expressed concern about the effect on the economy because of more stringent precautions.
"National media also says we might have another four to six weeks shutdown. If that's the case, I would encourage anyone that imposes that shutdown to shut their salaries off, too....like the regular working people do."

Tiemann, a Republican and Supervisor John Hill, a Democrat have differed over Covid precautions such as mask wearing. Hill and Board member Dennis Byars weighed in on the current Covid situation.

"I think it somewhat depends on how serious this gets, and its certainly gotten serious....there's no doubt about it. People need to step it up and be more responsible, so that further measures don't have to be taken. Certainly, the governor doesn't want stricter restrictions. (Byars) "and the national doctors are saying it's going to get much worse. And, we have a governor who ignores that, unfortunately."

The county’s policy encourages six feet of social distancing and calls for mask wearing. Employees who test positive and must isolate will not be docked sick time. Those who have had close contact with someone testing positive can continue their work by social distancing, wearing a mask and self-monitoring at least twice daily for fever and other symptoms for a 14 day period. Employees have received thermometers for temperature checks.

Hill said if people take steps to protect themselves and others, the situation could improve.
"The easiest thing is to wear a mask and social distance, so that it doesn't get worse. We need this to level out at the very high level it currently is, and then maybe in four weeks it may be coming down."

Gage County Emergency Management Coordinator Lisa Wiegand said the current total of Covid cases in Gage County over the past fourteen days is 410. Wiegand said a Test Nebraska site now at the Gage County Fairgrounds is seeing about 80 to 100 tests daily.

"I do know that the nurses have shared that there's just a lot of sick people going through that line, and they are symptomatic."

Last week’s test positivity rate was 38%. Wiegand said Public Health Solutions Health District is about a thousand cases behind in contact tracing, and is encouraging persons who test positive to help reach others they have been in contact with.