Nebraska moves to green level of statewide Directed Health Measure

LINCOLN, NE — Nebraska has moved to the least restrictive level of its directed health measures (DHM). 

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the move Saturday. The state moved from the blue level of the DHM to green. 

With moving to green on the state's DHM, restrictions on places such as bars, restaurants, churches and salons are lifted. Indoor gatherings are allowed to move to 100 percent of capacity. 

People should be aware that the Nebraska Schools Activities Association (NSAA) may not allow high school events, such as boys and girls basketball games, to move to 100 percent of capacity. The NSAA has not made any plans to further lift their restrictions as of Monday afternoon. Currently the NSAA only allows 50 percent capacity at all indoor events. 

According to Ricketts, organizers of gatherings of 500 or more people must still submit a reopening plan to their local health departments for approval. 

Quarantine requirements were also changed under the new directed health measure. Nebraskans who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and those who have recovered from the coronavirus in the past three months will not be required to quarantine after a close contact. 

Public bodies, such as city councils, are still allowed to meet virtually through the end of April, per an executive order by Ricketts. 

The DHM level changed because the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Nebraska continues to fall. Less than 10 percent of the state's hospital beds are now being used by coronavirus patients, triggering the change.