WISNER -- After more than a year of isolation, sickness, and economic hardship; this week: Nebraska's governor closed the book of the COVID-19 pandemic; declaring an end to all directed health measures.

But it left some lingering questions about where the state goes from here.

"We will continue on as if it is just an infectious disease," said Melanie Thompson, emergency response coordinator at Elkhorn Public Health Logan Valley of Wisner.

She was not surprised by the declaration as cases declined, adding that schools and clinics will still follow health guidelines, "Which are actually more restrictive," Thompson said.

Schools will have to navigate a return to classrooms in the fall - without a risk dial. The superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools, Jami Jo Thompson, said students will return in person without vaccine requirements or testing.

Officials plan to track absentee numbers - rather than rely on data from the health department. NPS has not defined a number for what a concerning spike in absenteeism is.

"I'm very confident at this time that that's all that's needed. If cases arise we'll call a committee and rethink that plan," Dr. Jami Jo Thompson said.

If there is a spike -- they will report it to Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Dept.

Wednesday, the department was packing up its PPE to donate to hospitals.

The biggest challenge following the governor's announcement will be the availability of testing.

"We have to remember there are other variants," Melanie Thompson said.

She's referring to the highly contagious 'Delta Variant'. There are growing concerns it could spread around over the Holiday weekend.

Thompson said health districts like her own will still collect data on COVID-19 rates, just with less intensity.