Ricketts: More Restrictions Coming if Hospitalizations Keep Increasing

Gov. Pete Ricketts warned Thursday that if hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to rise, he’ll impose additional health restrictions – but still, not a mask mandate.

At a news conference Thursday where he participated by Zoom because he’s quarantining, Ricketts said the spread of the disease caused by the coronavirus is not just a big city problem.

“It’s not a case of just spreading in places like Omaha or Lincoln. It is spreading all across our state. Places like North Platte, Scottsbluff,” Ricketts said.

Dr. Gary Anthone, the state's chief medical officer, also mentioned increased cases in Kearney, Grand Island and Norfolk.

At the news conference, Steve Schrader of Omaha described how after getting the disease in March, he spent 19 days on a ventilator, more than a month in the hospital, and another two weeks in a rehabilitation center. Schrader said he also developed diabetes and had to have a heart pacemaker installed.

Schrader’s wife Ann Schrader drew a lesson from his ordeal.

“It’s Russian roulette. People that get it don’t know if they’ll have slight symptoms, no symptoms or end up on a ventilator for 19 days like Steve did and almost died. And God forbid die, because a lot of people have died from this. So it’s very serious and it’s nothing to take lightly,” she said.

Steve Schrader said people should follow the advice of wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer, maintaining social distance and avoiding large groups.

Ricketts said the number of people in Nebraska hospitals with COVID-19 has now reached 885, up from 200 in late September. And he said he would take further action if that trend continues.

“Folks, if we don’t bend this curve down, we will be taking additional restrictive measures with regard to our directed health measures,” he said.

He said that could include returning to measures in effect last Spring. At that time, gatherings were limited to 10 people, indoor seating at bars and restaurants was prohibited, and sports practices were also banned. However, the governor repeated he would not impose a statewide mask mandate, which some leading doctors in the state are calling for. And he declined to specify when he would decide on imposing new restrictions.