LINCOLN –&nbsp;This afternoon, Governor Pete Ricketts announced the formation of a business task force to restore growth to Nebraska’s economy. Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Tony&nbsp;Goins will chair the task force. He joined the Governor at today’s press briefing to talk about the mission of the task force.

Additionally, Gov. Ricketts gave an update on the Test Nebraska initiative, which will include upcoming testing sites in the Omaha and Grand Island areas.

Gov. Ricketts: Stay Home Reminders

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are now on Day 18 of the&nbsp;“21 Days to Stay Home&nbsp;and Stay Healthy” campaign.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are in the final stretch before we move to regional Directed Health Measures.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I want to remind people of our Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Stay home.&nbsp;No non-essential errands and no social gatherings.&nbsp;Respect the ten-person limit.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Socially distance your work.&nbsp;Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Shop alone and only shop once a week.&nbsp;Do not take family with you.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Help kids follow social distancing.&nbsp;Play at home.&nbsp;No group sports.&nbsp;And no playgrounds.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Help seniors stay at home by shopping for them.&nbsp;Do not visit long-term care facilities.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Exercise daily at home or with an appropriately socially-distanced activity.

Gov. Ricketts: Test Nebraska Reminder

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraskans have completed about 89,000 assessments as of this morning.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We need every Nebraskan to go to&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cb5946ec503df4830198808d7ead94820%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637236091244145292&amp;sdata=Ayox44f60Vqq9OoZONcQ6dtjxz5fK%2BySNi1duBMCMFQ%3D&amp;reserved=0">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;right now and to fill out this quick assessment.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The first two Test Nebraska testing sites are expected to be Grand Island and Omaha later this week.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;We need people not just in these cities, but in the surrounding areas, to take the assessment now.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;We will begin contacting folks to schedule testing in the near future.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, I want to let folks know that the assessment is now available in Spanish.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Again, the website is&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cb5946ec503df4830198808d7ead94820%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637236091244145292&amp;sdata=Ayox44f60Vqq9OoZONcQ6dtjxz5fK%2BySNi1duBMCMFQ%3D&amp;reserved=0">TestNebraska.com</a>. After taking the assessment, please go on social media and use #TestNebraskaChallenge to challenge five friends to do the same!

Director Goins: Business Task Force

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The State of Nebraska is working closely with business leaders to restore growth to our economy.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As we do, I want Nebraskans to know that we’re committed to resuming business operations safely and in keeping with public health guidelines.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The spirit of togetherness and willingness to cooperate among our state’s businesses, banks, ag community, and economic developers has long been a strength of&nbsp;Nebraska.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This strong partnership doesn’t happen by chance. It takes ongoing communication, a commitment to collaborate, and dedication to support one another.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Today, I’m excited to announce a new task force to lead the way in bolstering cooperation among Nebraska businesses.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our task force has already engaged advisors in various industry associations, such as cosmetology, restaurants, and retail.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’re also working closely with our Chambers of Commerce, who are intimately acquainted with the concerns of our business community.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Together, we’re working to come up with guidelines that prioritize safety. At the same time, we want to allow business to take place as smoothly as possible&nbsp;given the circumstances.&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If community leaders have ideas, we encourage you to share them via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:DED.Info@nebraska.gov">DED.Info@nebraska.gov</a>.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clear communication will be key as we start to roll out best practices for various industries.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Please note that the virus is affecting our communities with varying intensity and at different times. We’re working to develop guidelines that are sensitive to these regional&nbsp;variations.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Again, we encourage questions and dialogue. DED is ready and willing to help. Please contact us at&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18004266505">800-426-6505</a>&nbsp;with your input. Together, we’re going to get Nebraska growing&nbsp;again.

Full video of today’s press briefing is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/n943zkssex2mz7z/Press%20Conf%204.27.2020.mp4?dl=0">clicking here</a>.

LINCOLN –&nbsp;This afternoon, Governor Pete Ricketts announced the formation of a business task force to restore growth to Nebraska’s economy. Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Tony&nbsp;Goins will chair the task force. He joined the Governor at today’s press briefing to talk about the mission of the task force.Additionally, Gov. Ricketts gave an update on the Test Nebraska initiative, which will include upcoming testing sites in the Omaha and Grand Island areas.Gov. Ricketts: Stay Home Reminders·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are now on Day 18 of the&nbsp;“21 Days to Stay Home&nbsp;and Stay Healthy” campaign.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are in the final stretch before we move to regional Directed Health Measures.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I want to remind people of our Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Stay home.&nbsp;No non-essential errands and no social gatherings.&nbsp;Respect the ten-person limit.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Socially distance your work.&nbsp;Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Shop alone and only shop once a week.&nbsp;Do not take family with you.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Help kids follow social distancing.&nbsp;Play at home.&nbsp;No group sports.&nbsp;And no playgrounds.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Help seniors stay at home by shopping for them.&nbsp;Do not visit long-term care facilities.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Exercise daily at home or with an appropriately socially-distanced activity.Gov. Ricketts: Test Nebraska Reminder·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraskans have completed about 89,000 assessments as of this morning.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We need every Nebraskan to go to&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cb5946ec503df4830198808d7ead94820%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637236091244145292&amp;sdata=Ayox44f60Vqq9OoZONcQ6dtjxz5fK%2BySNi1duBMCMFQ%3D&amp;reserved=0">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;right now and to fill out this quick assessment.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The first two Test Nebraska testing sites are expected to be Grand Island and Omaha later this week.o&nbsp;&nbsp;We need people not just in these cities, but in the surrounding areas, to take the assessment now.o&nbsp;&nbsp;We will begin contacting folks to schedule testing in the near future.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, I want to let folks know that the assessment is now available in Spanish.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Again, the website is&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cb5946ec503df4830198808d7ead94820%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637236091244145292&amp;sdata=Ayox44f60Vqq9OoZONcQ6dtjxz5fK%2BySNi1duBMCMFQ%3D&amp;reserved=0">TestNebraska.com</a>. After taking the assessment, please go on social media and use #TestNebraskaChallenge to challenge five friends to do the same!Director Goins: Business Task Force·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The State of Nebraska is working closely with business leaders to restore growth to our economy.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As we do, I want Nebraskans to know that we’re committed to resuming business operations safely and in keeping with public health guidelines.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The spirit of togetherness and willingness to cooperate among our state’s businesses, banks, ag community, and economic developers has long been a strength of&nbsp;Nebraska.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This strong partnership doesn’t happen by chance. It takes ongoing communication, a commitment to collaborate, and dedication to support one another.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Today, I’m excited to announce a new task force to lead the way in bolstering cooperation among Nebraska businesses.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our task force has already engaged advisors in various industry associations, such as cosmetology, restaurants, and retail.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’re also working closely with our Chambers of Commerce, who are intimately acquainted with the concerns of our business community.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Together, we’re working to come up with guidelines that prioritize safety. At the same time, we want to allow business to take place as smoothly as possible&nbsp;given the circumstances.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If community leaders have ideas, we encourage you to share them via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:DED.Info@nebraska.gov">DED.Info@nebraska.gov</a>.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clear communication will be key as we start to roll out best practices for various industries.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Please note that the virus is affecting our communities with varying intensity and at different times. We’re working to develop guidelines that are sensitive to these regional&nbsp;variations.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Again, we encourage questions and dialogue. DED is ready and willing to help. Please contact us at&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18004266505">800-426-6505</a>&nbsp;with your input. Together, we’re going to get Nebraska growing&nbsp;again.Full video of today’s press briefing is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/n943zkssex2mz7z/Press%20Conf%204.27.2020.mp4?dl=0">clicking here</a>.

Ricketts announces business task force to “Get Nebraska Growing”, provides update on Test Nebraska Initiative

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskamed.com/doctors/jasmine-r-marcelin">Jasmine Marcelin, MD</a>, Infectious diseases expert, Nebraska Medicine

To track the spread of the coronavirus, researchers are developing antibody tests using blood samples. The COVID-19 antibody test is one way to identify people who have been exposed to the virus – even if they don’t show any symptoms.

While COVID-19 antibody tests are currently in development, scientists have used antibody tests for other illnesses for years. Find out how antibodies could potentially be used to detect, prevent or even treat COVID-19.

Blood tests detect coronavirus antibodies

Antibody tests – also called serological tests – detect antibodies in a person’s blood.

Your body produces antibodies to defend against bacteria, viruses and anything else your immune system recognizes as foreign. In a COVID-19 antibody test, researchers determine if a collected blood sample has antibodies which are targeted to coronavirus. If antibody testing becomes accessible, tracking the coronavirus (and slowing its spread) will become easier.&nbsp;

Antibody testing can slow the spread of COVID-19 by:

Currently, the nasal swab test is the only test widely available to diagnose COVID-19. In a nasal swab test, researchers detect the genetic material of the virus to see if a person is actively infected with COVID-19. As of today, antibody tests do not yet diagnose the active disease of COVID-19.

All-purpose defender or harboring a grudge

Antibody tests show if a person has been infected with the coronavirus. But the body produces different types of antibodies. Some antibodies are produced quickly during a new illness to neutralize the invader (called IgM antibodies). Think of them as all-purpose defenders that fight all kinds of diseases.

It takes a little longer to produce a different type of antibody. Called IgG antibodies, these “memory” antibodies harbor a long-lasting grudge. This kind of antibody helps your body respond to the same invader much faster if you encounter it again.

The body needs time to develop antibodies dedicated to fighting COVID-19. So, looking for antibodies too early after infection may produce a negative result. Based on available data, the current tests can detect these particular coronavirus antibodies as early as five days or as long as 11 days into COVID-19 illness. That means a test on day one of infection will come back negative, because the test was done too early.

We don’t know yet how many asymptomatic cases are out there (people who have the COVID-19 illness but show no symptoms). Asymptomatic people also will develop these coronavirus-fighting antibodies in their blood. Antibody blood tests can help us know how much the coronavirus has spread, which makes it easier to contain the virus.

Usually, once you develop antibodies you can't develop a particular infection again, meaning you have immunity. Depending on the illness, immunity can last for several months or even a lifetime.&nbsp;Lifetime immunity is why most 50-year-olds aren't in danger of catching chickenpox again. Catching, and then fighting, chickenpox once as a small child produces antibodies harboring a grudge against chickenpox. Children given a vaccine also produce these lifetime chickenpox fighters.

With COVID-19, we don't yet know how many antibodies are "enough" to deem someone as potentially immune or for how long they may have immunity. This means, we don't know if someone who has recovered from COVID-19 can get re-infected and become sick again.

To answer these questions, researchers need to complete studies of patients who have antibodies and had a known exposure to the coronavirus. It will take some time to better understand COVID-19 immunity.

Antibodies may be used to treat or prevent COVID-19

Researchers are testing whether transferring coronavirus-fighting antibodies can treat or prevent COVID-19. People who have already recovered from COVID-19 would donate plasma containing coronavirus-fighting antibodies. Then we'd transfer these grudge-holding antibodies to people who are sick from (or exposed to) COVID-19. &nbsp;

Current challenges to using antibodies to prevent or treat COVID-19:

To contain the coronavirus, tracking who may have immunity is important. The new antibody tests detect coronavirus antibodies in a person’s blood, which may mean that person was exposed, and may have immunity to COVID-19.

At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t test everyone. But, if we can increase the availability of antibody blood testing, it would help everyone know who has been exposed to the coronavirus. These antibody tests are easier to complete than nasal swab tests, which is great news for the community.&nbsp;

Hopefully, accurate antibody tests will be widely available soon. The FDA has recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/important-information-use-serological-antibody-tests-covid-19-letter-health-care-providers" target="_blank">authorized blood testing for COVID-19 antibodies</a>, and a few centers are already doing trials with COVID-19 patients.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskamed.com/doctors/jasmine-r-marcelin">Jasmine Marcelin, MD</a>, Infectious diseases expert, Nebraska Medicine<figure>
 <img src="https://www.nebraskamed.com/sites/default/files/documents/covid-19/antibodies_blog.gif" alt="UNMC Photo" />
 <figcaption>UNMC Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>To track the spread of the coronavirus, researchers are developing antibody tests using blood samples. The COVID-19 antibody test is one way to identify people who have been exposed to the virus – even if they don’t show any symptoms.While COVID-19 antibody tests are currently in development, scientists have used antibody tests for other illnesses for years. Find out how antibodies could potentially be used to detect, prevent or even treat COVID-19.<h2>Blood tests detect coronavirus antibodies</h2>Antibody tests – also called serological tests – detect antibodies in a person’s blood.Your body produces antibodies to defend against bacteria, viruses and anything else your immune system recognizes as foreign. In a COVID-19 antibody test, researchers determine if a collected blood sample has antibodies which are targeted to coronavirus. If antibody testing becomes accessible, tracking the coronavirus (and slowing its spread) will become easier.&nbsp;Antibody testing can slow the spread of COVID-19 by:<ol>
 <li>Identifying how prevalent the infection actually is in the community.</li><li>Speeding up testing in areas where nasal swab testing (PCR-based) is not available.</li><li>Providing passive immunity by transferring coronavirus-specific antibodies.</li><li>Creating the ability to develop candidates for a vaccine.</li>
 </ol>Currently, the nasal swab test is the only test widely available to diagnose COVID-19. In a nasal swab test, researchers detect the genetic material of the virus to see if a person is actively infected with COVID-19. As of today, antibody tests do not yet diagnose the active disease of COVID-19.<h2>All-purpose defender or harboring a grudge</h2>Antibody tests show if a person has been infected with the coronavirus. But the body produces different types of antibodies. Some antibodies are produced quickly during a new illness to neutralize the invader (called IgM antibodies). Think of them as all-purpose defenders that fight all kinds of diseases.It takes a little longer to produce a different type of antibody. Called IgG antibodies, these “memory” antibodies harbor a long-lasting grudge. This kind of antibody helps your body respond to the same invader much faster if you encounter it again.The body needs time to develop antibodies dedicated to fighting COVID-19. So, looking for antibodies too early after infection may produce a negative result. Based on available data, the current tests can detect these particular coronavirus antibodies as early as five days or as long as 11 days into COVID-19 illness. That means a test on day one of infection will come back negative, because the test was done too early.We don’t know yet how many asymptomatic cases are out there (people who have the COVID-19 illness but show no symptoms). Asymptomatic people also will develop these coronavirus-fighting antibodies in their blood. Antibody blood tests can help us know how much the coronavirus has spread, which makes it easier to contain the virus.<h2>Antibodies give immunity</h2>Usually, once you develop antibodies you can't develop a particular infection again, meaning you have immunity. Depending on the illness, immunity can last for several months or even a lifetime.&nbsp;Lifetime immunity is why most 50-year-olds aren't in danger of catching chickenpox again. Catching, and then fighting, chickenpox once as a small child produces antibodies harboring a grudge against chickenpox. Children given a vaccine also produce these lifetime chickenpox fighters.With COVID-19, we don't yet know how many antibodies are "enough" to deem someone as potentially immune or for how long they may have immunity. This means, we don't know if someone who has recovered from COVID-19 can get re-infected and become sick again.To answer these questions, researchers need to complete studies of patients who have antibodies and had a known exposure to the coronavirus. It will take some time to better understand COVID-19 immunity.<h2>Antibodies may be used to treat or prevent COVID-19</h2>Researchers are testing whether transferring coronavirus-fighting antibodies can treat or prevent COVID-19. People who have already recovered from COVID-19 would donate plasma containing coronavirus-fighting antibodies. Then we'd transfer these grudge-holding antibodies to people who are sick from (or exposed to) COVID-19. &nbsp;Current challenges to using antibodies to prevent or treat COVID-19:<ol>
 <li>Will plasma donated from a person recovering from COVID-19 help?&nbsp;</li><li>If it does work, can we scale it up quickly?</li>
 </ol><h2>A brief summary</h2>To contain the coronavirus, tracking who may have immunity is important. The new antibody tests detect coronavirus antibodies in a person’s blood, which may mean that person was exposed, and may have immunity to COVID-19.At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t test everyone. But, if we can increase the availability of antibody blood testing, it would help everyone know who has been exposed to the coronavirus. These antibody tests are easier to complete than nasal swab tests, which is great news for the community.&nbsp;Hopefully, accurate antibody tests will be widely available soon. The FDA has recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/important-information-use-serological-antibody-tests-covid-19-letter-health-care-providers" target="_blank">authorized blood testing for COVID-19 antibodies</a>, and a few centers are already doing trials with COVID-19 patients.

Antibodies: blood warriors with a grudge

OMAHA (Nebraska Medicine)-If you need hand sanitizer and the store shelves are empty, you can make your own within minutes, with just a few ingredients.

Here's what you need to make your own hand sanitizer

An empty container, such as a three-ounce container from a travel toiletries kit

Essential oil (optional, if you want to add a fragrance to the sanitizer

Directions for making your own hand sanitizer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. If you want a sanitizer with a higher alcohol percentage, decrease the amount of aloe vera to 1/4 cup.

Keep in mind, hand sanitizer is the second-best way to keep your digits germ-free. The best way is properly washing your hands.

OMAHA (Nebraska Medicine)-If you need hand sanitizer and the store shelves are empty, you can make your own within minutes, with just a few ingredients.<h2>Here's what you need to make your own hand sanitizer</h2>Rubbing alcohol (91% isopropyl)Aloe vera gelMixing bowl, spoon or whiskAn empty container, such as a three-ounce container from a travel toiletries kitEssential oil (optional, if you want to add a fragrance to the sanitizer<h2>Directions for making your own hand sanitizer</h2><ol>
 <li>Add 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol to the mixing bowl.</li><li>Add 1/3 cup of aloe vera to the bowl.</li><li>Stir until the rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel are well blended.</li><li>Next, you can mix in eight to 10 drops of the optional scented essential oil, if you desire.</li><li>Pour the hand sanitizer mixture into a small container and label it “hand sanitizer.”</li>
 </ol>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. If you want a sanitizer with a higher alcohol percentage, decrease the amount of aloe vera to 1/4 cup.Keep in mind, hand sanitizer is the second-best way to keep your digits germ-free. The best way is properly washing your hands.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bUp-wnLT6ew" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

🎥Make your own hand sanitizer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Meat isn't going to disappear from supermarkets because of outbreaks of the coronavirus among workers at U.S. slaughterhouses. But as the meat plants struggle to remain open, consumers could face less selection and slightly higher prices.

Industry leaders acknowledge that the U.S. food chain has rarely been so stressed and that no one is sure about the future, even as they try to dispel concerns about shortages.

On Sunday, the meat processing giant Tyson Foods ran a full-page advertisement in the&nbsp;New York&nbsp;Times and other newspapers outlining the difficulty of producing meat while keeping more than 100,000 workers safe and shutting some plants.

“This means one thing — the food supply chain is vulnerable,” the statement said. “As pork, beef and chicken plants are being forced to close, even for short periods of time, millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain.”

Company spokesman Gary Mickelson said the Tyson family thought it was important to explain their perspective.

“The letter encourages government leaders to unite to address food supply chain challenges," Mickelson said. "We are taking a proactive approach to balance safety and production by moving aggressively with testing and plant closures when necessary."

COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, has infected hundreds of workers at meat-processing plants and forced some of the largest to close and others to slow production. While the output at beef and poultry plants has diminished, pork plants in the Midwest have been hit especially hard. The viral outbreaks have persisted despite efforts by the meat companies to keep workers at home with pay if they become sick.

The 15 largest pork-packing plants account for 60 percent of all pork processed, so when even one of those plants closes for days or weeks, the consequences ripple across the industry. That has become abundantly clear with two of the nation's biggest plants now closed: Tyson suspended operations at its plant in Waterloo,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>. And Smithfield Foods halted production at its plant in Sioux Falls,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota">South Dakota</a>. Each plant can butcher nearly 20,000 hogs a day. Some plants have reopened days after cleaning.

The result is that the nation's pork processing capacity had declined by about 25% as of last week, said Steve Meyer, an industry economist with Kerns and Associates in Ames, Iowa.

Sarah Little, a spokeswoman for the North American Meat Institute, an industry trade group, said: “It’s down across the board right now, so the next couple of weeks we should see how the system works. It’s never been tested like this before.”

A beef production plant in Green Bay,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wisconsin">Wisconsin</a>, is the latest to shut down because of infections among employees. JBS USA said the JBS Packerland plant, which employs 1,200, would be closed temporarily. The Green Bay Press Gazette reported that at least 189 COVID-19 infections had been linked to JBS Packerland as of Friday.

Nationally, although the reduced meat supply is expected to cause consumer prices to rise, expectations are that the increases will be slight. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said late last week that it expects beef prices to climb 1% to 2% this year, poultry as much as 1.5% and pork between by from 2% and 3%.

The agency acknowledged that consumer buying patterns change weekly and that some products face supply-chain disruptions that could affect prices. But the USDA said its planned $3 billion purchase of fresh produce, dairy and meat should help stabilize prices. The government will work with food distributors to provide the purchased products to food banks, community and faith-based organizations and other nonprofits serving the needy.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said last week that 10 U.S. food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died and that an estimated 5,000 are sick or have been exposed to the virus while working near someone who tested positive.

Marc Perrone, the union president, said 13 plants in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/indiana">Indiana</a>, Iowa,&nbsp;Minnesota,&nbsp;Missouri,&nbsp;Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin and Alberta, Canada, have been closed at least temporarily because of the pandemic. Those union plants represent about 10 percent of beef production and 25 percent of pork production, the union said.

The union is urging state and federal officials to ensure that workers have access to protective equipment, mandate social distancing at work and halt federal waivers that allow faster line speeds.

Many employees of the meatpacking plants fear going to work, said Margarita Heredia, who has worked at the JBS pork processing plant in Marshalltown, Iowa, for 11 years. She joined a UFCW union call with reporters to discuss the pandemic's effects on workers.

Heredia credited the company with improving sanitation, including treating hallways and common areas with bleach and placing hand sanitizer stations around the plant. JBS also now takes workers' temperatures and encourages those who are sick to stay home. But she said the company increased pay by $4 an hour from April 20 through May as an incentive for healthy employees to go to work.

“Even then, we’re still shorthanded, but we are trying to do our best,” she said.

The national slowdown in meat processing has surfaced in federal statistics. The daily cattle slaughter for the week of April 13 fell nearly 24 percent from the same period a year ago. Pig slaughter was down 13 percent. And given the most recent plant closures, those figures have likely fallen further.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587239834149.png" alt=" Meat on sale at a grocery store in Garden City, Kansas. Four large meatpacking plants employ thousands of workers in southwest Kansas. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Meat on sale at a grocery store in Garden City, Kansas. Four large meatpacking plants employ thousands of workers in southwest Kansas. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Meat isn't going to disappear from supermarkets because of outbreaks of the coronavirus among workers at U.S. slaughterhouses. But as the meat plants struggle to remain open, consumers could face less selection and slightly higher prices.Industry leaders acknowledge that the U.S. food chain has rarely been so stressed and that no one is sure about the future, even as they try to dispel concerns about shortages.On Sunday, the meat processing giant Tyson Foods ran a full-page advertisement in the&nbsp;New York&nbsp;Times and other newspapers outlining the difficulty of producing meat while keeping more than 100,000 workers safe and shutting some plants.“This means one thing — the food supply chain is vulnerable,” the statement said. “As pork, beef and chicken plants are being forced to close, even for short periods of time, millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain.”Company spokesman Gary Mickelson said the Tyson family thought it was important to explain their perspective.“The letter encourages government leaders to unite to address food supply chain challenges," Mickelson said. "We are taking a proactive approach to balance safety and production by moving aggressively with testing and plant closures when necessary."COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, has infected hundreds of workers at meat-processing plants and forced some of the largest to close and others to slow production. While the output at beef and poultry plants has diminished, pork plants in the Midwest have been hit especially hard. The viral outbreaks have persisted despite efforts by the meat companies to keep workers at home with pay if they become sick.The 15 largest pork-packing plants account for 60 percent of all pork processed, so when even one of those plants closes for days or weeks, the consequences ripple across the industry. That has become abundantly clear with two of the nation's biggest plants now closed: Tyson suspended operations at its plant in Waterloo,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>. And Smithfield Foods halted production at its plant in Sioux Falls,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota">South Dakota</a>. Each plant can butcher nearly 20,000 hogs a day. Some plants have reopened days after cleaning.The result is that the nation's pork processing capacity had declined by about 25% as of last week, said Steve Meyer, an industry economist with Kerns and Associates in Ames, Iowa.Sarah Little, a spokeswoman for the North American Meat Institute, an industry trade group, said: “It’s down across the board right now, so the next couple of weeks we should see how the system works. It’s never been tested like this before.”A beef production plant in Green Bay,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wisconsin">Wisconsin</a>, is the latest to shut down because of infections among employees. JBS USA said the JBS Packerland plant, which employs 1,200, would be closed temporarily. The Green Bay Press Gazette reported that at least 189 COVID-19 infections had been linked to JBS Packerland as of Friday.Nationally, although the reduced meat supply is expected to cause consumer prices to rise, expectations are that the increases will be slight. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said late last week that it expects beef prices to climb 1% to 2% this year, poultry as much as 1.5% and pork between by from 2% and 3%.The agency acknowledged that consumer buying patterns change weekly and that some products face supply-chain disruptions that could affect prices. But the USDA said its planned $3 billion purchase of fresh produce, dairy and meat should help stabilize prices. The government will work with food distributors to provide the purchased products to food banks, community and faith-based organizations and other nonprofits serving the needy.The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said last week that 10 U.S. food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died and that an estimated 5,000 are sick or have been exposed to the virus while working near someone who tested positive.Marc Perrone, the union president, said 13 plants in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/indiana">Indiana</a>, Iowa,&nbsp;Minnesota,&nbsp;Missouri,&nbsp;Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin and Alberta, Canada, have been closed at least temporarily because of the pandemic. Those union plants represent about 10 percent of beef production and 25 percent of pork production, the union said.The union is urging state and federal officials to ensure that workers have access to protective equipment, mandate social distancing at work and halt federal waivers that allow faster line speeds.Many employees of the meatpacking plants fear going to work, said Margarita Heredia, who has worked at the JBS pork processing plant in Marshalltown, Iowa, for 11 years. She joined a UFCW union call with reporters to discuss the pandemic's effects on workers.Heredia credited the company with improving sanitation, including treating hallways and common areas with bleach and placing hand sanitizer stations around the plant. JBS also now takes workers' temperatures and encourages those who are sick to stay home. But she said the company increased pay by $4 an hour from April 20 through May as an incentive for healthy employees to go to work.“Even then, we’re still shorthanded, but we are trying to do our best,” she said.The national slowdown in meat processing has surfaced in federal statistics. The daily cattle slaughter for the week of April 13 fell nearly 24 percent from the same period a year ago. Pig slaughter was down 13 percent. And given the most recent plant closures, those figures have likely fallen further.

Virus is expected to reduce meat selection, raise prices

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) - A man convicted of killing a Nebraska college student whose body has never been found has seen his sentencing postponed as court officials adhere to measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

Joshua Keadle's sentencing, which had been set to take place Wednesday, has been reset for May 21 in Gage County District Court, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/keadle-sentencing-for-second-degree-murder-of-ty-thomas-delayed-to-may/article_7fcb6bb3-2cc3-5fa4-98a0-b77eb21d1424.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Keadle was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e7b35826c6520fece2eb66975e3a42a5" target="_blank">found guilty</a>&nbsp;of second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Tyler Thomas, who disappeared Dec. 3, 2010, after she left a party near Peru State College in southeastern Nebraska.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that Keadle, who was a Peru State classmate of Thomas', told authorities he and Thomas had sex in his vehicle the night she disappeared. Keadle later told investigators he and Thomas argued and that Thomas threatened to report he had raped her.

Keadle has maintained he left Thomas alive at a Missouri River boat ramp near campus.

Keadle faces 20 years to life when he's sentenced next month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579194530122.png" alt="Josh Keadle" />
 <figcaption>Josh Keadle</figcaption>
 </figure>BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) - A man convicted of killing a Nebraska college student whose body has never been found has seen his sentencing postponed as court officials adhere to measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.Joshua Keadle's sentencing, which had been set to take place Wednesday, has been reset for May 21 in Gage County District Court, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/keadle-sentencing-for-second-degree-murder-of-ty-thomas-delayed-to-may/article_7fcb6bb3-2cc3-5fa4-98a0-b77eb21d1424.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.Keadle was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e7b35826c6520fece2eb66975e3a42a5" target="_blank">found guilty</a>&nbsp;of second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Tyler Thomas, who disappeared Dec. 3, 2010, after she left a party near Peru State College in southeastern Nebraska.Prosecutors argued during the trial that Keadle, who was a Peru State classmate of Thomas', told authorities he and Thomas had sex in his vehicle the night she disappeared. Keadle later told investigators he and Thomas argued and that Thomas threatened to report he had raped her.Keadle has maintained he left Thomas alive at a Missouri River boat ramp near campus.Keadle faces 20 years to life when he's sentenced next month.

Virus measures postpone sentencing in Nebraska murder case

BURWELL, Neb. – Two new cases of COVID-19 have been reported to Loup Basin Public Health Department (LBPHD).&nbsp;

The first case is a female in her 70s from Howard County. The second case is a male in his 20s from Howard County. Patient information is considered protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and will not be provided to protect the patient's privacy.&nbsp;

Last week, Governor Ricketts announced TestNebraska.com which has three steps: assess, test and track. Contact tracing (track) is done to minimize the spread and is important work done by local health departments. It is known that a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 may be exposing others in the 48 hours before their symptom onset. Contact tracing looks at that timeframe to identify those who have been exposed and asks those individuals who were in contact with the positive case to quarantine and monitor for symptoms.&nbsp;

To help improve this process, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) CEO Dannette Smith announced 325 teammates from DHHS are being trained to assist in this vital job. These teams will be embedded within local health departments and support LBPHD’s role of keeping our citizens safe.&nbsp;

You can keep up to date with Governor Ricketts announcements by tuning in to his daily briefings at 2 p.m. on netnebraska.org. For additional information on what is occurring within LBPHD’s district, you can visit our website (lbphd.org) or Facebook page.&nbsp;

BURWELL, Neb. – Two new cases of COVID-19 have been reported to Loup Basin Public Health Department (LBPHD).&nbsp;The first case is a female in her 70s from Howard County. The second case is a male in his 20s from Howard County. Patient information is considered protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and will not be provided to protect the patient's privacy.&nbsp;Last week, Governor Ricketts announced TestNebraska.com which has three steps: assess, test and track. Contact tracing (track) is done to minimize the spread and is important work done by local health departments. It is known that a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 may be exposing others in the 48 hours before their symptom onset. Contact tracing looks at that timeframe to identify those who have been exposed and asks those individuals who were in contact with the positive case to quarantine and monitor for symptoms.&nbsp;To help improve this process, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) CEO Dannette Smith announced 325 teammates from DHHS are being trained to assist in this vital job. These teams will be embedded within local health departments and support LBPHD’s role of keeping our citizens safe.&nbsp;You can keep up to date with Governor Ricketts announcements by tuning in to his daily briefings at 2 p.m. on netnebraska.org. For additional information on what is occurring within LBPHD’s district, you can visit our website (lbphd.org) or Facebook page.&nbsp;

Loup Basin Public Health Dept. announces 2 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — State and local governments across the United States have obtained about 30 million doses of a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump to treat patients with the new coronavirus, despite warnings from doctors that more research is needed. 

The states acquired the medication as Trump regularly promoted it from the podium in White House briefings. 

The Associated Press' reporting shows at least 22 states and Washington, D.C., secured shipments of the drug, hydroxychloroquine. 

Sixteen of those states were won by Trump in 2016.

 Five of them, including North Carolina and Louisiana, are now led by Democratic governors.&nbsp;

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — State and local governments across the United States have obtained about 30 million doses of a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump to treat patients with the new coronavirus, despite warnings from doctors that more research is needed. The states acquired the medication as Trump regularly promoted it from the podium in White House briefings. The Associated Press' reporting shows at least 22 states and Washington, D.C., secured shipments of the drug, hydroxychloroquine. Sixteen of those states were won by Trump in 2016. Five of them, including North Carolina and Louisiana, are now led by Democratic governors.&nbsp;

U.S. states build stockpiles of malaria drug touted by Trump

South Dakota health officials reported about 50 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and one new death tied to the coronavirus. 

About 1,850 of the state’s  2,212 coronavirus cases have been reported in Minnehaha County, which is South Dakota’s most populous county and the location of a large outbreak at a pork processing plant. 

More than 1,000 COVID-19 cases have been tied to the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls. 

One new death was reported Sunday, leaving the South Dakota total at 11.

 Health officials said 64 people were hospitalized.&nbsp;

South Dakota health officials reported about 50 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and one new death tied to the coronavirus. About 1,850 of the state’s 2,212 coronavirus cases have been reported in Minnehaha County, which is South Dakota’s most populous county and the location of a large outbreak at a pork processing plant. More than 1,000 COVID-19 cases have been tied to the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls. One new death was reported Sunday, leaving the South Dakota total at 11. Health officials said 64 people were hospitalized.&nbsp;

South Dakota COVID-19 cases grow, additional death reported

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A staff member at a Nebraska prison in Lincoln has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Sunday.

The Department of Correctional Services said the staffer works for its Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln and has been isolated at home for five days.

"The individual in this case has indicated no close contact with any other staff members of inmates," Department Director Scott Frakes said in a statement.

Frakes said the prison will take additional precautions and monitor the temperatures of the people in the housing unit where the employee worked.

This is the second known case of coronavirus among department employees. The department said no inmates have tested positive.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A staff member at a Nebraska prison in Lincoln has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Sunday.The Department of Correctional Services said the staffer works for its Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln and has been isolated at home for five days."The individual in this case has indicated no close contact with any other staff members of inmates," Department Director Scott Frakes said in a statement.Frakes said the prison will take additional precautions and monitor the temperatures of the people in the housing unit where the employee worked.This is the second known case of coronavirus among department employees. The department said no inmates have tested positive.

Nebraska prison staffer tests positive for coronavirus

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Three new COVID-19 related deaths were reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Sunday.

The Dakota County Health Department reported one new death, that of a person in their 60s.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth/">https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth/&nbsp;</a>

The Central District Health Department reported one new death in Hamilton County.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/">https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/&nbsp;</a>

A third death was reported Sunday. Further details will be forthcoming.

Jefferson County reported its first COVID-19 case on Sunday.

Local health departments are reporting deaths and cases in their jurisdictions. In the event of a discrepancy between DHHS dashboard data and deaths or cases reported by local public health officials, data reported by the local health department should be considered the most up to date.

The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 56, according to the DHHS data dashboard. Today's state case total, as of 5:45 pm Central Daylight Time, is 3,028. Nebraska's COVID-19 case totals are updated daily at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;

3All 93 Nebraska counties are now covered by state Directed Health Measures (DHMs).&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>. It's critical that Nebraskans follow these enforceable state Directed Health Measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. These measures help protect each other and those who are more vulnerable to severe illness and death, and help hospitals and clinics from being overwhelmed so they can continue to provide care to families, friends and neighbors who need it.

In addition to the state-issued DHM, some Local Health Departments have issued additional restrictions -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

1Governor Pete Ricketts recently unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/">TestNebraska&nbsp;</a>, a public-private partnership designed to increase testing capacity and #CrushTheCurve in Nebraska. The Governor is urging all Nebraskans to take the assessment provided on the TestNebraska website to help identify cases of COVID-19 in the state. After taking the assessment participants who fit the criteria will be notified via phone or email that they qualify to be tested for COVID-19. Nebraskans can take the assessment at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/">https://www.testnebraska.com/&nbsp;</a>

DHHS supports Governor Ricketts in urging Nebraskans to follow the&nbsp;Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.&nbsp;

1Recent studies show that a significant portion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and those who eventually develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html&nbsp;</a>.

1Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Public health officials continue to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus.

1Here's where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC's website –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CDT, 7 days a week.

1DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC's website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Three new COVID-19 related deaths were reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Sunday.The Dakota County Health Department reported one new death, that of a person in their 60s.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth/">https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth/&nbsp;</a>The Central District Health Department reported one new death in Hamilton County.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/">https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/&nbsp;</a>A third death was reported Sunday. Further details will be forthcoming.Jefferson County reported its first COVID-19 case on Sunday.Local health departments are reporting deaths and cases in their jurisdictions. In the event of a discrepancy between DHHS dashboard data and deaths or cases reported by local public health officials, data reported by the local health department should be considered the most up to date.The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 56, according to the DHHS data dashboard. Today's state case total, as of 5:45 pm Central Daylight Time, is 3,028. Nebraska's COVID-19 case totals are updated daily at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;3All 93 Nebraska counties are now covered by state Directed Health Measures (DHMs).&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>. It's critical that Nebraskans follow these enforceable state Directed Health Measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. These measures help protect each other and those who are more vulnerable to severe illness and death, and help hospitals and clinics from being overwhelmed so they can continue to provide care to families, friends and neighbors who need it.In addition to the state-issued DHM, some Local Health Departments have issued additional restrictions -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx">http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Directed-Health-Measures.aspx</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;1Governor Pete Ricketts recently unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/">TestNebraska&nbsp;</a>, a public-private partnership designed to increase testing capacity and #CrushTheCurve in Nebraska. The Governor is urging all Nebraskans to take the assessment provided on the TestNebraska website to help identify cases of COVID-19 in the state. After taking the assessment participants who fit the criteria will be notified via phone or email that they qualify to be tested for COVID-19. Nebraskans can take the assessment at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/">https://www.testnebraska.com/&nbsp;</a>DHHS supports Governor Ricketts in urging Nebraskans to follow the&nbsp;Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.&nbsp;1<ol>
 <li>Stay home.&nbsp; No non-essential errands and no social gatherings.&nbsp; Respect the ten-person limits.</li><li>Socially distance your work.&nbsp; Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.&nbsp;</li><li>Shop alone.&nbsp; Do this only once a week and do not take your family with you.</li><li>Help kids social distance. Play at home, no group sports and no playgrounds.</li><li>Help seniors stay at home.&nbsp; This can be done by shopping for them.&nbsp; Do not visit long-term facilities.&nbsp;</li><li>Exercise daily.&nbsp; Do your best to stay as healthy and safe as you can.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>1Recent studies show that a significant portion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and those who eventually develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html&nbsp;</a>.1Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Public health officials continue to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus.1Here's where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC's website –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CDT, 7 days a week.1DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC's website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

COVID-19 claims more lives on Sunday with 3 new deaths reported



Central District Health Department reports that as of today, April 26, 2020, the number of positive COVID-19 cases confirmed by a laboratory is 931, and there are 25 deaths.

There are 8 cases in Merrick County, 47 cases in Hamilton County and 876 in Hall County.



Central District Health Department reports that as of today, April 26, 2020, the number of positive COVID-19 cases confirmed by a laboratory is 931, and there are 25 deaths.There are 8 cases in Merrick County, 47 cases in Hamilton County and 876 in Hall County.

Central District Health Dept. reports 931 confirmed cases, 25 deaths

From the CDC<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587948606729.jpeg" alt="CDC Graphic" />
 <figcaption>CDC Graphic</figcaption>
 </figure>

Is it coronavirus, flu, cold or allergies?

VALLEJO, Calif. (Times-Herald) — A planning commissioner of Vallejo, California, resigned after throwing his pet cat and apparently drinking a beer during a Zoom meeting between city officials. 

During the teleconference, Chris Platzer announced, “I’d like to introduce my cat,” and then picked up his pet before suddenly tossing the animal off-screen. 

The Times-Herald says Platzer was seen sipping from a green bottle during the meeting. 

In an email to the newspaper, Platzer apologized and said he has resigned from the planning commission, effective immediately. The resignation comes days before the City Council was set to consider a resolution removing him from the panel.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587947678710.png" alt="Bill Kuffrey (publicdomainpictures.net)" />
 <figcaption>Bill Kuffrey (publicdomainpictures.net)</figcaption>
 </figure>VALLEJO, Calif. (Times-Herald) — A planning commissioner of Vallejo, California, resigned after throwing his pet cat and apparently drinking a beer during a Zoom meeting between city officials. During the teleconference, Chris Platzer announced, “I’d like to introduce my cat,” and then picked up his pet before suddenly tossing the animal off-screen. The Times-Herald says Platzer was seen sipping from a green bottle during the meeting. In an email to the newspaper, Platzer apologized and said he has resigned from the planning commission, effective immediately. The resignation comes days before the City Council was set to consider a resolution removing him from the panel.&nbsp;

Official resigns after throwing cat during online meeting

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska churches are taking a cautious approach to resuming worship services even though the state will allow them to gather their members again starting next month.

The Rev. Michael McCabe of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lincoln said he's looking forward to seeing his congregation again on Sunday mornings, but he's not sure exactly when that will happen. Gov. Pete Ricketts has announced plans to begin easing restrictions in the state starting May 4, including allowing churches to reopen if they take certain precautions.

The governor's office said churches will need to refrain from passing items between worshipers and people from different households will have to sit 6 feet apart.

For now, McCabe's church will continue to worship online.

"Health comes first at this point in time," McCabe said.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha said services will be allowed again beginning May 4, but the archbishop is leaving the reopening decision up to pastors and their parish councils.

"I am grateful that soon we will be able to welcome parishioners back to our churches for Mass," Archbishop George Lucas said. "We will work within the necessary restrictions for everyone's safety."

At Christ Community Church in west Omaha, the Rev. Mark Ashton said the church hasn't decided when it will start having services in its worship center again, but it won't rush to restart services partly because it has a strong online option. The church has about 3,000 members, and its worship center holds about 1,600.

"If we were to do appropriate social distancing, really we're talking more like about 400 or 500 would be able to fit in there," Ashton said. "So we're asking some strategic questions about people's worship experience and then we would have to expand the number of services to be able to accommodate a similar number of people."

Nebraska health officials said the number of coronavirus cases in the state increased by 311 this weekend to at least 2,732 cases. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

Three additional deaths were also reported in Nebraska on Saturday, so the total of deaths rose to 53.

Hall County, which is home to Grand Island, continues to lead the state in COVID-19 cases with 797. The much more populous Douglas County, which includes the state's largest city of Omaha, has 382 cases.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska churches are taking a cautious approach to resuming worship services even though the state will allow them to gather their members again starting next month.The Rev. Michael McCabe of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lincoln said he's looking forward to seeing his congregation again on Sunday mornings, but he's not sure exactly when that will happen. Gov. Pete Ricketts has announced plans to begin easing restrictions in the state starting May 4, including allowing churches to reopen if they take certain precautions.The governor's office said churches will need to refrain from passing items between worshipers and people from different households will have to sit 6 feet apart.For now, McCabe's church will continue to worship online."Health comes first at this point in time," McCabe said.The Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha said services will be allowed again beginning May 4, but the archbishop is leaving the reopening decision up to pastors and their parish councils."I am grateful that soon we will be able to welcome parishioners back to our churches for Mass," Archbishop George Lucas said. "We will work within the necessary restrictions for everyone's safety."At Christ Community Church in west Omaha, the Rev. Mark Ashton said the church hasn't decided when it will start having services in its worship center again, but it won't rush to restart services partly because it has a strong online option. The church has about 3,000 members, and its worship center holds about 1,600."If we were to do appropriate social distancing, really we're talking more like about 400 or 500 would be able to fit in there," Ashton said. "So we're asking some strategic questions about people's worship experience and then we would have to expand the number of services to be able to accommodate a similar number of people."Nebraska health officials said the number of coronavirus cases in the state increased by 311 this weekend to at least 2,732 cases. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.Three additional deaths were also reported in Nebraska on Saturday, so the total of deaths rose to 53.Hall County, which is home to Grand Island, continues to lead the state in COVID-19 cases with 797. The much more populous Douglas County, which includes the state's largest city of Omaha, has 382 cases.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.

Nebraska churches cautious about resuming worship services

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials said 311 more coronavirus cases were reported to give the state at least 2,732 cases.

The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

Three additional deaths were also reported in Nebraska on Saturday, so the total of deaths rose to 53. Two of the new deaths were reported in Hall County and one was in Hamilton County.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has announced plans to begin easing some restrictions in 59 of the state's 93 counties starting next month. The changes will allow restaurants to reopen their dining rooms as long as they limit crowds to less than half their capacity and maintain social distancing.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska health officials said 311 more coronavirus cases were reported to give the state at least 2,732 cases.The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.Three additional deaths were also reported in Nebraska on Saturday, so the total of deaths rose to 53. Two of the new deaths were reported in Hall County and one was in Hamilton County.Hall County, which is home to Grand Island, continues to lead the state in COVID-19 cases with 797. The much more populous Douglas County, which includes the state's largest city of Omaha, has 382 cases.Gov. Pete Ricketts has announced plans to begin easing some restrictions in 59 of the state's 93 counties starting next month. The changes will allow restaurants to reopen their dining rooms as long as they limit crowds to less than half their capacity and maintain social distancing.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.

Nebraska reports 2,732 cases of COVID-19 and 53 deaths

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada's governor shuttered the glitzy casinos and nightlife attractions of Las Vegas in mid-March, leaving much of the famous gambling mecca empty, barricaded and abandoned. 

Throngs of visitors who made it tough to maneuver on sidewalks have been replaced by the occasional jogger or skateboarder. 

Many locals who typically shy away competing with crowds of tourists on the Las Vegas Strip now bike and drive down the miles-long boulevard, photographing what was once America’s most flamboyant party and has now been reduced to a vacant, muted spectacle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587917002761.png" alt="Photo: <a href="https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1460641">Public Domain</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo: <a href="https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1460641">Public Domain</a></figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada's governor shuttered the glitzy casinos and nightlife attractions of Las Vegas in mid-March, leaving much of the famous gambling mecca empty, barricaded and abandoned. Throngs of visitors who made it tough to maneuver on sidewalks have been replaced by the occasional jogger or skateboarder. Many locals who typically shy away competing with crowds of tourists on the Las Vegas Strip now bike and drive down the miles-long boulevard, photographing what was once America’s most flamboyant party and has now been reduced to a vacant, muted spectacle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Muted and vacant, Las Vegas struggles to survive shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he won’t approve a $10 billion loan for the U.S. Postal Service unless the agency raises charges for Amazon and other big shippers to four to five times current rates. 

The president addressed reports his administration plans to force major changes in postal operations as the price for approving a $10 billion loan that was included in the government’s $2 trillion economic rescue package. 

Under the rescue package legislation, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin must approve the loan before the Postal Service can receive the money. 

Officials at the Postal Service had no immediate reaction to Trump’s comments.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he won’t approve a $10 billion loan for the U.S. Postal Service unless the agency raises charges for Amazon and other big shippers to four to five times current rates. The president addressed reports his administration plans to force major changes in postal operations as the price for approving a $10 billion loan that was included in the government’s $2 trillion economic rescue package. Under the rescue package legislation, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin must approve the loan before the Postal Service can receive the money. Officials at the Postal Service had no immediate reaction to Trump’s comments.

Trump: Postal Service must charge Amazon more, or no loan

From the CDC<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCDC%2Fposts%2F10157875984036026%3A0&show_text=true&width=552&height=652&appId" width="552" height="652" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCDC%2Fvideos%2F531756597515913%2F&show_text=0&width=476" width="476" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

CDC: Cloth face covering do's and dont's

NEW YORK (AP) — Home health care is becoming a new front in in the national fight against the COVID-19 virus as some patients come back from hospitals and others strive to keep from going there. 

Coronavirus care at home has expanded rapidly in the last few weeks, and at least some agencies in most states have told the National Association for Home Care and Hospice they are now taking COVID-19 patients referred after hospitalization or instead of it. 

The crisis bears challenges and strains for home care, but it’s also a moment of pride for providers who have often felt under-recognized.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587906797277.png" alt="Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfuturedotcom/">Myfuture.com</a>&nbsp;(Flickr Creative Commons)" />
 <figcaption>Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfuturedotcom/">Myfuture.com</a>&nbsp;(Flickr Creative Commons)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Home health care is becoming a new front in in the national fight against the COVID-19 virus as some patients come back from hospitals and others strive to keep from going there. Coronavirus care at home has expanded rapidly in the last few weeks, and at least some agencies in most states have told the National Association for Home Care and Hospice they are now taking COVID-19 patients referred after hospitalization or instead of it. The crisis bears challenges and strains for home care, but it’s also a moment of pride for providers who have often felt under-recognized.&nbsp;

'You are a miracle': Home care is new front in virus fight

(AP)-The frustration of parents is mounting as more families across the U.S. enter their second or even third week of total distance learning. And some say it will be their last. 

Amid the barrage of learning apps, video meet-ups and e-mailed assignments that make up pandemic home school, some frustrated and exhausted parents are choosing to disconnect entirely for the rest of the academic year. 

Others are trying to keep up while working long hours and have resorted to cramming all their children's schoolwork into the weekends or are taking days off work to help their kids complete a week's worth of assignments in a day.&nbsp;

(AP)-The frustration of parents is mounting as more families across the U.S. enter their second or even third week of total distance learning. And some say it will be their last. Amid the barrage of learning apps, video meet-ups and e-mailed assignments that make up pandemic home school, some frustrated and exhausted parents are choosing to disconnect entirely for the rest of the academic year. Others are trying to keep up while working long hours and have resorted to cramming all their children's schoolwork into the weekends or are taking days off work to help their kids complete a week's worth of assignments in a day.&nbsp;

Coronavirus Update