OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Business owners in Nebraska are starting to plan their comeback, now that the governor has unveiled his plan to ease coronavirus restrictions.
Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday that he will relax restrictions in 59 counties, including those in the Omaha area. The new orders, effective until May 31, allow restaurants to reopen their dining rooms but require them to keep crowds at or below half of their capacity. Dining parties will be limited to six people, buffets will remain closed and bars will have to keep their dining areas closed.
Ricketts' plan also allows barbershops, tattoo parlors, salons and massage therapists to reopen, though they must adhere to social distancing precautions.
Paul McCrae, owner of the Corner Kick Street Tacos and Tequila Cantina in Omaha, called the easing of restrictions a "life-saver," especially with Cinco de Mayo the day after the reopening date.
"That's a big day for us," McCrae told the Omaha World-Herald.
But co-owners Kelsey Poulsen and Sarah Root of The Copper Pin Salon & Spa haven't decided whether to open on May 4. About half of the 14-person staff don't yet feel safe to return, they told the newspaper.
"We're thinking about taking the hit financially and keeping it closed until we can figure out how to safely operate," said Poulsen.
Ricketts, a Republican, didn't order similar changes in the Lincoln area because that region's public health restrictions don't expire until May 6. The restrictions in the Omaha area were set to expire April 30.
The orders also don't apply to Hall, Dawson or Dakota counties, where cases have spiked at meatpacking plants.
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's online coronavirus tracking portal shows that the state has had 2,421 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths from the disease. 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.