NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The confusion mounts as the state of Nebraska begins to "reopen."
Earlier today, the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation drafted a letter to Governor Pete Ricketts, asking him to allow Lincoln County and North Platte to open earlier in May like other areas of the state that were under Directed Health Measures by the Governor.
The letter was drafted after it seemed that, unlike many other areas of the state, Lincoln County and North Platte would be forced to wait until the end of May to begin restoring the economy and reopening businesses that have been closed for over a month.
At his daily update on Tuesday, Governor Ricketts responded to the question about when North Platte and Lincoln County would open by saying that our area was slated to open on May 11 and he, "didn't know where the May 31st date came from."
However, during an update from the Public Health Command Center in North Platte on Monday, Executive Director of the West Central District Health Department Shannon Vanderheiden stated that salons, tattoo parlors and massage parlors could not open until May 31st. This turned out to be a miscommunication due to a draft email. Governor Ricketts says WCDHD is not to blame.
A Facebook post by the North Platte Chamber says:
"We received a call from the Governor's office following today's 2 pm press conference and the North Platte area will be on the May 11th directed health measure list."
The Post is awaiting comment from the Governor and the Public Health Command Center in North Platte will hold an online update on their Facebook page at 4:30 pm.
The Post will be speaking with North Platte Chamber CEO and President Gary Person on our Post Podcast tomorrow morning.
Public Health Command Center update April 28, 2020 with Governor Ricketts:
Here's the letter from the Chamber:
