The Superior Express -

South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD) officials report new state-directed health measures (DHM) were issued by Nebraska to replace the current DHM which expired at midnight on July 31. The new DHM began at 12 a.m., Aug. 1.

According to Michele Bever, SHDHD executive director, the new DHM extends Phase 3 of ‘reopening.’

“Under the new state-DHM, all restrictions remain the same as in the previous DHM, which means no additional restrictions are being lifted for Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster counties.” Bever said.

“We will need to buckle down on our compliance with the DHM – which extends the focus on limiting gatherings, physical distancing, and quarantine and isolation requirements,” Bever said.

“The DHM provides requirements and guidelines for holding safe gatherings. This is not just for large events – the gathering requirements apply to any gathering of more than 10 people,” she said. “Please contact our department for assistance with planning gatherings so that they comply with the DHM. We are happy to assist.”

“Our COVID-19 cases and contacts will continue to increase if we don’t change our practices. And, we will need to have stable trends in order to move to the next phase. It is more difficult to open schools safely and for schools to remain open when our community risk for COVID-19 spread is continuing to trend up,” she said.