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Directed health measures bring confusion to some towns outside the metro

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NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (KMTV) — Most of the metro has many non-essential businesses shut down -- but outside of town, some wonder why it isn't the same.

Governor Pete Ricketts ordered all restaurants and bars to only serve carry out and takeout drinks in the direct health measure.

At The Wheel Bar and Grill, Tyler Wright says they decided to close on March 23rd well before the announcement and are able to do some repairs.

"We just made the moral decision, I guess. We're financially sound enough that we weren't worried too much about it,” says Wright. “We're more worried about the other small businesses in our community."

Though the governor closed down bars and restaurants, they left other non-essential services open with a 10 person limit.

It's up to each local health department to make a decision on those.

Some salons are still open in Nebraska City, but other services shut down for safety.

Cosmetologist Sara Stuck Kurtzer posted on Facebook about the confusion.

“You can't have an elective surgery or get your teeth cleaned because the proximity to the patient is unsafe for the provider, but you can get your gray hair covered and your nails done. It makes no sense,” she wrote.

The Southeast District Health Department says they are following the directed health measures from the state, but their director did not return a call or email for an explanation.

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